Was the Hydranencephaly Defense Valid for the Death of a Child?: A Case Report

Hydranencephaly is a central nervous system disorder at birth in which brain's cerebral hemispheres are absent and replaced by sacks filled with CSF. The prevalence of hydranencephaly is less than 1 in 10,000 births, with 0.2 percent of children autopsies showing the condition.

An appraisal study of donkey in three Northern states of Nigeria

This qualitative study on donkey was conducted in Bauchi, Kano and Kebbi States of Nigeria. The objective of the study was to understand the role, significance and potential areas needing intervention in donkey rearing in the rural setting. The study was also used to obtain first-hand baseline information on the state of knowledge on the donkey in the states surveyed. Sixty two locations were visited comprising 36 from Kebbi, 19 from Bauchi and 17 from Kano States respectively. Rapid Rural Participatory Appraisal (RRPA) technique with check list of questions and farmers' participation was employed in villages/towns randomly selected to cover all the ecological zones in each of the three States. A meeting of one to two hours was organized with the farmers and donkey owners. Observations were made on donkeys at home and in the field. Problems mentioned by respondents included: Colics (Anomari),ulcerative lymphangitis, inflammation of the tongue, interdigital dermatitis, ear sore, fistulous withers, unknown causes of lameness and nervous system disorder called locally as "chinkai chinkai". There were generally poor or no veterinary facilities and services in most of the villages and towns. It was not the farmers practice to take donkeys to clinic for treatment. Mortality was high during the late dry season in most places but also occurred in the rainy season in some places. Areas for further investigations were also highlighted.

Neurological presentation of COVID-19: experience from a tertiary care hospital of Bangladesh

Background: Neurological manifestations of COVID-19 are being recognized day by day although predominant presentation is of respiratory illness. Understanding of impact of the virus on nervous system is important for selection and evolution of treatment now and in the future. The aim of the study was to describe the manifestations of COVID-19 affecting nervous system in a tertiary care hospital of Bangladesh Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in Department of Neurology, Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation in Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (BIRDEM) General Hospital from March, 2020 to October, 2020. Total forty patients who were admitted under neurology department were included in the study. Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed in all the patients if RT-PCR of respiratory samples (eg, nasal or throat swab) was positive for viral ribonucleic acid (RNA). Clinical syndromes associated with COVID-19 were classified broadly as a cerebrovascular event, altered mental status and peripheral nervous system disorders. Data were collected on the basis of specific clinical case definitions. Results: Median age of the patients was 58.6 years (range 22–73). Among those, 26 (65%) were male and 14 (35%) were female. Twenty two (55%) of 40 patients presented with cerebrovascular event, of whom 15 (68%) had an ischaemic stroke, 5 (23%) an intracerebral haemorrhage. Two (9%) patients were diagnosed as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis on the basis of clinical presentation and magnetic resonance venography (MRV) finding. Apart from cerebrovascular events, 14 (35%) of 40 patients presented with altered mental status, comprising 9 (64%) patients with unspecified encephalopathy and 5 (36%) patients with encephalitis. Four (10%) patients were diagnosed as peripheral nervous system disorder among those 2 (50%) as Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and 2 (50%) as Bell’s palsy. If we analyze the presenting features of the 40 patients, it is found that, 22 (55%) patients presented with headache, 20 (5%) with hemiparesis, 20 (50%) with speech problems, 19 (48%) with altered mental status, 10(25%) with facial asymmetry, 4 (10%) with seizure. Few percentages of patients presented with anosmia (10%), ageusia (5%) and quadriparesis (5%). Conclusion: Neurological involvement in COVID-19 is one of the major focuses of neurologist now a day. We have found cerebrovascular disese, encephalopathy and peripheral nervous system disorder as presentation of COVID-19 in our study. Prompt recognition of cases and early initiation of therapy will hasten better outcome of the patients. Neurological complications can cause permanent disability that will cost large scale health and economic burden. Further nationwide study is needed to quantify the association and disease burden. Birdem Med J 2020; 10, COVID Supplement: 33-40

Neurological Manifestations of Patients Hospitalized with Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Babol, Iran

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been associated with a wide range of clinical symptoms. Objectives: The present study aims to investigate the neurological manifestations among patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Rouhani Hospital in Babol. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional survey conducted in March and April 2020 on patients admitted to Rouhani Hospital in Babol with COVID-19. A number of 230 medical records were selected randomly from a list. The data were collected using the demographic characteristics questionnaire and a checklist for the neurological symptoms. Results: Among the 230 patients with COVID-19 (mean [SD] age, 59.85 [16.22] years; 138 men [60%]), 127 (56%) patients had at least one neurologic symptom. The most common symptoms of the central nervous system disorder were headache (34%), dizziness (25%), and impaired consciousness (20%), and the most prevalent symptoms of the peripheral nervous system disorder were taste impairment (17%) and smell impairment (16%). The occurrence of transient ischemic attack (TIA) in women was significantly higher than in men (P = 0.02). Moreover, the incidence of dizziness, impaired consciousness, ataxia, cerebrovascular accident (CVA), anorexia, and smell impairment had a significant relationship with age (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The neurological manifestations are prevalent and substantial among patients with COVID-19. Therefore, it is suggested that the healthcare workers take these symptoms seriously, especially in the outbreak of COVID-19, and take the pertinent preventive and protective measures.