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Since the outbreak in December 2019, the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic virus has been a major public health problem in all countries of the world. The virus is transmitted by inhalation of respiratory droplets from the patient or asymptomatic carrier and is highly contagious. The clinical disease in children is similar to any acute respiratory infection with predominant upper respiratory symptoms, but occasionally can progress to pneumonia with acute respiratory distress syndrome and multiorgan failure. The disease is milder in children than in adults, with low mortality, and it appears that infants and young children have a somewhat more severe clinical course. Diagnosis is made by detecting the virus from respiratory samples (mainly nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs) using polymerase chain reaction. Treatment is usually symptomatic, and in severe and critical forms, the use of one of the antiviral drugs (lopinavir-ritonavir, remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine) may be consideredCopyright © 2020 Croatian Paediatric Society. All rights reserved.
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On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated the new coronavirus COVID-19 to be epidemic. Adherence to infection control methods is strongly affected by an individual's knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP). The study aimed to evaluate medical students' understanding, and attitudes toward COVID-19 at the Kirkuk Medical College in Iraq. From October 16 to October 26, 2020, a cross-sectional online study was conducted, among a sample of students in Kirkuk Medical College, one of the Iraqi governorates. A total of 214 students were included in this research, and the age varied between 20-25 years. The questionnaire was divided into demographic data, knowledge, attitudes, and practices, modified from an online questionnaire regarding COVID-19 previously used. Descriptive statistics and t-tests were conducted. Among the study sample (n=214), age ranged between 20-25 years, 72.9% were females, and 86.9% resided in urban areas. The learning questionnaire's total accuracy rate was 96.3%. 98.1% of the students know that the virus is spreading by respiratory droplets from infected individuals, 30.4% have a good attitude towards COVID-19, and 100% have good practice dodging crowded places and practicing appropriate hand hygiene. The majority of students are knowledgeable of disease transference prevention and good practices. Female gender and urban residency play a positive role in knowledge and practice in respect to COVID-19 but not in what concerns the attitude. It is recommended to continue health education programs to correct the negative attitude among students, especially those who reside in rural areas.Copyright © 2023, Codon Publications. All rights reserved.
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Background Available data on aerosol emisions in children and adolescents during spontaneous breathing are limited. Our aim was to gain insight into the role of children in the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and whether aerosol measurements in children can be used to help detect so-called superspreaders - infected individuals with extremely high numbers of exhaled aerosol particles. Methods In this prospective study, the aerosol concentration of SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive and SARS-CoV-2 PCR-negative children and adolescents (2-17 years) was investigated. All subjects were asked about their current health status and medical history. The exhaled aerosol particle counts of PCR-negative and PCR-positive subjects were measured using the Resp-Aer-Meter (Palas GmbH, Karlsruhe, Germany) and compared using linear regresion. The study was registered in the German Register of Clinical Studies (DRKS), DRKS00028539. Results A total of 250 children and adolescents were included in the study, 105 of whom were SARS-CoV-2 positive and 145 of whom were SARS-CoV-2 negative. The median age acros both groups was nine years (IQR 7-11). A total of 124 (49.6%) participants were female, and 126 (50.4%) participants were male. A total of 81.9% of the SARS-CoV-2-positive group had symptoms of viral infection. The median particle count of all individuals was 79.55 p/l (IQR 44.55-141.15). There was a tendency for older children to exhale more particles (1-5 years: 79.54 p/l;6-11 years: 77.96 p/l;12-17 years: 98.63 p/l). SARS-CoV-2 PCR status was not a bivariate predictor (t=.82, p=.415) for the exhaled aerosol particle count;however, the SARS-CoV-2 status was shown to be a significant predictor in a multiple regresion model together with age, body mas index (BMI), covid vaccination, and past SARS-CoV-2 infection (t=.2.81 p=.005). Covid vaccination status was a highly significant predictor of exhaled aerosol particles (p <.001).Conclusion During SARS-CoV-2 infection, children and adolescents do not have elevated aerosol levels. In addition, no superspreaders were found. Children and adolescents are not the main driver of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. .
ABSTRACT
Coronavirus disease is a contagious respiratory ailment that has spread significantly around the world. Most cases of COVID-19 are spread from person to person by coming into contact with respiratory droplets that are released when an infected person coughs or sneezes. In this manuscript, we have highlighted the possible transmission of COVID-19 through food, water, air and paper. In the case of food, we have extensively covered the transmission of COVID-19 through meat, frozen foods, food packaging and food market along with the incidences worldwide. In the nextsection, we have highlighted the different components of air which are responsible for the transmission and also covered its relation with PM 2.5 incidence. The SARS-CoV-2 was isolated from sewage water/wastewater of various countries namely the United States, India, Australia, Netherlands and France signifying that wastewater can be a mode of virus transmission. The paper circulation by the infected COVID-19 patients can also be a virus conveyance route. It can be concluded that SARS-CoV-2 can therefore be transmitted indirectly through food via the workers involved in food packing or food marts.By following general safety precautions (wearing masks, using hand sanitisers, cleaning and disinfecting contact surfaces, and avoiding close contact), heating and using chemicals like ethanol (67-71%), sodium hypochlorite (0.1%) and hydrogen peroxide (0.5%) on environmental surfaces, along with vaccination, it is possible to reduce the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.Copyright © 2023 The International Journal of Pharmaceutical Research and Allied Sciences (IJPRAS).
