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Out-of-Season Epidemic of Respiratory Syncytial Virus during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The High Burden of Child Hospitalization in an Academic Hospital in Southern Italy in 2021. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 9:children9060848. [PMID: 35740785 PMCID: PMC9221938 DOI: 10.3390/children9060848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is the most common cause of hospitalization in young children. In the last 2 years, public health measures aimed at controlling the spread of SARS-CoV-2 have affected the epidemiology and seasonality of RSV worldwide. The aim of this descriptive retrospective observational study was to describe the characteristics of children hospitalized with RSV in an academic tertiary care hospital in Southern Italy in 2021. We also investigate the seasonal trends of RSV from 2017 to 2021. The demographic characteristics, comorbidities, clinical data, and coinfections were retrospectively evaluated. Compared with previous seasons, the 2021 outbreak of RSV was characterized by an increased number of patients, with a delayed peak observed in November. Overall, 179 children, including 128 (71.5%) aged <12 months, were hospitalized for RSV infection between August and December 2021. Ten children (5.6%) were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), all aged <5 months. One patient (0.5%) aged <1 month with severe comorbidities died. The severity of symptoms was significantly associated with younger age, underlying chronic disease, and the length of hospital stay (p < 0.05 each). History of prematurity was not significantly associated with the presence of coinfections. Because of the high burden of RSV infection and the expected larger RSV epidemics resulting from a greater number of RSV-naïve children, systematic epidemiological and virological surveillance is needed. Appropriate pathways for access to RSV prevention in all infants should also be introduced.
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Lassandro G, Carriero F, Palladino V, Vecchio GCD, Giordano P. Quick drop of platelet counts in children with chronic immune thrombocytopenia after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination: case reports. Clin Exp Vaccine Res 2022; 11:290-293. [DOI: 10.7774/cevr.2022.11.3.290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Lassandro
- Department Interdisciplinary of Medicine, Pediatric Unit “B. Trambusti”, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, Italy
| | - Francesco Carriero
- Department Interdisciplinary of Medicine, Pediatric Unit “B. Trambusti”, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, Italy
| | - Valentina Palladino
- Department Interdisciplinary of Medicine, Pediatric Unit “B. Trambusti”, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, Italy
| | - Giovanni Carlo Del Vecchio
- Department Interdisciplinary of Medicine, Pediatric Unit “B. Trambusti”, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, Italy
| | - Paola Giordano
- Department Interdisciplinary of Medicine, Pediatric Unit “B. Trambusti”, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, Italy
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Vignesh S, Butt AS, Alboraie M, Martins BC, Piscoya A, Tran QT, Yew DTM, Ghazanfar S, Alavinejad P, Kamau E, Verma AM, Mendelsohn RB, Khor C, Moss A, Liao DWC, Huang CS, Tsai FC. Impact of COVID-19 on Endoscopy Training: Perspectives from a Global Survey of Program Directors and Endoscopy Trainers. Clin Endosc 2021; 54:678-687. [PMID: 34619833 PMCID: PMC8505182 DOI: 10.5946/ce.2021.140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background/Aims The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted the training of medical trainees internationally. The aim of this study was to assess the global impact of COVID-19 on endoscopy training from the perspective of endoscopy trainers and to identify strategies implemented to mitigate the impact on trainee education.
Methods Teaching faculty of gastroenterology (GI) training programs globally were invited to complete a 36-question web-based survey to report the characteristics of their training programs and the impact of COVID-19 on various aspects of endoscopy training, including what factors decisions were based on.
Results The survey response rate was 52.6% (305 out of 580 individuals); 92.8% reported a negative impact on endoscopy training, with suspension of elective procedures (77.1%) being the most detrimental factor. Geographic variations were noted, with European programs reporting the lowest percentage of trainee participation in procedures. A higher proportion of trainees in the Americas were allowed to continue performing procedures, and trainers from the Americas reported receiving the greatest support for endoscopy teaching.
