ABSTRACT
Background: By June 1, 2021, Jamaica recorded 48,639 RT-PCR confirmed SARS-CoV-2 cases and 951 deaths, with a case fatality rate of 2%. Children <18 years comprised 10.3% (4,999) of cases and 0.1% and 0.2% deaths in <10 and 10-18 year age-groups, respectively. Community transmission is ongoing, having been declared September 2020. Methods: Ambispective case series describing clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 in children aged. Results: Seventy-nine children aged 4 abnormal inflammatory biomarkers (13/72%) including D-dimers, Creactive protein, ESR, ferritin, troponins, lactate dehydrogenase, neutrophils, platelets, lymphocytes, albumen . MISC-positive cases were treated with intravenous immune gammaglobulin (78% vs. 0%;p < 0.01), aspirin (68% vs. 0%;p < 0.01) and steroids (50% vs. 9%;p = 0.003). MISC-positive cases had intensive care admissions (two), non-invasive ventilation (two) and inotropes/vasopressor support (none). Outcomes included readmission for MISC-related neurological complications two(5%), discharged with one month follow-up 39(95%), transferred one(2.4%) and demise from myocardial complications in a child with premorbid end-stage renal disease and haemodialysis one(2.4%). Conclusion: More than half of the children aged.
ABSTRACT
During lockdowns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals have experienced poor sleep quality and sleep regularity, changes in lifestyle behaviours, and heightened depression and anxiety. However, the inter-relationship and relative strength of those behaviours on mental health outcomes is still unknown. We collected data between 12 May and 15 June 2020 from 1048 South African adults (age: 32.76 ± 14.43 years; n = 767 female; n = 473 students) using an online questionnaire. Using structural equation modelling, we investigated how insomnia symptoms, sleep regularity, exercise intensity/frequency and sitting/screen-use (sedentary screen-use) interacted to predict depressive and anxiety-related symptoms before and during lockdown. We also controlled for the effects of sex and student status. Irrespective of lockdown, (a) more severe symptoms of insomnia and greater sedentary screen-use predicted greater symptoms of depression and anxiety and (b) the effects of sedentary screen-use on mental health outcomes were mediated by insomnia. The effects of physical activity on mental health outcomes, however, were only significant during lockdown. Low physical activity predicted greater insomnia symptom severity, which in turn predicted increased depressive and anxiety-related symptoms. Overall, relationships between the study variables and mental health outcomes were amplified during lockdown. The findings highlight the importance of maintaining physical activity and reducing sedentary screen-use to promote better sleep and mental health.