Favorable outcome of non-myeloablative allogeneic transplantation in adult patients with severe sickle cell disease: A single center experience of 200 patients.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) for adults with severe sickle cell disease (SCD) is potentially curative but not commonly utilized therapy due to complications such as graft failure (GF) and organ toxicity. Herein, we are reporting our long-term outcome data of non-myeloablative (NMA) HSCT in adults with severe SCD with emphasis on factors predicting event free survival (EFS). Adults with severe SCD undergoing NMA match-related donor allogeneic HSCT from 2015 to 2021 with at least 12 months of follow-up were included. A total of 200 patients were included with a median age of 26 years (14-43) and 56% were male. The median infused CD34 dose was 13.7 (5.07-25.8), respectively. Median absolute neutrophil count engraftment was 19 (13-39) days with 51% of patients receiving GCSF to expedite recovery. A total of 17 patients experienced GF; 3 as primary and 14 as secondary within a median time of 204 days (40-905). A 76% successfully discontinued sirolimus at the last follow-up. Median follow-up for the cohort is 29.2 (2.1-71.4) months. Estimated 3-year EFS and OS were 88.2% (81.9-92.5) and 94.6% (89.2-97.3). At multivariable analysis, minor ABC incompatibility hazard ratio (HR) 4 (1.3-12.1; 0.014) and allo-antibody against non-ABO donor antigens HR 4.3 (1.3-14.1; 0.016) were significant for EFS. No clonal evolution or myeloid malignancies were seen. This largest single-center report of NMA HSCT in adults with severe SCD further delineated its feasibility, potential toxicities, and fertility outcomes. GF remains a major impediment and appears dependent on ABO matching and non-ABO antibodies.

Seasonal variations in the distribution of aliphatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments from the Selangor River, Peninsular Malaysia's West Coast.

The seasonal variation of petroleum pollution including n-alkanes in surface sediments of the Selangor River in Malaysia during all four climatic seasons was investigated using GC-MS. The concentrations of n-alkanes in the sediment samples did not significantly correlate with TOC (r = 0.34, p > 0.05). The concentrations of the 29 n-alkanes in the Selangor River ranged from 967 to 3711 µg g-1 dw, with higher concentrations detected during the dry season. The overall mean per cent of grain-sized particles in the Selangor River was 85.9 ± 2.85% sand, 13.5 ± 2.8% clay, and 0.59 ± 0.34% gravel, respectively. n-alkanes are derived from a variety of sources, including fresh oil, terrestrial plants, and heavy/degraded oil in estuaries. The results of this study highlight concerns and serve as a warning that hydrocarbon contamination is affecting human health. As a result, constant monitoring and assessment of aliphatic hydrocarbons in coastal and riverine environments are needed.

Greens appraisal of validated stability indicating RP-HPLC method and forced degradation study for quantification of Ebastine in wastewater and dosage form.

OBJECTIVES: Allergic rhinitis and chronic idiopathic urticaria are common conditions triggered by environmental irritants, stress, and certain foods. The FDA has recently announced that the efficacy and safety of Ebastine (EBS) have been thoroughly evaluated and confirmed. This study considered using various tools to assess their greenness. We used AGREEprep, analytical eco-scale (ESA), and analytical method volume intensity (AMVI) to evaluate the greenness of the validated stability-indicating method and a forced degradation study. This allowed for easy determination and quantitation of EBS in wastewater and dosage form. METHODS: The method was established on Symmetry RP-C18 (150mm×4.6mm,5µm) using mobile phase, which can be prepared by mixing buffer solution of pH 3 with acetonitrile in a ratio of (37.5: 62.5, v/v) in addition to dissolving 0.72 gm of sodium lauryl sulfate in the final solution. The separation process was executed at a flow rate of 1.5mL/min and 5µL injection volume with UV detection at 254nm. Linearity was conducted for EBS in the 5-50µg/mL range. Different validation parameters were investigated, including accuracy, precision, robustness, and specificity. RESULTS: The limits of both detection and quantification were 0.84µg/mL and 2.57µg/mL for EBS. The recovery percentages of EBS were found to be 101.01% and 101.02% for wastewater and pharmaceutical formulations, respectively. CONCLUSION: According to International Council for Harmonisation (ICH) guidelines, a forced degradation study of EBS was evaluated, including acid, base hydrolysis, and oxidative hydrolysis using hydrogen peroxide and photolytic and thermal degradation. The highest degradation was achieved by acid hydrolysis. The safety and efficacy of EBS were evaluated via a safety comparative profile study.

