Three cases of subacute thyroiditis following SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine

Background: Subacute thyroiditis (SAT) is a self-limiting inflammatory thyroid disorder, of uncertain pathogenesis, associated with upper respiratory viral infections. Several cases of SAT following SARS-CoV-2 infection have been described during the current pandemic. In addition, there have been reports of SAT occurring after administration of influenza and H1N1 vaccines. Recently, a little, but increasing number of SATs has also been described associated with different types of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. We report 3 cases of SAT occurred after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-Vaccination (Comirnaty, Pfizer/BioNTech). Case Report: All patients were females, aged 50, 55 and 60 yrs. In one patient symptoms started about four weeks after the 1st dose, and in two patients symptoms started at day 1 and day 8 after the 2nd dose. None had a history of thyroid disease, recent respiratory tract infections, or a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. All patients complained about anterior cervical pain (in two patients radiated to their ears) and fever. Two patients presented with thyrotoxicosis. TRAb, TPO-Ab and Tg-Ab were negative. In all patients CRP was increased (average 8 mg/dl;range 4.7-11.7) and neck ultrasound showed a typical pattern of SAT (large hypoechoic areas, poor blood flow). All patients received prednisone therapy for a mean of 13 weeks (range 8-18 weeks), with immediate improvement of symptoms and complete long-term recovery. Conclusions: we suggest an association between SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations and SAT, although further data are needed to confirm this hypothesis.

SELF-PERCEIVED HEALTH, CHANGES IN SCHOOL EXPERIENCE AND OTHER HEALTH BEHAVIORS IN ADOLESCENTS DURING THE PREVENTIVE AND COMPULSORY SOCIAL ISOLATION DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Objective: To explore associations between self-perceived health and perceptions of school performance (PDE), study habits, physical activity (PA), sleep and screen time habits before and during the compulsory, preventive and social isolation (ASPO) due to the COVID-19 pandemic in middle school students from Cordoba, Argentina. Method: Descriptive study using a virtual survey addressed to adolescents. Ten dimensions of self-perceived health were assessed by means of KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaire;school experience (items from MSC and LASSI questionnaires), AF (PACE), sleep and screen use (BackPEI), before ASPO and at the study time were evaluated. Results: During the ASPO, several domains of self-perceived health correlated with school experience and other habits studied. Changes before-during ASPO in experiences and habits correlated with psychological well-being, school environment, social acceptance, parent relations and social acceptance. Conclusions: In this sample, self-perceived health seemed affected by the circumstances experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It just looked like CoViD

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemia has often oriented the diagnosis of complex pathologies towards CoViD with complications while the main diagnosis could be different. Description of the clinical case: A 76 yo man was hospitalized for confusion and heart failure;in the emergency department, CoViD Ab testing and PCR swab were positive with focal interstitial pneumonia;then splenomegaly, bilateral splenic and renal infarcts and thrombosis of the superior mesenteric artery were confirmed by chest-abdomen CT scan, Doppler US found thrombosis of brachial artery. Antithrombotic therapy was intensified but a new episode of confusion with fever occurred. Brain CT revealed multiple target lesions with hemorrhagic areas, suspected to be neoplastic. LMW heparin was suspended, blood cultures came back positive for Enterococcus faecalis;echocardiography showed a vegetation on the aortic valve;thus the patient's history was reconsidered based on the findings of bacterial endocarditis. When he tested negative, he underwent valve replacement with bioprosthesis. A new positive CoViD swab interrupted the cardiological rehabilitation but finally he was discharged. Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia in this patient was complicated by aortic endocarditis with systemic septic embolization. The antibiotic and steroid therapy administered upon admission may have covered or favored sepsis, that could have been perhaps already onsetting at the time of patient presentation in the ER. The patient's overall hospital stay was 80 days due to recurrent swab positivity even though in the absence of specific symptoms.

Perception of risk facing coronavirus in the first phase of the pandemic in Argentina

Objective: To analyze the factors associated with the perception of risk of coronavirus in the first phase of the pandemic in Argentina. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in the Argentine adult population (n = 992). An online survey of the World Health Organization adapted to Argentina was applied in March-2020. The association between the perception of probability of contagion and severity in case of contagion and feelings related to the coronavirus, self-efficacy and health, were estimated using multiple linear regression models. Results: The perception of risk facing the first phase of the pandemic was moderate. However, the proportion of people who indicated high scores in the perception of severity was much higher compared to the perception of probability of contagion. The perception of probability of contagion was lower at greater perception of remoteness of the virus and it was greater at a higher frequency of information search. The perception of severity in case of contagion was positively associated with frequency of information search. Instead, it was inversely associated with the perception of remoteness of the virus and self-efficacy. Conclusions: There are different social and emotional factors associated with the perception of contagion and severity of coronavirus in Argentina. This complexity should be considered in the design of public policies for the prevention of COVID-19. © The Author(s), Adam Mickiewicz University Press, 2021.