The Fourth Pan-Arab Continence Society (PACS) Congress will take place in Doha, Qatar between 6th and 8th December at the Doha Marriott. The event will be in cooperation with the International Continence Society (ICS).
PACS Congress 2007 will be chaired by Dr. Sherif Murad, Head of the Pan-Arab Continence Society (PACS), Professor of Urology at Ain Shams Medical School (ASMS) in Cairo, and member of the Advisory Board of the International Continence Society (ICS).
Dr. Murad is also in charge of the University of Bristol’s urological program for the Middle East. Physicians and medical school professors from across the region will discuss urinary incontinence, or overactive bladder, a condition which affects men, women, and children.
“At PACS, we aim to introduce advanced treatment therapies to Arab physicians that will help them effectively diagnose and treat conditions leading to urinary incontinence. This will certainly be to the benefit of our patients, men and women, of all ages,” said Dr. Sherif Murad, Head of PACS.
“PACS also aims to raise awareness in the Arab world about this condition, educate the public about the symptoms of urinary incontinence, and provide appropriate medical advice. We urge all patients to seek medical advice once incontinence symptoms appear. This patient awareness and activity will help physicians prescribe suitable treatment at an early stage. It will also help patients, as well as health authorities, save considerable time and money,” continued Dr. Murad.
Cooperation between PACS and ICS has gradually intensified in all areas of common interest. Fourteen world-renowned urologists from ICS will attend PACS Congress 2007. This high level of international participation will enrich the conference discussions and promote exchange of expertise between Middle East and world experts.
The participating physicians will discuss bladder disorders which are more prevalent worldwide than previously thought. Recent studies have shown that bladder disorders are quite common among both sexes and are no less common than diabetes. Symptoms include the sudden need to empty the bladder, and sometimes this need is so urgent that control is lost.
Symptoms also include the need to empty the bladder more frequently than usual during daytime and nighttime. If untreated, the condition could aggravate and men and women may occasionally involuntarily pass a small amount of urine. Complications could include dermatitis and inflammation in the urethra.
Urinary incontinence is usually aggravated by prostate hypertrophy. Symptoms are curable and treatment is available without the need for surgery or other invasive procedures which might not be suitable for all patients.
“Detrusitol, produced by Pfizer, is the most widely prescribed and used drug for urinary incontinence worldwide. It has proved as highly effective in treating most of the cases. This side-effect-free drug is available now in Doha and all Arab states. It helps treat urinary incontinence symptoms effectively and quickly,” said Dr. Ismail Abbara, a Dubai-based Urologist.
“Arab patients should take bladder disorders, or urinary incontinence, seriously, and should consult their urologists or gynaecologists at the earliest possible time for their own benefit,” said Dr. Abbara.
The prestigious ICS 2008 annual conference is taking place in Cairo, Egypt on 22 October and will be chaired by Dr. Sherif Murad.
