Common Symptoms Of COVID-19 Research Articles

Predictors of chronic COVID-19 symptoms in a community-based cohort of adults.

BackgroundCOVID-19 can cause some individuals to experience chronic symptoms. Rates and predictors of chronic COVID-19 symptoms are not fully elucidated.ObjectiveTo examine occurrence and patterns of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV2 infection (PASC) symptomatology and their relationship with demographics, acute COVID-19 symptoms and anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody responses.MethodsA multi-stage observational study was performed of adults (≥18 years) from 5 US states. Participants completed two rounds of electronic surveys (May-July 2020; April-May 2021) and underwent testing to anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein IgG antibody testing. Latent Class Analysis was used to identify clusters of chronic COVID-19 symptoms.ResultsOverall, 390 adults (median [25%ile, 75%ile] age: 42 [31, 54] years) with positive SARS-CoV-2 antibodies completed the follow-up survey; 92 (24.7%) had ≥1 chronic COVID-19 symptom, with 11-month median duration of persistent symptoms (range: 1–12 months). The most common chronic COVID-19 symptoms were fatigue (11.3%), change in smell (9.5%) or taste (5.6%), muscle or joint aches (5.4%) and weakness (4.6%). There were significantly higher proportions of ≥1 persistent COVID-19 symptom (31.5% vs. 18.6%; Chi-square, P = 0.004), and particularly fatigue (15.8% vs. 7.3%, P = 0.008) and headaches (5.4% vs. 1.0%, P = 0.011) in females compared to males. Chronic COVID-19 symptoms were also increased in individuals with ≥6 acute COVID-19 symptoms, Latent class analysis revealed 4 classes of symptoms. Latent class-1 (change of smell and taste) was associated with lower anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels; class-2 and 3 (multiple chronic symptoms) were associated with higher anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels and more severe acute COVID-19 infection.LimitationsAmbulatory cohort with less severe acute disease.ConclusionIndividuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection commonly experience chronic symptoms, most commonly fatigue, changes in smell or taste and muscle/joint aches. Female sex, severity of acute COVID-19 infection, and higher anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG levels were associated with the highest risk of having chronic COVID-19 symptoms.

Could melatonin have a potential adjuvant role in the treatment of the lasting anosmia associated with COVID-19? A review.

IntroductionAnosmia, the loss of the sense of smell, is usually associated with rhinopathies and has been reported as a common symptom of COVID‐19. There is no specific drug to treat this condition, although some evidence suggests that melatonin could promote the recovery of olfactory sensory neurons.MethodsWe set out to perform a narrative review to synthesize the current evidence in this area in respect of our hypothesis that melatonin may be linked with anosmia and play a part in oxidative stress and the regulation of inflammation. The main electronic databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane) were searched.ResultsThe search produced 26 articles related to our hypothesis. Some studies examined issues related to melatonin's effects and its use as adjuvant therapy for COVID‐19. Despite some studies suggesting that melatonin may have potential in the treatment of COVID‐19, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no trials that have used it to treat anosmia associated with the disease. Few articles identified proposed that melatonin might have an effect on olfactory cells.DiscussionFurther experimental and clinical research on the role of circadian melatonin in the olfactory system is warranted. This will provide evidence of the use of melatonin in the management of anosmia. A number of identified studies suggest that the imbalanced release of melatonin by the pineal gland associated with sleep disturbance may play a role in anosmia, although the specific pathway is not yet entirely clear. This may be a base for further research into the potential role of melatonin as adjuvant treatment of anosmia.

Intensive Olfactory Training in Post-COVID-19 Patients: A Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial.

BackgroundOlfactory dysfunction (OD)—including anosmia and hyposmia—is a common symptom of COVID-19. Previous studies have identified olfactory training (OT) as an important treatment for postinfectious OD; however, little is known about its benefits and optimizations after SARS-CoV-2 infection.ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess whether olfactory training performance can be optimized using more fragrances over a shorter period of time in patients with persistent OD after COVID-19. In addition, we determined the presence of other variables related to OD and treatment response in this population.MethodsThis multicenter randomized clinical trial recruited 80 patients with persistent OD and prior COVID-19 infection for less than 3 months. The patients were divided into 2 groups receiving either 4 or 8 essences over 4 weeks. Subjective assessments and the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) were performed before and after the treatment.ResultsSignificant olfactory improvement was measured subjectively and using the UPSIT in both groups; however, no significant differences between the groups were observed. Additionally, the presence of olfactory fluctuations was associated with higher UPSIT scores.ConclusionThese data suggest that training intensification by increasing the number of essences for 4 weeks does not show superiority over the classical method. Moreover, fluctuant olfaction seems to be related to a higher score on the UPSIT.

