SARS-CoV-2 Related Ischemic Colitis in an Adolescent With Trisomy 21: Diagnostic Pitfalls and Considerations

Enhancing understanding of SARS-CoV-2 infection among individuals with Down syndrome: An integrative review

BACKGROUND

Down syndrome (DS) is a non-rare genetic condition that affects approximately 1 in every 800 live births worldwide. Further, it is associated with comorbidities, anatomical alterations of the respiratory tract, and immunological dysfunctions that make individuals more susceptible to respiratory infections.

OBJECTIVE

To systematize the current scientific knowledge about the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among individuals with DS.

DESIGN AND SETTING

This integrative review was conducted at the Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil.

METHODS

This review was conducted in the following databases: the Virtual Health Library (Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde, BVS), PubMed, and Web of Science, using MeSH descriptors. The search included English or Portuguese studies published between January 1, 2020, and October 14, 2022.

RESULTS

A total of 55 articles from 24 countries were selected, comprising 21 case-control or cohort studies, 23 case reports or series, and 11 narrative reviews or opinion studies. The articles were grouped into five categories: previous comorbidities, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) clinical features and evolution, cytokine storm and interleukins, living in institutions as a risk factor, and behavioral actions as a protective factor against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

CONCLUSION

Individuals with DS are more susceptible to COVID-19 infection due to variables such as previous comorbidities, immunological factors, and their habitable environments. These aspects confer a higher risk of infection and an unfavorable clinical course. The precise pathways involved in the pathophysiology of COVID-19 in individuals with DS are not clear, thus requiring further studies.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

The Open Science Framework registered the research protocol (https://osf.io/jyb97/).

Lessons Learned from the Surgical Management of Childhood Cancers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Globally, there have been more than 285 million confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), with nearly 5.5 million deaths. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data report that in the United States alone, there have been more than 59 million cases of COVID-19 with more than 800,000 lives lost as of January 2022. Similar to other health care specialties, pediatric surgery departments have modified their treatment approach to delivering timely care while respecting resource allocation during the pandemic. In this review, we focus on the surgical management of pediatric patients, with specific attention to childhood cancer. The primary subject of this review is the development of triaging methods for patients with childhood cancer for surgical procedures and precautionary measures for operating on patients with COVID-19. [Pediatr Ann. 2022;51():e270-e276.].