Synthesis of Tetracyclic Spirooxindolepyrrolidine-Engrafted Hydantoin Scaffolds: Crystallographic Analysis, Molecular Docking Studies and Evaluation of Their Antimicrobial, Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Activities.

In a sustained search for novel potential drug candidates with multispectrum therapeutic application, a series of novel spirooxindoles was designed and synthesized via regioselective three-component reaction between isatin derivatives, 2-phenylglycine and diverse arylidene-imidazolidine-2,4-diones (Hydantoins). The suggested stereochemistry was ascertained by an X-ray diffraction study and NMR spectroscopy. The resulting tetracyclic heterocycles were screened for their in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity and for their in vitro antimicrobial potency. In vitro antibacterial screening revealed that several derivatives exhibited remarkable growth inhibition against different targeted microorganisms. All tested compounds showed excellent activity against the Micrococccus luteus strain (93.75 µg/mL ≤ MIC ≤ 375 µg/mL) as compared to the reference drug tetracycline (MIC = 500 µg/mL). Compound 4e bearing a p-chlorophenyl group on the pyrrolidine ring exhibited the greatest antifungal potential toward Candida albicans and Candida krusei (MIC values of 23.43 µg/mL and 46.87 µg/mL, respectively) as compared to Amphotericin B (MIC = 31.25 and 62.50 µg/mL, respectively). The target compounds were also tested in vitro against the lipoxygenase-5 (LOX-5) enzyme. Compounds 4i and 4l showed significant inhibitory activity with IC50 = 1.09 mg/mL and IC50 = 1.01 mg/mL, respectively, more potent than the parent drug, diclofenac sodium (IC50 = 1.19 mg/mL). In addition, in vivo evaluation of anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of these spirooxindoles were assessed through carrageenan-induced paw edema and acetic acid-induced writhing assays, respectively, revealing promising results. In silico molecular docking and predictive ADMET studies for the more active spirocompounds were also carried out.

Synthesis, Crystal Structure, Quantum Chemical Analysis, Electrochemical Behavior, and Antibacterial and Photocatalytic Activity of Co Complex with Pyridoxal-(S-Methyl)-isothiosemicarbazone Ligand.

New complex Co(III) with ligand Pyridoxal-S-methyl-isothiosemicarbazone, (PLITSC) was synthesized. X-ray analysis showed the bis-ligand octahedral structure of the cobalt complex [Co(PLITSC-H)2]BrNO3·CH3OH (compound 1). The intermolecular interactions governing the crystal structure were described by the Hirsfeld surface analysis. The structure of compound 1 and the corresponding Zn complex (([Zn(PLTSC)(H2O)2]SO4·H2O)) were optimized at the B3LYP/6-31 + G (d,p)/LanL2DZ level of theory, and the applicability was assessed by comparison with the crystallographic structure. The natural bond orbital analysis was used for the discussion on the stability of formed compounds. The antibacterial activity of obtained complexes towards S. aureus and E. coli was determined, along with the effect of compound 1 on the formation of free radical species. Activity of compound 1 towards the removal of methylene blue was also investigated. The voltammograms of these compounds showed the reduction of metal ions, as well as the catalyzed reduction of CO2 in acidic media.

Synthesis, Crystal Structure, Theoretical Calculations, Antibacterial Activity, Electrochemical Behavior, and Molecular Docking of Ni(II) and Cu(II) Complexes with Pyridoxal-Semicarbazone.

New Ni (II) and Cu (II) complexes with pyridoxal-semicarbazone were synthesized and their structures were solved by X-ray crystallography. This analysis showed the bis-ligand octahedral structure of [Ni(PLSC-H)2]·H2O and the dimer octahedral structure of [Cu(PLSC)(SO4)(H2O)]2·2H2O. Hirshfeld surface analysis was employed to determine the most important intermolecular interactions in the crystallographic structures. The structures of both complexes were further examined using density functional theory and natural bond orbital analysis. The photocatalytic decomposition of methylene blue in the presence of both compounds was investigated. Both compounds were active toward E. coli and S. aureus, with a minimum inhibition concentration similar to that of chloramphenicol. The obtained complexes led to the formation of free radical species, as was demonstrated in an experiment with dichlorofluorescein-diacetate. It is postulated that this is the mechanistic pathway of the antibacterial and photocatalytic activities. Cyclic voltammograms of the compounds showed the peaks of the reduction of metal ions. A molecular docking study showed that the Ni(II) complex exhibited promising activity towards Janus kinase (JAK), as a potential therapy for inflammatory diseases, cancers, and immunologic disorders.