Perceptions and practices of COVID-19 among the elderly in rural India: A cross-sectional study during the pandemic lockdown

: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the elderly were the worst affected due to their co-morbidities and social and financial dependency. Limited access to resources contributed to the problem.: To assess the perceptions and practices regarding COVID-19 in the elderly attending the outpatient department of a government hospital and to assess the socio-cultural problems faced by the geriatric population due to the change in social situation as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.: A cross-sectional study was carried out using an interviewer administered schedule to assess knowledge, attitude and practices of COVID-19 among 124 elderly who visited the hospital in the study period for various reasons. : The mean age of the subjects was 67.65 years +/- 7.04. Hypertension and diabetes were present among 40.8% and 32.0% respectively. Awareness of common symptoms of COVID-19 was present among 80.6%, awareness of mode of spread among 79.8% and preventive measures among 97.5%. Knowledge of mask as a preventive measure was present among 49.2% of the subjects, reusing the masks was done by 94.3% and covering both nose and mouth was performed by only 57.2%. 78.2% firmly believed that treatment for the disease does not exist. 71.0% felt that social distancing is difficult to accomplish. Vaccine hesitancy was also an important factor unearthed by our study.: Our study found that most of the elderly attending the outpatient clinic were aware of government recommended guidelines concerning COVID -19 safety precautions, but were not following them as per recommendations. We recommend a three-pronged model addressing the issues of citizens, raising awareness on guidelines of COVID-19 prevention and prevention of overcrowding.

Covid-19 a brief Overview

In December 2019, pneumonia brought on by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection first appeared in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. The World Health Organization (WHO) will formally refer to the illness brought on by SARS-CoV-2 infection as coronavirus disease by February 11, 2020. (COVID-19). Fever, a dry cough, and exhaustion are the most common clinical symptoms of COVID-19, and pulmonary involvement is often evident. Being extremely infectious, SARS-CoV-2 may infect the majority of people in the general population. Currently, the major sources of the illness, which is spread by respiratory droplets and direct contact, are infected individuals and wild animal hosts. Since the outbreak, the Chinese government and scientific community have moved quickly to uncover the underlying cause, disclose the viral DNA sequence, and implement control measures. While past studies have concentrated on epidemiology, clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment, as well as the development of drugs and vaccines, current research has uncovered crucial parts of SARS-CoV-2 biology and disease pathogenesis. This review tries to establish agreement among experts by summarising the most recent study results. Along with current advice for prevention, containment, and essential treatment of this pandemic, we will also discuss existing initiatives and experience from China that may provide light on how to curb the outbreak and further our knowledge of this newly emergent infectious illness.

SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence at urban and rural sites in Kaduna State, Nigeria, during October/November 2021, immediately prior to detection of the Omicron variant.

BackgroundNigeria is Africa’s most populated country. By November 2021 it had experienced three waves of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Peer-reviewed seroprevalence data assessing the proportion of the Nigerian population that have been infected were extremely limited.MethodsWe conducted a serosurvey in one urban site (n = 400) and one rural site (n = 402) in Kaduna State, Nigeria between 11 October 2021 and 8 November 2021. Z-tests were used to compare seroprevalence across age groups, locations and sexes. T tests were used to determine whether age or household size are associated with seropositivity. Associations between seropositivity and recent history of common Covid-19 symptoms were tested using logistic regression.ResultsSARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected in 42.5% an 53.5% of participants at the urban and rural sites, respectively The overall age- and sex- stratified seroprevalence was 43.7% (42.2% for unvaccinated individuals). The data indicate an infection rate in Kaduna State ≥359-fold the rate derived from polymerase chain reaction-confirmed cases. In the urban site, seroprevalence among females and participants aged <20 was lower than other groups. Reporting loss of sense of taste and/or smell was strongly associated with seropositive status. Associations with seropositivity were also found for the reporting of dry cough, fever, headache, nausea and sore throat.ConclusionsThis study provides baseline SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in Kaduna State, Nigeria, immediately prior to the spread of the Omicron variant. It indicates that in October/November 2021, approximately 56% of the population did not have detectable antibodies, and population subgroups with particularly low seroprevalence remain. It highlights limitations in using PCR-confirmed cases to estimate infection rates. The data will inform public health strategies in Nigeria and other sub-Saharan African countries with limited SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence data.

