ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: To date, information on COVID-19 pediatric patients is still sparse. We aimed to highlight the epidemiological and clinical data regarding SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and adolescents to improve the understanding of the disease in this age group and inform physicians during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, observational study in "Marie Curie" Emergency Children's Hospital from Bucharest, Romania. We analyzed clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the patients confirmed with SARS-CoV-2 infection, between April 1, 2020-October 31, 2020. RESULTS: A total of 172 patients aged 0-18 years were included, 79 (45.93%) female and 93 (54.07%) male patients. 28 (16.28%) patients had co-morbidities (more often identified in asymptomatic group; p < 0.0001). 47 (27.32%) had exposure to an identified source. 30 (17.44%) patients were asymptomatic; 142 (85.56%) had mild or moderate disease. The most frequent symptoms were: pyrexia (78.87%), digestive symptoms (50%), cough (40.14%). Chest X-ray was performed in 50 patients and it was abnormal in half of them, all being symptomatic. About 2/3 of the evaluated patients had normal leukocytes. The most common hematological change was lymphopenia; monocytes tended to be higher in symptomatic patients. About 40% of the patients were admitted; none required admission to ICU. No significant differences were found between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients regarding gender, age distribution, and exposure to a source. CONCLUSIONS: All the patients had asymptomatic, mild or moderate disease. Patients with comorbidities, classically considered high risk patients, presented the same pattern of disease.
ABSTRACT
The paper presents the interactive means of learning within a higher education institution of physical education and sport after a pandemic. The research group included the second-year students, in the degree program of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport within the Ecological University of Bucharest (EUB). Taking into account the measures adopted by the National Council for Special Emergency Situations, regarding the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) infection, and by the EUB Board of Directors as well, it was decided to suspend all face-to-face didactic activities and any other activities involving people agglomerations;the didactic activities will be conducted online, on the university dedicated platform, and the administrative, research and individual study activities will be continued. The research used the bibliographic study method, the questionnaire method, the conversation, the case study method, the interactive means of teaching online classes by means of zoom platform, electronic library of the faculty, YouTube web site, Google forms, WhatsApp and Facebook. The study results highlight the use of the interactive means in teaching courses online. The study focused on the practical experimentation of the questionnaire use by capitalizing on the knowledge, by expressing the motivation of the subject, the tools used and the way of completing the questionnaire. The teaching of courses online through interactive means aimed at transmitting the general theoretical knowledge and important practical-methodical examples. The online classes used the conversation with students, creating situations of collaboration and cooperation, analysis and comparison of the competitive activity and school curriculum.