© 1988 by Oxford University Press
research-article |
Neuro-developmental Problems in Children in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: 1-Year's Experience in a Family Practice Centre
PO Box 52783, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 11573
Neurological and developmental problems were diagnosed in 100 children aged from 1 month to 11 years during 1984 and 1985, out of 1716 children who presented for pediatric consultation. The total number of children seen at the centre by the physicians for that year was 28401 out of 75600 patients of all ages. The ethnic groups and nationalities were varied; 73 per cent were natives; 23 per cent were non-natives mostly from the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia, usually of social classes III–IV.
The 100 children included 65 per cent females and 35 per cent males. The diagnostic problems were the following: 23 per cent had cerebral palsy; 18 per cent had psychological and/or psychosomatic problems and disorders of vegetative functions; 17 per cent had non-organic failure to thrive (FTT); 14 per cent presented with congenital malformations; 8 per cent with hydrocephalus; 2 per cent with epilepsy; 20 per cent with miscellaneous conditions.
The aetiology of cerebral palsy was prenatal in 21.7 per cent, perinatal in 8.6 per cent; postnatal in 21.7 per cent; mixed factors in 4.3 per cent; unknown in 43.4 per cent In 16 patients (69.5 per cent), there was a positive family history and/or consanguinity; 12 of these patients were natives: 4 per cent had multiple physical handicaps and/or mental retardation.
Cerebral palsy was of the spastic type in 69.5 per cent, with a higher incidence in females 56.5 per cent.
Except for the higher incidence in females, the high incidence in consanguinity and the positive family history, the findings are similar to those described in the literature.