Knowledge Regarding Causes and Ill Effects of Household Air Pollution Among Residents of a Selected Community in Kozhikode (Kerala)

The present study was conducted to assess the knowledge regarding causes and ill effects of household air pollution among residents of selected community in Kozhikode (Kerala). The research design adopted was non-experimental descriptive survey type. The sample was selected using non-probability convenience sampling technique. The data were collected using semi structured questionnaire to assess the knowledge regarding causes and ill effects of household air pollution among residents. The data was tabulated and analysed by descriptive and inferential statistics. The study revealed that majority of the samples (50%) had average knowledge regarding causes and ill effects of household air pollution and 31.7 percent had good knowledge, spiratory illness due to household air pollution.

COVID 19 INFECTION IN A PATIENT NEWLY DIAGNOSED WITH HIV/TB COINFECTION – A CASE REPORT

HIV/TB coinfection, COVID 19 with HIV/TB, immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS), TB lymphadenopathy

COVID-19 e hospitalizações por SRAG no Brasil: uma comparação até a 12ª semana epidemiológica de 2020 / COVID-19 y las hospitalizaciones por el SRAG en Brasil: una comparación hasta la 12ª semana epidemiológica de 2020 / COVID-19 and hospitalizations for SARI in Brazil: a comparison up to the 12th epidemiological week of 2020

Resumo: A vigilância de síndrome respiratória aguda grave (SRAG) no Brasil visa a caracterizar a circulação dos vírus Influenza A e B em casos hospitalizados e óbitos, tendo sido ampliada em 2012 para incluir outros vírus respiratórios. A COVID-19 foi detectada no Brasil pela primeira vez na 9ª semana epidemiológica de 2020 e o teste para o vírus SARS-CoV-2 foi incluído no protocolo de vigilância a partir da 12ª semana epidemiológica. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o padrão de hospitalizações por SRAG no país após a entrada do SARS-CoV-2, comparando o perfil temporal, etário e de resultados laboratoriais com os anos de 2010 a 2019. Em 2020, a hospitalização por SRAG, contabilizada desde a data do primeiro caso de COVID-19 confirmado até a 12ª semana, superou o observado, no mesmo período, em cada um dos 10 anos anteriores. A faixa etária acima de 60 anos foi a mais acometida, em nível acima do histórico. Houve um aumento considerável de testes laboratoriais negativos, sugerindo a circulação de um vírus diferente dos presentes no painel. Concluímos que o aumento das hospitalizações por SRAG, a falta de informação específica sobre o agente etiológico e a predominância de casos entre idosos, no mesmo período de tempo em que cresce o número de casos novos de COVID-19, é coerente com a hipótese de que os casos graves da doença já estejam sendo detectados pela vigilância de SRAG com sobrecarga para o sistema de saúde. A inclusão da testagem para SARS-CoV-2 no protocolo de vigilância de SRAG e sua efetiva implementação são de grande importância para acompanhar a evolução dos casos graves da doença no país.

Resumen: La vigilancia del síndrome respiratorio agudo grave (SRAG) en Brasil tiene como objetivo caracterizar la circulación de los virus de la Influenza A y B en casos y muertes hospitalizadas, y se expandió en 2012 para incluir otros virus respiratorios. La COVID-19 se detectó en Brasil por la primera vez en la 9ª semana epidemiológica de 2020, y el examen test para el virus SARS-CoV-2 se incluyó en el protocolo de vigilancia a partir de la 12ª semana epidemiológica. El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar el patrón de hospitalizaciones por SRAG en Brasil desde la entrada de SARS-CoV-2, comparando el perfil temporal y de edad y los resultados de laboratorio entre los años 2010 a 2019. En 2020, las hospitalizaciones por SRAG, compiladas a partir de la fecha del primer caso confirmado de COVID-19 hasta la 12ª semana, excedió los números observados durante el mismo período en cada uno de los 10 años anteriores. El grupo de edad mayor de 60 años fue el más afectado, a niveles superiores a los históricos. Hubo un aumento considerable en las pruebas de laboratorio negativas, lo que sugiere la circulación de un virus diferente de los que ya están presentes en el panel. Se concluye que el aumento de las hospitalizaciones por SRAG, la falta de información específica sobre el agente etiológico y el predominio de casos entre los ancianos en el mismo período en que hubo un aumento de casos nuevos de COVID-19 se entiende que con esta hipótesis de que los casos graves de COVID-19 ya estén siendo monitorados por la vigilancia de SRAG, lo que genera una sobrecarga en el sistema de salud. La inclusión de los exámenes para SARS-CoV-2 en el protocolo de vigilancia de SRAG y la eficacia de implementación son de grande importancia para monitorear la evolución de los casos graves de COVID-19 en Brasil.

