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BACKGROUND AND AIM: Results from cohort studies evaluating the severity of respiratory viral co-infections are conflicting. The aim of this study to describe the frequency of viral pathogens in patients hospitalized for lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in our pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and report the clinical characteristics and outcomes of these patients. Another aim of the study was to characterize the distribution of viral pathogens in patients admitted to the PICU due to seasonal viral infections before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD(S): This single-center study included patients who were hospitalized in our PICU for LRTI caused by viral pathogens other than SARS-CoV-2 between November 1, 2019 and April 1, 2021 (17 months). Based on their date of admission, the patients included in the study were divided into the pre-pandemic group (November 1, 2019 to March 10, 2020) and pandemic group (March 11, 2020 to March 31, 2021). RESULT(S): Of the 84 patients who presented with signs of LRTI and were tested for seasonal viruses, the 67 (79.7%) patients with positive respiratory viral panel were included in the study. Apart from some important differences, we found that in general, clinical outcomes did not differ between pediatric pneumonia patients with single and multiple viruses. CONCLUSION(S): The detection of single or multiple viruses in the respiratory tract samples of children does not impact the clinical management or outcome of these patients. Our results demonstrate that admissions to the PICU for LRTIs caused by seasonal viruses decreased during the pandemic.
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Background and Aim: We aimed to evaluate cardiac manifestations of the multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children(MIS-C) and the changes in cardiac function during one year of follow-up. Method(s): All children diagnosed as MIS-C with cardiac involve-ment were enrolled in this prospective study. The diagnosis and severity of the disease of MIS-C was made according to the Centers for Disease Control and World Health Organization guidelines. Clinical findings, laboratory parameters including car-diac markers, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings at the time of diagnosis and during follow-up were evaluated. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on all children with echocardiographic abnormality. Result(s): Between April 1st 2020 and December 1st 2021,71 chil-dren were diagnosed with MIS-C and 44 of these patients had car-diac involvement (25 male and 19 female). 24 patients were followed up in the intensive care unit and all of these patients had myocardial involvement. All the patients had elevated NT-proBNP levels (median:5893pg/ml) whereas troponin-T levels were above upper limit in 13 patients. A significant positive cor-relation was found between troponin-T and NT-proBNP (plt;0.01). The NT-proBNP levels were also positively correlated with the severity of MIS-C (plt;0.05). On admission 22 patients had tachycardia and atrioventricular conduction disturbances and supraventricular tachycardia developed in 5 of these patients during follow-up. Bradycardia was observed in 18(40%) patients during hospitalization (4 of these occurred after tachycardia). Although 26 patients had an echocardiographic abnormality, only twelve patients had systolic dysfunction (9 with mild and 3 with moderate) and two patients had diastolic dysfunction. NT-proBNP and troponin-T were negatively correlated with ejection fraction ve fractional shortening (respectively, p = 0.003, p = 0.013). Cardiac MRI was normal in all patients except 3 patients who had myocardial late gadolinium enhancement of left ven-tricle. Pericardial effusion was observed in 14 patients. The echo-cardiographic abnormalities disappeared in 42 patients during follow-up, one patient died on the second day of hospitalization and and 1 patient has ongoing LV systolic dysfunction. Conclusion(s): Bradycardia and myocardial involvement is common during MIS-C. Although myocardial dysfunction can be observed during acute disease, commonly the disease does not cause perma-nent damage during one year of follow-up.
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Objective Multisystemic inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is characterized by persistent fever, systemic hyperinflammation, and multiple-organ dysfunction. There are a few reports about MIS-C presenting with acute abdomen. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the clinical characteristics and treatment options for MIS-C-related acute abdomen and appendicitis. Methods This was a retrospective study conducted between April 2020 and October 2020 in our pediatric intensive care unit in Turkey. Patients between the ages of 1 month and 18 years who presented with acute abdomen and were ultimately diagnosed with MIS-C were included. Results Seven patients with a median age of 12.5 (interquartile range 10.5-13) years were enrolled. Four were females. The most frequent symptoms were fever, abdominal pain, and vomiting. Three patients had involvement of the appendix that required surgical intervention. All pathology reports were compatible with appendicitis. The other patients also had an acute abdomen. One patient had malignant hyperthermia during induction of anesthesia, so surgery was postponed and medical management was commenced. The clinical picture regressed with immunomodulation. All patients were treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and steroids. Four patients with acute abdomens improved with immunomodulation, and surgery was not needed. Conclusion MIS-C may present with an acute abdomen. Immunomodulation should be considered instead of surgery if the clinical course is not complicated.