SARS-CoV-2 and Guillain-Barré Syndrome: Lessons from Viral Infections.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 has a broad clinical spectrum from asymptomatic patients to multiorgan dysfunction and septic shock. Most of the common symptoms of COVID-19 are classified as respiratory disorders, but some reports show neurological involvements. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a case series of neurological complications, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), were reported. GBS is a neuroimmune disorder with acute inflammatory radicular polyneuropathy in different parts of the peripheral nerve. Some studies have reported GBS as an inflammatory neuropathy related to various viral infections, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), influenza, and Zika virus. There are some immunomodulation approaches for the management of GBS. Studies have evaluated the effects of the various therapeutic approaches, including intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), plasma exchange (PE), complement inhibitors, and corticosteroids to regulate overactivation of immune responses during GBS in experimental and clinical studies. In this regard, the possible association between GBS and SARS-CoV-2 infection during the outbreak of the current pandemic and also the mentioned therapeutic approaches were reviewed.

Peningkatan Imunitas Tubuh Melalui Tanaman Herbal Nusantara pada Komunitas Fathayat Nahdatul Ulama Kabupaten Muaro Jambi

Corona Virus Disease (Covid) is a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from mild to severe symptoms. Indonesia is the country with the highest number of Covid-19 cases in Southeast Asia and ranked 18th in the world with a total of 2,229,938 cases (2 July 2021). The most common symptoms of Covid-19 are fever, fatigue and a dry cough. Some patients may experience aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and occur gradually. Some infected people do not experience any symptoms and do not feel any problems with their bodies. Diseases caused by viruses are generally self-limiting diseases that rely on the body's defenses. Because it has been widely campaigned to increase the body's resistance to prevent contracting viral infections, and even if infected, the body will be strong against it. Therefore, community service activities aim to improve the quality of public health by providing information to increase immunity through Indonesian herbal medicines. This activity will be held in September 2021 – February 2022 at the Fathayat Nahdatul Ulama Community at the Nurul Iman Islamic Boarding School, Muaro Jambi district. The target in this activity is the women of the Fathayat Nahdatul Ulama Community, Muaro Jambi district. The minimum number of participants is 50 people. This service activity received extraordinary enthusiasm from the participants as evidenced by the presence of all participants from the beginning to the end of the activity and the feedback from participants in the form of questions or experiences from participants in the material on increasing body immunity with herbal plants.

Presentation, management, and outcome of COVID-19 among patients with cancer in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

e18797 Background: Patients with cancer are vulnerable population that suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic from SARS-CoV-2 infection and from the pandemic’s impact on healthcare systems. We are presenting the findings of MENA Registry for COVID-19 and Cancer (MRCC) regarding the SARS-CoV-2 infection presentation, diagnosis, treatment, complications, and outcomes. Methods: MRCC was adapted from ASCO COVID-19 Registry and included patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and underlying cancer diagnosis including a newly diagnosed cancer in the work-up phase or patients with active cancer receiving cancer therapy or supportive care, or within first year of adjuvant chemotherapy or after one year of curative therapy and receiving hormonal therapy. Registry included data on patients from 12 centers in eight countries in the MENA region, namely: Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Egypt, Algeria, United Arab Emirates, and Morocco. The data included patient and disease characteristics, COVID-19 presentation, management, and outcomes. The follow up is differential as data get captured at different points of disease trajectory for each patient which may not reflect the final outcome. Results: Data on 1345 patients were captured in the study by December 7, 2021. Median age was 57.1 years (18-98), whereas 56.1% were females. The median follow-up was 98.5 days (0-554). The most common COVID-19 symptoms was fever (50.3%) and 26.8% of patients were asymptomatic. Out of the 959 patients with complete data on hospitalization, 554 (57.8%) were hospitalized and 126 of them (22.7%) were admitted to intensive care unit (ICU). The majority of hospitalized patients (60%) had respiratory complications and 13.9% had sepsis and 8.5% suffered acute renal injury. As shown in Table, more than quarter of the patients died with 47% of death from COVID-19 or related complication and 60.6% died at home. More than half of the patients were fully recovered from infection. Conclusions: Although more than half of the patients recovered form COVID-19 and more are expected to recover with a longer follow up, the death toll and complications remain high in this patient population. Future analysis of the impact of vaccination and better disease management as well as the impact of newer variants would provide a useful insight on managing this vulnerable population.[Table: see text]

