Investigation of an outbreak of disease compatible with scurvy in a male penitentiary in the state of Ceará, Brazil, 2019-2020: a case-control study

ABSTRACT Objective: to identify the occurrence of an outbreak compatible with scurvy and exposure factors associated with typical signs/symptoms of hypovitaminosis that occurred in a male penitentiary in Ceará, Brazil between 2019-2020. Methods: this was a population-based case-control study; we used clinical records and interviews with compatible cases - based on sign/symptom onset during the study period - and with controls; we carried out multivariate analysis. Results: out of 62 cases, mean age was 40.6 years (SD = 10.8); main signs/symptoms were edema and pain in the lower limbs (100.0%), difficulty in walking (91.9%), hematoma/ecchymosis in the lower limbs (90.3%) and fever (88.7%); we identified being over 40 years old as an associated factor (aOR = 1.10; 95%CI 1.05;1.17; p-value = 0.001); and as protective factors: working (aOR = 0.11; 95%CI 0.03;0.36; p-value < 0.001) and taking part in classes (aOR = 0.21; 95%CI 0.08;0.59; p-value = 0.003) in the prison. Conclusion: we considered the penitentiary outbreak to be compatible with scurvy due to characteristic signs/symptoms, associated with the identified factors; we recommended regular provision of a diet rich in vitamin C to all male inmates and clinical follow-up of cases

Síndrome inflamatória multissistêmica pediátrica: estudo seccional dos casos e fatores associados aos óbitos durante a pandemia de COVID-19 no Brasil, 2020

Objective: To describe the clinical-epidemiological profile of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) cases and to identify factors associated with MIS-C deaths in Brazil, 2020. Methods: Cross-sectional study, based on MIS-C national monitoring database in Brazil, 2020. Simple and multiple logistic regression was performed to estimate crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR). Results: The median age of cases (n=652) was 5 years, 57.1% were male, 52.0% were brown race/color and 6.4% died. The odds of death was greater among those who presented O2 saturation &lt;95% (ORa=4.35 – 95%CI 1.69;11.20) and altered result of urea (ORa=5.18 – 95%CI 1.91;14.04); lower in the absence of cutaneous lesion such as rash (ORa=0.23 – 95%CI 0.09;0.62), with the use of anticoagulants (ORa=0.32 – 95%CI 0.12;0.89) and of immunoglobulins (ORa=0.38 – 95%CI 0.15;1.01). Conclusion: Fatality rates was higher among cases that presented O2 saturation&lt;95% and altered urea, and lower among those with cutaneous lesion, who used immunoglobulins and anticoagulants.Objetivo: Caracterizar o perfil clínico-epidemiológico da síndrome inflamatória multissistêmica pediátrica temporalmente associada à COVID-19 (SIM-P) e identificar fatores associados aos óbitos de SIM-P no Brasil, 2020. Métodos: Estudo seccional, utilizando dados do monitoramento nacional da SIM-P. Empregou-se regressão logística para estimar razões de chances (ORs, odds ratios) brutas e ajustadas. Resultados: Os casos (n=652) apresentaram idade mediana de 5 anos; 57,1% eram do sexo masculino e 52,0% de raça/cor da pele parda; 6,4% evoluíram a óbito. A chance de óbito foi significativamente maior nos que apresentaram saturação de O2&lt;95% (ORa=4,35 – IC95% 1,69;11,20) e resultado alterado de ureia (ORa=5,18 – IC95% 1,91;14,04); e menor na ausência de manchas vermelhas pelo corpo (ORa=0,23 – IC95% 0,09;0,62), com uso de anticoagulantes (ORa=0,32 – IC95% 0,12;0,89) e imunoglobulinas (ORa=0,38 – IC95% 0,15;1,01). Conclusão: A letalidade foi maior entre casos que apresentaram saturação de O2&lt;95% e ureia alterada; e menor nos que apresentaram manchas vermelhas, usaram imunoglobulinas e anticoagulantes