The comparison of clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings in immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients with COVID‐19: A case‐control study

Abstract Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) with significant morbidity and mortality. We reported and compared the clinical and para‐clinical findings of immunocompromised and immunocompetent COVID‐19 patients in a case‐control study at the Imam Khomeini hospital in Tehran, Iran. Methods In this study, 107 immunocompromised COVID‐19 patients were recruited as the case group, and 107 immunocompetent COVID‐19 patients as the control group. The participants were matched based on age and sex. The patients' information was retrieved from the hospital records in an information sheet. Associations between clinical and para‐clinical findings with the immune status were assessed using bivariate and multivariate analyses. Results The initial pulse rate and recovery time were significantly higher in immunocompromised patients (p < .05). Myalgia, nausea/vomiting, loss of appetite, headache, and dizziness were more frequently reported by the control group (p < .05). Regarding the prescribed medications' duration, Sofosbovir was used longer in the case group, while Ribavirin was used longer in the control groups (p < .05). The most common complication in the case group was acute respiratory distress syndrome, although no major complications were observed in the control group. According to the multivariate analysis, recovery time and Lopinavir/Ritonavir (Kaletra) prescription were significantly higher in the immunocompromised compared to the immunocompetent group. Conclusion Recovery time was significantly longer in the immunocompromised compared to the immunocompetent group, which emphasizes the necessity of prolonged care in these high‐risk patients. Also, it is recommended to investigate the effect of novel therapeutic interventions to reduce the recovery time in addition to improving the prognosis of immunodeficient patients with COVID‐19

Reinfection risk of novel coronavirus (CoVID-19): A systematic ‎review of current evidence

International audienceThere is recently a concern regarding the reinfection and reactivation of previously reCoVered coronavirus disease 2019 (CoVID-19) patients

COVID-19 in pediatrics: The current knowledge and practice

International audienceIntroduction: SARS-CoV-2 is the novel coronavirus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome and could afflict individuals from all walks of life. Children are usually asymptomatic or represent non-specific mild to moderate symptoms; therefore, they often remain undiagnosed and could be potential reservoirs and silent carriers of the virus. Despite the global attention to COVID-19 and its importance in public health, some clinical and paraclinical aspects of this disease in children are still unclear. Thus, we conducted a comprehensive systematic review of available literature to reflect on the current knowledge and practice of the disease among children. Methods: This study was a systematic review of current evidence conducted in October 2020. We performed a systematic search using the keywords in online databases. The investigation adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist to ensure the reliability and validity of extracted literature and results. Results: We selected and reviewed 23 most related studies out of 1744 identified paper in an initial online search based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the present review; of whom, 13 were original research studies, and 10 were a letter to the editors, commentaries, viewpoints, consensus statements, and perspectives. Although due to the origin of the current pandemic, China was the country with the most publications (14 articles), data from several countries have beenincluded in this review. Conclusion: COVID-19 can also affect children and cause systemic disease with several internal organ involvements. However, the prevalence, severity, and diversity of the symptoms in children are less than in adults. Cough and fever appear to be some of the most common symptoms, followed by other symptoms such as gastrointestinal manifestations. Comorbidities increase the risk of severe COVID-19 in children, and those without underlying conditions are very unlikely to suffer from severe disease. Mental health issues such as anxiety and depression due to the isolated situation caused by pandemics are common findings in children of early ages and should be seriously considered in current practice

Vaccines for COVID-19: A Review of Feasibility and Effectiveness

International audienceIntroduction: Many potential vaccines for COVID-19 are being studied, and several studies have reported the results of these vaccines. We aimed to review the current evidence of the feasibility and effectiveness of Vaccines for COVID-19. Methods: A search was carried out utilizing the keywords in the online databases, including Scopus,Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane. We included both human and non-human studies because of the vaccine novelty, which could limit our ability to include sufficient human studies. Results: The review of studies showed that several SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are under development; different platforms are being used, including eight vaccines are adenovirus-based vectors, six vaccines are RNA-based formulations, one vaccine is DNA-based formulations, and other vaccines are using other platforms, including lipid nano particles. Conclusion: It is crucial to gather as much clinically relevant evidence as possible regarding the immunogenicity, efficacy, and safety profiles of these vaccines and adhere wisely to CDC protocols and guidelines of vaccine production