Covid-19 Infection, Pregnancy Outcomes and Maternal &amp; Neonatal Complications

Background: Covid-19 infection potentially affects pregnancy, its outcomes and may lead to maternal and neonatal complications. Objective: To investigate and compare the pregnancy outcomes and feto-maternal complications among covid-19 infected and non-infected women. Study Design: Prospective study. Setting: Shaikh Zaid Women Hospital, Shaheed Mohatarma Benazeer Bhutto Medical University, Larkana. Duration: From August 2021 to February 2022. Material and Methods: A sample of 204 pregnant women of age 18-50 years was taken and sorted as either having covid-19 (n= 90) or without covid-19 (n= 114). They presented in 3rd trimester with single fetus. Exclusion criteria were having haemoglobinopathy, malpresentation, placental abruption or other pregnancy risks. The rt-PCR used to test infection status. Data collected through a pre-designed questionnaire and analyzed through SPSS Version-25. Results: The maternal age ranged between 28 to 39 years with a mean ± SD age of 30.3 ± 6.66 which did not differ in two groups. Lower gestational age was of the covid-19 infection group i-e; 34.75 ± 1.54 weeks then covid-19 negative (37.01 ± 2.14 weeks; p value &lt; 0.001). Most common covid-19 symptoms were fever at admission (79%) dry persistent cough (51%), malaise (21%) and dyspnea (22%). More caesarean sections (52.22%; n = 47) in covid-19 +ve group noted than covid-19 negative (34.21%; n = 39). PIH, preeclampsia/ eclampsia, preterm labor, infections which needed antibiotics therapy and referral for higher dependency care (p values = 0.059, 0.003, 0.893, 0.179 and 0.002 respectively) and preterm birth, LBW, SGA, fetal distress, admission for neonatal rususciation/ ICU and fetal death (p values = 0.433, 0.136, 0.877, 0.79 0.436 and 0.428 respectively) were more frequent among covid-19 positive group. Conclusion: Pregnancy with convid-19 face relatively more unwanted outcomes, maternal and neonatal complications compared to the covid-19 negatives. Antenatal and full range of obstetric and medical care of such cases is highly recommended to achieve better outcomes. Keywords: Pregnancy, Covid-19, feto-maternal outcomes, preterm birth, caesarean section.

Factors Associated with COVID-19 Infection of Survivors at Dr. Kariadi Hospital Semarang

The transmission of COVID-19 infection is rapidly spreading in Indonesia, All people are at risk of COVID-19 infection, especially health workers. Factors that may increase the risk of COVID-19 transmission necessitate being explored more. This study aims to find out what factors are associated with the incidence of COVID-19 infection in COVID-19 survivors at Kariadi Hospital Semarang. This study has used a retrospective observational design, with a quantitative analysis conducted involving 80 COVID-19 survivors (health workers = 63 respondents, non-health workers = 17 respondents). Respondents' characteristics questionnaire, exposure questionnaires and knowledge, attitude and practice questionnaires were filled out by respondents through google form and then were analyzed by chi-square test. Most of the COVID-19 survivors in this study were male (52.5%), had a bachelor's degree (50%), married (77.5%), had no comorbidities (73.5%), had a high level of knowledge (90%), appropriate attitude (90%), and good preventive practice (95%), and the most common symptom of COVID-19 experienced was fever (15, 95%). The incidence of COVID-19 infection was significantly more in health worker survivors which were male (p = 0.032), as civil servants (ASN) (p = 0.00), had undergraduate education level (p = 0.00) and hospitalized during COVID-19 infection (p = 0.002). Factors related to the incidence of COVID-19 infection in this study were gender, occupation, education level, and hospitalisation place. Adequate screening and mitigation of COVID-19 risk groups are urgently needed.

