Vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia after ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine in an older patient: Minireview and a case report.

Rare cases of unusual thrombosis and thrombocytopenia after administration of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine (AstraZeneca) have been reported. The unusual symptoms are called vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT). In the present study, a brief background about cases of unusual thrombosis and thrombocytopenia after administration of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 was provided. In addition, a description of a case of a 66-year-old woman who had received this vaccine and developed VITT was done. She presented to the hospital complaining of hematomas in the right upper limb 14 days after the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine, without a history of trauma (Glasgow coma scale of 14) and thrombocytopenia even though signs of thrombosis were absent. Cranium computed tomography scan indicated intraparenchymal hematoma and cerebral thrombosis, besides anastomotic Labbé vein thrombosis. The woman received platelets transfusion, dexamethasone, and neuroprotection measures, but even so, on the twelfth postoperative day, she died of cerebral rebleeding. In conclusion, it is crucial to point out the immuno-hypersensitivity mechanisms associated with ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine reactions, helping to reduce their occurrences and reinforcing confidence in vaccine administration.

[Knowledge and attitude toward epilepsy among health area students]. / Conhecimentos e atitudes sobre epilepsia entre universitários da área da saúde.

Several studies in different countries show a lack of knowledge about epilepsy with consequent prejudice and discrimination to epileptic patients. We aim to evaluate knowledge and attitudes of health area junior and senior students. Simple self-administered questionnaires were applied to 290 junior students and to 274 senior students. Senior students had more familiarity, better knowledge about etiology and had a more positive perception about anticonvulsant medication. Positive attitudes about work were more common among senior students. Although, significant percentage of students had a lack of knowledge about epilepsy. A third of the respondents could use improper and potentially harmful measures during a seizure. Actions directed to increment the knowledge and attitudes of health area students could improve the quality of life of patients with epilepsy.

Conhecimentos e atitudes sobre epilepsia entre universitários da área da saúde / Knowledge and attitude toward epilepsy among health area students

Vários estudos em diversos paises mostram em relação à epilepsia a falta de conhecimentos, os preconceitos e as repercussões negativas para os pacientes. Avaliamos os conhecimentos e atitudes de universitários da área da saúde no início e ao final dos cursos. Foram aplicados questionários contendo 15 questões em relação à epilepsia a 564 universitários (290 do primeiro e 274 do último ano) de cinco cursos (ciências farmacêuticas, fisioterapia, medicina, nutrição e terapia ocupacional). Os estudantes de último ano tiveram maior familiaridade com epilepsia, melhor conhecimento de suas causas e de seu tratamento. Também em questões relacionadas ao trabalho e à conduta durante as crises, ao final dos cursos cresceram as posturas positivas. Não obstante, porcentagem significativa dos universitários do último ano ainda apresentou importantes lacunas de conhecimento em relação à epilepsia o que sugere a necessidade de ações dirigidas a minorar essa situação.