Clinical and virological outcomes of entecavir therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B: A real life experience.

BACKGROUND: Entecavir (ETV) is a nucleoside analogue (NA) that is effective for treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) due to its low resistance rates and potent antiviral effects. We aimed to evaluate the clinical, biochemical and virological response to ETV in patients without a prior use of nucleos(t)ide (NA-naïve) vs. those who failed prior NA use (NA-experienced) in the treatment of CHB. METHODS: Patients treated between April 2012 and December 2017 were retrospectively studied. A comparison was made between patients treated with ETV in NA-naïve Vs. NA-experienced. Complete virological response (CVR) was defined as achieving undetectable HBV-DNA level, up to 15 IU/ml, partial virological response (PVR) as 15-200 IU/ml and >200 IU/ml for no virological response (NVR) after one year of therapy. RESULTS: Overall, 148 patients were included (69 NA-naïve and 79 NA-experienced). In NA-naïve group, 51%, 17% and 32% achieved CVR, PVR and NVR vs. 17%, 9% and 75% in NA-experienced group, respectively (p < 0.001). HBsAg seroconversion was achieved in 5.8% in NA-naïve group vs. 6.3% in NA-experienced group (p = 1.00). HBeAg seroconversion was 17% in NA-naïve group and 25% in NA-experienced group (p = 0.24). There was no significant difference in alanine transaminase normalization or in mortality rate between both groups; p = 0.87 and p = 1.00 respectively. CONCLUSION: ETV therapy in CHB results in a better virological response in NA-naïve patients compared to NA-experienced. There were no differences between both groups in regards to the rate of HBsAg or HBeAg seroconversions, biochemical improvements or mortality.

Parent's knowledge and practice in home management of fever in their children in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Fever in children is a common presenting complaint during health visits. Parents frequently have concerns about fever and perceive it as a disease rather than a symptom of illness. Parent's practice of home managing of fever varies according to their background and experience. OBJECTIVE: To explore parents' perception and practice in home management of fever in their preschool children in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (SA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study. Data were collected from 250 parents attending three main family medicine centers at King Abdul-Aziz Medical City, Riyadh, SA, using self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: Most of the parents (64%) defined fever correctly and 56% identified high fever. Almost all the parents (95%) believed fever is harmful, and febrile convulsion was the most concerned complication of fever (74%), followed by loss of consciousness, dehydration, brain damage, and hearing loss. Most of the parents (82%) touch their children to confirm fever, 68% use oral thermometer, and 63% use axillary thermometer. Most parents (84%) applied cold compression, 75% gave their children nonprescribed fever medication, 61% gave their children plenty of fluids, and 64% took their children to the doctor right away. Almost one-third of participants reported having difficulty either in choosing fever medicine or giving the proper dose and frequency. No difference in knowledge or practice was found in relation to difference in demographic characteristics of participants. CONCLUSION: Results of this study indicate poor knowledge and practice in regard to parent's management of febrile children, overuse of nonprescribed fever medication, and possible waste of health resources.