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INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Several studies support the health benefits of breastfeeding for both the mother and the newborn. However, a significant number of mothers discontinue breastfeeding within the first six months of childbirth, with several factors influencing breastfeeding adherence. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevention of mother-to-newborn infection transmission, breastfeeding patterns and duration, and the incidence of other infections during the first year of life. METHODS: Data from a sample of 39 mothers who gave birth at the Hospital Pedro Hispano in Porto, Portugual, between March 2020 and November 2021 were collected and a telephone questionnaire was administered. Statistical analysis was conducted using R software, v. 4.2.1 (R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: In terms of the impact of the COVID-19 norm 18/2020, which went into effect on March 30th, our research found that the type of feeding during hospitalization was significantly influenced by this norm (X2=10.30, p=0.006). We also confirmed that mothers who received home assistance breastfed for an extra 4.5 months (95% CI: 1-7.5) compared with mothers who did not receive such assistance. Regarding the effect of COVID-19 and breastfeeding on newborn health, our study found that if the total duration of breastfeeding is less than six months, an infection is approximately five times more likely (95% CI = 1.06- 29.56). CONCLUSION: Overall, the findings of this study indicate that the efforts implemented at Hospital Pedro Hispano to limit the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic had some effect on immediate breastfeeding patterns, but not on the total duration of breastfeeding or newborn health. Nonetheless, more continuous assistance at home would have been beneficial.
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Botulism is a life-threatening, rapidly progressive neuroparalytic disease caused by one of the most potent toxins known, botulinum toxin. It manifests as flaccid and symmetrical descending paralysis that can affect both cranial and peripheral nerves. The only specific treatment available is the administration of botulinum antitoxin. We present the case of a three-year-old boy who had gastrointestinal symptoms and had ingested garden soil/dust at a construction site before the onset of cranial nerve palsy, which manifested as dysphagia in swallowing liquid and solid food and bilateral progressive ptosis. Early suspicion of botulism and treatment with botulinum antitoxin resulted in complete neurologic recovery. This case highlights the importance of a careful history and neurologic examination to avoid misdiagnosis. Administration of botulinum antitoxin should not be delayed until the diagnosis is confirmed and clinicians should be aware that this approach can be life-saving.
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Introducción: La infección por malaria durante el embarazo es un importante problema de salud en la mayoría de las regiones tropicales. Esta condición puede tener incidencia negativa tanto en la gestante como en el feto. Objetivo: Indagar en el impacto del tratamento preventivo intermitente con el medicamento antimalárico sulfadoxina-pirimetamina en la mujer embarazada. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica en la base de datos Medline/Pub Med y en artículos relevantes relacionados al tema de los últimos cinco años. Además, se tomó como referencia las guías para el tratamiento de malaria de la Organización Mundial de la Salud, verisón 2016-2017. Análisis y síntesis de los resultados: Durante el período 2015-2017 no se lograron avances significativos en la reducción del número de enfermos palúdicos. No obstante, se señala la anemia como causa de mortalidad en el curso de la malaria. También, se destacan los nuevos enfoques y compromisos para reducir la morbilidad atribuible al paludismo en la mujer embarazada en sus tres vertientes: tratamiento eficaz de los casos de paludismo, el uso de mosquiteros tratados con insecticidas, y la utilización del tratamiento preventivo intermitente con el antimalárico sulfadoxina-pirimetamina a partir del segundo trimestre del embarazo. La indicación de este tratamiento inlcuye mínimo dos dosis del fármaco antipalúdico, con un intervalo de un mes entre cada dosis, con independencia de que las embarazadas muestren o no síntomas de la enfermedad. Conclusiones: Esta intervención para prevenir el paludismo en el embarazo es una cuestión prioritaria en la iniciativa de salud materna, infantil y reproductiva; además, ayuda a mejorar y aumentar la cobertura de las medidas de control de esta enfermedad durante la gestación(AU)
Introduction: Malaria infection during pregnancy is an important health problem in most tropical regions. This condition may have a negative incidence on pregnant women and fetuses. Objective: Inquire into the effect of the intermittent preventive treatment with the malarial sulfadoxine / pyrimethamine in pregnant women. Methods: A bibliographic review was conducted in the database Medline / PubMed and in relevant papers about the topic published in the last five years. The Guidelines for the Treatment of Malaria 2016-2017 of the World Health Organization were also used as reference. Analysis and synthesis of results: Significant progress was not achieved in reducing the number of malaria patients in the period 2015-2017. However, anemia is reported as the cause of mortality during the course of malaria. New approaches and commitments are proposed to reduce malaria-related morbidity among pregnant women, namely effective treatment of malaria cases, use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, and intermittent preventive treatment with the antimalarial sulfadoxine / pyrimethamine as of the second quarter of pregnancy. Indication of this treatment includes at least two doses of the malarial, with a separation of one month between the doses, regardless of whether the pregnant women have symptoms of the disease. Conclusions: The intervention to prevent malaria during pregnancy is a first-priority aspect of the mother, child, reproductive health initiative. It also helps improve and broaden the coverage of measures for the control of this disease during pregnancy(AU)