Conclusions This study demonstrated that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant negative impact on GI endoscopy training internationally, as reported by endoscopy trainers. Focus-optimizing endoscopy training and assessment of competencies are necessary to ensure adequate endoscopy training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivakumar Vignesh
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Amna Subhan Butt
- Section of Gastroenterology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Mohamed Alboraie
- Department of Internal Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Bruno Costa Martins
- University of Sao Paulo Institute of Cancer of Sao Paulo State, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Quang Trung Tran
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue City, Vietnam
| | - Damien Tan Meng Yew
- Department of Gastroenterology, Duke, NUS Medical School, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shahriyar Ghazanfar
- Department of Surgery, Civil Hospital Karachi, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Pezhman Alavinejad
- Alimentary Tract Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Edna Kamau
- Department of Clinical medicine and Therapeutics University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Ajay M Verma
- Consultant Gastroenterologist & Physician Kettering General Hospital NHS, Kettering, UK
| | - Robin B Mendelsohn
- Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, NY, USA
| | - Christopher Khor
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Singapore General Hospital , Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Alan Moss
- Western Health and University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - David Wei Chih Liao
- Department of Internal Medicine National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Christopher S Huang
- Section of Gastroenterology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, USA
| | - Franklin C Tsai
- Division of Gastroenterology, Scripps Clinic - Scripps Green Hospital, Scripps Green Hospital, San Diego, USA
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Cardenas MC, Bustos SS, Enninga EAL, Mofenson L, Chakraborty R. Characterising and managing paediatric SARSCoV-2 infection: Learning about the virus in a global classroom. Acta Paediatr 2021; 110:409-422. [PMID: 33175403 DOI: 10.1111/apa.15662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
AIM This study is a comprehensive review with the purpose of collecting the most relevant data in several sections including current treatment guidelines in the paediatric population. METHODS Literature was systematically searched in different databases. Results were limited to 2019+ and English, French and Spanish language. RESULTS Children can exhibit mild and less severe COVID-19 disease than adults and also have asymptomatic carriage of SARS-CoV-2, while severe disease is more frequently noted during infancy (<1 year). SARS-CoV-2 binds the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) receptor; age-, racial-, and gender-specific differences in ACE-2 expression need to be elucidated in order to explain the differential clinical profiles between children and adults. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is an important condition to recognise in children. The decision to use antiviral or immunomodulatory therapy in a child or adolescent should be individualised based on the clinical scenario. Remdesivir is the only FDA-approved therapy available for children older than 12 years old who require hospitalisation for COVID-19. CONCLUSION Further studies are urgently required to address prevention and treatment in at-risk and infected children, especially with underlying comorbidities. The chapter on the overall impact of COVID-19 in children has not yet been written. Nevertheless, SARS-CoV-2 has now joined a long list of human pandemics, which may forever change the world's history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria C. Cardenas
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases Department of Mayo Clinic Rochester Minnesota USA
| | - Samyd S. Bustos
- Department of Surgery Mayo Clinic Rochester Minnesota USA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine Mayo Clinic Rochester Minnesota USA
| | | | - Lynne Mofenson
- Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation Washington District of Columbia USA
| | - Rana Chakraborty
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases Department of Mayo Clinic Rochester Minnesota USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Mayo Clinic Rochester Minnesota USA
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Reinsch S, Stallmach A, Grunert PC. The COVID-19 Pandemic: Fears and Overprotection in Pediatric Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Their Families. Pediatr Gastroenterol Hepatol Nutr 2021; 24:65-74. [PMID: 33505895 PMCID: PMC7813565 DOI: 10.5223/pghn.2021.24.1.65] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 12/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has influenced the lives of people worldwide. Little is known about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the behavior and fears of pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and their families. We conducted a survey to determine the COVID-19 exposure, related perceptions, and information sources; medication compliance; and patients' and parents' behaviors, fears, and physician contact. METHODS An anonymous cross-sectional survey of pediatric patients with IBD and their parents at one pediatric gastroenterology unit of a university medical center was performed. RESULTS A total of 46 pediatric patients with IBD and 44 parents completed the survey. Parents of pediatric patients with IBD had high fear of their children becoming infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. They perceived schools as the most hazardous environment, whereas the children did not. Half the pediatric patients with IBD feared infection. Patients and parents felt sufficiently informed about COVID-19. The primary source of guidance for pediatric patients was their parents (43%), followed by television and social media, whereas the parents mainly consulted internet news websites (52.2%), television, and public health institutes. Pediatric patients with IBD adhered to their prescribed medication. They also showed cautious behavior by enhancing hand hygiene (84%) and leaving the house less frequently than before. However, in-person medical visits remained favored over video consultations. CONCLUSION Although parents expressed overprotective concerns, both parents and pediatric patients with IBD are coping well with the COVID-19 pandemic. IBD-relevant information should be actively conveyed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Reinsch
- Pediatric Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Andreas Stallmach
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
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