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INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study is to measure people's perceptions, attitudes, and behavior regarding the New Coronavirus Pandemic and the process itself in our country, to examine social tendencies towards the pandemic, and to develop recommendations for policymakers based on the findings. METHODS: According to the survey, 40 percent of the participants said their anxiety about death and dying has increased. In comparison, 51 percent reported that their anxiety about getting the virus has increased, and 79 percent stated that their anxiety about losing their loved ones has increased. Especially the existential anxiety of women, those in the lowest income group working in jobs that require close contact, is much higher than men. Strong social ties are an influential factor in alleviating people's anxiety. RESULTS: Sixty-six percent of the respondents stated they feared that they will not be able to meet their basic needs in the future, and 58 percent reported that their income has decreased after the pandemic;only 14.80 percent stated that they find people to be generally trustworthy. As the variables of age, income, and education level decrease, so does trust. The findings reveal that the level of trust is lower among women than men. The percentage of those who see coronavirus as "a conspiracy of the great powers" is 56.5 percent in Turkey. Twenty-seven percent of the respondents reported that verbal violence, and 17 percent said physical violence has increased around them after the coronavirus. On the other hand, 11 percent stated that verbal violence, while 4 percent stated that physical violence against them has increased during the same period. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This research shows that existential anxiety in society increases as the duration of the pandemic increases. Over time the people have become tired. The pandemic has triggered some negative attitudes such as indifference, weariness, and denial, resulting in developing a type of come-what-may mood in some people. Those who have relatively strong social ties (high level of trust) and those who rely on state institutions cope more easily with the uncertainty and anxiety posed by the pandemic. Social policies to be followed by the state are of vital importance to reduce the economic and psycho-social problems of the society.".
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Objective: The purpose of this study is to measure people's perceptions, attitudes, and behavior regarding the New Coronavirus Pandemic and the process itself in our country, to examine social tendencies towards the pandemic, and to develop recommendations for policymakers based on the findings. Methods: According to the survey, 40 percent of the participants said their anxiety about death and dying has increased. In comparison, 51 percent reported that their anxiety about getting the virus has increased, and 79 percent stated that their anxiety about losing their loved ones has increased. Especially the existential anxiety of women, those in the lowest income group working in jobs that require close contact, is much higher than men. Strong social ties are an influential factor in alleviating people's anxiety. Results: Sixty-six percent of the respondents stated they feared that they will not be able to meet their basic needs in the future, and 58 percent reported that their income has decreased after the pandemic;only 14.80 percent stated that they find people to be generally trustworthy. As the variables of age, income, and education level decrease, so does trust. The findings reveal that the level of trust is lower among women than men. The percentage of those who see coronavirus as “a conspiracy of the great powers” is 56.5 percent in Turkey. Twenty-seven percent of the respondents reported that verbal violence, and 17 percent said physical violence has increased around them after the coronavirus. On the other hand, 11 percent stated that verbal violence, while 4 percent stated that physical violence against them has increased during the same period. Conclusion: This research shows that existential anxiety in society increases as the duration of the pandemic increases. Over time the people have become tired. The pandemic has triggered some negative attitudes such as indifference, weariness, and denial, resulting in developing a type of come-what-may mood in some people. Those who have relatively strong social ties (high level of trust) and those who rely on state institutions cope more easily with the uncertainty and anxiety posed by the pandemic. Social policies to be followed by the state are of vital importance to reduce the economic and psycho-social problems of the society. © 2021. All Rights Reserved.
