Characteristics of Pediatric Crohn’s Disease in Saudi Children: A Multicenter National Study

Background and Aims. Crohn’s disease (CD) is an evolving disease in KSA. Little is known about its characteristics in the Saudi population. The aims of this study were to describe the characteristics of Saudi children with CD and to determine whether the characteristics of CD in KSA are different from those seen in Western countries. Methods. In this study, children younger than eighteen years of age diagnosed with CD between January 2003 and December 2012 were included. Results. Of 330 patients identified, 186 (56.4%) were males. The median age at diagnosis was 15.8 years. A positive family history for IBD in first-degree relatives occurred in 13.6% of patients. The most common symptoms were abdominal pain (84.2%), weight loss (75.2%), and diarrhea (71.8%). The main disease location was ileocolonic (42.1%) and the main disease behavior was nonstricturing and nonpenetrating (63.6%). Perianal involvement was seen in 60 (18.2%) patients. Laboratory findings revealed anemia in 57.9% of patients, low albumin in 34.5%, and high CRP in 39.4%. Conclusions. Saudi children with CD have lower frequency of first-degree relatives with IBD, lower prevalence of early onset disease, longer diagnostic delay, higher prevalence of growth failure, and greater frequency of stricturing and penetrating disease behavior compared to Western patients

Trends in infant nutrition in Saudi Arabia: compliance with WHO recommendations

<b>Background and Objective: </b> The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months of life. Our objective was to evaluate trends in infant nutrition in Saudi Arabia and the degree of compliance with WHO recommendations. <b> Subjects and Methods: </b> A nationwide nutritional survey of a sample of Saudi households was selected by the multistage probability sampling procedure. A validated questionnaire was administered to mothers of chil--dren less than 3 years of age. <b> Results: </b> Of 5339 children in the sample, 4889 received breast milk at birth indicating a prevalence of initia--tion of 91.6&#x0025;. Initiation of breastfeeding was delayed beyond 6 hours after birth in 28.1&#x0025; of the infants. Bottle feeding was introduced by 1 month of age to 2174/4260 (51.4&#x0025;) and to 3831/4260 (90&#x0025;) by 6 months of age. The majority of infants 3870/4787 (80.8&#x0025;) were introduced to "solid foods" between 4 to 6 months of age and whole milk feedings were given to 40&#x0025; of children younger than 12 months of age. <b> Conclusions: </b> The current practice of feeding of Saudi infants is very far from compliance with even the most conservative WHO<b> </b> recommendations of exclusive breastfeeding for 4 to 6 months. The high prevalence of breastfeeding initiation at birth indicates the willingness of Saudi mothers to breastfeed. However, early intro--duction of complementary feedings reduced the period of exclusive breastfeeding. Research in infant nutrition should be a public health priority to improve the rate of breastfeeding and to minimize other inappropriate practices

Body mass index in Saudi Arabian children and adolescents: a national reference and comparison with international standards

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Because there are no reference standards for body mass index (BMI) in Saudi children, we established BMI reference percentiles for normal Saudi Arabian children and adolescents and compared them with international standards. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Data from a stratified multistage probability sample were collected from the 13 health regions in Saudi Arabia, as part of a nationwide health profile survey of Saudi Arabian children and adolescents conducted to establish normal physical growth references. Selected households were visited by a trained team. Weight and length/height were measured and recorded following the WHO recommended procedures using the same equipment, which were subjected to both calibration and intra/interobserver variations. RESULTS: Survey of 11 874 eligible households yielded 35 275 full-term and healthy children and adolescents who were subjected to anthropometric measurements. Four BMI curves were produced, from birth to 36 months and 2 to 19 years for girls and boys. The 3rd, 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 85 th, 90th, 95th, and 97th percentiles were produced and compared with the WHO and CDC BMI charts. In the higher percentiles, the Saudi children differed from Western counterparts, indicating that Saudi children have equal or higher BMIs. CONCLUSION: The BMI curves reflect statistically representative BMI values for Saudi Arabian children and adolescents