Pediatric-onset Multiple Sclerosis (POMS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disorder affecting the central nervous system in children. It can lead to debilitating motor and cognitive sequelae. Disease modifying therapies have been used in children as well as adults, with similarities observed in terms of tolerance, and side-effect profiles. At present the consensus in management of Pediatric MS is based mainly upon adult-based treatment trials. Multiple factors are taken into consideration, including disease activity, coexisting morbidities, patient-based preference, and socioeconomic factors. Rituximab, has shown in numerous case series and reports, to be efficient and well tolerated. We report a female child with a relapsing, progressively debilitating CNS demyelinating disease with poor compliance to Disease-Modifying therapies, and breakthrough relapses during Interferon Beta-1b and Fingolimod trials. After rituximab therapy commencement, she had shown reduction in her annualized relapse rate, improvement in her disability scores; and stability in serial neuroimaging during the subsequent 27 months of regular follow-ups.
BackgroundStatus epilepticus (SE) is one of the most common and well-known neurological emergencies in pediatrics, especially among kids under two years of age. Early identification and treatment are crucial in the prevention of neurological complications and morbidities. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an educational intervention about SE among caregivers of pediatric patients with epilepsy.
MethodologyThis interventional study was conducted among a convenient sample of 206 caregivers of pediatric patients with epilepsy in King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 2020 to July 2021. We included patients who were aged 14 years or less and received rescue medication prescriptions in 2020. The educational intervention was applied to caregivers, and knowledge was compared before and after the intervention. A self-administered questionnaire was utilized.
ResultsThe mean (±SD) age of children was 7.5 (±3.7) years. The mean (±SD) age of caregivers was 36.4 (±6.1) years. About 51.5% of the children were males. The majority of caregivers were mothers (89.8%). The mean (±SD) score of total knowledge was 12.3/20 (±2.6) before the intervention which increased to 15.7/20 (±3.1) after the intervention, and the difference was found to be statically significant (p = 0.001). This indicates that the educational intervention was effective.
ConclusionsThe educational intervention administered in this study significantly improved the knowledge of caregivers of pediatric patients with epilepsy and can help in providing better care to the patients.
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