Fatema Ali Mohamed Alekri*, Maryam Majeed Ahmed, Rehab Zuhair Ali Alsalman, Zainab Ali Abdulhusain Al-Aradi, Zainab Ali Hussain Ismaeel
Introduction: Influenza is a highly contagious respiratory viral illness that is vaccine-preventable and occurs seasonally. While most cases present with mild respiratory symptoms, influenza can lead to severe complications in vulnerable populations, such as diabetics. Despite the protective benefits of annual vaccination, its uptake remains inconsistent worldwide, including among diabetic patients. Various factors, including knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward vaccination, may contribute to this low adoption.
Aim: This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes of diabetic patients attending primary health care in Bahrain about seasonal influenza and the determinants of vaccine uptake or refusal.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between 6th and 17th February 2022 in five health centers in Bahrain. Utilizing an online calculator, a sample size of 357 was determined. The study was conducted using a convenience sampling method, which may restrict its generalizability. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess patients’ knowledge and attitudes about seasonal influenza and influenza vaccination.
Results: A total number of 393 participants (208 males and 185 females) were enrolled in the study with a mean age 58.8 years (SD = 10.1). Most participants in the present study had poor levels of knowledge towards seasonal influenza and influenza vaccine (56.7% and 64.1%, respectively). Furthermore, advice from doctors about the importance of vaccination was the most decisive of vaccine uptake (72.9%), while patients’ perception that the vaccine is unnecessary as flu is just a minor illness was the most determinant of vaccine refusal (40.2%). A significantly strong association was found between patients’ knowledge and attitudes towards influenza vaccine uptake (P < 0.001).
Additionally, the results showed that around 49.4% of the patients did not get the vaccine. Uptake of influenza vaccine was significantly higher among female participants (Odds ratio; OR = 1.8), participants with diabetes duration above 6 years (OR = 2) and participants with good, combined knowledge of influenza and its vaccine (OR = 2.9).
Conclusion: In conclusion, this study found significant gaps in knowledge towards seasonal influenza and influenza vaccine. Nonetheless, most patients showed significant positive attitudes in favor of the vaccine. Significant association was found between patients’ knowledge and their attitudes toward influenza vaccine uptake. Urgent interventions to improve influenza vaccine uptake and knowledge are needed.
Keywords: Influenza, Influenza vaccine, Diabetes mellitus, Knowledge, Attitudes
Fatima Alrowaiei1, Mohammed Awadh2*, Thamer Alabbasi3, Abdulla Darwish4
Osseous metaplasia is rare in colorectal lesions and exceedingly rare in colonic polyps. We present a case report of rectal juvenile polyp with stromal osseous metaplasia in a 21-year-old male who presented with fecal incontinence episodes throughout the day and night over the past 2 years. The patient underwent a colonoscopy and polypectomy, which showed a juvenile polyp with osseous metaplasia. The patient’s primary concern was to fully recover postoperatively. Juvenile polyp with osseous metaplasia may be added to the differential diagnosis of patients with fecal incontinence. This work aims to discuss pathogenesis and review the literature on this rare condition.
Keywords: Colorectal polyp, Juvenile polyp, Osseous metaplasia, Colorectal tumors, Intestinal imaging
Nayla Alfaw1*, Razan AR A Jalil1, Aditya Bhat2, Neal Nicola Kalis2,3, Minooosh Nasef1,3, Lara Boustros1
Brugada syndrome (BrS) is a rare inherited cardiac channelopathy disorder. It is known for its distinctive electrocardiogram (ECG) patterns and often manifests with unexplained syncope or sudden cardiac arrest. The genetic basis of BrS is diverse, involving mutations in genes that encode cardiac ion channel subunits, including calcium, sodium and potassium, alongside genes governing their transport regulation. Although BrS is well-documented in adults and older children, its presentation during the neonatal period is uncommon and poorly described. We present a case of a full-term newborn, delivered at 40 weeks of gestation, who experienced multiple episodes of ventricular tachycardia. These episodes began on the fourth day of life during neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission for transient tachypnoea of the newborn and tachycardia. An extensive evaluation was conducted, including genetic testing for channelopathies, which identified a heterozygous mutation (AD) in the CACNA1C gene that encodes the alpha-1C subunit of the L-type voltage-gated calcium channel located on chromosome 12p13, thus confirming the diagnosis of BrS type 3.
Keywords: Ventricular Tachycardia, Neonate, Calcium Channelopathy, Brugada Syndrome
Mohamed Ahmed Alnafaiei1, Amani Ali Amer2*
Drug-induced skin rashes are a frequent yet often overlooked adverse reaction. Aripiprazole, an atypical antipsychotic, has been associated with various dermatological reactions, though reports of Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (CLE) remain scarce. We present a case of a 38-year-old male with an acute psychotic episode who developed a butterfly rash 10 days after initiating aripiprazole treatment. Extensive investigations, including serological markers for lupus, were negative. The rash resolved within 20 days of discontinuing aripiprazole, supporting the diagnosis of drug-induced CLE. This case highlights the diagnostic challenge of differentiating drug-induced lupus from primary dermatological conditions, particularly in psychiatric patients with multiple medication changes. Given the limited literature on aripiprazole-induced CLE, this report underscores the need for increased clinical awareness and thorough evaluation of unexplained dermatological reactions in patients receiving antipsychotics. Early recognition and prompt discontinuation of the offending drug are crucial in preventing unnecessary interventions and ensuring optimal patient care.
Keywords: Antipsychotic Agents, Aripiprazole, Cutaneous, Drug-induced, Lupus Erythematosus