Highlights An update of the data reported previously in 2016 in Aseer region. The level of education and awareness regarding epilepsy in Aseer region has improved recently. The belief in spiritual and traditional therapies has decreased, considering them as additional options.

Extrapulmonary manifestations of COVID-19 infection include a wide spectrum of cutaneous, endocrine, and cardiovascular complications. We report three cases of new-onset Henoch–Schonlein purpura (HSP) in COVID-19 infected children that were diagnosed and treated in Abha Maternity and Children Hospital, Saudi Arabia, between 28th July 2020 and 10th August 2020. All three cases were males younger than 5 years of age that presented with Henoch–Schonlein purpura characteristic rash and arthralgia without a recent history of any infection, especially respiratory infections. They all tested positive for COVID-19. At the time of the admission, pediatric COVID-19 cases were managed conservatively and we ruled out any other diagnosis before establishing the diagnosis of Henoch–Schonlein purpura according to the clinical picture. The three boys responded significantly to prednisolone and achieved a rapid recovery. We present the clinical scenario and laboratory tests of these children along with pictures of the lesions detected in each case.

IntroductionDespite the growing popularity of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG) for managing severe obesity in children, adolescents, and adults, there is a paucity of studies reporting the effects of SG on metabolic and hormonal outcomes in pediatric populations.MethodologyIn this single-centre, retrospective study, we assessed nutritional biomarkers (hemoglobin, ferritin, iron profile, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, and calcium), glucose homeostasis indicators (C-peptide, HbA1C, and random blood glucose), blood lipids (triglycerides and cholesterol components), hormones involved in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone), and thyroid hormones (T3, T4, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and parathyroid hormone) preoperatively and 12-month after SG in children aged 5–15 years.ResultsThis study included 64 adolescents (mean age = 11.2 ± 2.3 years) who underwent laparoscopic SG. Significant reduction in circulatory C-peptide (−62.1%; p = 0.005), HbA1C (−10.9%; p = 0.001), random blood glucose (−15.4%; p = 0.036), and triglycerides (−39.4%; p = 0.003) were observed postoperatively at 12 months compared to baseline. Although we did not observe any changes in cortisol levels, adrenocorticotropic hormone levels declined significantly by −40.9% postoperatively (p = 0.033). However, cholesterol components, thyroid hormones, and nutritional biomarkers remained unchanged from baseline.ConclusionsConsistent with prior literature, our study demonstrates improvement or resolution of diabetes and hypertriglyceridemia in the year following SG. However, given that blood cholesterol components, nutritional biomarkers, and thyroid profiles remained unchanged warrants long-term monitoring of nutritional, metabolic, and endocrine factors in adolescents undergoing laparoscopic SG. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study reporting the effects of SG on thyroid and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis hormones in pediatric populations.

IntroductionDuring the current crisis of COVID 19, recent studies evident that it has a huge impact on public mental health and individuals’ behavior.ObjectivesOur study aimed to estimate the prevalence of high denial attitude towards the emerging pandemic of COVID 19 among the general population of Saudi Arabia.MethodsA cross-sectional online survey was conducted from April 3, 2020 to May 5, 2020. All participants (N= 1817) were asked to complete an online questionnaire survey that included socio-demographic and other variables, and Denial Attitude Questionnaire towards COVID-19 pandemic (DAQ-COVID-19).ResultsHigh denial attitude was prevalent among 728 (40.1 %) of the participants. It was associated with old age, being married, having low educational level, working in a non-medical professions, do not have a past history of infectious diseases, spending less than one hour following COVID-19 news, satisfied with the government procedures for COVID-19, and highly depressed and anxious respondents, where p-values were 0.001, 0.019, <0.001, 0.027, <0.001, <0.001, 0.004, 0.008, and 0.026; respectively.ConclusionsAbout two out of five participants had high denial attitude. To our knowledge, the current study is the first study that tries to evaluate a high denial attitude during the initial COVID 19 outbreaks, especially in Saudi Arabia. However, further exploration in this field is needed. We suggest conducting such a study at the end of the current pandemic or in the second wave of the outbreak