Qatar Medical Journal - Volume 2024, Issue 4

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a rapid shift to telehealth and reshaped healthcare delivery worldwide. In Qatar, telehealth has emerged as a critical tool for ensuring uninterrupted care while minimizing the spread of viruses. However, its long-term efficacy, particularly in mental health services, is still poorly understood. The aim of this study was to address this gap by evaluating the post Read More

Background: Leishmaniasis is an emerging tropical infectious disease in Qatar. It is caused by the protozoan parasite of the Leishmania genus, which is endemic in many regions of the world, including the Middle East. In Qatar, there is limited data about this disease, which is hindering the efficient planning and implementation of disease prevention and control measures. Therefore, to address this knowledge gap, Read More

Background: Achalasia is a rare esophageal motility disorder of unknown etiology, which leads to changes in the pressure and relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), affecting peristalsis and contraction of the esophageal body. Dysphagia can impact individuals of any age, it is frequent in the elderly. Non-specific gastrointestinal symptoms are delayed and can give false diagnoses. The aim of this study is Read More

Background: Secondary hypertension is characterized by an elevated blood pressure greater than 140/90 mmHg, which occurs as a consequence of other diseases. The common etiologies of secondary hypertension include renal parenchymal causes, endocrine disorders, and vascular pathologies like coarctation of the aorta (CoA). Case presentation: A 20-year-old patient was admitted to our hospital Read More

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) disease is a major global health problem affecting 10.6 million people worldwide, and India alone contributes 28% to this burden. Pancreatic TB is considered an extremely rare entity which closely mimics pancreatic carcinoma. However, while 87% of the total globally notified TB cases are from 30 high-burden countries mostly from Asia, about 45% of pancreatic TB cases are fro Read More

Malaria continues to pose a significant public health challenge in Africa, where 95% of global malaria cases and deaths occur in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Cerebral malaria (CM) is a fatal type of severe malaria primarily caused by Plasmodium falciparum species and disproportionately affects children under five years. Despite ongoing control efforts, CM persists as one of the most prevalent prese Read More

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a highly contagious pathogen known for causing respiratory tract infections, particularly among pediatric and elderly patients. Its ability to induce outbreaks in both community and hospital settings underscores its substantial health burden. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of RSV, including its biological and clinical aspects. Methods: A Read More

Background: Hearing loss (HL) is a major public health problem that is significant for mental health and physical conditions. HL may be a potentially modifiable risk factor for poorer mental health outcomes. The study aimed to explore the association between HL, social isolation, anxiety, and depression. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of consecutive patients aged 50 years or old Read More

Background: Obese patients are at increased risk of postoperative respiratory complications because of sedatives and opioids. The erector spinae block is a novel regional block that has been used in different surgeries. It offers an easier approach and a better safety profile. This study aimed to assess the role of erector spinae plane block (ESPB) in reducing postoperative pain scores and opioid consumption i Read More

Introduction: Preeclampsia and eclampsia are hypertensive disorders of pregnancy associated with significant maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a neurological complication observed in these conditions, yet its impact on fetomaternal outcomes remains underexplored. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between PRES and fetom Read More

Background: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are commonly prescribed to hospitalized patients, but many of these prescriptions may not be based on evidence-based indications. It’s important to understand that inappropriate prescribing of PPIs can lead to unnecessary medications and financial burdens. Unfortunately, there are not many recent studies exploring how often PPIs are prescribed and if they are bei Read More

Introduction: The inclusion of artificial intelligence (AI) in the healthcare sector has transformed medical practices by introducing innovative techniques for medical education, diagnosis, and treatment strategies. In medical education, the potential of AI to enhance learning and assessment methods is being increasingly recognized. This study aims to evaluate the performance of OpenAI’s Chat Generative Pr Read More

Introduction: Neonatal sepsis (NS) is a major healthcare burden in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, with a prevalence higher than the global average. Microbial drug resistance has major implications for mortality and morbidity from NS. Objective: To synthesize data regarding the patterns of causative bacteria of NS in the GCC and their antimicrobial susceptibility profiles. Methods: Following the exploration Read More

Background: The Ponseti method for clubfoot treatment is a non-surgical treatment with a successful outcome. However, many children are not able to complete Ponseti treatment due to various barriers and are termed dropout children. This study aimed to find out the factors responsible for dropout from clubfoot treatment in Peshawar, Pakistan. Methods: The study was conducted in the Clubfoot Departm Read More

Introduction: Pulmonary barotrauma in coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) carries high risk of mortality. While various studies have reported increased mortality, few have assessed the contributing factors for the occurrence of this complication. This study aimed at exploring the contributing factors for barotrauma in COVID-19 ARDS. Methodology: In this retrosp Read More

Introduction: Motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) are a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. There is limited literature on the injuries resulting from desert off-road driving accidents. This study aims to delineate the attributes of desert MVA and associated injuries as observed in Qatar. Methods: This is a Qatar-based retrospective descriptive multicenter study from electronic medical records (EM Read More

Background: Wars are escalating globally with devastating impacts on all aspects of life. The conflict between Ukraine and Russia began on February 24, 2022. Approximately 80,000 students of 155 nationalities were studying in Ukraine when the war started, disrupting their education and forcing many to leave the country. We aimed to determine the physical, emotional, and moral effects of the Ukrainia Read More

Background: The introduction of the varicella vaccine has led to a significant decrease in pediatric varicella-induced invasive Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcal [GAS]) infections. However, the development of a pleural empyema following a chickenpox infection is a rare complication in pediatric patients. Case presentation: In this report, we present a 5-year-old male patient who presented to the em Read More

Introduction: Very important person (VIP) syndrome, or recommended patient syndrome (RPS), is a phenomenon in healthcare where well-intentioned efforts to enhance care inadvertently result in harm. Celebrities, physicians, and political leaders often receive preferential treatment, leading to potentially unnecessary interventions. This review delves into its causes, manifestations, consequences, real-l Read More

Introduction: Self-injury (SI) behavior represents a significant mental health concern that is prevalent among children and adolescents. The aim of this study was to examine the rates and types of suicidal and non-suicidal SI among post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) cases of sexual abuse victims and compare them with a major depressive disorder (MDD) group and a healthy control group. Methods: This Read More