How does COVID-19 vaccination affect long-COVID symptoms?

OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to identify the association between COVID-19 vaccination and prolonged post-COVID symptoms (long-COVID) in adults who reported suffering from this condition. METHODS: This was a retrospective follow-up study of adults with long-COVID syndrome. The data were collected during a phone call to the participants in January-February 2022. We inquired about their current health status and also their vaccination status if they agreed to participate. RESULTS: In total, 1236 people were studied; 543 individuals reported suffering from long long- COVID (43.9%). Chi square test showed that 15 out of 51 people (29.4%) with no vaccination and 528 out of 1185 participants (44.6%) who received at least one dose of any vaccine had long long- COVID symptoms (p = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS: In people who have already contracted COVID-19 and now suffer from long-COVID, receiving a COVID vaccination has a significant association with prolonged symptoms of long-COVID for more than one year after the initial infection. However, vaccines reduce the risk of severe COVID-19 (including reinfections) and its catastrophic consequences (e.g., death). Therefore, it is strongly recommended that all people, even those with a history of COVID-19, receive vaccines to protect themselves against this fatal viral infection.

Long-Lasting COVID-Associated Brain Fog: A Follow-Up Study.

INTRODUCTION: We investigated the longevity of COVID-associated brain fog in patients who have survived the COVID-19. METHODS: This was a follow-up study of 2,696 adult patients with COVID-19 from our previous study. We selected every other patient in our database. The follow-up data were collected during a phone call to the participants in January-February 2022 (11 months after the initial study): concentration difficulty and the patient's self-declared status in their ability to concentrate. RESULTS: In total, 1,164 people were included; 35 people (3.0%) had concentration difficulty and 65 individuals (5.6%) had a worsened status in their ability to concentrate and think; 26 people (2.2%) responded yes to both questions and were considered as having long-lasting brain fog. People with long-lasting brain fog were more often admitted to ICUs during the initial hospitalization (23.1% vs. 9.3%; p = 0.032) compared with those without long-lasting brain fog. CONCLUSION: We may conclude that a minority of the hospitalized patients with COVID-19 may suffer from long-lasting post-COVID brain fog, at least for more than 1 year after their initial illness. Long-lasting post-COVID brain fog has a significant association with the severity of the initial illness.

Patterns of Antiepileptic Drug Reactions in Children: A Multicenter Study.

Objectives: Antiepileptic drugs are among the most common triggers of cutaneous adverse reactions. About 5-17% of epileptic patients develop idiosyncratic skin reactions at some point during their treatment course, most of which occur within the first two months of drug initiation. This study aimed to investigate the pattern of cutaneous drug reactions associated with anticonvulsant use among the pediatric population in Iran to identify high-risk individuals. Materials & Methods: In this retrospective descriptive study, medical records of children aged two months to 14 years, who were diagnosed with drug reactions due to anticonvulsant drugs between April 2007 and March 2018, were reviewed, and relevant information were extracted. This multicenter study was conducted in several provinces of Iran. Results: A total of 186 cases with a final diagnosis of the antiepileptic drug-induced eruption were evaluated. The median age of participants was 36 months (range: 2-168), and 56% were male. In approximately 70% of the children, the phenobarbital was the culprit. The median time interval between initiation of the causative drug and development of rash and fever was 10 and 7 days, respectively. The most common rash type was maculopapular rashes (69%). Overall, 33% of the patients only received antihistamines after discontinuation of the causative drug. Conclusion: Similar to previously published studies in Iran, phenobarbital was the main cause of cutaneous drug reactions to antiepileptic drugs, indicating the necessity of paying more attention when prescribing phenobarbital for Iranian pediatrics.

'Long COVID': Symptom persistence in children hospitalised for COVID-19.

AIM: We aimed to describe the long-term outcome with respect to symptom persistence amongst children hospitalised for COVID-19. METHODS: This was a follow-up study of 58 children and adolescents hospitalised with COVID-19. For all patients, the data were collected in a phone call to the family in December 2021 (9 months after the initial study and more than 13 months after their admission to hospital). We inquired about their current health status and obtained information, if the responding parent consented orally to participate and answer the questions. RESULTS: Fifty-one children and adolescents were studied. Only five patients (10%) had persistent symptoms compatible with long-COVID; the reported symptoms include fatigue in four (8%), weakness in three (6%), exercise intolerance in two (4%) and shortness of breath in two (4%) patients. Four patients (7.8%), who did not have any symptoms of long-COVID in phase 1 of the study, reported new-onset symptoms or complaints that are potentially compatible with the diagnosis of long-COVID (weakness, myalgia, excess sputum, cough, fatigue) in the current phase. CONCLUSIONS: Symptom persistence of long-COVID is infrequent amongst children hospitalised for COVID-19. Most of the symptoms of long-COVID will resolve with the passage of time and the residual symptoms are often mild and tolerable. The scientific community should carefully and clearly define long-COVID and its natural course in order to facilitate and harmonise future studies.