SARS due to COVID-19: Predictors of death and profile of adult patients in the state of Rio de Janeiro, 2020.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to describe the profile of adult patients and analyze the predictors of death from severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Knowledge of the predictors of death by COVID-19 in Rio de Janeiro, a state with one of the highest mortality rates in Brazil, is essential to improve health care for these patients. METHODS: Data from the Information System for Epidemiological Surveillance of Influenza and the Mortality Information System were used. A binary logistic regression model evaluated the outcome of death, sociodemographic data, and clinical-epidemiological and health care covariates. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate statistics were performed with the R program, version 4.0.0. RESULTS: Overall, 51,383 cases of SARS due to COVID-19 among adults were reported in the state between March 5 and December 2, 2020. Mortality was high (40.5%). The adjusted final model presented the following predictors of death in SARS patients due to COVID-19: male sex (odds ratio [OR] = 1.10, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-1.17); age (OR = 5.35, 95%CI, 4.88-5.88; ≥75 years); oxygen saturation <95% (OR = 1.48, 95%CI, 1.37-1.59), respiratory distress (OR = 1.31, 95%CI, 1.21-1.41) and dyspnoea (OR = 1.25, 95%CI, 1.15-1.36), the presence of at least one risk factor/comorbidity (OR = 1.32, 95%CI, 1.23-1.42), chronic kidney disease (OR = 1.94, 95%CI, 1.69-2.23), immunosuppression (OR = 1.51, 95%CI, 1.26-1.81) or chronic neurological disease (OR = 1.36, 95%CI, 1.18-1.58), and ventilatory support, invasive (OR = 8.89, 95%CI, 8.08-9.79) or non-invasive (OR = 1.25, 95%CI, 1.15-1.35). CONCLUSIONS: Factors associated with death were male sex, old age, oxygen saturation <95%, respiratory distress, dyspnoea, chronic kidney and neurological diseases, immunosuppression, and use of invasive or noninvasive ventilatory support. Identifying factors associated with disease progression can help the clinical management of patients with COVID-19 and improve outcomes.

Prenatal Exposure to Metals and Neurodevelopment in Infants at Six Months: Rio Birth Cohort Study of Environmental Exposure and Childhood Development (PIPA Project).

The PIPA Project is a prospective birth cohort study based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, whose pilot study was carried out between October 2017 and August 2018. Arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg) concentrations were determined in maternal (n = 49) and umbilical cord blood (n = 46). The Denver Developmental Screening Test II (DDST-II) was applied in 50 six-month-old infants. Metals were detected in 100% of the mother and newborn samples above the limits of detection. Maternal blood lead concentrations were higher in premature newborns (GM: 5.72 µg/dL; p = 0.05). One-third of the infants (n = 17-35.4%) exhibited at least one fail in the neurodevelopment evaluation (fail group). Maternal blood arsenic concentrations were significantly (p = 0.03) higher in the "fail group" (GM: 11.85 µg/L) compared to infants who did not fail (not fail group) (GM: 8.47 µg/L). Maternal and umbilical cord blood arsenic concentrations were higher in all Denver Test's domains in the "fail group", albeit non-statistically significant, showing a tendency for the gross motor domain and maternal blood (p = 0.07). These findings indicate the need to further investigate the toxic effects of prenatal exposure to metals on infant neurodevelopment.

Fatores associados ao óbito em casos confirmados de COVID-19 no estado do Rio de Janeiro.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 can occur asymptomatically, as influenza-like illness, or as more severe forms, which characterize severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Its mortality rate is higher in individuals over 80 years of age and in people with comorbidities, so these constitute the risk group for severe forms of the disease. We analyzed the factors associated with death in confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state of Rio de Janeiro. This cross-sectional study evaluated the association between individual demographic, clinical, and epidemiological variables and the outcome (death) using data from the Unified Health System information systems. METHODS: We used the extreme boosting gradient (XGBoost) model to analyze the data, which uses decision trees weighted by the estimation difficulty. To evaluate the relevance of each independent variable, we used the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) metric. From the probabilities generated by the XGBoost model, we transformed the data to the logarithm of odds to estimate the odds ratio for each independent variable. RESULTS: This study showed that older individuals of black race/skin color with heart disease or diabetes who had dyspnea or fever were more likely to die. CONCLUSIONS: The early identification of patients who may progress to a more severe form of the disease can help improve the clinical management of patients with COVID-19 and is thus essential to reduce the lethality of the disease.

Update on SARS-CoV-2 infection in children.

