Parental self-medication with antibiotics in a Tunisian pediatric center.

INTRODUCTION: Self-medication of antibiotics among children is a very common problem in Tunisia. Its prevalence isn't well established. The aims of this study are to evaluate parents' knowledge concerning antibiotic use, and identify the factors associated with this problem. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study over a one year period (between August 2019 and July 2020). Data collection was performed using a questionnaire guided interview. We included parents of children consulting or hospitalized in the pediatric department of the university hospital Taher Sfar in Mahdia. RESULTS: A total of 354 parents were included with an average age of 36.4±9.2 years. The average knowledge score was 2±1.3 points. In fact, 61.6% of the parents had poor knowledge about antibiotics. The frequency of non-prescription antibiotics use among children was 20.6%. Amoxicillin was the most used antibiotic (72.6%). Sore throat, important fever and flu-like symptoms were the main symptoms justifying non-prescription antibiotic use among our pediatric population in 60.3%, 34.2% and 23.3% of cases respectively. The main reason of self-medication was the fact that the same antibiotic was once prescribed to treat the same symptoms (58.9%). The used antibiotic came from an old prescription for the same child in 57.5% of the cases and was recommended by the pharmacist in 39.7% of the cases. After multivariate analysis, the factors associated with parental self-medication with antibiotics were: the advanced parent's age, the ability to name an antibiotic and knowledge's score>2. CONCLUSION: Our study confirmed that parental knowledge about antibiotic use is low. In fact, the government should from one hand, organize antibiotic delivery and prohibit off the counter sells and in the other hand promote the education of the public through different procedures to stop this major health problem.

Kawasaki disease shock syndrome complicated by coronary aneurysms: a case report.

Kawasaki disease is a generalized systemic vasculitis, which primarily affects medium-sized arteries. Kawasaki disease shock syndrome is a rare but severe presentation of this disease. This report describes a case of delayed diagnosis of Kawasaki disease shock syndrome in a 13-year-old boy who presented with cervical adenophlegmon, persistent fever, injected conjunctiva, rash, and hypotension. Echocardiography revealed the presence of bilateral coronary aneurysms. Early recognition of Kawasaki disease shock syndrome can be difficult; however, delay in diagnosis and treatment can increase the risk of coronary artery disease.

Orbital complication of acute ethmoiditis: A Tunisian paediatric cross sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: The anatomical and developmental particularities of sinus cavities in paediatric population lead acute ethmoiditis to be the earliest form of sinusitis in children. Orbital complications are frequent and could lead to visual and neurological impairment. This study investigated the clinical, biological and radiological features of orbital complications. We identified the predictive factors of severe ophthalmological lesions and/or associated cerebral complications of acute ethmoiditis. DESIGN AND METHODS: This cross sectional study included all patients identified as having orbital extension of acute ethmoiditis in the database of a single academic paediatric care centre over a period of 14 years. All orbital and cerebral Scans of the included patients were reviewed and the cohort was classified using Chandler's classification as having less severe lesions (Chandler's 1 and 2) or more serious lesions (Chandler's 3, 4 and 5). RESULTS: In total, 16 patients (12 girls and 4 boys) were included among 39 consecutives cases of ethmoiditis recessed with a complication rate of 41%. Average consultation delay was 4.88 days. The mean age was 4.37 years. Fever was objectified in 13 cases (81%). Six patients (37.5%) had exophthalmos. Orbital extension spectrum was: stage I (n = 4, 25%), stage II (n = 4, 25%), stage III (n = 6, 37.5%), stage IV (n = 1, 6.5%), stage V (n = 1, 6.5%) and intra cranial extension was associated in two cases. Univariate analysis showed that fever, exophthalmos, ophthalmoplegia, positive CRP, age and white blood cells count were not associated with more severe lesions in the CT scan. Initially, all children received intravenous antibiotic treatment. Association of multiple antibiotics was prescribed in 75% of the cases. With 21.07 days ±â€¯5.51 days as a total treatment duration. Only Four patients underwent surgical treatment. CONCLUSION: Orbital complications of ethmoiditis are frequent. No clinical or biological criteria seem to predict the severity of orbital lesions. Both orbital and brain CT scan could help detect eventual complications on time to adapt antibiotic treatment and eventually bring forward surgical intervention.

Poikiloderma with neutropenia in a Tunisian patient with a novel C16orf57 gene mutation.

Poikiloderma with neutropenia (PN) is a genodermatosis characterized by poikiloderma, permanent neutropenia, recurrent infections, nail abnormalities, and palmoplantar hyperkeratosis. We report the case of a Tunisian patient with PN. Skin lesions started from the face and spread to the extremities and trunk. Neutropenia was initially periodic and concomitant with infections periods. DNA analysis identified a novel homozygous deletion of a 1-bp (c.161delC, p.P54RfsX60) in the C16orf57gene, presumed to be causative. This report presents the variability of the clinical manifestations and evolution of PN and emphasizes the importance of studying other patients with PN to better delineate mutations profile among populations.