scholarly journals The New Status of Parasitic Diseases in the COVID-19 Pandemic—Risk Factors or Protective Agents?

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2533
Author(s):  
Kinga Głuchowska ◽  
Tomasz Dzieciątkowski ◽  
Aleksandra Sędzikowska ◽  
Anna Zawistowska-Deniziak ◽  
Daniel Młocicki

It is possible that parasites may influence the course of COVID-19 infection, as either risk factors or protective agents; as such, the current coronavirus pandemic may affect the diagnosis and prevention of parasitic disease, and its elimination programs. The present review highlights the similarity between the symptoms of human parasitoses and those of COVID-19 and discuss their mutual influence. The study evaluated selected human parasitoses with similar symptoms to COVID-19 and examined their potential influence on SARS-CoV-2 virus invasion. The available data suggest that at least several human parasitoses could result in misdiagnosis of COVID-19. Some disorders, such as malaria, schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths, can increase the risk of severe infection with COVID-19. It is also suggested that recovery from parasitic disease can enhance the immune system and protect from COVID-19 infection. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected parasitic disease elimination programs in endemic regions and influenced the number of diagnoses of human parasitoses.

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 834
Author(s):  
Edy Sapada ◽  
Wita Asmalinda

The prevalence of soil transmitted helminths (STH) is closely related to the defecation facilities for rural communities, such as: the habit of defecating openly on the ground, in gardens and using open latrines in rivers. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of environmental sanitation risk factors on the prevalence of STH infection. This study was included in an analytical epidemiological study at two locations, using a cross sectional study as the research design. The location were Sri Kembang Village, Bukit Village, which is included in Betung District, Banyuasin Regency, and South Sumatra, Indonesia for 30 days. There were 252 students as the research sample. Data analysis showed that the prevalence of T. trichiura was higher in Sri Kembang State Primary School Number 1 with mild to very severe infection degrees. The intensity of A. lumbricoides infection in Bukit State Primary School Number 1 got a higher prevalence than Sri Kembang. Open defecation, gardens or open latrines, and types of houses with dirt floors indicate environmental sanitation factors that are sufficient to support the prevalence of STH. For further research, it is recommended to examine socio-economic risk factors.


2020 ◽  

Background: The outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to a major concern for those who are more vulnerable to infections. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the most important risk factors for severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Methods: This retrospective study included information on clinical and epidemiological features of 105 patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia hospitalized in Tajrish Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Initially, the medical records of the patients were investigated, and an interview was conducted based on a pre-prepared checklist to seek information about symptoms, past medical history, medication history, and behavior before hospitalization. Results: Out of 105 participants, 76 (72.5%) cases were male, and 54 (51.4%) patients were older than 54 years old. The majority of the patients (n=18; 17.1%) had both hypertension and diabetes (n=12; 11.4%). Metformin (n=36; 34.3%) was the most used medication amongst the studied patient. In addition, 24 (22.9%) patients were recreational hookah smokers, and the majority (75%) of them were under the age of 46 years old. Eventually, 19 patients were excluded from the study, of whom 11 individuals had diabetes, and 10 cases were using metformin. Conclusion: Apparently, hookah smoking played a critical role in the spread of COVID-19 in Iran and has made younger people more susceptible. In addition to older age, the immunosuppressive effects of Metformin seem to make diabetic patients with an impaired immune system more vulnerable to severe COVID-19 pneumonia. More studies on the immune system of vulnerable individuals by identifying their differences can help to protect them.


