Background The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the lives of many people, including medical students. The present study explored internet addiction and changes in sleep patterns among medical students during the pandemic and assessed the relationship between them. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out in seven countries, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Guyana, India, Mexico, Pakistan, and Sudan, using a convenience sampling technique, an online survey comprising demographic details, information regarding COVID-19, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Internet Addiction Test (IAT). Results In total, 2749 participants completed the questionnaire. Of the total, 67.6% scored above 30 in the IAT, suggesting the presence of an Internet addiction, and 73.5% scored equal and above 5 in the PSQI, suggesting poor sleep quality. Internet addiction was found to be significant predictors of poor sleep quality, causing 13.2% of the variance in poor sleep quality. Participants who reported COVID-19 related symptoms had disturbed sleep and higher internet addiction levels when compared with those who did not. Participants who reported a diagnosis of COVID-19 reported poor sleep quality. Those living with a COVID-19 diagnosed patient reported higher internet addiction and worse sleep quality compared with those who did not have any COVID-19 patients in their surroundings. Conclusion The results of this study suggest that internet addiction and poor sleep quality are two issues that require addressing amongst medical students. Medical training institutions should do their best to minimize their negative impact, particularly during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: Adult idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is often linked to obesity, however, causes of IIH in children are not well understood. This project identifies potential risk factors and features of pediatric IIH. Methods: This study consisted of a retrospective chart review of patients ages 5–17 years who were seen at a tertiary care children’s hospital and diagnosed with IIH. Diagnostic criteria included the presence of papilledema, normal neurological exam, normal neuroimaging, normal cerebrospinal fluid composition, and an opening pressure of a lumbar puncture >28 mmHg. Results: Of the 26 cases of IIH, 19 met all diagnostic criteria for this study, while seven patients were probable IIH, as they lacked papilledema. Intracranial pressure ranged from 28 to 66 mmHg, with a mean of 40.23 mmHg (±10.74). Overall, 50.0% (95% CI: 29.9–70.1%) of IIH patients were obese, with patients 12 years of age and younger exhibiting an overall obesity rate of 30.7% and patients 13 years of age and older having an obesity rate of 69.2%. The overall allergy rate in this IIH patient population was 46.2% (95% CI: 26.6–66.6%). Conclusion: Obesity appears to have no association with IIH in younger cases, but it is a more common feature in older children. An autoimmune component may play a role in pediatric IIH, given the high rate of atopy observed in this pediatric IIH patient cohort. Because a diagnosis of IIH can have an absence of optic nerve edema, taking a detailed history and performing a thorough examination are keys to diagnosing IIH in the pediatric population.

PurposeChild abuse is a leading cause of death in infants, which is often associated with abusive head trauma (AHT). The purpose of this retrospective analysis was to identify ocular and systemic findings in confirmed cases of AHT and compare them to a group of non-abusive head trauma (NAHT) patients.Patients and methodsA retrospective chart review of 165 patients with accidental and non-accidental trauma admitted between 2013 and 2015 to Children’s Hospital and Medical Center in Omaha, NE, USA, was performed. Diagnosis of AHT was made after the analysis of ocular and systemic findings by various subspecialists. The NAHT group consisted of accidental trauma, abusive trauma without significant apparent head involvement on initial evaluation and unconfirmed AHT cases.ResultsOf the 165 presenting cases, 30 patients were diagnosed with AHT and 127 were diagnosed with NAHT. Ocular findings in AHT patients were significant for retinal hemorrhages (63%) and vitreous hemorrhages (37%), while NAHT patients had no ocular findings (p<0.001). Neuroimaging revealed subdural hemorrhages (SDHs) in 29 out of 30 AHT patients (97%) and in 27 out of 127 NAHT patients (21%). Seizures were present in 43% of AHT patients (n=13) and only in 8% of NAHT patients (n=10).ConclusionAHT has statistically significant findings of retinal and vitreous hemorrhages. The absence of diffuse retinal hemorrhages, however, does not preclude the AHT diagnosis as more than one-third of AHT patients lacked retinal hemorrhages. SDHs, loss of consciousness and history of seizures also have high correlation with a diagnosis of AHT.

No abstract

PurposeThe treatment of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is not standardized and can vary significantly between providers. This study aims to determine preferred practices in treating ROP by globally surveying pediatric ophthalmologists.MethodsBetween January and February 2017, an international pediatric ophthalmology interest group was invited to complete an anonymous survey of 18 questions. The main objectives were to determine the preferred first line of treatment for ROP, the preferred dosage of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) used, and the outcome and possible complications following bevacizumab injection.ResultsOut of 101 pediatric ophthalmologists, 72 (71.8%) stated that they had direct involvement in the treatment of ROP. When presented with type 1 ROP which requires treatment, 69 ophthalmologists (68.3%) stated that they prefer laser treatment over bevacizumab, and 33 ophthalmologists (32.7%) stated they would recommend bevacizumab as a first choice. Ninety-three ophthalmologists (92.1%) reported the success of 1 laser treatment between 75% and 100%, and 35 ophthalmologists (34.7%) perceive bevacizumab to be 75%–100% successful. Half dose of adult-prescribed bevacizumab at 0.625 mg/0.05 mL was preferred by 47 of the ophthalmologists (46.5%). No cases of endophthalmitis were reported with intravitreal injection.ConclusionLaser photoablation remains the preferred mode of treatment for ROP among surveyed ophthalmologists across the world. Though bevacizumab is currently being used, this form of treatment is not as common, primarily due to the unknown safety profile and potential long-term ramifications of the drug.

No abstract

No abstract

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a unilateral, paroxysmal, sharp, shooting, or jabbing pain that occurs in the trigeminal nerve divisions, including the ophthalmic (V1), maxillary (V2), and mandibular (V3) nerves. Typically, an episode is triggered by anything touching the face or teeth. TN is a clinical diagnosis with no specific diagnostic test; it is determined by the patient's medical history and pain description. Imaging is necessary to exclude secondary causes. The precise reason for TN is uncertain, but it is commonly believed to result from vascular compression of the trigeminal nerve root, typically near its origin in the pons. There are numerous surgical and medical treatment options available. The most frequently applied medical treatment therapies are carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine. Surgical alternatives are reserved for patients who do not respond to medical treatment. Botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) has emerged as a novel and promising alternative to surgery for individuals whose pain is unresponsive to medication. Multiple studies have established the safety and usefulness of BTX-A in treating TN, with the most significant benefits occurring between six weeks and three months after the surgery. This article reviews various studies published in the last 10 years regarding the therapeutic use of BTX-A in TN. These studies include various observational, clinical, pilot, and animal studies.