Long COVID-19 syndrome associated with Omicron XBB.1.5 infection: a case report

BACKGROUND There is interest in lingering non-specific symptoms after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, referred to as Long coronavirus disease 2019 (Long COVID-19). It remains unknown whether the risk of Long COVID-19 is associated with pre-existing comorbidities or initial COVID-19 severity, including infections due to new Omicron lineages which predominated in 2023. OBJECTIVES The aim of this case report was to characterize the clinical features of acute XBB.1.5 infection followed by Long COVID-19. METHODS We followed a 73-year old female resident of Rio de Janeiro with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 during acute infection and subsequent months. The SARS-CoV-2 lineage was determined by genome sequencing. FINDINGS The participant denied comorbidities and had completed a two-dose vaccination schedule followed by two booster doses eight months prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Primary infection by viral lineage XBB.1.5. was clinically mild, but the participant subsequently reported persistent fatigue. MAIN CONCLUSIONS This case demonstrates that Long COVID-19 may develop even after mild disease due to SARS-CoV-2 in fully vaccinated and boosted individuals without comorbidities. Continued monitoring of new SARS-CoV-2 lineages and associated clinical outcomes is warranted. Measures to prevent infection should continue to be implemented including development of new vaccines and antivirals effective against novel variants.

Fatal Brazilian spotted fever in a healthy military man during field training in Rio de Janeiro city, southeastern Brazil

ABSTRACT Brazilian spotted fever, a zoonotic disease transmitted by ticks, is caused by Rickettsia rickettsii. We report a fulminant case of this zoonosis in a healthy 46-year-old military man in the urban region of Rio de Janeiro city, in October, 2021. Ticks and capybaras (Amblyomma sculptum, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, respectively) were identified in the military fields, pointing to the participation of this large synanthropic rodent, recognized as an efficient amplifier host of Rickettsia rickettsii in Brazil. As the military population is considered a risk group for spotted fever, it is necessary to alert health professionals to the importance of the early detection of the disease and its adequate management, mainly in populations that are particularly at risk of exposure to ticks, in order to avoid fatal outcomes.

Chikungunya associated vulvitis: case report and literature review / Vulvite associada a Chikungunya: relato de caso e revisão de literatura

Introduction: Chikungunya virus is spreading worldwide due to migration and globalization and could be presented with systemic and with unusual symptoms. Objective: To report a case of virus-transmitted infection detected in a woman during the gynecological examination at a vulvar clinic. Case report: A 73-year-old Caucasian woman attended a vulvar clinic because of dyspareunia and vulvar burning. Ulcers were observed on labia minora and perineum. A Chikungunya was diagnosed by seroconversion in paired specimens. She was prescribed prednisolone 40 mg once a day for 10 days. After oral steroid treatment, the woman had no body rashes or lesions on her genitals. Conclusion: This study emphasized that rare signs of unusual vulvitis with ulcers could be associated with Chikungunya infection.

Introdução: O vírus Chikungunya está se espalhando pelo mundo por conta da migração e da globalização, podendo apresentar sintomas sistêmicos e incomuns. Objetivo: Relatar um caso de infecção pelo vírus detectado em uma mulher por ocasião do exame ginecológico em clínica de patologia vulvar. Relato do caso: Uma mulher caucasiana de 73 anos foi a uma clínica vulvar por causa de dispareunia e queimação vulvar. Úlceras foram observadas nos pequenos lábios e no períneo. O diagnóstico de Chikungunya foi realizado por soroconversão em espécimes pareados. Foi prescrita prednisolona 40 mg uma vez ao dia por dez dias. Após o tratamento com esteróides orais, a mulher não apresentou erupções ou lesões nos órgãos genitais. Conclusão: Este estudo enfatizou que quadros raros de vulvite com úlcera podem estar associados à infecção por Chikungunya.

Zika virus RNA excretion in sweat with concomitant detection in other body fluid specimens

We evaluated sweat, blood and urine specimens obtained from an ongoing cohort study in Brazil. Samples were collected at pre-established intervals after the initial rash presentation and tested for Zika virus (ZIKV) RNA presence by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR). From 254 participants with confirmed infection, ZIKV RNA was detected in the sweat of 46 individuals (18.1%). Sweat presented a median cycle threshold (Ct) of 34.74 [interquartile range (IQR) 33.44-36.04], comparable to plasma (Ct 35.96 - IQR 33.29-36.69) and higher than urine (Ct 30.78 - IQR 28.72-33.22). Concomitant detection with other specimens was observed in 33 (72%) of 46 participants who had a positive result in sweat. These findings represent an unusual and not yet investigated virus shedding through eccrine glands.