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The new coronavirus disease was declared by WHO as COVID-19 1 and the name of the virus causing this disease was defined as SARS-CoV-2 . The most common way of transmission of the virus is the close contact with infected people and respiratory droplets. Another common way of transmission is touching mouth, nose and eyes after touching surfaces contaminated with droplets shed by infected people. According to the results of the studies, the virus has a durability between 2-72 hours on different surfaces and items..Copyright © 2022, Universidade de Sao Paulo. Museu de Zoologia. All rights reserved.
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The proceedings contain 54 papers. The topics discussed include: cytokines in severe childhood asthma;transcriptional gene regulation of interleukin-6 in epithelial cells in viral-induced asthma exacerbation;assessment of the long-term safety and efficacy of dupilumab in children with asthma: LIBERTY ASTHMA EXCURSION;impulse oscillometry bronchodilator response in preschool children;pulmonary function in non-hospitalized adults and children after mild Covid-19;exhaled aerosols in PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2-infected children;early respiratory infectious diseases have an influence on the gut microbiome;comparison of three eradication treatment protocols for pseudomonas aeruginosa in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis;neutrophilic airway inflammation in children with repaired esophageal atresia-tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF);and multiplex immunofluorescence and multispectral imaging as a tool to evaluate host directed therapy.
ABSTRACT
The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first reported in Wuhan, Chi-na, and soon the infection turned into a pandemic. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the spread of COVID-19 infection. The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed 4.20% of total deaths globally (March 21, 2020). Within four months (July 21, 2020), the rate of confirmed total deaths was recorded up to 4.17% globally. In India, 909 confirmed cases and 19 deaths were reported by Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, on March 28, 2020. Over a period of 123 days in India, 1638870 confirmed cases and 35684 deaths were reported. COVID-19 can potentially spread from person to person through direct contact or respiratory droplets from coughing and sneezing. The most common symptoms are fever, dry cough, difficulty in breathing, and fatigue. A pregnant mother with COVID-19 has fewer chances of trans-ferring this infection to her newborn baby. Children are less affected than adults from this virus. A specific antiviral drug or vaccine has not been developed to cure the disease to date. Drugs including chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir, ritonavir, nafamostat, nitazoxanide, and remde-sivir, have been observed to be effective for treating COVID-19. Many vaccine candidates are under investigation in pre-clinical and clinical studies. In this review, we highlight the epidemiology, signs and symptoms, pathogenesis, and mode of transmission of the infection caused by COVID-19, and its effects on a pregnant mother and newborn, and children. We also highlight the preventive measures and drugs that are effective for treating COVID-19.Copyright © 2021 Bentham Science Publishers.
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COVID-19 is highly contagious and transmission dynamics of COVID-19 are not yet fully elucidated. It is known that the ill person begins to become contagious before the symptoms of the disease begin. Also asymptomatic person who are infected but does not have symptoms and signs, can infect other individuals. The only way for health workers to protect themselves from COVID-19 is proper use of personal protective equipment and to ensure hand hygiene. COVID-19 is transmitted through close contact and large respiratory droplets and not transmitted by airborne. The surgical mask prevents the passage of respiratory droplets. However, during the aerosol producing procedures performed on the patient, small particles containing infectious particles are scattered to air in high amounts. Healthcare workers are more likely become infected during these procedures. It is recommended to wear respirator during these procedures. Use of masks or respirators must be in conjunction with other recommended PPE and appropriate hand hygiene.