Coronavirus disease 2019 in Saudi Arabia: A nationwide real-world characterization study.

Background: On March 11th, 2020, The World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the COVID-19 is a pandemic due to its worldwide spread. The COVID-19 pandemic has extended its impact to Saudi Arabia. By mid-February 2021, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has reported more than 373,000 COVID-19 cases impacting different population categories (i.e., male, female, different age groups, comorbidities status). The objective of this nationwide study was to describe and explore the characteristics of hospitalized patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This study was an observational epidemiological study based on collected clinical data from ten health institutions across all regions in Saudi Arabia. The study was conducted during the period from March 2nd, 2020, to January 31st, 2021. The data were collected included demographics, medical information, medications, and laboratory and diagnostic. More detailed information on usually missing factors such as smoking status, comorbidities, length of hospital stay were also collected. Both descriptive and inferential analyses were conducted using the statistical analysis software "SAS®" version 9.4. Results: During the study period, 5286 patients were included in this study. Of these, (79.15%) were male. Of all 5286 patients, quite a high number of the studied population 2010 (38.02%) were smokers. The majority of the patients 3436 (65%) were reported to have comorbidities, with hypertension being the most common disease 1725 (32.6%), followed by diabetes 1641(31.04%). A high proportion of the patients, 2220 patients (41.99%), were admitted to the intensive care unit; of these, (33.52%) were on mechanical ventilation. Most patients received anticoagulant prophylaxis medications (n = 4414, 83.5%). All patients were given more than one antibiotic prophylaxis. Overall, the median hospital stay was 5.5 days, and the median length in the intensive care unit was 4.26 days. Around (89.14%) of patients were discharged from the hospital, and (10.8%) died. Conclusion: In this real-world study utilizing a large sample size, this study provides confirmatory results on the COVID-19 patients characteristics that are similar to other populations. Healthcare professionals need to give COVID-19 patients with specific characteristics including smoking, diabetes mellitus and cardiac disease more care to avoid losing these patients.

Antiobesity and antidiabetes effects of Cyperus rotundus rhizomes presenting protein tyrosine phosphatase, dipeptidyl peptidase 4, metabolic enzymes, stress oxidant and inflammation inhibitory potential.

Diabetes is a significant global health concern that increases the vulnerability to various chronic illnesses. In view of this issue, the current research aimed to examine the effects of administering an extract derived from the tubers of Cyperus rotundus L (CrE) on obesity, type 1 diabetes, and liver-kidney toxicity. Through the utilization of HPLC-DAD analysis, it was discovered that the extract contained several components, including quercetin (47.8%), luteolin glucoside (17%), luteolin (7.56%), apigenin-7-glucoside (6.29%), naringinin (4.52%), and seven others. In vitro experiments they have demonstrated that CrE effectively inhibited key digestive enzymes associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes, such as DPP-4, PTP1B, lipase, and α-amylase, as evidenced by their respective IC50 values are about 23, 51,83, and 67 µg/ml respectively. Furthermore, when diabetic rats were administered CrE, the activity of pancreatic enzymes linked to inflammation, namely 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO), hyaluronidase (HAase), and myeloperoxidase (MPO), was significantly suppressed by 48, 41, 75, and 47%, respectively. Moreover, CrE exhibited protective effects on pancreatic ß-cells by inhibiting the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) by 65% and the induction of superoxide Dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities by 62, 108, and 112% respectively as compared to diabetic untreated rat. Additionally, CrE significantly inhibited the activities of intestinal, pancreatic, and serum lipase and α-amylase activities. In diabetic rats, CrE administration suppressed glycogen phosphorylase (GP) stimulated glycogen synthase (GS) activities by 45 and 30%; and this increased liver glycogen content by 45%. Furthermore, CrE modulated key hepatic enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, including hexokinase (HK), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), glucose-6-phosphatase (G6P), and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBP). Notably, the average food and water intake (AFI and AWI) of diabetic rats treated with CrE was reduced by 15 and 16% respectively as compared to those without any treatment. Therefore, this study demonstrated the effectiveness of Cyperus rotundus tubers in preventing and treating obesity and diabetes.

