Coexistence of neurological diseases with Covid-19 pneumonia during the pandemic period.

Although clinical findings are related to respiration in the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of patients with neurological symptoms and signs is increasing. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of Covid-19 pneumonia using thoracic CT in patients who presented to the emergency room with neurological complaints during the pandemic. We retrospectively examined the files of 1093 patients who admitted to the emergency room and had a Neurology consultation. The research involved patients who had a neurological diagnosis and had typical findings of COVID-19 pneumonia on thorax computed tomography (CT). The thoracic CT scans of 68 (6.2%) of 1093 patients with neurological disorders at the time of admission revealed results consistent with Covid-19 pneumonia. The "real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction" (RT-PCR) was positive in 42 of the 68 patients (62%), and the patients were diagnosed with Covid-19. Ground glass opacity was the most common finding in thoracic CT in patients diagnosed with Covid-19 pneumonia, with a rate of 92.9% (n = 39). Ischemic stroke (n = 26, 59.5%), cerebral haemorrhage (n = 11, 28.6%), epilepsy (n = 3, 7.1%), transient ischaemic attack (TIA; n = 1, 2.4%), and acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (n = 1, 2.4%) were the most common neurological diagnoses among the patients. Even though Covid-19 affects the central and peripheral nervous systems, eliminating the possibility of Covid-19 pneumonia with thorax CT is critical for early treatment and patient prognosis.

COVID-19: transport operation from an endemic area

Aim: Turkish Government launched an operation to transport the Turks living in Wuhan, China to Turkey because of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemia. In this study, the transport method, medical measures taken and quarantine process were evaluated. Materials and Methods: Turkish citizens living in China had reported to the Turkish Embassy in Beijing that they wanted to return to Turkey. Thereupon Turkish Embassy in Beijing contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, and it was decided to transport Turkish citizens from China to Turkey. The governments of Georgia, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, and Albania, who were aware of this development, requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey for their own citizens to be included in this transport.