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Purpose : COVID-19 pandemic has become a major global public health challenge. The ophthalmology office setting involves close encounters between the patient and the health care workers increasing risk of viral transmission. Use of PPE decreases risk of person-to-person viral transmission. The purpose of the study was to evaluate breath-induced air currents in subjects without a facemask, with a procedure mask, with an improvised face, and in the setting of slit-lamp examination. Methods : Breath-induced air currents were studied in healthy volunteers utilizing a vape pod system and videography during gentle and heavy breathing simulation. Video frames at 2 seconds after the initiation of expiration were captured and analyzed. Results : A total of 210 recordings were made for 7 settings. Without a face mask, the aerosol moved forwards and spread vertically and horizontally reaching a mean distance of 23.1 inches for gentle, and 36.1 inches for heavy breathing at 2 seconds (P< 0.001). Using PPE the airflow patterns included: a) procedure mask- forward 0 cases, upward 19 (63%) cases, side 28 (93%) cases, downward 22 (73%) cases, and backward 22 (73%) cases. Adding a tape at the upper border of the mask eliminated upward flow in all cases. b) Improvised face mask- forward 0 cases, upward 0 cases, side 30 (100%) cases, downward 30 (100%) cases, and backward 17 (57%) cases. In 14 (47%) cases trace of aerosol was detected adjacent to the front surface of the mask. Adding a second layer eliminated the trace of aerosol in all cases. In the setting of simulated slit-lamp examination without the breath shield, the aerosol reached the chin rest in 9 (60%) cases during gentle breathing and in all cases during heavy breathing. The breath shield was effective in blocking forward airflow in all cases. Conclusions : Use of a procedure mask by patients, while effective in blocking forward breath-induced airflow, redirects the flow upwards, potentially increasing the risk of contamination during an office procedure. An improvised facemask alters breath-induced air currents favorably and partially absorbs respiratory droplets.
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Public health and societal efforts can avoid the 2019 Corona pandemic (COVID-19). Ethiopia has adopted health and social measures. COVID-19 social distance and health prevention research. SARS-CoV-2 produces COVID-19. The global vaccine effort must understand how the virus spreads to end the pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 spreads by respiratory droplets and aerosols, according to new studies. Temperature, humidity, precipitation, air currents, pH, and radiation affect transmission. Hand washing and masks are also helpful public health measures. Non-pharmaceutical remedies need more research. Body-invading eye bacteria exist. There's no indication that COVID-19 exposure causes the disorder's ocular symptoms. Tears and conjunctiva contained SARS-CoV-2. Ocular symptoms may be the first or only sign of infection. Hand cleanliness, social isolation, and hospital SOPs can limit illness spread. Eye lubricants and spectacles can prevent eye infections.
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I will discuss our lab's efforts, together with collaborators, to use computational microscopy to understand the SARS-CoV-2 virus in atomic detail, with the goals to better understand molecular recognition of the virus and host cell receptors, antibody binding and design, and the search for novel therapeutics. I will focus on our studies of the spike protein, its glycan shield, its interactions with the human ACE2 receptor, our ACM Gordon Bell Special Prize winning efforts to model the SARS-CoV-2 virion, and escape variants. I will also discuss our efforts to completely revise current models of airborne transmission of respiratory viruses by providing never-before-seen atomic level views of the SARSCoV-2 virus within a respiratory aerosol.
ABSTRACT
Since the outbreak in December 2019, the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic virus has been a major public health problem in all countries of the world. The virus is transmitted by inhalation of respiratory droplets from the patient or asymptomatic carrier and is highly contagious. The clinical disease in children is similar to any acute respiratory infection with predominant upper respiratory symptoms, but occasionally can progress to pneumonia with acute respiratory distress syndrome and multiorgan failure. The disease is milder in children than in adults, with low mortality, and it appears that infants and young children have a somewhat more severe clinical course. Diagnosis is made by detecting the virus from respiratory samples (mainly nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs) using polymerase chain reaction. Treatment is usually symptomatic, and in severe and critical forms, the use of one of the antiviral drugs (lopinavir-ritonavir, remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine) may be considered
ABSTRACT
Background: Molnupiravir, a prodrug of the broadly active, direct-acting antiviral, ribonucleoside analogue EIDD-1931, is a promising COVID-19 drug. Given the primary route of SARS-CoV-2 transmission through respiratory droplets we evaluated EIDD-1931 PK in saliva, nasal secretions and tears of patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 through the phase Ib/IIa AGILE platform (NCT04746183). Methods: Patients with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, within 5 days of symptom onset with mild-to-moderate disease were randomised to oral molnupiravir 300, 600 or 800 mg twice daily. Plasma and non-plasma (saliva, nasal and tear swabs) samples were collected pre-dose, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 hours post-dose on study days 1 and 5 and molnupiravir and EIDD-1931 measured by LC/MS (lower limit of quantification, 2.5 ng/mL). PK parameters were determined (Phoenix 64, WinNonlin, v. 8.3) and non-plasma:plasma (NP:P) ratios (based on AUC0-4) calculated. Relationships between paired non-plasma and plasma samples were evaluated by linear regression. Results: Twelve participants (n=4 per dose;75% female) completed the study contributing 111, 112 and 97 saliva, nasal and tear samples, respectively. Molnupiravir was detected in 11% of saliva samples [median (range) 4.86 ng/mL (2.63-31.44)] and not evaluated in swabs. Quantifiable EIDD-1931, following molnupiravir 300, 600 and 800 mg twice daily were i) saliva: 17.7 (2.8-133), 16.6 (2.9-469), 25.8 (4.0-230) ng/mL, ii) nasal swabs: 182 (18-1700), 136 (18-917), 295 (24-1879) ng/mL and iii) tears: 297 (24-1650), 176 (16-1260), 307 (32-2760) ng/mL. PK parameters are shown (Table 1). Median (range, CV%) pooled NP:P ratio for saliva was 0.03 (0.01-0.11, 60%;n=16). Nasal and tear ratios were 6-fold higher with values of 0.21 (0.05-0.73, 70%;n=17) and 0.22 (0.09-1.05, 92%;n=12), respectively. Non-plasma and plasma concentrations were significantly correlated (r2: 0.360-0.677;p<0.0001). Of measured saliva, nasal and tear samples, 6, 50 and 61%, respectively were within or above the EIDD-1931 EC90 against SARS-CoV-2 in primary human airway epithelia cultures (approximately 0.5-1 μ M ≈ 130-260 ng/mL). Conclusion: This is the first report of EIDD-1931 PK at sites of initial SARS-CoV-2 exposure in patients with COVID-19. Investigations of PK/PD relationships are warranted;however, these data suggest therapeutic concentrations are potentially achieved in nasal and tear compartments, but not saliva and have important implications for prophylactic coverage.