Abstract: Surveillance of the severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) in Brazil aims to characterize the circulation of the Influenza A and B viruses in hospitalized cases and deaths, having been expanded in 2012 to include other respiratory viruses. COVID-19 was detected in Brazil for the time in the 9th epidemiological week of 2020, and the test for the SARS-CoV-2 virus was included in the surveillance protocol starting in the 12th epidemiological week. This study's objective was to investigate the pattern of hospitalizations for SARI in Brazil since the entry of SARS-CoV-2, comparing the temporal and age profiles and laboratory results to the years 2010 through 2019. In 2020, hospitalizations for SARI, compiled from the date of the first confirmed case of COVID-19 up to the 12th week, exceeded the numbers observed during the same period in each of the previous 10 years. The age bracket over 60 years was the most heavily affected, at higher than historical levels. There was a considerable increase in negative laboratory tests, suggesting circulation of a different virus from those already present in the panel. We concluded that the increase in hospitalizations for SARI, the lack of specific information on the etiological agent, and the predominance of cases among the elderly during the same period in which there was an increase in the number of new cases of COVID-19 are all consistent with the hypothesis that severe cases of COVID-19 are already being detected by SARI surveillance, placing an overload on the health system. The inclusion of testing for SARS-CoV-2 in the SARI surveillance protocol and the test's effective nationwide deployment are extremely important for monitoring the evolution of severe COVID-19 cases in Brazil.

Prevalence of respiratory morbidity among brick kiln workers: a cross sectional study from rural north India

Background: Fired clay bricks, an important construction material, are manufactured in non-mechanized, labour intensive brick kilns which mostly employ unskilled men and women. The workers, as an occupational hazard, are exposed to dust and air pollution leading to respiratory diseases.Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted among brick kiln workers in RS Pura block of Jammu district. The workers were assessed regarding respiratory symptoms and illnesses using translated version of American Thoracic Society Division of Lung Disease questionnaire (ATS-DLD-78A).Results: 692 brick kiln workers were interviewed during the course of survey and 58.8%of them were males. 45% of the respondents were working since last less than three years. Among the respiratory symptoms chronic cough, was present in 23.55% and phlegm in 22.83% of the respondents. Chronic bronchitis was present in 20.52% of the respondents. Association of respiratory symptoms in relation to sex of the respondents was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05).Conclusions: Respiratory symptoms and illness were found to be quite prevalent in the brick kiln workers. More research needs to be conducted to assess other health risks besides respiratory morbidity. Health planners need to plan for their basic sanitation facilities and periodic check ups.

Seroprevalence of influenza A virus in pigs and low risk of acute respiratory illness among pig workers in Kenya

BACKGROUND@#Influenza A viruses pose a significant risk to human health because of their wide host range and ability to reassort into novel viruses that can cause serious disease and pandemics. Since transmission of these viruses between humans and pigs can be associated with occupational and environmental exposures, we investigated the association between occupational exposure to pigs, occurrence of acute respiratory illness (ARI), and influenza A virus infection.@*METHODS@#The study was conducted in Kiambu County, the county with the highest level of intensive small-scale pig farming in Kenya. Up to 3 participants (> 2 years old) per household from pig-keeping and non-pig-keeping households were randomly recruited and followed up in 2013 (Sept-Dec) and 2014 (Apr-Aug). Oropharyngeal (OP) and nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs were collected from participants with ARI at the time of study visit. For the animal study, nasal and oropharyngeal swabs, and serum samples were collected from pigs and poultry present in enrolled households. The human and animal swab samples were tested for viral nucleic acid by RT-PCR and sera by ELISA for antibodies. A Poisson generalized linear mixed-effects model was developed to assess the association between pig exposure and occurrence of ARI.@*RESULTS@#Of 1137 human participants enrolled, 625 (55%) completed follow-up visits including 172 (27.5%) pig workers and 453 (72.5%) non-pig workers. Of 130 human NP/OP swabs tested, four (3.1%) were positive for influenza A virus, one pig worker, and three among non-pig workers. Whereas none of the 4462 swabs collected from pig and poultry tested positive for influenza A virus by RT-PCR, 265 of 4273 (6.2%) of the sera tested positive for virus antibodies by ELISA, including 11.6% (230/1990) of the pigs and 1.5% (35/2,283) of poultry. The cumulative incidence of ARI was 16.9% among pig workers and 26.9% among the non-pig workers. The adjusted risk ratio for the association between being a pig worker and experiencing an episode of ARI was 0.56 (95% CI [0.33, 0.93]), after adjusting for potential confounders.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Our findings demonstrate moderate seropositivity for influenza A virus among pigs, suggesting the circulation of swine influenza virus and a potential for interspecies transmission.

