Diagnosis of type 2 diabetes in a patient with acute sinusitis and COVID-19 in Colombia.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, cases of acute sinusitis due to COVID-19 and even co-infections have been reported [1]. We want to discuss a case in Colombia where a patient with detected type 2 diabetes presented sinusitis and COVID-19. A 51-year-old man from Sincelejo, Sucre, consulted on May 23, 2020, with one day presenting general malaise and fever (38 °C), lumbar pain, frequent urination, polydipsia and hyperglycemia (366 mg/dl). He denied cough, travel during the last two weeksan Physical examination revealed a blood pressure of 170/110 mmHg, heart rate of 115 beats/minute, respiratory rate of 16 breaths/minute, and temperature of 36.6 °C. Neither lymphadenopathies nor cardiopulmonary disturbances were noted. A working diagnosis of febrile syndrome, ketoacidosis, and recent-onset type 2 diabetes, with uncontrolled hypertension, was contemplated at admission RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 was positive. A head CT Scan revealed left maxillary sinusitis with mucosal thickening of the maxillary Despite the sizeable SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the number of reports of sinusitis in association with COVID-19 has been limited [2,3]. Sinusitis is more often diagnosed among immunocompromised patients, including diabetes of our patient. COVID-19, as a multisystemic condition. It may affect different anatomical areas, including the paranasal sinuses and the upper and lower respiratory mucosa. Although it is uncertain whether SARS-CoV-2 was the sole cause of the sinusitis in our patient or just a contributing factor, other reports suggest a significant involvement of the virus in the development of this condition, in addition to its role in worsening the clinical course of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.

Brote de enfermedad aguda de Chagas adquirida oralmente en Sucre, 2019-2020 / Outbreak of orally acquired acute Chagas disease in Sucre, 2019-2020

Introducción: En las dos últimas décadas, varios países de América Latina han experimentado múltiples brotes de la enfermedad de Chagas oral. El estudio: Estudio retrospectivo que analiza un brote de enfermedad de Chagas oral aguda en Sucre, Colombia durante diciembre-enero de 2020. Los casos fueron confirmados por diferentes métodos diagnósticos. Hallazgos: Durante dos semanas se confirmaron 16 casos, donde la edad media fue de 14 años. Del total, 14 pacientes fueron hospitalizados y 2 fallecieron. Las manifestaciones clínicas incluyeron: fiebre, edema facial, hepatoesplenomegalia. En 13 de los pacientes se observaron tripomastigotes de Trypanosoma cruzi en los frotis fino y grueso. La transmisión oral se estableció como la vía más probable. Conclusiones: La enfermedad de Chagas aguda transmitida por vía oral puede poner en peligro la vida o incluso ser mortal, por tanto, es urgente mejorar las medidas de control epidemiológico a nivel nacional y en otros países de América Latina.

Background:In the last two decades, several Latin Americancountrieshaveexperiencedmultiple outbreaksoforalChagasdisease.Thestudy: Retrospective study analyzing an outbreak of acute oralChagasdiseaseinSucre,Colombiaduring December-January 2020. The cases were confirmed by different diagnostic methods. During two Finding:weeks, 16 cases were confirmed, where the mean age was 14 years and 12 were male. Of the total, 14 patientswerehospitalizedand2died.Clinical manifestationsinclude:fever,facialedema, hepatosplenomegaly,In13ofthepatients Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes were observed in thethinandthicksmears.Oraltransmissionis established as the most likely route in 14 of the patients. Acute orally transmitted Conclusions: Chagas disease can be life-threatening or even fatal, therefore, it is urgent to improve epidemiological control measures at the national level and in other Latin American countries.

Should we concern about reinfection in COVID-19?: [Editorial] / ¿Deberíamos preocuparnos por la reinfección en COVID-19?: [Editorial]

After more than half year with the ongoing pandemic of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in all the continents, there are still many concerns regarding this emerging disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 as a pandemic in March 11, 2020, but it was on December 31, 2019, when a pneumonia of unknown cause was reported to WHO China Office. One of the most recent concerns about COVID-19 is the possibility of reinfection. Although experimental studies with animals suggested early in August 2020, that primary SARSCoV-2 exposure protects against subsequent reinfection in rhesus macaques, recent clinical case reports are showing that reinfection is possible.

Después de más de medio año con la pandemia en curso de la Enfermedad por Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) en todos los continentes, todavía hay muchas preocupaciones con respecto a esta enfermedad emergente. La Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) declaró la COVID-19 como pandemia el 11 de marzo de 2020, pero fue el 31 de diciembre de 2019, cuando una neumonía de causa desconocida fue notificada a la Oficina de la OMS en China. Una de las preocupaciones más recientes sobre COVID-19 es la posibilidad de reinfección. Aunque los estudios experimentales con animales sugirieron a principios de agosto de 2020, que la exposición primaria al SARSCoV-2 protege contra la reinfección posterior en macacos rhesus, los informes de casos clínicos recientes están mostrando que la reinfección es posible.

Dengue and COVID-19, overlapping epidemics? An analysis from Colombia.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has rapidly spread throughout Latin America, a region swept by multiple previous and ongoing epidemics. There are significant concerns that the arrival of COVID-19 is currently overlapping with other viruses, particularly dengue, in various endo-epidemic regions across South America. In this report, we analyzed trends for both viral infections in Colombia during the first 20 epidemiological weeks (EWs) of 2020. From 1st January to 16th May 2020 (EWs, 1-20), a total of 52 679 cases of dengue and 14 943 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Colombia. As both conditions may potentially lead to fatal outcomes, especially in patients with chronic co-morbidities, overlapping infections, and co-occurrence may increase the number of patients requiring intensive care and mechanical ventilation. In regions, such as Valle del Cauca, intensified preparation for such scenarios should be pondered, and further studies should be performed to address this critical issue in a timely matter.

Esperando lo inesperado, la pandemia del milenio hasta el momento: COVID-19 / Expecting the unexpected, the pandemic of the millennium till now: COVID-19

Al iniciar el milenio, dos décadas atrás, el mundo experimentó los primeros brotes epidémicos de gran preocupación, como fueron precisamente el Síndrome Respiratorio Agudo Severo (SARS) causado por el SARSCoV, y la influenza aviar H5N1, ambos originados en Asia, siendo el primero declarado como una emergencia sanitaria de preocupación internacional (ESPI) por parte de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS)

A deadly feast: Elucidating the burden of orally acquired acute Chagas disease in Latin America - Public health and travel medicine importance.

Over the past two decades, several countries in Latin American, particularly Brazil, Venezuela, and Colombia, have experienced multiple outbreaks of oral Chagas disease. Transmission occurs secondary to contamination of food or beverages by triatomine (kissing bug) feces containing infective Trypanosoma cruzi metacyclic trypomastigotes. Orally transmitted infections are acute and potentially fatal. Oral Chagas transmission carries important clinical implications from management to public health policies compared to vector-borne transmission. This review aims to discuss the contemporary situation of orally acquired Chagas disease, and its eco-epidemiology, pathogenesis, and clinical management. We also propose preventive public health interventions to reduce the burden of disease and provide important perspectives for travel medicine. Travel health advisors need to counsel intending travellers to South America on avoidance of "deadly feasts" - risky beverages such as fruit juices including guava juice, bacaba, babaçu and palm wine (vino de palma), açai pulp, sugar cane juice and foodstuffs such as wild animal meats that may be contaminated with T. cruzi.