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Introduction: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus responsible for the global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has afflicted more than 245 million people worldwide and caused more than 5 million deaths (1). COVID-19 primarily affects the respiratory tract and infected persons generate respiratory droplets and aerosols containing the virus that transmit the infection to susceptible hosts (2). Patients with COVID- 19 need inhaled therapies, either for pre-existing respiratory diseases or because of new onset respiratory distress and hypoxemia in patients with no previous pulmonary problems. Aerosolized therapies increase particle concentrations in the vicinity of patients receiving such treatments (3, 4). Inhalers (pMDIs, DPIs and SMIs) have a very low risk of contamination and the risk of spreading infection with those devices is largely due to ''bioaerosols'' generated by the patient during breathing, speaking, coughing or sneezing (2,5,6). In contrast, nebulizers, especially those that are operated continuously, release ''fugitive emissions'' that could remain in the indoor environment.
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Background: Corona virus disease 2019 is a highly infectious disease which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted from person to person mainly by respiratory droplets and aerosols as well as by direct or indirect contact. Aims and objective: To compare different RNA extraction methods for detection of SARSCov-2 RNA from nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs using three different methods which are based on different techniques. Material and methods: This analytical observational study was conducted in the department of Microbiology, Sawai Man Singh Medical College Jaipur, Rajasthan from December 2020 to January 2021. We selected 200 confirmed positive (extracted by Easy Mag automated system) (remnant) samples showing a wide range of different Ct values and 20 confirmed negative samples stored in Viral Transport Media VTM for this study. In order to compare quality of three extractions methods, all samples were aliquoted separately for each extraction technique. (1) Extraction by manual method (spin column base): was done by as per manufacturer’s instructions. (2) Extraction by QIA cube HT (vaccum column base): was done by as per manufacturer’s instructions. (3) Extraction by Perkins Elmer chemagic 360: (magnetic beads based). Result: A panel consisting of 200 Covid-19 positive and 20 Covid-19 negative samples were extracted by three methods (i.e. Manual column based, automated column-based and automated magnetic beads-based method). The extracted material/elutes were put for realtime RT-PCR assay for the detection of SARS CoV-2 RNA. There was no major difference seen in individual samples’ ct values between three extraction system. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we recommended all three RNA extraction methods (i.e. magnetic beads & silica column-based) are interchangeable in a diagnostic workflow for the SARS CoV-2 by RTPCR and can be taken into account for SARS CoV-2 detection in possible future shortage of one kit or times of crisis in such pandemic time.
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The recent scenario with an outbreak of novel coronavirus has led to dramatic upsurge in mortality and morbidity rates all around the globe. The objective of consolidated article is to provide an updated insight on coronavirus disease (COVID-19) based on the current literature, and it is anticipated that it may serve as a perspective reference in future studies. Scopus, Science Direct, MEDLINE, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases were used to search the literature. For the current review, both research and review articles issued in the English language were considered. The mode of Corona virus disease transmission is through direct contact or inhalation of infected respiratory droplets. The length of period of incubation varies from 2 to 14 days with maximum patients presenting mild symptoms and sign, that is, cough, fatigue, fever, and sore throat. The infection could be worst and life threatening in elderly and immuno-compromised patients. Special diagnostic molecular tests are available for detection and identification of virus. Till date, no cure is available and treatment of patients is only supportive therapy. Preventive measures such as physical isolation, hand washing, and wearing of mask should be followed. Even though, strict measures are taken into account, prevalence of COVID-19 continues to escalate worldwide and coming course of this novel virus is still not known.