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AIM: Dry eye disease (DED) is a prevalent ocular condition that significantly impacts individuals' quality of life and performance. It is charac-terized by the instability of the tear film, which causes ocular surface inflamma-tion and damage that leads to ocular symptoms. However, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of DED and identify associated risk factors among university students in western Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A total of 402 university students participated in this study. The sample size was determined using Raosoft software (Raosoft, Inc., Seattle, WA), considering an estimated student population of 20,000. Data were collected between January and March 2023 through an online questionnaire distributed to the participants. The questionnaire comprised three sections, covering general information, behaviors related to digital device (DD) use, and the validated Arabic version of the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire. OSDI scores were calculated, and the severity of DED was categorized using established cutoff points. RESULTS: Among the 402 university students who took part in the survey, the majority (63.2%) were aged between 21 and 25 years, with females representing the dominant gender (72.9%). Notably, 90.8% of participants reported using DDs at bedtime. Over 60% of students had been using DDs for more than 10 years, and approximately 61.7% reported having more than six hours of daily screen time. Mobile devices were the most commonly used electronic devices (67.2%), and TikTok emerged as the most frequently used application (35.6%). Based on the OSDI criteria, 21.1% of students had mild DED symptoms, 14.9% had moderate symptoms, and 38.6% had severe symptoms. Hence, the prevalence of students exhibiting positive DED symptoms was 74.6%, while 25.4% were negative.
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Introduction Food allergies have become a significant health concern worldwide, affecting individuals of all age groups. It is particularly challenging for parents who have children diagnosed with food allergies, as they bear the responsibility of managing their child's condition and ensuring their safety. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and awareness about food allergies among mothers with allergic children in the Aseer region, Saudi Arabia. Methodology A cross-sectional study design was employed, and data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 400 mothers. The participants were selected through convenience sampling. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages, were used to summarize the demographic characteristics, knowledge and awareness levels, prevalence of allergenic foods, manifestations of food allergies, and factors influencing food allergies. Chi-squared tests were conducted to assess associations between variables. Results The study revealed a balanced representation across different age groups among the surveyed mothers, with the highest proportion falling in the 31-40 years range. A significant proportion of mothers had a university education, indicating a relatively higher level of education among the participants. The majority of mothers were employed in governmental positions, followed by housewives and those working in the private sector. Regarding knowledge and awareness, a substantial percentage of mothers correctly identified key aspects of food allergies. However, knowledge gaps were observed, particularly in understanding the hereditary nature. The prevalence of allergenic foods varied, with seafood (fish, shrimp, and tuna) emerging as the most commonly reported allergenic foods, followed by eggs, milk, wheat, chocolate, fruits, nuts, and other food types. Manifestations associated with food allergies were reported, including skin, respiratory, eye, nasal, gastrointestinal, and other symptoms. The associations between different feeding methods and the occurrence of medically diagnosed food allergies were found to be non-significant. However, having other children with food allergies showed a highly significant association with the occurrence of food allergies in the current child. The age of introducing solid food did not demonstrate a significant association with the occurrence of food allergies. Conclusion This study provides insights into the knowledge and awareness about food allergies among mothers with allergic children in the Aseer region, Saudi Arabia. While mothers demonstrated a reasonable understanding of food allergies, knowledge gaps were identified, particularly regarding the hereditary nature. The prevalence of allergenic foods aligns with previous studies, although variations across populations should be considered. The manifestations reported by the participants corroborate known allergic reactions, necessitating further analysis.