ABSTRACT
Introduction: Long Covid patients may have concerns about the impact of mRNA vaccines on their symptoms. Method: A short questionnaire was sent to users of a long covid service supporting an NHS Trust staff in Wigan 2 weeks following the conclusion of a mRNA vaccine first dose roll out. The questionnaire explored acceptance and compliance with the vaccine and any change in the symptoms at least 2 weeks following the vaccination. Results: 77 HCW were offered the vaccine. 10 respondents declined mainly because of concerns regarding worsening long covid symptoms. 67% of respondents did not experience any change in symptoms whilst 21% experienced improvement of symptoms. 12% experienced worsening of symptoms. Conclusion: mRNA vaccines can influence long covid symptoms. However, patients seemed to be twice more likely to experience improvement than worsening of symptoms.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To describe the growth of #HowToNeuroTwitter, a collaborative social media initiative orienting neurology residency applicants to Twitter as an educational and networking platform. Background: During the initial 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic and the virtual residency interview season in 2020, a group of medical students, neurology residents, and fellows came together to create a #HowToNeuroTwitter guide and the #NeuroTwitterNetwork. With a continued virtual recruitment in 2021, the guide was expanded to provide more comprehensive and inclusive resources for all types of neurology applicants. Design/Methods: A group of 48 medical students, residents, fellows, and attendings created and promoted the updated guide between May 2021 - August 2021. Twitter was the primary method of promotion and recruitment. Based on feedback from the initial guide, we created new resources to include DO, IMG, and fellowship applicants in addition to residency resources. This was accomplished with the creation of topical subsections. Results: The comprehensive #HowToNeuroTwitter (bit.ly/NeuroTwitterNetwork2) guide was released on August 22nd, 2021 on Twitter, with a tweet that generated 91,082 impressions, 2,739 engagements, 1,137 link clicks to the guide, 180 likes, and 151 retweets as of October 4th, 2021. The guide was broken down into 12 sections including applying to residency, residency program twitter accounts, #MedEd resources, organizations to follow, the #NeuroTwitterNetwork database, child neurology resources, and more. Thirty organizations were catalogued, including subspecialty specific accounts, research journals, and national organizations. There were 111 adult neurology and 18 child neurology residency Twitter accounts included. Conclusions: The #HowToNeuroTwitter Guide 2.0 increased access to high yield information for medical students and residents applying to neurology by developing a centralized resource for trainees at all levels along with a diverse database of neurologists on Twitter.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To describe the spectrum of clinical phenomenology observed in patients diagnosed with functional tics (FT). Background: Tremor, dystonia and gait disorders are the more common presenting phenomenology of functional movement disorders (FMD). FT are rarely reported. In pediatrics, estimates of FT vary from 0-17% . The rarity of FT may be attributed party due to the difficulty in distinguishing FT from organic tics. Many of the positive features utilized to diagnose FMDs are common amongst organic tics which poses a challenge for clinicians. With the dramatic increase in FT since the COVID19 pandemic , the aim of this case series is to describe the clinical phenomenology observed in pediatric FT. Design/Methods: Retrospective data from 18 children diagnosed of FT from neurological evaluation during 2020-2021. Results: 18 children were included (1 male [6%,] 14 females [78%], 2 transgender female-to-males [11%], 1 gender fluid [6%];mean age = 14.3 years±2.4). FT phenomenology at onset included abrupt onset (83%) with multiple tics (61% 1-5 tics, 33% 6-10 tics, 6% >10 tics) including simple motor (78%), complex motor (61%), complex vocal (44%) and simple vocal tics (33%). Complex motor tics included 50% self-abusive tics (89% hitting themselves), 11% abusive behavior towards others (100% hitting others), and 6% copropraxia. Complex vocal tics included 22% coprolalia, 22% echolalia, and 6% palilalia. Other common features included lack of premonitory sensation or urge (56%), no suppressibility (67%), complete distractibility (61%), lack of relief (61%), and specific triggers (50%). Many visited the emergency room for their FT (61%), had additional functional symptoms (56%), showed poor medication response if trialed (88%), and none had prior history of tics. Moderate-to-severe functional impairment was reported in 67% however only 28% reported interference with school or activities. Conclusions: Our case series in conjunction with prior case studies support there are some key distinguishing features of FT.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Long Covid patients may have concerns about the impact of mRNA vaccines on their symptoms. Method: A short questionnaire was sent to users of a long covid service supporting an NHS Trust staff in Wigan 2 weeks following the conclusion of a mRNA vaccine first dose roll out. The questionnaire explored acceptance and compliance with the vaccine and any change in the symptoms at least 2 weeks following the vaccination. Results: 77 HCW were offered the vaccine. 10 respondents declined mainly because of concerns regarding worsening long covid symptoms. 67% of respondents did not experience any change in symptoms whilst 21% experienced improvement of symptoms. 12% experienced worsening of symptoms. Conclusion: mRNA vaccines can influence long covid symptoms. However, patients seemed to be twice more likely to experience improvement than worsening of symptoms.