Evaluation of canine detection of COVID-19 infected individuals under controlled settings.

Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is currently the standard diagnostic method to detect symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals infected with Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, RT-PCR results are not immediate and may falsely be negative before an infected individual sheds viral particles in the upper airways where swabs are collected. Infected individuals emit volatile organic compounds in their breath and sweat that are detectable by trained dogs. Here, we evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of dog detection against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Fifteen dogs previously trained at two centres in Australia were presented to axillary sweat specimens collected from known SARS-CoV-2 human cases (n = 100) and non-cases (n = 414). The true infection status of the cases and non-cases were confirmed based on RT-PCR results as well as clinical presentation. Across dogs, the overall diagnostic sensitivity (DSe) was 95.3% (95%CI: 93.1-97.6%) and diagnostic specificity (DSp) was 97.1% (95%CI: 90.7-100.0%). The DSp decreased significantly when non-case specimens were collected over 1 min rather than 20 min (p value = .004). The location of evaluation did not impact the detection performances. The accuracy of detection varied across dogs and experienced dogs revealed a marginally better DSp (p value = .016). The potential and limitations of this alternative detection tool are discussed.

Healthcare provision for insect venom allergy patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The population prevalence of insect venom allergy ranges between 3-5%, and it can lead to potentially life-threatening allergic reactions. Patients who have experienced a systemic allergic reaction following an insect sting should be referred to an allergy specialist for diagnosis and treatment. Due to the widespread reduction in outpatient and inpatient care capacities in recent months as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the various allergy specialized centers in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland have taken different measures to ensure that patients with insect venom allergy will continue to receive optimal allergy care. A recent data analysis from the various centers revealed that there has been a major reduction in newly initiated insect venom immunotherapy (a 48.5% decline from March-June 2019 compared to March-June 2020: data from various centers in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland). The present article proposes defined organizational measures (e.g., telephone and video appointments, rearranging waiting areas and implementing hygiene measures and social distancing rules at stable patient numbers) and medical measures (collaboration with practice-based physicians with regard to primary diagnostics, rapid COVID-19 testing, continuing already-initiated insect venom immunotherapy in the outpatient setting by making use of the maximal permitted injection intervals, prompt initiation of insect venom immunotherapy during the summer season, and, where necessary, using outpatient regimens particularly out of season) for the care of insect venom allergy patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 Pandemic Can Impact Perinatal Mental Health and the Health of the Offspring.

The COVID-19 ongoing pandemic constitutes a major challenge for countries throughout the world due to the rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 and devastating consequences in health. No one is free from COVID-19 impact. In this regard, pregnant women are not the exception. The COVID-19 outbreak represents a massive source of stressful agents for women and their babies during the perinatal period. The COVID-19 pandemic has been suggested to potentially have short- and long-term detrimental effects on pregnant women and the baby. These adverse consequences range from mental to medical diseases. During the last centuries, several dreadful and fatal incidents have put pregnant women and their babies at higher risk of mortality and health deterioration. For example, it has been informed that women exposed to the 1918 flu pandemic (commonly known as the Spanish flu) while pregnant showed higher rates of premature delivery in the short term. Long-term consequences have also been reported and individuals (both males and females) who were exposed to the 1918 flu pandemic while in utero had a higher risk of developing schizophrenia, diabetes, coronary heart disease or cancer throughout their lifespan.

COVID-19associated exfoliative shock syndrome / Síndrome de shock exfoliativo por covid-19

RESUMEN El síndrome de shock exfoliativo(SSE) asociado a COVID- 19 es una enfermedad recientemente descrita con características superpuestas de síndrome de shock tóxico (SST) y síndrome de la piel escaldada estafilocócica (SSSS, por sus siglas en inglés). Clínicamente se presenta con fiebre, hipotensión y erupción cutánea exfoliativa.Se expone un caso en donde las lesiones cutáneas por COVID-19 precedieron a las manifestaciones respiratorias.

ABSTRACT The exfoliative shock syndrome (ESS) associated with COVID-19 is a recently described disease with overlapping features of toxic shock syndrome (TSS) and staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome(SSSS). Clinically it presents with fever, hypotension, and exfoliative skin rash. A case is presented in which the skin lesions by COVID-19 preceded the respiratory manifestations.

Epidemiology and Clinical Presentation of Children Hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Suburbs of Paris.

Understanding the clinical presentation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and prognosis in children is a major issue. Children often present mild symptoms, and some severe forms require paediatric intensive care, with in some cases a fatal prognosis. Our aim was to identify the epidemiological characteristics, clinical presentation, and prognosis of children with coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) hospitalized in Paris suburb hospitals. In this prospective, observational, multicentre study, we included children hospitalized in paediatric departments of Paris suburb hospitals from 23 March 2020 to 10 May 2020, during the national lockdown in France with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (positive RNA test on a nasopharyngeal swab) or highly suspected infection (clinical, biological, and/or radiological data features suggestive for SARS-CoV-2 infection). A total of 192 children were included for confirmed (n = 157) or highly suspected (n = 35) SARS-CoV-2 infection. The median age was one year old (interquartile range 0.125-11) with a sex ratio 1.3:1. Fever was recorded in 147 (76.6%) children and considered poorly tolerated in 29 (15.1%). The symptoms ranged from rhinorrhoea (34.4%) and gastrointestinal (35.5%) to respiratory distress (25%). Only 10 (5.2%) children had anosmia and five (2.6%) had chest pain. An underlying condition was identified in almost 30% of the children in our study. Overall, 24 (12.5%) children were admitted to paediatric intensive care units, 12 required mechanical ventilation, and three died. For children in Paris suburbs, most cases of Covid-19 showed mild or moderate clinical expression. However, one-eighth of children were admitted to paediatric intensive care units and three died.

Novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: Considerations for the biomedical waste sector in India.

In late December 2019, the world woke to a truth of a pandemic of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), inspired by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which has a place with a gathering of beta-coronavirus. As of July 21 India is still fighting to survive against the SARS-CoV-2 as called coronavirus disease. The contaminations, first constrained in the Kerala state, have inevitably spread to every single other area. The possibility to cause dangerous respiratory disappointment and quick transmission puts COVID-19 in the rundown of the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). There is a flow overall break out of the novel coronavirus Covid-19, which started from Wuhan in China and has now spread to more than 212 countries including 14,753,034 cases, as of 12:20 AM on July 21, 2020. Governments are feeling the squeeze to prevent the outbreak from spiralling into a worldwide wellbeing crisis. At this stage, readiness, straightforwardness, and sharing of data are vital to hazard evaluations and starting explosion control exercises. Since the episode of serious intense respiratory disorder (SARS) 18 years back, an enormous number of SARS-related coronaviruses (SARSr-CoVs) have been found in their regular repository have, bats. During this epidemic condition, expulsion of biomedical waste created from crisis facilities treating COVID-19 patients in like manner demands unprecedented thought as they can be potential bearers of the disease SARS-CoV-2. This article discusses the potential consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on biomedical waste administrations, concentrating on basic focuses where option working methodology or extra moderation measures might be fitting.