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Objective: The purpose of this study is to measure people's perceptions, attitudes, and behavior regarding the New Coronavirus Pandemic and the process itself in our country, to examine social tendencies towards the pandemic, and to develop recommendations for policymakers based on the findings. Methods: According to the survey, 40 percent of the participants said their anxiety about death and dying has increased. In comparison, 51 percent reported that their anxiety about getting the virus has increased, and 79 percent stated that their anxiety about losing their loved ones has increased. Especially the existential anxiety of women, those in the lowest income group working in jobs that require close contact, is much higher than men. Strong social ties are an influential factor in alleviating people's anxiety. Results: Sixty-six percent of the respondents stated they feared that they will not be able to meet their basic needs in the future, and 58 percent reported that their income has decreased after the pandemic;only 14.80 percent stated that they find people to be generally trustworthy. As the variables of age, income, and education level decrease, so does trust. The findings reveal that the level of trust is lower among women than men. The percentage of those who see coronavirus as “a conspiracy of the great powers” is 56.5 percent in Turkey. Twenty-seven percent of the respondents reported that verbal violence, and 17 percent said physical violence has increased around them after the coronavirus. On the other hand, 11 percent stated that verbal violence, while 4 percent stated that physical violence against them has increased during the same period. Conclusion: This research shows that existential anxiety in society increases as the duration of the pandemic increases. Over time the people have become tired. The pandemic has triggered some negative attitudes such as indifference, weariness, and denial, resulting in developing a type of come-what-may mood in some people. Those who have relatively strong social ties (high level of trust) and those who rely on state institutions cope more easily with the uncertainty and anxiety posed by the pandemic. Social policies to be followed by the state are of vital importance to reduce the economic and psycho-social problems of the society. © 2021. All Rights Reserved.
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BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes negative life changes brought about through lockdowns, in addition to severe complications and death. Among these changes, asplenism or hyposplenism has been reported in patients with celiac disease. It has been reported that the risk of pneumococcal sepsis is higher in celiac patients with hyposplenism. Moreover, celiac patients present high risk of admission to hospital due to influenza. OBJECTIVE: To determine the degree of awareness of COVID-19 among parents of children with celiac disease and examine the measures that they take. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study at a university hospital in the Middle Anatolian region of Turkey. METHODS: The diagnosis of celiac disease was confirmed through a survey conducted online among 73 parents between May and July 2020. RESULTS: The mean age was 37.57 +/- 6.56 years for the mothers, 41.15 +/- 5.56 years for the fathers and 11.36 +/- 4.36 years for the children. 90.4% of the parents reported that COVID-19 was transmitted through "speaking, coughing, sneezing and infection of the face after contact with virus-infected surfaces". Moreover, 78.1% indicated that they did not have any difficulty in finding gluten-free foods. CONCLUSION: These parents of children with celiac disease believed that their children's risk of developing COVID-19 did not differ from that of healthy children. It was also observed that appetite and states of nervousness were higher among these children with celiac disease during lockdowns and that their sleep patterns were affected.
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Coronaviruses (CoV) are enveloped, single-chain positive RNA viruses constituting a fairly large family. 229E, OC43, NL63 and HKU1 species are common in humans, often causing mild to moderate respiratory infections. On the other hand, new coronaviruses have emerged, causing severe respiratory infection such as “severe acute respiratory syndrome” (SARS) in 2002 and “Middle East respiratory syndrome” (MERS) in 2012. The most recent coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, causing COVID-19 disease was identified in 2019. While people of all ages are susceptible to COVID-19 infection, those with underlying chronic diseases and elderly age have increased susceptibility. There is no specific antiviral drug for COVID-19 infection. Therefore, treatment strategy is mostly aimed at supportive treatment and prevention of complications. The main protection measure is to avoid contact with the person infected with COVID-19. Following the identification of COVID-19 disease, it exceeded the region where it was located, the number of cases increased gradually, and intercontinental reports were made. COVID-19 is a highly pathogenic respiratory virus threatening global public health today. In order to eradicate the virus, it is necessary to clarify the source of the virus, to develop specific, effective treatments and a safe vaccine. Effective surveillance and appropriate infection control measures are critical to prevent the spread of the virus.