PENGETAHUAN MAHASISWA TENTANG PROTOKOL KESEHATAN DALAM PENCEGAHAN PENYEBARAN COVID-19 DI ERA NEW NORMAL PADA PROGRAM STUDI STIKes SANTA ELISABETH MEDAN TAHUN 2021

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) is an infectious disease caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus2 (SARS-CoV-2). The most common symptoms of Covid-19 are fever, fatigue, and a dry cough. Covid-19 is transmitted from symptomatic people to other people who are in close proximity through water-filled particles &gt;5-10 m in diameter. Students are a young age group that has the potential to transmit the corona virus even without showing symptoms. Implementation of health protocols is important in the current new normal era. The new normal will be in line with the implementation of health protocols in daily life, if there is a neglect of health protocols, it will result in the continued increase in the number of Covid-19 cases. Objective: The study was to find out the description of students' knowledge about health protocols in preventing the risk of spreading Covid-19 in the New Normal era based on the Santa Elisabeth Medan Health College Study Program in 2021. This study used a descriptive method where data collection was carried out by distributing questionnaires of 30 statements so as to be able to find out about student knowledge about the covid-19 health protocol. The sampling technique used simple random sampling as many as 112 respondents. The results of the study of 112 respondents 105 respondents (94%) had good knowledge, 7 respondents (6%) had sufficient knowledge and 0 respondents (0%) had poor knowledge. Maintain and increase student knowledge about prevention and protocols for covid-19. Obstacles faced when conducting research, namely when giving research questionnaires, some respond and some do not respond in filling out the questionnaire.

Smart Entrance System with Health Monitoring

Abstract: In the aftermath of the coronavirus infection (COVID-19), contact with people has become an important risk factor. It is widely believed that the risk of spreading the virus increases with the number of people in contact with other objects or people. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), high fever and heart palpitations are the two most common symptoms of COVID-19. It is also recommended to wash your hands frequently and use an appropriate mask. That's why our project is trying to create a system that checks the body temperature, mask and heart rate of people entering the facility to make sure they are safe. Also, checks if the mask is worn correctly. Hence through our project we are trying to build a system that will make sure you are protected. Immediately after that, a non-contact disinfectant is provided which guarantees minimal contact between the person and the system. Keywords: COVID19, Open Source Computer Vision, TensorFlow, mask detection, temperature sensing, pulse detection, contactless hand sanitization.

How the COVID-19 Pandemic Affects Risk Awareness in Dentists: A Scoping Review.

Dentists are on the frontline of infection, especially when it comes to respiratory viruses like the new coronavirus. The purpose of this paper is to conduct a scoping review to better understand dentists’ risk awareness, awareness of COVID-19 symptoms, preventive measures, and effective methods of COVID-19 infection prevention and management. This paper systematically assesses the published literature on dentistry and COVID-19. Various electronic databases including Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, and MEDLINE via PubMed were searched up to 9 September 2021. Overall, 39 papers were included. Almost the entirety of dentists (94.5%) reported awareness of the three most common COVID-19 symptoms, and a risk awareness score of about 90% was shown, while 88.2% of dentists reported adopting preventive measures. More than 50% did not want to treat infected people. While 70.3% of dentists recommended usage of N95 masks, the rate of dentists using them was below 40%. Sufficient awareness of risks during the pandemic was found in dentists. Although they were using preventive measures, there remains upside potential for adopting all recommended measures. Further, the usage of N95 masks is improvable, even though the benefit of wearing them could not be confirmed.

Severe Breakthrough COVID-19 Cases during Six Months of Delta Variant (B.1.617.2) Domination in Poland.

