ABSTRACT
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been declared as a pandemic in 2019-2020. Most cases are usually self-limited;however, it may unpredictably progress to severe form with high mortality rate. Objectives: To highlight the role of measuring serum procalcitonin (PCT) and receiving early prophylactic antibiotic therapy in terms of their relation to the mortality rate in hospitalized critical COVID-19 patients. Methods: this study analyzed sixty COVID-19 critical patients admitted to Tanta University Isolation Hospital from June to November, 2020. Respiratory tract and blood samples were collected Results: Our results showed that the mean serum PCT levels were significantly higher in deceased patients (15%) than in those who could survive corona-virus infection. Patients who received early prophylactic antibiotic therapy showed significant better survival rate than those who didn't. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that measuring PCT shows statically significant results with COVID-19 patients' outcome more than other commonly used laboratory markers such as CRP. Moreover, early administration of prophylactic antibiotic therapy in COVID-19 patients, especially critical ones, is crucial even in those with negative PCT values. © 2020 The author (s). Published by Zagazig University.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome has led to a pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Malnutrition either biochemically or anthropometrically is a well-known risk factor for COVID-19 and may be the vice versa AIM: The objectives of this study were to investigate the prevalence of malnutrition in children infected with COVID-19 through evaluating the nutritional biomarkers such as serum electrolytes, serum albumin, and hemoglobin together with the anthropometric assessment. METHODS: A cross-sectional study that was conducted at El-Matria Teaching Hospital for all children admitted with confirmed COVID-19 for 6 months from February 1, 2021 to the end of July, 2021. Nutritional biochemical evaluation included serum electrolytes particularly the potassium and other nutritional biomarkers such as serum albumin and hemoglobin. Nutritional anthropometric evaluation depended on body mass index, the height/length, weight for length, and weight for height. The prevalence of malnutrition esp. hypokalemia was the main outcome. RESULTS: Hypokalemia was present in 21.8% of the study participants. Other nutritional biomarkers were found as hyponatremia, hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia, and hypomagnesemia were detected in 49.1%, 38.2%, 21.8%, and 34.5% of the study subjects, respectively. Anthropometric malnutrition was present in most of the enrolled children with COVID-19 in the study (65.5 % [n = 36]) through which overweight and obese children occupied a greater percentage. CONCLUSION: Malnutrition either biochemically or anthropometrically could be linked to COVID-19 in children. COVID-19 could have negative outcomes on the nutritional status such as electrolytes disturbances. Both malnutrition and COVID-19 are considered synergistic associations.
ABSTRACT
WHO confirmed that COVID-19 disease is a pandemic event on March 11, 2020. The causative organism is a new virus called SARS-CoV-2. The review aims to explore the effect of nutrition-in particular the fat component - on the COVID-19 course in pediatrics. In this review, I will explain the relationship between the dietary fat component and its role as a macronutrient in the modulation of the disease severity or the prevention. The modification could be in the type or the amount of the dietary fat. To illustrate, it is advisable to avoid the saturated and trans-fatty acids due to their links to obesity with subsequent raised risks for COVID-19. In addition, the amount of dietary fat can be ameliorated to yield better disease outcomes. To illustrate, the ketogenic diet (high fat diet) provides the betahydroxybutrate which has favorable effects on the immunity suppressing and delaying the cytokine storms. © 2022 National Information and Documentation Center (NIDOC).
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized disasters related to environmental topics, human health, social lifestyles, and economic systems around the world. COVID-19 may further spread through municipal solid waste (MSW), if it is collected, handled, transported, or disposed in an improper way. The current paper provides an overview of the multiple challenges that COVID-19 has introduced to the various tasks of MSW management including the impact of the implemented precautionary measures on MSW management, priorities and hierarchy of MSW, direct impact on the constitution, and characterization of MSW in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, based on waste management characterization guidance. In addition, specific and alternative guidance plans for the potential critical points of the infection were suggested to protect public health during the pandemic. The results of the current study revealed that the hierarchical system of MSW was modified under pandemic conditions. Implementation of control measures in Makkah has led to a change of lifestyle, which resulted in a physical change of the MSW constitution in Makkah, with the following average rates: organic matter, 57%;plastics, 31%;paper and cardboard, 9%;metals, 1%;glass, 1%;and wood, 1%. In conclusion, a specific guidance plan for MSW management during the COVID-19 pandemic was developed, aimed at handlers, pickers, collection, transportation, transfer stations, and MSW disposal. Such a guidance plan may play a vital role in controlling the pandemic, especially in the outdoor environment. The suggested guidance plan describes and specifies structured and ordered practices of MSW management in Makkah during COVID-19 and other pandemics.
ABSTRACT
Meteorological conditions may influence the incidence of many infectious diseases. Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is a highly contagious, air-borne, emerging, viral disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). In 2020, the COVID-19 global pandemic affected more than 210 countries and territories worldwide including Saudi Arabia. There are contradictory research papers about the correlation between meteorological parameters and incidence of COVID-19 in some countries worldwide. The current study investigates the impact of outdoor and indoor meteorological conditions on the daily recorded COVID-19 cases in western region (Makkah and Madinah cities) of Saudi Arabia over a period of 8 months from March to October 2020. Reports of the daily confirmed COVID-19 cases from the webpage of Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) were used. Considering, the incubation period of COVID-19 which ranged from 2 to 14 days, the relationships between daily COVID-19 cases and outdoor meteorological factors (temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed) using a lag time of 10 days are investigated. The results showed that the highest daily COVID-19 cases in Makkah and Madinah were reported during the hottest months of the year (April-July 2020) when outdoor temperature ranged from 26.51 to 40.71 °C in Makkah and of 23.89-41.20 °C in Madinah, respectively. Partial negative correlation was detected between outdoor relative humidity and daily recorded COVID-19 cases. No obvious correlation could be demonstrated between wind speed and daily COVID-19 cases. This indicated that most of SARS-CoV-2 infection occurred in the cool, air-conditioned, dry, and bad-ventilated indoor environment in the investigated cities. These results will help the epidemiologists to understand the correlation between both outdoor and indoor meteorological conditions and SARS-CoV-2 transmissibility. These findings would be also a useful supplement to assist the local healthcare policymakers to implement and apply a specific preventive measures and education programs for controlling of COVID-19 transmission.