The Impact of Mask-Wearing on Allergic Rhinitis Symptoms During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among the Saudi Population: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an inflammatory disease of the nasal mucosa caused by certain allergens that may be found indoors or outdoors, and it greatly impacts the patient's quality of life. The COVID-19 epidemic offers an excellent chance to examine how using a face mask affects allergy. AIM: The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of face mask wearing on AR symptoms among subjects living in the northern, southern, eastern, western, and central regions of Saudi Arabia. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional, survey-based study was undertaken in all Saudi Arabia regions in 2022. We included female and male adults living in Saudi Arabia who have AR and completed the Arabic version of an electronic self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: The overall received responses were 2252. According to the study eligibility criteria, we assessed the data of 470 participants who self-reported to have been diagnosed with AR. There was no significant change in the proportions of nasal symptoms severity before and after wearing face masks during the pandemic (p = 0.867), while a significant negative change was observed in the rates of moderate and severe ophthalmic symptoms (p < 0.001). The need for AR drugs was significantly increased during the pandemic (no need for drugs was reported by 45.3% before the pandemic and by 37.9% during the pandemic, p < 0.001). However, the use of AR drugs was significantly associated with the improvement of AR symptoms (p < 0.001); complete and partial eliminations of AR symptoms were higher with the use of masks during the pandemic (11.3% and 36.8%) than before the pandemic period (10.6% and 34.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Face mask usage was not associated with improved symptoms or severity of AR. Wearing the masks was associated with increased severity of ophthalmic symptoms. The use of face masks was associated with a significant increase in the partial and complete elimination of AR symptoms with the use of AR drugs, particularly with the constant use of masks.

Thermodynamic, chemical, and electrochemical studies of Aloe ferox Mill extract as a naturally developing copper corrosion inhibitor in HCl solution.

Copper can be susceptible to corrosion in acidic cleaning solutions for desalination system, especially if the solution is highly concentrated or if the cleaning process involves extended exposure to the acid. In the current work, Aloe ferox Mill (AFM extract) can be used as a natural origin corrosion inhibitor for copper in 1.0 M HCl solution. The corrosion mitigation qualities of AFM extract were assessed by means of electrochemical, gravimetric, and surface examinations. AFM extract is a mixed-type inhibitor, based on polarization research findings. The inhibitory effectiveness of AFM extract rises with concentration, reaching its maximum level (93.3%) at 250 mg L-1. The inclusion of AFM extract raises the activation energy for the corrosion reaction from 7.15 kJ mol-1 (blank solution) to 28.6 kJ mol-1 (at 250 mg L-1 AFM extract).

Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Among Adult Population in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Background Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a major health problem in Saudi Arabia. It is caused by the protozoa Leishmania. The vector is female sand flies. In order to develop preventive strategies to reduce the burden of this health problem, public awareness of the disease should be assessed. Objective This study aimed to investigate the knowledge and attitude toward CL among the adult population in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional survey study was conducted on 385 adult participants of Tabuk between April and May 2022. The investigators assembled the survey questions from peer-reviewed articles with some modifications. Google Forms was used to create the online survey. Social media were used to distribute the survey. Results The study revealed that hearing about CL was much more common among participants older than 61 years and Saudi males. The most prominent sources of information for the participants on which their answers were based were as follows: families and friends, health care professionals, television or radio, and lastly, newspapers. Subjects older than 61 years also showed more knowledge of the risk factors for contracting CL. However, the participants showed overall poor knowledge of the clinical presentation of the disease, which gender or age group was mostly affected, or how the disease was transmitted. Likewise, their knowledge of sand flies was poor. Most participants did not know if CL was a health problem or not. Conclusions The study revealed overall poor awareness of the epidemiological aspects of CL, how it is transmitted, its clinical presentation, and proper management. Our study could help authorities correct the gap in knowledge regarding CL in Tabuk.