Cascade of access to interventions to prevent HIV mother to child transmission in the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

OBJECTIVES: To describe the access to the interventions for the prevention of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) mother to child transmission and mother to child transmission rates in the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, from 1999 to 2009. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study. Prevention of HIV mother to child transmission interventions were accessed and mother to child transmission rates were calculated. RESULTS: The study population is young (median: 26 years; interquartile range: 22.0-31.0), with low monthly family income (40.4% up to one Brazilian minimum wage) and schooling (62.1% less than 8 years). Only 47.1% (n = 469) knew the HIV status of their partner; of these women, 39.9% had an HIV-seronegative partner. Among the 1259 newborns evaluated, access to the antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum prevention of HIV mother to child transmission components occurred in 59.2%, 74.2%, and 97.5% respectively; 91.0% of the newborns were not breastfed. Overall 52.7% of the newborns have benefited from all the recommended interventions. In subsequent pregnancies (n = 289), 67.8% of the newborns received the full package of interventions. The overall rate of HIV vertical transmission was 4.7% and the highest annual rate occurred in 2005 (7.4%), with no definite trend in the period. CONCLUSIONS: Access to the full package of interventions for the prevention of HIV vertical transmission was low, with no significant trend of improvement over the years. The vertical transmission rates observed were higher than those found in reference services in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro and in the richest regions of the country. .

Menopausa em uma coorte de mulheres com HIV/AIDS no Rio de Janeiro / Menopause in a cohort of HIV-infected women in Rio de Janeiro

É esperado um aumento global de mulheres mais velhas que irão conviver com a infecção pelo HIV e que alcançarão a menopausa durante o curso da doença, em função principalmente do aumento da sobrevida após a expansão e acesso à terapia antirretroviral combinada (TARV) e do crescente número de mulheres mais velhas sendo diagnosticadas.Artigo 1. Objetivo: Investigar a idade e as taxas de incidência de menopausa natural e menopausa natural precoce e seus preditores em uma coorte de mulheres HIV-positivo no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Métodos: Foram incluídas mulheres HIV-positivo, com 30 anos ou mais de idade. Menopausa foi definida como última menstruação ocorrida há mais de um ano.Modelos de riscos proporcionais de Cox foram utilizados para identificar preditores de idade da menopausa natural e menopausa natural precoce. Resultados: 667 mulheres foram incluídas. A idade mediana no início do estudo foi de 34,9 [intervalo interquartil (IQR): 30,9-40,5] anos, 507 (76%) eram pré-menopausadas e 160 (24%) alcançaram a menopausa no final do acompanhamento. A idade mediana da menopausa natural foi de 48 (IQR: 45-50) anos; 36(27%) tiveram menopausa natural precoce ( 45 anos)...

As a result of the expansion of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART)coverage leading to reduction in morbidity and mortality and an increasing number of older individuals being diagnosed with HIV infection, an increased number of HIV-infected women entering menopause is expected. Article 1. Objective: To investigate the age and incidence rates of natural and earlier natural menopause and their predictors in a cohort of HIV-infected women in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Methods: HIV-infected women with 30 years or older were included. Menopause was defined as having more than one year since the last menstrual period. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was used to identify predictors of age at natural menopause and early age at natural menopause. Results: 667 women were included, median age at baseline was 34.9 [interquartile interval (IQR): 30.9-40.5 years], 507 (76%) were premenopausal and 160 (24%) reached menopause by the end of follow-up. Median age at natural menopause was 48 (IQR: 45–50) years; 36 (27%) of them had early menopause ( 45 years)...

Adesão ao pré-natal de mulheres HIV+ que não fizeram profilaxia da transmissão vertical: um estudo sócio-comportamental e de acesso ao sistema de saúde / Adherence to prenatal care by HIV-positive women who failed to receive prophylaxis for mother-to-child transmission: social and behavioral factors and healthcare access issues

Objetivamos compreender os fatores sócio-comportamentais e do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) que, na visão de mulheres identificadas como HIV+ por teste rápido no parto, dificultaram ou impediram a adesão ao pré-natal. Foram incluídas 40 mulheres, das quais apenas oito tinham tido seis consultas ou mais. Foi utilizada a abordagem qualitativa, com entrevistas semi-estruturadas. Os dados foram analisados seguindo os preceitos da análise temática. Os resultados foram agrupados em dois blocos: os que dificultaram a adesão ao pré-natal: não aceitação da gestação, falta de apoio familiar, conhecimento prévio da soropositividade, contexto social adverso, experiências negativas de atendimento e práticas e concepções de descrédito em relação ao pré-natal, e os que favoreceram a adesão: apoio familiar, discurso de valorização do cuidado com a saúde, desejo de laqueadura tubária, acolhimento pela equipe de saúde e experiências positivas de assistência. Uma compreensão melhor do contexto sociocultural deveria permitir a construção de estratégias capazes de resgatar essas mulheres para um sistema de saúde mais acolhedor.

