Asthma prevalence among 16- to 18-year-old adolescents in Saudi Arabia using the ISAAC questionnaire.

Background: Most of the studies investigating the prevalence of asthma in various countries have focused on children below the age of 15 years or adults above the age of 18 years. There is limited knowledge concerning the prevalence of asthma in 16- to 18-year-old adolescents. Our objective was to study the prevalence of asthma and associated symptoms in 16- to 18-year-old adolescents in Saudi Arabia.

Perception of the role of inhaled corticosteroids and factors affecting compliance among asthmatic adult patients.

Objective: To examine the patient characteristics linked with reduced adherence to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) use.

Methods: A prospective study of adult asthmatic patients who were prescribed with ICS and are under regular follow-up at the pulmonary outpatient clinics between June 1st, and December 31st, 2001, at King Fahad National Guard Hospital in Riyadh. All patients underwent structured interviews with an investigator.

Implementation of the national asthma management guidelines in the emergency department.

Objective: The national protocol for asthma management was released in 1995. There has been no national investigation to compare the actual care delivered at the Emergency Department to those recommended by these guidelines: To compare the documented management of acute bronchial asthma at the Emergency Room (ER) with the Saudi National Guidelines

Methods: Retrospective analyses of a total of 150 ER records, of patients with a diagnosis of asthma over a one year period (January through to December 2000), at King Abdul-Aziz Medical City, King Fahad National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Documentation of the history, indices of severity, treatment given, pre-discharge assessment and prescriptions were compared to the nationally recommended management.

A fatal complication of bronchiectasis. Brain abscess with intraventricular rupture.

The classic clinical manifestations of bronchiectasis are cough and daily production of purulent sputum for months to years. The most common complications are hemoptysis and respiratory failure. Brain abscess has become rare in the recent antibiotic era.