Prevalence of COVID-19 infection in asymptomatic school children.

BACKGROUND: With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, discussions regarding the prevalence of COVID-19 in children and the association of this with education have started. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 infection in asymptomatic school children within a limited period while face-to-face education continued. METHODS: This is a descriptive and retrospective study. Screening was carried out in the schools in the three major districts of the metropolitan municipality when face-to-face education was practiced. COVID-19 RT-PCR swab samples were collected from 4,658 students from 46 schools at preschool, primary, secondary, and high school levels by using the stratified sampling method. Screening results were retrospectively analyzed by the researchers. RESULTS: The mean age of the children included in the study was 10.6±3.2 (5-17). Only 46 students` COVID-19 RT-PCR results were positive; the positivity rate was higher in male students than in female students (p > 0.05); the students living in the third region had a higher positivity rate than the other students, there was a statistical difference between them (p < 0.001); there were no positive cases in 26 (56.7%) schools, and the spreader rate of the school children was 0.98%. CONCLUSIONS: We determined in the study that the prevalence of COVID-19 infection was not high in asymptomatic school children in the period when schools were open. This may play a role in directing the education and training during the pandemic.

Death and COVID-19 Anxiety in Home-Quarantined Individuals Aged 65 and Over During the Pandemic.

Urgent measures were taken for those at the age of 65 and over who were at the risk group all over the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is known that many individuals at the age of 65 and over have experienced anxiety due to the uncertainties.This study aimed to determine the anxiety and death anxiety in individuals aged 65 and over who were isolation at home due to being diagnosed with COVID-19 or being in contact during the pandemic process.The study is descriptive and cross-sectional. It was performed with 656 home-quarantined individuals aged between 65-80 years with positive or negative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result. A form including questions about the death anxiety and the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale Short Form prepared by the researchers were administered to the individuals by phone call.Of the participants, 49.5% were male. Median COVID-19 anxiety score was 4 (0-18). Anxiety scores of the male and female participants were similar. Participants with negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results and those with death anxiety had higher COVID anxiety scores. Death anxiety has increased by 1.661 times in male gender, 1.983 times in RT-PCR positivity and 0.146 times in the presence of symptoms.Individuals with positive COVID-19 test results or those aged 65 and over who had death anxiety and negative COVID-19 test result but who were in home-isolation due to being a contact had higher anxiety score. For this reason, those with death anxiety can be supported in line with their religious beliefs to reduce anxiety.Those with negative PCR test results in quarantine can be adequately informed about the COVID-19.

The Effect of Chronic Diseases, Age and Gender on Morbidity and Mortality of COVID-19 Infection.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to reveal how chronic diseases, age and gender affected morbidity and mortality in patients with Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: Medical records of all reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positive COVID-19 patients followed up in hospital and home isolation between 13th of Mar 2020 and 12th of May 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were from Kayseri Province, Turkey. Patients' demographic and clinical characteristics and the factors associated with morbidity and mortality were analyzed. RESULTS: Of all the patients, 773 (95.8%) were alive and 34 (4.24%) died. The fatality rate was 4.2%. There were differences between the age groups in terms of fatality rate (P<0.001). The fatality rate in patients above the age of 65 yr was significantly higher. The fatality rate in the male gender was 2.44 times higher (P<0.05). It was 1.104 times higher in advanced age (P<0.001) and 10.893 times higher in patients with at least one comorbid disease (P<0.05). Hypertension increased mortality by 3.635 times (P<0.05) and chronic pulmonary diseases by 2.926 times (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Advanced age, male gender and accompanying chronic diseases have adverse effects on the course and severity of the disease and hospitalization. They also increased the rate and risk of mortality.