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This article starts with a case outlining ethical challenges encountered in participatory action research (PAR) on vaccine hesitancy in rural India during Covid-19. Community researchers were recruited by a not-for-profit organisation, with the aim of both discovering the reasons for vaccine hesitancy and encouraging take-up. This raised issues about the roles and responsibilities of local researchers in their own communities, where they might be blamed for adverse reactions to vaccination. They and their mentor struggled with balancing societal protection against individual rights to make choices. These themes are explored in two commentaries discussing the difficulties in balancing ethics in public health (prioritising societal benefits), social research (protecting participants from harm and respecting their rights not to be involved) and participatory research practices (maximising democratic participation and decision-making). As discussed in the first commentary, often these cohere, but tensions can arise. The second commentary also raises the issue of epistemic justice, questioning the extent to which the villagers could have a say in the design, implementation and interpretation of the research, and the dangers of not hearing the voices and arguments of people who reject vaccination. The case and commentaries highlight the complexities of PAR and additional challenges in a public health context.
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Introduction: Ever since coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first identified in December 2019, it has infected millions of people and resulted in more than 6.86 million deaths worldwide. Numerous novel manifestations have emerged ensuing COVID-19 and even though a full 2-year period has passed, the ongoing pandemic remains a conundrum, especially to the healthcare system. Dysphonia, or a disorder of the voice, is among the novel manifestations that have emerged. Aim of the study: To outline the outcome of new-onset dysphonia presentation in COVID-19 patients in a single tertiary centre. Case study: We aim to discuss the clinical presentation and outcome of the 3 cases that we managed in our centre to help understand the course and outcome of new- onset dysphonia among COVID-19 patients. Result and discussion: We found that despite its viral origin, dysphonia in COVID-19 patients persisted for longer compared to other viral-induced dysphonia. New-onset dysphonia is a possible silent manifestation of COVID-19.
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Objective: The global healthcare system was severely impacted by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Healthcare professionals, especially doctors, faced a tremendous amount of responsibility irrespective of the specialty and levels of ex-perience. The majority of nations saw physicians from all medical specialties relocate to COVID-19 wards. Working outside of one's comfort zone would have a significant psychosocial impact, especially in a crisis like the pandemic. To describe the experience of noninfectious disease physicians redeployed to COVID-19 duties. Material(s) and Method(s): All noninfectious disease physicians who were redeployed to COVID-19 duties received a Google form with 25 questions. Using the Pearson chi-squared test and the Fisher exact test, the relationship between survey responses and working experience and department was investigated. Statistical threshold was set at p<0.05. Result(s): Out of 180 respondents, 114 completed the survey in total. Most of the participants were female (64.9%) aged between 31-40 years old (86.8%) with 64.9% having 5-10 years of working experience. During the redeployment, 57% of respondents reported experiencing psychological effects, and 73.7% felt underprepared. However, 71.1% said their assign-ment to COVID-19 wards was beneficial, and 38.4% were willing to receive redeployment. Conclusion(s): The results of the survey indicate that COVID-19 ward redeployment was successful because participants believed their participation was important and the lead team in the COVID-19 wards offered enough direction and assistance. Doctors are prepared to safely treat COVID-19 patients, thanks to the intensive crash course and their fundamental medical knowledge. Copyright © 2023 by Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine.
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Severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its disease, COVID-19 is a global pandemic creating an unprecedented medical as well economic havoc across the world. Despite the wide spread global infection rates, the death rate is low for COVID-19. However, COVID-19 patients with other comorbid conditions face severe health complications irrespective of their gender or age. As the management of COVID-19 patients is taking up health resources, it is getting difficult to treat patients suffering from other dreadful diseases like cancer, HIV, and mental health issues. In this chapter, we discuss the effects of COVID-19 and management of cancer patients of main cancer subtypes (e.g., breast, lung, blood cancers), and patients affected with HIV and mental health issues. Finally, we also add a perspective on Ayurvedic treatment and its efficacy on COVID-19 patients. © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Introduction Obesity and diabetes mellitus are often regarded as risk factors for poorer outcomes in various infections. This study was conducted to determine the impact of diabetes mellitus and obesity on clinical outcome of COVID-19 infected patients. METHODOLOGY A prospective study was conducted from April 2021 to October 2021 among patients aged >18 years, admitted to Hospital Sarikei with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection stratified as categories 4 and 5. Pregnant women and patients with existing lung pathology were excluded. Demographic data, comorbidities, BMI, and clinical outcome parameters such as number of days on oxygen supplementation, need for mechanical ventilation and mortality were recorded. Results A total of 458 patients were included, mean age was 61.6 ± 14.2 years and 231 (50.4%) participants were male. Almost half, 211 (46.1%) were diabetics and 165 (36.0%) were found to be obese. Diabetic patients were on oxygen supplementation for a mean duration of 7.30 ± 5.63 days, significantly longer than nondiabetic patients with a mean duration 6.01 ± 4.90 days, p=0.009. There was no significant difference in number of days on oxygen between obese and non-obese patients. A higher proportion of obese patients were mechanically ventilated, 38.2% vs 25.3% non-obese patients, p=0.004. There was no increase in mechanical ventilation among diabetic patients. The rate of mortality in the obese group was also significantly higher than non-obese patients, 23.0% vs 12.6% respectively, p=0.009. The mortality rate among diabetics was not significantly different from that of nondiabetics. Conclusion Diabetic patients required oxygen supplementation for a significantly longer duration than nondiabetics. The rates of mechanical ventilation and mortality were significantly higher among obese patients compared to non-obese patients. These findings suggest that vigilant monitoring and better management for obese and diabetic patients with COVID-19 infection are important to improve clinical outcome.
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Background: In the context of newly emerging diseases, global health security has gained importance in recent years. The pandemic COVID-19 has reemphasized the significance. Despite increased attention to enhance health security, the existing capacities were not optimally prepared to respond to public health threats posed by emerging infectious diseases. Objective: The objective of the study was to develop a simple tool that can help monitor and build up the critical capacity to prevent, detect, respond and help identify the gaps in the preparedness of the health system. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2018 – December 2018 amongst the district level health functionaries like the disease surveillance, laboratory, and the animal health focal points in the selected districts across the three South Indian states. Results: The responses received from the participants of the study were scored and categorized by domains into a biosecurity index, which was easily adaptable to all districts and easy to implement by a district official or state health officer for the initial assessment. Data acquired from this tool could be analysed to build and inform readiness and response plans for preventing and controlling health emergencies. Conclusion: The biosecurity index developed for the Indian districts was an appropriate instrument for epidemic preparedness assessment. © 2021 Vyas et al.
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BACKGROUND: Despite the rapidly emerging reports of olfactory dysfunction amongst adult patients with coronavirus disease 2019, cases involving children and adolescents are scarcely reported. The literature was reviewed to elucidate olfactory dysfunction amongst children and adolescents with coronavirus disease 2019. METHODS: A search of the literature published from 1 December 2019 to 30 April 2021 was conducted using four databases, based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. The search was performed over one month (May 2021). RESULTS: Only 9 articles were identified, with a total of 316 laboratory confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 positive children and adolescents, of whom 156 reported olfactory dysfunction. Four studies reported olfactory dysfunction based on subjective tests; four studies carried out objective assessment. Most studies reported on olfaction recovery. CONCLUSION: The literature review revealed an olfactory dysfunction rate of 49 per cent amongst children and adolescents with coronavirus disease 2019. Persistence of olfactory dysfunction was reported in 7.1 per cent of the patients. Further studies involving objective measures need to be carried out in children and adolescents with coronavirus disease 2019.