Human parainfluenza virus surveillance in pediatric patients with lower respiratory tract infections: a special view of parainfluenza type 4 / Vigilância dos vírus parainfluenza humanos em pacientes pediátricos com infecções do trato respiratório inferior: uma visão especial do parainfluenza tipo 4

Abstract Objective: Characterize the role of human parainfluenza virus and its clinical features in Brazilian children under 2 years of age presenting with acute lower respiratory tract infections. Methods: Real-time assays were used to identify strains of human parainfluenza virus and other common respiratory viruses in nasopharyngeal aspirates. One thousand and two children presenting with acute lower respiratory tract illnesses were enrolled from February 2008 to August 2010. Results: One hundred and four (10.4%) patients were human parainfluenza virus positive, of whom 60 (57.7%) were positive for human parainfluenza virus-3, 30 (28.8%) for human parainfluenza virus-4, 12 (11.5%) for human parainfluenza virus-1, and two (1.9%) for human parainfluenza virus-2. Seven (6.7%) patients had more than one strain of human parainfluenza virus detected. The most frequent symptoms were tachypnea and cough, similar to other viral respiratory infections. Clinical manifestations did not differ significantly between human parainfluenza virus-1, -2, -3, and -4 infections. Human parainfluenza virus-1, -3, and -4 were present in the population studied throughout the three years of surveillance, with human parainfluenza virus-3 being the predominant type identified in the first two years. Conclusion: Human parainfluenza viruses contribute substantially to pediatric acute respiratory illness (ARI) in Brazil, with nearly 30% of this contribution attributable to human parainfluenza virus-4.

Resumo Objetivo: Caracterizar o papel do VPH-4 e suas características clínicas em crianças brasileiras com menos de dois anos de idade com infecções agudas do trato respiratório inferior. Métodos: Ensaios em tempo real foram utilizados para identificar tipos de VPH e outros vírus respiratórios comuns em aspirados nasofaríngeos. Mil e duas crianças com doença aguda do trato respiratório inferior foram inscritas para participar de fevereiro de 2008 a agosto de 2010. Resultados: 104 (10,4%) pacientes eram VPH positivos, dos quais 60 (57,7%) eram positivos para VPH-3, 30 (28,8%) para VPH-4, 12 (11,5%) para VPH-1 e dois (1,9%) para VPH-2. Sete (6,7%) pacientes apresentaram mais de um tipo de VPH detectado. Os sintomas mais frequentes foram tosse e taquipneia, semelhantes a outras infecções respiratórias virais. As manifestações clínicas não diferiram de forma significativa entre as infecções por VPH-1, -2, -3 e -4. Os VPH-1, -3 e -4 estavam presentes na população estudada ao longo dos três anos de vigilância, e o VPH-3 foi o tipo predominante identificado nos primeiros dois anos. Conclusão: Os VPHs contribuem substancialmente para a DRA pediátrica no Brasil com quase 30% dessa contribuição atribuível ao VPH-4.

Costos económicos de la infección respiratoria aguda en un Municipio de Colombia / Economic costs of acute respiratory infection in a municipality of Colombia

RESUMEN Objetivo: Estimar los costos económicos de las infecciones respiratorias agudas (IRA) en el municipio de AquitaniaBoyacá, 2014. Métodos: Evaluación económica parcial, tipo descripción de costos desde la perspectiva del sistema de salud. Se utilizó la técnica de micro-costeo para estimar los costos asociados a las IRA en Aquitania-Boyacá. Los costos se discriminaron por los siguientes rubros: consultas, exámenes de laboratorio e imágenes, medicamentos, materiales e insumos y estancia hospitalaria. Se utilizaron medidas de tendencia central para resumir la información con sus respectivas medidas de dispersión. Los análisis estadísticos se realizaron en Microsoft Excel 2013®. Resultados: Los 1.576 pacientes, representaron 2.471 atenciones por IRA en la Empresa Social del Estado (ESE) Salud Aquitania, de las cuales el 15,6% fueron en el servicio de urgencias, 81,4% en consulta externa y 3% en el servicio de hospitalización de la ESE Salud Aquitania. El promedio de estancia hospitalaria fue de 2,5 días, (máximo de cinco días). El costo promedio de un paciente con IRA hospitalizado fue $759.437 (RIC$639.132-$879.742); para mujeres fue de $753.879 (RIC$548.862-$877.895) y en hombres de $764.397 (RIC$618.523-$910.271). El rubro que representó un mayor peso en el total del costo por caso hospitalizado fue la estancia hospitalaria, con el 64%. Conclusión: las IRA representan una elevada carga económica al municipio de Aquitania Boyacá. La carga económica para el sistema de salud de la atención de pacientes ambulatorios en Aquitania-Boyacá en 2014 fue de $78.9 millones de pesos y la relacionada con la hospitalización fue de $56.198.338 (IC95% $ 47.295.768 - $65.100.908).