Long-Term Outcomes of COVID-19 Otolaryngology Symptoms in Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the study are to measure the prevalence of the most common symptoms and different long-term otorhinolaryngology manifestations among COVID-19-positive patients in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study. Data were collected using a Google form questionnaire sent to the study sample. The data were entered and then analyzed using SPSS version 25.0 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY). RESULTS: A total of 13,530 COVID-19-positive adult patients were enrolled in the current study. The most reported initial symptom was fever (53.3%) followed by headache (49.3%), sore throat (48.9%), nasal congestion, rhinorrhea (42.1%), and loss of smell and/or loss of taste (37.8%). Regarding the continuation of the symptoms, vertigo was mentioned by 5852 (43.3%) followed by fever (16.1%) and blocked ear sensation (15.6%). CONCLUSION: The most commonly reported initial symptom was fever followed by headache. Interestingly, vertigo is a frequent long-term complication after a COVID-19 infection. Other otology-related symptoms include hearing loss and ear blockage, while rhinology and upper airway-related symptoms were less frequent in the long term after the acute phase of the infection.

Condition optimization of eco-friendly RP-HPLC and MCR methods via Box-Behnken design and six sigma approach for detecting antibiotic residues.

A precise, Eco-friendly, and highly sensitive RP-HPLC method was employed using quality-by-design principles to concurrently identify cephalexin and cefixime residues in the manufacturing machines using a hypersil BDS C18 column (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) at wavelength 254 nm. The Box-Behnken design was applied to obtain the best chromatographic conditions with the fewest possible trials. Three independent factors viz organic composition, flow rate, and pH were used to assess their effects on the responses' resolution and retention time. Overlay plot and desirability functions were implemented to predict responses of the high resolution and relatively short retention time using a mobile phase composed of acidic water: acetonitrile (85:15, v/v) at pH 4.5 adjusted by phosphoric acid with a flow rate of 2.0 mL/min. The spectral overlapping of the drugs was successfully resolved by the mean centering ratio (MCR) spectra approach at 261 nm and 298 nm for cephalexin and cefixime, respectively. Good linearity results were obtained for the suggested HPLC and MCR methods over the concentration range of (0.05-10 ppm) and (5-30 ppm) with a detection limit of 0.003, 0.004, 0.26, and 0.23 ppm, and quantitation limits of 0.008, 0.013, 0.79, and 0.68 ppm for cephalexin and cefixime, respectively, with a correlation coefficient of ≥ 0.9998 and good swab recovery results of 99-99.5%. A process capability index was accomplished for chemical and micro results, illustrating that both are extremely capable. The suggested method was effectively validated using ICH recommendations.

Knowledge Assessment Regarding the Differences Between Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism Among Saudi Arabia's Adult Population.

Introduction Worldwide, thyroid diseases are among the most prevalent endocrine disorders. According to the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH), many thyroid disease cases remain undiagnosed and, as a result, are not treated because the patient has no symptoms or is unaware of them. Hence, this study aims to assess the knowledge about hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism among Saudi Arabia's population. Methodology A cross-sectional survey was conducted among Saudi adults in five randomly selected regions in Saudi Arabia from December 2022 - January 2023. An Arabic self-administered questionnaire was sent to randomly selected participants via an online link. The questionnaire was composed of four parts: Sociodemographic; knowledge related to hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism diseases and their differences; knowledge about the thyroid gland in terms of functions and causes of thyroid dysfunction. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences was used for data analysis. Results Out of 996 participants (66.2% women), 70.1% knew the function of the thyroid gland, 66.4% knew that women are more susceptible to thyroid disease, and 49.5% knew the association between thyroid dysfunction and heart disease. Female sex, higher education, and old age were associated with good knowledge, and no differences were evident regarding nationality and residence. The results showed inadequate awareness regarding thyroid diseases in Saudi Arabia, with some parts of this population being very clearly below average. Conclusion Knowledge regarding thyroid disorders was sub-optimal in Saudi Arabia; older women with higher education had the best knowledge. With even larger samples, we recommend that future studies be made to develop clear and decisive public health strategies that can be implemented at once.

Assessment of the Current Knowledge and Practice of General Practitioners Towards Laryngopharyngeal Reflux in Saudi Arabia.