The emergence of a highly transmissible and a more pathogenic B.1.617.2 (delta) variant of SARS-CoV-2 has brought concern over COVID-19 vaccine efficacy and the increased risk of severe breakthrough infections. The objective of this study was to assess the frequency and the clinical characteristics of severe breakthrough COVID-19 cases recorded in 10 Polish healthcare units between 1 June and 31 December 2021, a period during which a rapid surge in the share of B.1.617.2 infections was seen, while a significant number of populations were already fully vaccinated. Overall, 723 individuals who completed the initial vaccination regime (fully vaccinated group) and an additional 18 who received a booster dose were identified—together, they represented 20.8% of all the COVID-19 patients hospitalized during the same period in the same healthcare institutions (0.5% in the case of a group that received a booster dose). Although laboratory and clinical parameters did not differ between both groups, patients who received a booster tended to have lower CRP, IL-6, PCT, and d-dimer levels and they required oxygen therapy less frequently. The most common early COVID-19 symptoms in the studied group were fatigue, cough, fever (>38 °C), and dyspnea. Individuals with no detectable anti-spike IgG antibodies constituted 13%; the odds of being a humoral non-responder to the vaccine were increased in patients aged >70 years. Fully vaccinated patients hospitalized after more than 180 days from the last vaccine dose were significantly older and they were predominantly represented by individuals over 70 years and with comorbidities, particularly cardiovascular disease. Contrary to mRNA vaccines, most patients vaccinated with adenoviral vector vaccines were infected within six months. A total of 102 fatal cases (14% of all deaths among vaccinated individuals; 0.7% in the case of a group that received a booster dose) were recorded, representing 17.6% of all the COVID-19 fatalities recorded in June–December 2021 in the considered healthcare units. The odds of death were significantly increased in men, individuals aged >70 years, patients with comorbidities, and those identified as humoral non-responders to vaccination; in fully vaccinated patients the odds were also increased when the second vaccine dose was given >180 days before the first COVID-19 symptoms. The mortality rate in immunocompromised subjects was 19%. The results indicate that compared to vaccinated individuals, severe COVID-19 and deaths in the unvaccinated group were significantly more prevalent during the B.1.617.2-dominated wave in Poland; and, it highlight the protective role of a booster dose, particularly for more vulnerable individuals.

SEGMENTATION of COVID-19 POSITIVE PATIENTS REGARDING SYMPTOMS AND COMPLAINTS

The COVID-19 has spread rapidly among people living in all around the world and become a global threat. COVID-19 is approaching approximately 46 million cases worldwide according to the World Health Organization (WHO). There are limited number of COVID-19 test kits because of the rapid increasing cases daily. The fatality rate of ill patients with COVID-19 is very high in all around the world. Therefore, it is critical to cluster COVID-19 cases by applying clustering methods and provide the features of each. In this paper, we present symptom statistics of COVID-19 diagnosed patients to be used to foresee whether a patient will suffer through the illness severely or not. A clustering model by applying Fuzzy C-Means and PCA data reduction and visualization of data in a scatter diagram is also presented in the study. Clustering results shows patients may be segmented as risky or not in terms of the symptoms observed. We used the complaints and symptoms of 1.313 PCR-confirmed COVID-19 positive patients admitted to a university hospital in Istanbul. The findings from clustering method suggest that weakness, cough and sore throat were the most common COVID-19 symptoms and all of symptoms are separated into 3 clusters. Herein we report which symptoms are serious that may lead patients to critical situation.

Varied Effects of COVID-19 Chemosensory Loss and Distortion on Appetite: Implications for Understanding Motives for Eating and Drinking.

A common symptom of COVID-19 is altered smell and taste. This qualitative study sought to further characterise this altered chemosensory perception and its effects on appetite for food and drink. Eighteen women and two men who had experienced chemosensory loss associated with COVID-19 participated in semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis of the interview transcripts revealed five major themes. These confirmed that all participants had experienced an altered sense of smell (anosmia, and less frequently parosmia and phantosmia) of variable duration. Loss of taste (ability to detect sweetness, saltiness, etc.) was less common. Participants experienced decreased, no change or increased appetite, with six participants reporting weight loss. Consistent with evidence linking diminished appetite with inflammation, for two participants, decreased appetite preceded anosmia onset. Anosmia reduced enjoyment of food and drink. Compensatory strategies included choosing salty, sweet and ‘spicy’ foods, and increased attention to food texture, and there was evidence that the postingestive rewarding effects of food intake were also important for maintaining appetite. Some participants mentioned increased alcohol intake, in part facilitated by reduced intensity of disliked flavours of alcoholic drinks. The narratives also underlined the value placed on the sociability and structuring of time that daily meals provide. This research adds to the record and analysis of lived experiences of altered chemosensory perception resulting from SARS-CoV-2 infection, and it contributes insights concerning the role of smell and flavour in motivating and rewarding food ingestion.