ABSTRACT Objective: To estimate the economic costs related to Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) in a Colombian municipality. Methods: A retrospective cost-of-illness study was conducted to estimate economic costs due to ARI in Aquitania-Boyacá. The micro-costing (bottom-up) technique was used to estimate the costs associated with ARI in the municipality of Aquitania-Boyacá. Costs were divided by the following items: consultations, laboratory and images, drugs, materials and supplies and the hospital stay. Measures of central tendency were used to summarize the information with their respective dispersion measures. Statistical analyzes were performed in Microsoft Excel 2013®. Results: The 1,576 patients accounted for 2,471 ARI in the Empresa Social del Estado (ESE) Salud Aquitania, of which 15.6% were in the emergency department, 81.4% in the outpatient department and 3% in the hospitalization service. The average length of stay was 2.5 days (maximum of 5 days). The mean cost of a patient with hospitalized ARI was $ 759,437 (ICR $639,132- $ 879,742); for women was $ 753,879 (ICR $548,862- $ 877,895) and for men $ 764,397 (ICR $618,523- $ 910,271). Length of stay was the largest share of total cost per case, with 64%. Conclusion: ARI represented a high economic burden to the municipality of Aquitania-Boyacá. The economic burden for the health care system of outpatient in the municipality in 2014 was $78,9 million pesos and that related to hospitalization was $ 56,198,338 (IC95% $ 47,295,768- $ 65,100,908).

Clinical Features of Influenza and Acute Respiratory Illness in Older Adults at Least 50 Years of Age in an Outpatient Setting in the Republic of Korea: a Prospective, Observational, Cohort Study

Two prospective, multi-centre, observational studies (GlaxoSmithKline [GSK] identifier No. 110938 and 112519) were performed over 2 influenza seasons (2007–2008 and 2008–2009) in the Republic of Korea (ROK) with the aim to evaluate the burden of laboratory-confirmed influenza (LCI) in patients ≥ 50 years of age seeking medical attention for acute respiratory illness (ARI). The median participant age was 58 years in the 2007–2008 season and 60 years in the 2008–2009 season. LCI was observed in 101/346 (29.2%) of ARI patients in the 2007–2008 season and in 166/443 (37.5%) of ARI patients in the 2008–2009 season. Compared to patients with non-influenza ARI, those with LCI had higher rates of decreased daily activities (60.4% vs. 32.9% in 2007–2008 and 46.4% vs. 25.8% in 2008–2009), work absenteeism (51.1% vs. 25.6% and 14.4% vs. 7.7%), and longer duration of illness. These results indicated that influenza is an important cause of ARI in adults aged 50 and older causing more severe illness than non-influenza related ARI.

Allergic rhinitis and immunoglobulin deficiency in preschool children with frequent upper respiratory illness.

Background: Frequent upper respiratory illness (URI) is a common problem in preschool children. Allergic rhinitis and immunoglobulin (Ig) deficiency are usually suspected as underlying etiologies. Objective: To determine the prevalence of allergic rhinitis and Ig and IgG subclass deficiency in preschool children with frequent URI. Methods: Two thousand eight hundred and seventy-six questionnaires were distributed to the parents of children aged 3-6 years in 24 kindergartens. Firstly, they determined the frequency of URI in the previous year and secondly the prevalence of rhinitis according to the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire. The skin prick test (SPT) was performed and serum Ig and IgG subclasses were measured in children with frequent URI (>10 episodes per year). Allergic rhinitis was diagnosed when the child had had rhinitis in the previous 12 months and positive SPT for at least 1 aeroallergen. Results: Two thousand three hundred and one questionnaires (80.01 %) were returned. Ninety-four out of 219 children with frequent URI participated in the study. The prevalence of allergic rhinitis in the participants was 42.55%. Exclusive breastfeeding for at least 6 months had a protective effect, while paternal history of rhinitis was a risk factor. All participants had normal serum IgG, IgA, IgM and IgG subclass levels for age. Conclusion: The prevalence of allergic rhinitis in preschool children with frequent URI in our study was 42.55%. Allergic rhinitis should be considered if they have a family history of allergic rhinitis. Immunoglobulin deficiency was not found in our study.

