COVID-19 and Stress: A Young Male Presenting with Central Cyanosis, Dark Urine, Oliguria, Jaundice and Anemia due to Methemoglobinemia as a result of Suicidal Naphthalene Mothball Poisoning Recovered with Exchange Transfusion

A young man presented with abdominal pain and vomiting after eating Naphthalene Mothball. He had dyspnea, central cyanosis (SaO2 on air was 67% on air), marked pallor, deep jaundice and dehydration. His urine color was black; and, his plasma in clotted blood sample was brownish. He was treated as methemoglobinemia due to suicidal Naphthalene Mothball poisoning with fluid and electrolyte replacement, ascorbic acid, N-acetylcystine and exchange transfusion twice with four units of whole blood. Dramatic improvement in central cyanosis immediately following exchange transfusion. Psychiatric consultation and counselling were done; he admitted the main reason for committing suicide was socioeconomic stress due to COVID-19.

An audit of foeticide, neonaticide and infanticide: A retrospective study in the Department of Forensic Medicine, King Edward Medical University, Lahore

The deliberate killing of a foetus in the womb, or a child from the first 24 h of birth to one month of age, or within the first year of life, is called foeticide, neonaticide and infanticide, respectively. Socioeconomic stress, mental illness, gender selection, shame or fear of punishment of adultery or illegitimacy, grudge and jealousy with parents and negligent delivery by dai are major causative factors in such cases. This is a retrospective, descriptive, observational study, and the sample pool consisted of 35 cases. Foeticide cases were 42.9% of the total and the same percentage of cases were neonaticides, while 14.3% of cases were of infanticide. The male-to-female ratio was 1.26:1 and the major cause of death was head injury. The study shows a prevalence of foeticide and neonaticide as compared to infanticide. It also displays the prevalence of males in overall cases and a higher number of unknown cases in our setting.

Depression and psychological burden in a sample of caregivers of children with CKD

Background Studies have suggested that caregivers of patients with chronic illnesses experience higher rates of depression and burden than the general population. The Aim of this study To assess the rate of depression and psychological burden in caregivers of children with CKD and compare it with a healthy control group. Patients and Methods This is a case control comparative study conducted in El Demerdash pediatric hospital aimed at screening symptoms of depression and psychological burden in a sample of 30 cases of caregivers of children with CKD compared to 30 controls of caregivers, as well as socioeconomic stress as a factor for burden and depression. Results The current study confirmed that caregivers of children with chronic kidney disease have significantly more depression and psychological burden compared to their matched controls. Conclusion There is a high rate of depression and burden in caregivers of children with CKD which often go unnoticed and neglected.

Increase in Child Abuse Injuries during the COVID-19 Pandemic in West Texas

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a rapid increase in unemployment and business closures, leaving many families in psychosocial distress, and putting the well-being and healthy development of children at risk. There has been a sharp increase in cases of child abuse presenting to our institution during the year 2020. Thus, we sought to quantify whether the confluence of pandemic-related social changes would result in an increase in child abuse cases severe enough to warrant emergency medical attention in the West Texas region. Through this report, we hope to underscore the need for continued vigilance by healthcare providers and educators in identifying cases of child abuse, as well as the need for additional initiatives to mitigate child maltreatment during times of socioeconomic stress.

Depression and psychosocial burden among caregivers of children with chronic kidney disease

Background More attention has recently targeted families of children with chronic kidney diseases displaying depressive symptoms and major psychosocial burden due to the long-standing nature of the illness and its alarming complications. A cross sectional comparative study was conducted to assess the rate of occurrence of both depression severity and psychological burden, personal and role strain in a sample of Egyptian caregivers of children with chronic kidney disease. Results Thirty caregivers of children with CKD were enrolled compared to 30 matched controls during a 6-month period. A short pre-designed sheet including socio-demographic data, and general medical, psychiatric and family history was used, and Beck Depression Inventory, Zarit Burden Interview, Holmes and Rahe Socioeconomic Stress Scale, and Occupational Stress Questionnaire were answered. More than half of the caregivers of children with chronic kidney disease reported moderate depression (53.3%), while 30% and 16.7% reported mild and severe depression respectively. The majority of cases 80% had moderate psychological burden. And 70% of cases reported minimal socioeconomic stress compared to 40% in the control. Logistic regression analysis showed that ZBI and SRRS scores were significantly linked to depression and burden found in caregivers of children with CKD (P = 0.001 and 0.031) respectively. Conclusion The rate of occurrence of depression and psychological burden is significantly high in caregivers of children with chronic kidney disease; therefore, this population must be assessed and provided with liaison psychological rehabilitation.

Pandemic: the view of a clinical psychologist

Recent studies indicate that COVID-19 pandemic has significant negative consequences for the public mental health. These consequences should be assessed and analyzed in the future, but it is already clear, that mass surveys with the use of standard psychological instruments are not adequate for this purpose. The authors emphasize that all stress factors associated with the pandemic (virtual threat and informational stress, deprivation, socioeconomic stress) should be taken into account and qualitatively studied and expect an increase in the prevalence of stressrelated mental disorders and physical diseases.