Arab Board Pediatrics Part 1 study guide
Arab Board Pediatrics Part 1 · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Arab Board of Pediatrics Part 1 is the written, theory-based first stage of the Arab Board training programme in paediatrics, awarded under the Council of Arab Health Specialties (commonly referred to as the Arab Board of Health Specializations). It is aimed at doctors who have entered, or are preparing to enter, structured paediatric residency training and who need to demonstrate a broad, secure foundation in the basic and clinical sciences underpinning child health before progressing to later clinical assessments. The Arab Board Pediatrics Part 1 study guide has 12 sections and about 3,758 words.
01Basic Sciences Applied to Pediatrics
Basic science questions in this exam are applied, not rote. You must be able to move from mechanism to clinical sign.
358 words, about 2 min02Growth, Development and Behavioral Pediatrics
You must know normal growth trajectories (weight, length/height, head circumference) and the milestone windows for gross motor, fine motor, language, and social development. Understand growth chart interpretation: crossing centiles, mid-parental height, and the difference between constitutional delay and pathologic failure to thrive.
332 words, about 2 min03Neonatology and Perinatal Medicine
Know fetal-to-neonatal transition : lung fluid clearance, surfactant function, ductal closure, and the shift from placental to pulmonary gas exchange. Understand gestational age assessment , birth weight categories , and the physiology behind respiratory distress syndrome (surfactant deficiency, ground-glass lungs, reticulogranular pattern) versus transient tachypnea of the newborn (delayed fluid clearance, term infant, resolves quickly).
294 words, about 1 min04Pediatric Cardiology
Distinguish cyanotic from acyanotic congenital heart disease by physiology, not just lesion lists. Know the five classic cyanotic lesions (tetralogy of Fallot, transposition, tricuspid atresia, total anomalous pulmonary venous return, truncus arteriosus) and the duct-dependent lesions where prostaglandin E1 is life-saving.
300 words, about 2 min05Pediatric Pulmonology
Know airway anatomy by age (larger head, shorter trachea, narrower subglottis) and why children obstruct easily. Understand asthma pathophysiology -airway inflammation, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and reversible obstruction-and the stepwise controller versus reliever logic.
287 words, about 1 min06Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
Understand bilirubin metabolism and the distinction between unconjugated (hemolysis, Gilbert, Crigler-Najjar) and conjugated (biliary atresia, choledochal cyst, metabolic disease) hyperbilirubinemia. Know neonatal cholestasis red flags: pale stools, dark urine, and conjugated jaundice beyond 2 weeks.
286 words, about 1 min07Pediatric Nephrology and Urology
Know renal maturation -immature GFR and concentrating ability in neonates-and how this affects fluid and drug management. Understand glomerular disease patterns: nephrotic syndrome (proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, edema, hyperlipidemia; minimal change most common) versus nephritic syndrome (hematuria, hypertension, oliguria; post-streptococcal most common).
287 words, about 1 min08Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
Know growth hormone and thyroid physiology , including congenital hypothyroidism (screening, jaundice, constipation, large fontanelle) and the importance of early treatment for neurodevelopment. Understand diabetes mellitus types: type 1 (autoimmune, ketosis-prone) versus type 2 (obesity, insulin resistance, acanthosis nigricans).
276 words, about 1 min09Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
Know anemia classification by MCV (microcytic, normocytic, macrocytic) and the common causes at each age. Master iron deficiency -the most common nutritional anemia-and its stages (depleted stores, iron-deficient erythropoiesis, frank anemia).
271 words, about 1 min10Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology
Know vaccination schedules and contraindications, including live vaccine precautions in immunodeficiency. Understand fever without a source in infants-age-based workup and the threshold for lumbar puncture.
265 words, about 1 min11Pediatric Neurology
Know seizure classification and the difference between febrile seizures (simple vs complex) and epilepsy. Understand status epilepticus management-benzodiazepine first, then second-line agents.
272 words, about 1 min12General Pediatrics
Know well-child visits and anticipatory guidance by age-nutrition, safety, sleep, and development. Understand common childhood illnesses : otitis media, pharyngitis, bronchiolitis, gastroenteritis, and rashes.
530 words, about 3 min