Oman Medical Journal最新文献

Hyperthyroidism-related liver disease is an uncommon cause of jaundice in children. There is scarce data on its clinical and histological features and management. We report the case of a five-year-old girl with thyrotoxicosis associated with hepatitis, which was managed solely and successfully with carbimazole and propranolol.

Thyroglossal duct cysts are commonly seen in the midline of the neck, accounting for 7% of cases presenting with midline swelling. Carcinoma within a thyroglossal duct cyst is extremely rare, occurring in fewer than 1% of cases, and lateral occurrences are particularly uncommon. This case describes a 25-year-old female with papillary carcinoma identified in the left lateral thyroglossal duct cyst, along with de novo papillary carcinoma in the right thyroid lobe.

A 24-year-old primigravida at 12 weeks of gestation, with a history of hyperemesis gravidarum, presented on an early morning with mental confusion and weakness. She was diagnosed with Wernicke encephalopathy and successfully treated with thiamine. After a full-term pregnancy, she gave birth to a healthy baby.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a quintessential autoimmune disease once thought to be rare among Africans. Neuropsychiatric manifestations of SLE range from headaches, mood/behavioral disorders, to seizures. There are documented reports of seizures accompanying the diagnosis of SLE, with varying prevalence according to specific regions. However, seizures rarely precede the diagnosis of SLE. We present a case report of a 19-year-old African woman with adult-onset seizures preceding an overt diagnosis of negative anti-dsDNA SLE. A preceding short course of anti-malarial and carbamazepine prompted early consideration of drug-induced lupus erythematosus. However, the clinical features of SLE progressed and persisted despite their discontinuation. Among high-risk groups, it is important to recognize SLE as a potential cause of adult-onset seizures. In the absence of clear offending agents, metabolic or structural disease, baseline antinuclear antibody may be imperative in the diagnostic workup of such patients.

Objectives: We sought to assess the prevalence of tobacco use among adolescent males in Oman and identify sociodemographic factors influencing usage and attitudes towards tobacco products.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between January and March 2024 among male adolescents in public schools (grades 9-12) in Sohar, Oman. A two-stage cluster sampling approach was employed: six schools were randomly selected proportional to enrollment size, followed by random selection of classrooms within each school. Data were collected using a validated Arabic version of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey, administered in-person.

Results: All participants completed the survey in classroom settings (100% response rate; n = 227). Forty participants (17.6%) reported having tried tobacco, with the age at initiation largely between 14 and 15 years. Current smoking prevalence was 7.5% (n = 17), and exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) was reported by over 40% of participants, both in enclosed and open spaces. Awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco was high, with 61.7% (n = 140) acknowledging the health risks associated with tobacco use. However, misconceptions concerning tobacco use remained prevalent, notably regarding the risks of SHS, perceived prevalence of peer smoking, and social desirability associated with smoking.

Conclusions: Despite relatively high awareness of harmful effects, tobacco use among adolescents in Sohar remains an important public health concern, particularly regarding SHS exposure and social influences. Appropriate intervention strategies should target persistent misconceptions and address social influences. Strengthening public health initiatives and enforcing smoking bans in public spaces are recommended to limit tobacco exposure among Omani youth.

Objectives: To evaluate the maternal and perinatal outcomes of preeclampsia in accordance with the World Health Organization prematurity criteria, in a low-resource setting.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2017 to December 2019 at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. All women with preterm preeclampsia were included in the study. Cases with fetal anomalies or incomplete medical records were excluded. Participants were grouped according to gestational age at delivery, following the World Health Organization prematurity classification: (I) extremely preterm birth (EPB): 24-27⁺⁶ weeks, (II) very preterm birth (VPB): 28-31⁺⁶ weeks, and (III) moderate to late preterm birth (MLPB): 32-36⁺⁶ weeks. Data was statistically analyzed.

Results: The study included 324 women who delivered at the following gestation terms: EPB = 89 (27.5%), VPB = 35 (10.8%), and MLPB = 200 (61.7%), resulting in 331 neonates. Serious maternal complications developed in 45 (13.9%) women. Intrauterine death occurred in 18 (5.6%) cases. The median birth weights were significantly lower in the EPB and VPB groups. Of the 331 neonates, 21 (6.3%) died (20 in the EPB group and one in the MLPB group). Neonatal ICU admission, ventilator support, and low Apgar scores were also significantly more frequent in the EPB group.

Conclusions: Neonatal mortality rises significantly when delivery occurs before 28 weeks of gestation. Complications rise with preeclampsia before 32 weeks. Vigilant monitoring and timely referral improve outcomes, but in resource-limited settings like Pakistan, restricted access to specialized care indicate the need for targeted healthcare investment.