ADHD prevalence in Lebanese school-age population

OBJECTIVE

The authors conducted an epidemiological study in Lebanon to estimate ADHD prevalence in school-age population.

METHOD

They selected 1,000 children aged between 6 and 10 years, admitted in several schools in Lebanon. In each district, they randomly chose five schools, and in each school two classes. From each class, 10 children were included randomly in the population of the study. For each child, an ADHD-Rating Scale-IV School version was filled by a main teacher. The Home version was filled by the child's parents.

RESULTS

The prevalence of ADHD Inattentive subtype was 3 per 1,000, Hyperactive-Impulsive subtype 12 per 1,000, and ADHD Combined subtype 17 per 1,000. ADHD was significantly more prevalent in boys than in girls.

CONCLUSION

This is the first epidemiological study to be conducted in Lebanon to estimate the prevalence of ADHD among children.

Panton-Valentine leukocidin producing Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage, in North-Lebanon

OBJECTIVES

We investigated the prevalence and the risk factors of nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus carrying Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes [Sa PVL(+)] in pupils.

STUDY POPULATION AND METHODS

Two hundred and fifty-seven pupils were screened by nasal swabbing. The detection of 16S rRNA, mecA and luk-PV genes was performed by PCR and the risk factors were assessed with the statistical analysis of a questionnaire.

RESULTS

Thirty-one percent of pupils were colonized, with 16.4% of isolates carrying the luk-PV gene and 8.8% the mecA gene. Children aged 7years or more and living in a boarding school were the factors promoting nasal carriage 60% of children who presented with an abscess in the previous year were carriers of luk-PV gene Sa.

CONCLUSION

The study revealed a high prevalence of luk-PV gene among methicillin-susceptible strains and a statistically significant correlation between the presence of this gene and presenting with an abscess.