Severe asthma in children: An official statement from Saudi Pediatric Pulmonology Association.

In Saudi Arabia, the prevalence of pediatric asthma ranges between 8% and 25%. However, there are no sufficient data regarding severe asthma in childhood in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, a task force has been formed by the Saudi Pediatric Pulmonology Association which is a subsidiary group of the Saudi Thoracic Society and consists of Saudi experts with well-respected academic and clinical backgrounds in the fields of pediatric asthma as well as other respiratory diseases to write a consensus on definitions, phenotypes, and pathophysiology, evaluation, and management.

Endothelial dysfunction in children without hypertension: potential contributions of obesity and obstructive sleep apnea.

Background: Endothelial dysfunction can develop in the context of both obesity and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children. However, the potential interactions between OSA and obesity have not been defined.

Methods: Children who were prepubertal and nonhypertensive were recruited.

Endothelial dysfunction in obese non-hypertensive children without evidence of sleep disordered breathing.

Background: Endothelial dysfunction is a complication of both obesity and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), the latter being highly prevalent among obese children. It is unknown whether obesity causes endothelial dysfunction in children in the absence of OSAS. This study examines endothelial function in obese and non-obese children without OSAS.