Background General practitioners (GPs) have a significant role in the diagnosis of patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). Some published data revealed a lack of knowledge among GPs about the disease, consequently, this lack of knowledge impacted their performance. This survey aims to assess the current knowledge and practice of general practitioners regarding laryngopharyngeal reflux in Saudi Arabia. Methodology This survey study was conducted to assess the current knowledge and practice of general practitioners regarding laryngopharyngeal reflux in Saudi Arabia using an online questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed and collected from the five regions in Saudi Arabia, which are The Central Region (Riyadh, Qassim), Eastern Region (Dammam, Al-Kharj, Al-Ahasa), Western Region (Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah), Southern Region (Asir, Najran, Jizan), and Northern Region (Tabuk, Jouf, Hail). Results In the current study, we collected data from 387 general practitioners, 61.8% of whom were aged between 21-30 years old, and 57.4% of the participants were males. Moreover, 40.6% of the participants thought that both LPR and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) share pathophysiology, however, they are two different diseases considering their clinical presentation. Moreover, it was found that heartburn was the most known symptom of LPR among the participants (Mean score 2.14 (SD=1.31), where a lower score indicated more relation). Considering the treatment of LPR, 40.6% and 40.3% of the participants reported using proton pump inhibitors once or twice daily respectively. In contrast, antihistamine/H2 blockers, alginate, and magaldrate were used to a lesser extent as reported by 27.1%, 21.7%, and 12.1%. Conclusion The current study showed limited knowledge among general practitioners considering LPR with a higher rate of referring patients to other departments depending on symptoms which may increase the pressure on other departments of mild cases.

Green Synthesis of a Novel Cationic Surfactant Based on an Azo Schiff Compound for Use as a Carbon Steel Anticorrosion Agent.

The new cationic surfactant-based azo Schiff compound (azoS8) was prepared, characterized, and investigated as a corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel in 1 M HCl by means of electrochemical approaches in this study. The chemical structure of azoS8 has been verified by the FTIR and 1H NMR spectra. According to the electrochemical system, the examined surfactant is a mixed-type inhibitor. The surfactant azoS8 was an adequate corrosion inhibitor, as evidenced by the reduction in corrosion current densities and the rise in coverage of the surface identified with an evolving inhibitor amount. When the surfactant azoS8 had been added, the capacitive cycle loops on the Nyquist plots were broader, and the dimension of these loops expanded with surfactant azoS8 concentration. This implies that the amount of surfactant azoS8 led to an improvement in the impedance of the steel electrode. The surfactant azoS8 adsorption system is well suited to the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. It was discovered that azoS8 had a Gibbs free energy change value of -27.72 kJ mol-1, which is a mixed adsorption mechanism containing both physisorption and chemisorption.

Pattern of childhood brucellosis in Najran, south Saudi Arabia in 2013-2017.

BACKGROUND: With more than 500,000 new cases annually, human brucellosis is the commonest zoonotic disease worldwide. In some endemic countries, its prevalence is more than 10 per 100,000 population. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude of the problem and the clinical features, laboratory findings, treatment given and complications seen in children with brucellosis in Najran City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This is a case-series study by analysis of data of children known or diagnosed to have brucellosis for the last 4 years in Najran City. Data was obtained by reviewing the hospital records of the Maternity and Children Hospital and Najran Armed Forces Hospital in Najran during the period from 2013 to 2017. The statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS version 16.0. Since it was the first report of brucellosis on the study population, we used descriptive statistics (frequency, proportion, mean, and standard deviation) for presenting the findings. RESULTS: We studied 57 diagnosed cases of child brucellosis throughout the past 4 years in Najran, south Saudi Arabia with an average number of about 12 cases per year. Of the cases, 15.8% reported a history of ingestion of raw milk and dairy product and only 1.8% of them reported a history of animal contact while 82.4% confirmed unknown mode of transmission. Fever was the only finding in 36.8%, fever and arthralgia 21.1%, and fever and myalgia 19.3%. Two thirds of the cases were diagnosed by standard agglutination test (SAT). Hepatosplenomegaly was found in 10.5%. Rifampicin was the antibiotic of choice and 70.2% of cases have been cured but 3.5% relapsed and 1.8% died from complications. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest brucellosis be considered in every child living in an endemic area, showing symptoms of fever and having a history of ingestion of raw milk and dairy product and/or animal contact.Prevention should rely on health education of the public about different issues of the disease including boiling raw milk.