Pediatrics & Health Research Open Access

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Non-suicidal self-strangulation among adolescents in Saudi Arabia: Case series of the choking game

14th World Congress on General Pediatrics & Adolescent medicine
September 25-27, 2017 Chicago, USA

Mohammed Naeem, Fadia AlBuhairan, Alanoud AlMutairi and Majid Al Eissa

King Abdullah Specialized Children�?¢�?�?�?�?s Hospital, KSA

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Ped Health Res

Abstract:

Adolescence is known to be a time of exploration and initiation of risky behaviors. Much attention has been given to risk behaviors such as smoking, violence, and sexual promiscuity; other serious behaviors such as self-strangulation or the choking game, which is carried out by adolescents in response to peer pressures or to gain a transient sense of euphoria, have received little attention, with the available literature coming from the developed world. This is the first report of cases of non-suicidal self-strangulation from the Arab World. In this case series, we report 5 cases of non-suicidal self-strangulation that presented to the Emergency Department of a tertiary care hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia during 2010�?¢�?�?�?�?2012. All the 5 cases were young male adolescents aged 10�?¢�?�?�?�?13 years. This activity resulted in the death of 2 boys; one boy sustained hypoxic ischemic insult to the brain with clinical deficits; and the remaining 2 were fortunate to be discharged home in healthy condition. None of the cases had underlying mental health problems, and multidisciplinary involvement ruled out suicide and homicide activities. Non-suicidal self-strangulation is a fatal behavior that adolescents are engaged. Increased efforts are needed to address this serious and preventable public health issue. Awareness and education of adolescents and their parents is crucial. Awareness of healthcare providers is also necessary to avoid misdiagnosis of such cases.

Biography :

Mohammed Naeem has vast interests and experience in care and development of children and adolescents. His passion gears towards constructing and implementing scientific models to improve systems targeting primary, secondary and tertiary care. His ideology takes a positive direction through his in-depth analyses and vision and further to explore multiple ways that would help understand the complex pathological phenomenon and planning to design and implement strategies to overcome these. His interest and expertise involves population of children and adolescents requiring intensive care. He has been utilizing his vast experience of research, clinical care, patient safety and strategic planning to ambitiously achieve his goals. Through multiple levels of participation in care and strategic planning relevant to diverse patient population, he had been very successful to make his contributions and judgments being heard and taken in considerations.