Clinical characteristics and outcome of coronavirus disease 2019 infection in patients with solid organ transplants: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundAlthough many studies have reported cases of COVID-19 infection in transplant recipients, most of them only involve a small number of patients and narrow geographic areas. This study aims to investigate the clinical characteristics, morbidity, severity, and mortality of COVID-19 infection among solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients by meta-analysis. MethodWe performed a literature search using the databases PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar as of November 26, 2020. We included randomized controlled trials and cohort studies, excluding case reports and small case series (n < 10). The pooled incidence proportion and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to estimate the combined results of forty-seven studies were included for the meta-analysis. Heterogeneity was assessed using I2. Freeman-Tukey double arcsine transformation was used to stabilize the specific rate variance. Publication bias was using Egger’s test. ResultsThe morbidity rate of COVID-19 in SOT recipients was 2.10% [95% CI 1.35–3.01], and the proportion of severe infection was 22.46% [95% CI 15.74–29.90]. The mortality rate was 17.38% [95% CI 13.72–21.34]. In the analysis by transplanted organ, the proportion of patients with severe infection was highest in recipients of two or more transplants 48.85% [95% CI 11.88–86.38]. The mortality rate was highest in lung transplant recipients 25.12% [95% CI 16.94–34.00]. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 in SOT recipients were fever (73.39%), cough (58.90%), and respiratory symptoms (45.77%). ConclusionSOT was a risk factor for worse COVID-19 outcomes, although the morbidity of COVID-19 in SOT recipients was not markedly higher than the general population. These results may change when our understanding of the disease progress.

Possible therapeutic effects of boron citrate and oleoylethanolamide supplementation in patients with COVID-19: A pilot randomized, double-blind, clinical trial

BackgroundThe present study aimed to assess the therapeutic effects of boron citrate and oleoylethanolamide supplementation in patients with COVID-19. MethodsForty adult patients with a diagnosis of COVID-19 were recruited in the present study. Patients were randomized in a 1:1:1:1 allocation ratio to 1of 4 treatment groups: (A) 5 mg of boron citrate twice a day, (B) 200 mg of oleoylethanolamide twice a day, (C) both therapies, or (D) routine treatments without any study medications. At pre-and post-intervention phase, some clinical and biochemical parameters were assessed. ResultsSupplementation with boron citrate alone or in combination with oleoylethanolamide significantly improved O2 saturation and respiratory rate (p < 0.01). At the end of the study, significant increases in white blood cell and lymphocyte count were observed in the boron citrate and combined groups (p < 0.001). Boron citrate supplementation led to a significant decrease in serum lactate dehydrogenase (p = 0.026) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p = 0.014), compared with other groups. Furthermore, boron citrate in combination with oleoylethanolamide resulted in a significant reduction in the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and interleukin-1β concentrations (p = 0.031 and p = 0.027, respectively). No significant differences were found among four groups post-intervention, in terms of hemoglobin concentrations, platelet count, and serum interleukin-6 levels. At the end of the study, common symptoms of COVID-19 including cough, fatigue, shortness of breath, and myalgia significantly improved in the supplemented groups, compared to the placebo (p < 0.05). ConclusionSupplementation with boron citrate alone or in combination with oleoylethanolamide could improve some clinical and biochemical parameters in COVID-19 patients.

Highly sensitive and stretchable piezoelectric strain sensor enabled wearable devices for real-time monitoring of respiratory and heartbeat simultaneously

The World Health Organization has declared COVID-19 a pandemic. The demand for devices or systems to diagnose and track COVID-19 infections noninvasively not only in hospitals but also in home settings has led to increased interest in consumer-grade wearables. A common symptom of COVID-19 is dyspnea, which may manifest as an increase in respiratory and heart rates. In this paper, a novel piezoelectric strain sensor is presented for real-time monitoring of respiratory and heartbeat signals. A highly sensitive and stretchable piezoelectric strain sensor is fabricated using a piezoelectric film with a serpentine layout. The thickness of the patterned PVDF flexible piezoelectric strain sensor is only 168 μm, and the voltage sensitivity reaches 0.97 mV/μɛ. The effective modulus is 13.5 MPa, which allows the device to fit to the skin and detect the small strain exhibited by the human body. Chest vibrations are captured by the piezoelectric sensor, which produces an electrical output voltage signal conformally mapped with respiratory–cardiac activities. The separate heart activity and respiratory signals are extracted from the mixed respiratory–cardiac signal by an empirical mode decomposition data processing algorithm. By detecting vital signals such as respiratory and heart rates, the proposed device can aid early diagnosis and monitoring of respiratory diseases such as COVID-19.