2014 ◽  
Vol 155 (51) ◽  
pp. 2028-2033 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judit Hallay ◽  
Dániel Nagy ◽  
Béla Fülesdi

Malnutrition in hospitalised patients has a significant and disadvantageous impact on treatment outcome. If possible, enteral nutrition with an energy/protein-balanced nutrient should be preferred depending on the patient’s condition, type of illness and risk factors. The aim of the nutrition therapy is to increase the efficacy of treatment and shorten the length of hospital stay in order to ensure rapid rehabilitation. In the present review the authors summarize the most important clinical and practical aspects of enteral nutrition therapy. Orv. Hetil., 2014, 155(51), 2028–2033.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard S. Bradbury ◽  
Meredith Lane ◽  
Irene Arguello ◽  
Sukwan Handali ◽  
Gretchen Cooley ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (01) ◽  
pp. e148-e158
Author(s):  
Vahid Mansouri ◽  
Marjan Mansourian ◽  
Mostafa Qorbani ◽  
Roya Riahi ◽  
Rahele Karimi ◽  
...  

AbstractThe interaction between several lifestyle and obesogenic environmental factors is considered as the main underlying factor for the escalating trend of childhood obesity and its adverse consequences. In this study, we assessed the mutual influence of lifestyle habits and body mass index (BMI) as well as risk factors for cardiometabolic, hepatic, and renal disorders to define the causality power of each item. This nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted as the fifth round of a school-based surveillance program. Overall, 14,800 students living in Iran were studied, and blood samples were obtained from 4,200 of them. Demographic factors, anthropometric and biochemical measures were used to define lifestyle-related latent variables as well as cardiac, renal, and hepatic risk indicators. Total, direct, and indirect effects between factors were analyzed using the standardized regression weights for each pathway. Data from 14,274 students (participation rate of 99%) and 3,843 blood samples were included. All of the latent variables had a significant direct effect on BMI, with the most potent effect of unhealthy nutrition (β ≅ 0.63) in boys and girls. BMI has significant direct effects on risk indicators of cardiovascular, renal, and hepatic diseases with the most powerful effect on cardiovascular risk factors (β ≅  − 0.08). The most important predisposing factor for obesity was unhealthy nutrition, whereas increased activity, adequate sleep, and better hygiene had protective roles. BMI shows the strongest association with indicator of cardiovascular diseases. These findings underscore the importance of implementing public health programs for the prevention of chronic noncommunicable diseases.


Author(s):  
Hamed Abdollahi ◽  
Farahnaz Salehinia ◽  
Mostafa Badeli ◽  
Elmira Karimi ◽  
Hossein Gandomkar ◽  
...  

Background: In Covid-19 infection, leukopenia, inflammation, and elevated liver enzymes are found in most patients. Also, vitamin D deficiency attenuate the immune system and predispose a person more susceptible to infection. In this context, we aimed to evaluate vitamin D, Electrolytes, Complete blood count, Liver enzymes, Urea, Creatinine, Albumin, CRP and ESR levels in patients with Covid-19. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on 118 patients with Covid-19 who were hospitalized from 2020/2/19 to 2020/4/3 in ICU. Serum levels of electrolytes, liver enzymes, blood factors, urea, creatinine, CRP and ESR as well as anthropometric parameters and serum vitamin D concentration were measured. Results: A total of 118 patients (80 male and 38 female) was enrolled in the study (65.05±15.75 years). Only 5.08% of patients had no risk factors and 55.9% had ≥ 2 risk factors. Diabetes (44.1%) and obesity (23.7%) were more common among patients. Laboratory finding showed that 80.50% of patients had hyponatremia, but other electrolytes included K, Mg, Ca and P were normal in majority of participants as well as CBC, Cr, Urea, Alb, ALT and ALKP. The AST concentration increased in most patients (66.94%). All patients had high levels of inflammatory factors such as CRP and ESR. The mean of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D levels in participants (25.95 ± 14.56 ng/mL) was lower than its levels in general papulation. However, it was not statistically significant (P= 0.88). A significant negative correlation found between vitamin D and ALT (P= 0.02, -0.21) as well as vitamin D and CRP (P= 0.05, -0.17). Conclusion: Regarding to the regulatory role of vitamin D in immune system and low levels of vitamin D in Covid-19 infected patients, the evaluation of vitamin D levels and prescribe supplements if necessary is suggested.


Critical Care ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. P16
Author(s):  
J Francisco ◽  
I Aragão ◽  
T Cardoso

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