Proportion of influenza cases in severe acute respiratory illness in Indonesia during 2008-2009.

Aim: To access the proportion of Infl uenza which caused SARI cases Methods: From April 2008 until March 2009, 549 samples of nasal and throat swabs were collected from SARI patients from eight hospitals in eight provinces in Indonesia. The samples were analyzed for Infl uenza by real-time RT-PCR method using several specifi c primers for infl uenza A (A/H1N1, A/H3N2 and A/H5N1) and Infl uenza B. The sequence of these primers was provided by CDC, Atlanta. Results: We found 516 (94%) of the specimens testing results were not infl uenza A or B viruses. There was 21 (4%) cases caused by infl uenza A and 12 (2%) caused by infl uenza B. From the infl uenza A cases, one case of SARI was caused by A/H1N1, two cases were A/H5N1, 17 cases were A/H3N2 and one case was unsubtypeable Infl uenza A. Conclusion: The majority of SARI cases were not caused by infl uenza viruses. From this surveillance the most common infl uenza A related to SARI is A/H3N2. Facts of the avian infl uenza virus A/H5N1 cases have been found in Indonesia and the spread of novel virus infl uenza A/H1N1 in 2009 raised our concern about the importance of SARI surveillance.

Diagnóstico serológico de influenza en un grupo de pacientes con enfermedad respiratoria aguda mediante la prueba de inhibición de la hemaglutinación / Serologic diagnosis of influenza in a group of patients with acute respiratory disease by means of hemaglutination inhibition test

El propósito de este trabajo fue demostrar la circulación de los virus de influenza en la ciudad de Medellín.-Se estudiaron 15 pacientes y 15 controles, titulando sus anticuerpos séricos mediante la prueba de Inhibición de la Hemaglutinación (IH). En 8 pacientes (53,3 por ciento) se encontró alza o disminución cuádruple o mayor de los títulos. La positividad por subtipo fue de 62,5 por ciento para Al (H1 N1 ),25 por ciento para AI(H3N2) y 12,5 por ciento para influenza B. Los títulos estables mayor o igual a 40 se consideraron como evidencia de infección previa o de circulación reciente del virus y se encontraron distribuidos así: Para AI(H3N2) 53,3 por ciento en los pacientes y 80 por ciento en los controles; para AI(H1N1) 100 por ciento en cada uno de los grupos y para B, 6,7 por ciento en los pacientes y 13,4 por ciento en los controles. Este informe sugiere una mayor circulación reciente de una cepa AI(H1 N1 ). Los virus tipo B no parecen haber circulado en la población por un período prolongado ya que los ancianos no mostraron evidencia serológica de ello. En conclusión pudo observarse la circulación simultánea de las dos cepas A estudiadas, con predominio de la Al (H1 N1 ). Sería recomendable mantener la vigilancia permanente de estos virus para poder aplicar medidas preventivas y de tratamiento oportuno.

The aim of this study was to determine the circulation of influenza viruses in Medellín, Colombia. We studied 15 patients and 15 controls using the hemaglutination inhibition test in order to detect seric antibody titers to influenza viruses. In 8 patients (53,3%) we found four.fold rise or decrease of titers. Five patients (62,5%) were positive for subtype A(H1 N1 ), 2 (25%) for subtype A(H3N2) and 1 (12,5%) for influenza B. Titers of 40 or higher, considered as evidence of previous infection or recent viral circulation, were as follows: 53,3% of patients and 80% of controls had these titers for subtype A(H3N2); 100% of patients and control~ for subtype A(H1 N1 ) and 6,7% of patients and 13,4% of controls for subtype B. This report suggests a major recent circulation of subtype A(H1 N1 ). Type B viruses do not seem to have circl:!lated recently, since oldest people in the study did not have serological evidence of infection with this particular subtype. In conclusion, the simultaneous circulation of both subtypes of in. fluenza A (H3N2, H1 N1 ) was shown. It would be advisable to maintain permanent surveillance of these viruses in order to apply preventive measures and the right treatment.