Several species of ants cause stings, but not all lead to allergic reactions. We present a series of cases of allergic reactions following insect bites or stings that presented to our emergency department and that were caused by the black samsum ant (Pachycondyla sennaarensis). Reactions ranged from mild allergic reactions to severe anaphylactic shock. Patients were treated with subcutaneous epinephrine 0.3 mg, intravenous methylprednisolone 125 mg, intravenous diphenhydramine HCl 50 mg, and intravenous normal saline as appropriate. These cases illustrate the range of clinical presentations to black ant stings, which can include severe reactions, indicating that ant stings are a significant public health hazard in Saudi Arabia. Physicians in the Middle East and Asia need to be aware of ant stings as a cause of severe allergic reactions.
The initial emergency department motor score showed the highest predictive validity among all of the other components. These results suggest its validity for blunt trauma triage when compared with the GCS or RTS.
Patient satisfaction with the healthcare services is critical to addressing the barriers to accessing healthcare. Many combined factors are responsible for the poor accessibilities to primary healthcare centers. Less availability of prescription drugs and less thoroughness of care are most frequently associated with high rates of patient dissatisfaction. The low satisfaction rates of patients need to be investigated further to promote prevention programs and increase utilization of healthcare services by patients. The purpose of this book chapter is to analyse the critical dimensions that influence patient satisfaction with primary healthcare services in six gulf countries.
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