This study aimed to elucidate the social and behavioral factors and public health system characteristics that influenced pregnant women's adherence to prenatal care. Forty women diagnosed as HIV-positive by rapid test at delivery were included. Socioeconomic data were collected and a semi-structured interview was conducted. Eight women had > 6 prenatal visits and 12 had no visits. Interviews were submitted to qualitative content analysis. The themes fit into two blocks: those seen as hindering adherence, like unwanted pregnancy, lack of family support, prior knowledge of serological status, adverse social context, negative experiences with prenatal care, and disbelief towards prenatal care, and those facilitating adherence, like family support, valuing healthcare, wanting a tubal ligation, receptiveness by the healthcare team, and positive previous experience with prenatal care. Improving our understanding of the socio-cultural context should help promote strategies to reach such women and include them in better quality care.

Trends in a Cohort of HIV-infected pregnant women in Rio de Janeiro, 1996-2004

OBJECTIVE: To describe trends in sociodemographic, immunological and virological profiles and interventions to decrease the risk of mother-to-child HIV transmission. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study conducted at a tertiary institution in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from January 1996 to December 2004. Analysis was performed by stratification in three time periods: 1996-1998 (P1), 1999-2001 (P2) and 2002-2004 (P3). RESULTS: In 9 years, 622 pregnancies occurred. Complications included: maternal mortality 0.3 percent, stillbirths 2.5 percent, miscarriages 0.6 percent, neonatal mortality 1.1 percent, prematurity 9.9 percent, low birth weight (LBW) 16.5 percent, congenital malformations 2.2 percent. The number of HIV-infected pregnant patients grew threefold over time reflecting increased prevalence of disease and patient identification. HIV diagnosis before pregnancy increased from 30 percent in P1 to 45 percent in P3. The proportion of pregnant women receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy increased from none (P1) to 88 percent (P3) with a significant trend towards women delivering at undetectable viral loads in later years despite a higher frequency of advanced disease. Scheduled cesarean deliveries increased from 35 percent in P1 to 48 percent in P3. Perinatal transmission rates were 2.4 percent with a decline from 3.5 percent in P1 to 1.6 percent in P3. Neonatal outcomes tended to remain constant or improve with time. A slight rise in LBW and congenital malformations were observed. CONCLUSIONS: During the observational period, HIV+ pregnant women presented with more advanced disease and lower socio-economic status. However, improved management of HIV-infected patients (associated with increased identification and increased availability of treatment) resulted into very low transmission rates similar to those of developed countries with overall improvement of patient outcomes.

OBJETIVOS: Descrever as tendências temporais nas características sociodemográficas, imunológicas e virológicas e as das condutas utilizadas para reduzir o risco da transmissão mãe-filho do HIV. MÉTODOS: Estudo de coorte retrospectivo em uma instituição de saúde terciária no Rio de Janeiro de janeiro de 1996 a dezembro de 2004. A análise utilizou a estratificação em três períodos de tempo: 1996-1998 (P1), 1999-2001 (P2) e 2002-2004 (P3). RESULTADOS: Em 9 anos, 622 gestações foram acompanhadas. As complicações foram: mortalidade materna 0,3 por cento, natimortos 2,5 por cento, abortos 0,6 por cento, mortalidade neonatal 1,1 por cento, prematuridade 9,9 por cento, baixo peso ao nascer (BPN) 16,5 por cento, malformações congênitas 2,2 por cento. O número de gestantes HIV positivo triplicou ao longo do tempo, refletindo o aumento da prevalência da doença e a melhor identificação das pacientes. O diagnóstico da infecção pelo HIV antes da gestação aumentou de 30 por cento em P1 para 45 por cento em P3. A proporção de gestantes recebendo o tratamento combinado potente aumentou de zero em P1 para 88 por cento em P3 com uma tendência significativa a ter uma carga viral abaixo do limite de detecção no parto nos últimos anos apesar de uma maior proporção de pacientes com doença mais avançada. O índice de cesarianas eletivas aumentou de 35 por cento em P1 para 48 por cento em P3. A taxa de transmissão perinatal global foi de 2,4 por cento caindo de 3,5 por cento em P1 para 1,6 por cento em P3. Os desfechos neonatais tenderam a permanecer constantes ou a melhorar ao longo do tempo. Um discreto aumento dos índices de BPN e de malformações congênitas foi observado. CONCLUSÕES: Ao longo do período de estudo aumentou a proporção de gestantes HIV positivo com doença mais avançada e com padrão socioeconômico mais baixo. Por outro lado, a melhora da abordagem terapêutica dos pacientes infectados pelo HIV, associada a uma maior detecção de casos e maior acesso...