Despite the worldwide spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19), knowledge of the different clinical presentations, ways of transmission, severity and prognosis in children and adolescents is limited. An increasing number of reports describe some of these characteristics in this age range. A non-systematic review was undertaken using MEDLINE (PubMed), LILACS (VHL), Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane and CAPES Portal databases from 1 January until 30 September 2020 [103] with the search terms SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, child, children, youth, adolescent and newborn to identify the more recent clinical aspects of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children. In general, SARS-CoV-2 infection in children tends to be asymptomatic or to have mild or moderate signs, and most young ones are infected by family members. Recent reports offer new insights into the disease. Current evidence on SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and adolescents is presented, especially concerning the clinical presentation, imaging and uncommon severe forms of the disease, particularly the COVID-19-associated multisystem inflammatory syndrome. The impact of COVID-19 infection in the perinatal period is described in detail. Knowledge of the various clinical presentations of SARS-CoV-2 in children and adolescents allows the paediatrician to diagnose earlier, monitor warnings signs, implement treatment and, especially, establish preventive measures.Abbreviations : ACE-2, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2; ARDS, acute respiratory distress syndrome; ARF, acute rheumatic fever; CAA, coronary artery aneurysms; CK-MB, creatine kinase-MB; COVID-19, coronavirus disease-2019; HLA, specific human leucocyte antigen; IPC, infection prevention and control; IVIG, intravenous immunoglobulin; KD, Kawasaki disease; MIS-C, COVID-19-associated multisystem inflammatory syndrome; RNA, ribonucleic acid; RT-PCR, reserve transcription-polymerase chain reaction; SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2; TCT, thoracic computed tomography; TSS, toxic shock syndrome; WHO, World Health Organization.

Fetal, neonatal, and infant outcomes associated with maternal Zika virus infection during pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The occurrence of fetal and neonatal disorders in pregnant women with Zika virus infection in the literature is not consistent. This study aims to estimate the prevalence rate of these disorders in fetuses/neonates of pregnant women with confirmed or probable infection by Zika virus. A systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted in November 2020. Cohort studies that contained primary data on the prevalence of unfavorable outcomes in fetuses or neonates of women with confirmed or probable Zika virus infection during pregnancy were included. A total of 21 cohort studies were included, with a total of 35,568 pregnant women. The meta-analysis showed that central nervous system abnormalities had the highest prevalence ratio of 0.06 (95% CI 0.03-0.09). Intracranial calcifications had a prevalence ratio of 0.01 (95% CI 0.01-0.02), and ventriculomegaly 0.01 (95% CI 0.01-0.02). The prevalence ratio of microcephaly was 0.03 (95% CI 0.02-0.05), fetal loss (miscarriage and stillbirth) was 0.04 (95% CI 0.02-0.06), Small for Gestational Age was 0.04 (95% CI 0.00-0,09), Low Birth Weight was 0.05 (95% CI 0.03-0.08) and Prematurity was 0.07 (95% CI 0.04-0.10). The positivity in RT-PCR for ZIKV performed in neonates born to infected mothers during pregnancy was 0.25 (95% CI 0.06-0.44). We also performed the meta-analysis of meta-analysis for microcephaly with the prevalence ratios from other two previously systematic reviews: 0.03 (95% CI 0.00-0.25). Our results contribute to measuring the impact of Zika virus infection during pregnancy on children's health. The continuous knowledge of this magnitude is essential for the implementation development of health initiatives and programs, in addition to promoting disease prevention, especially in the development of a vaccine for Zika virus. PROSPERO protocol registration: http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?ID=CRD42019125543.

Zika virus in Brazil and worldwide: a narrative review.

Background: In the past 5 years, the Zika virus (ZIKV) has gone from being associated with mild infection to one of the most studied viruses worldwide. Between 2015 and 2016, the first reports of pregnant women with confirmed and/or suspected ZIKV infection described fetuses and newborns with severe congenital malformations, in particular microcephaly and central nervous system malformations, leading to a strong suspicion of its association with the virus. Despite all the knowledge rapidly acquired since the beginning of the ZIKV outbreak, many questions are still to be answered and further studies on the infection and its consequences are required.Aim: To present the currently available evidence on the epidemiological and clinical aspects of ZIKV infection.Methods: Non-systematic review carried out in MEDLINE (PubMed), LILACS (VHL), Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane and CAPES Portal databases for the past five years using the search terms arboviruses, flavivirus, Zika and ZIKV.Results: The acute clinical of ZIKV infection in children seems very similar to that in adults, with fever (usully low), rash maculopapular and pruritus. Neurological complication associated with ZIKV reported in the literature include Guillain-Barré syndrome and meningoencephalitis. More recently, the term congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) has been adopted to describe a set of symptoms and signs in children whose mothers had ZIKV infection confirmed during pregnancy.Conclusions: More detailed knowledge of ZIKV infection in children allows the pediatrician to diagnose earlier, implement the correct treatment, monitor warnings signs for the most severe forms, and especially establish effective preventive measures.Abbreviations:: CDC, Centers for Disease Control; CZS, congenital Zika syndrome; DEET, N, N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide; GBS, Guillain-Barré syndrome; PRNT, plaque reduction neutralisation test; RNA, ribonucleic acid; RT-PCR, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction; STX, saxitoxin; ZIKV, Zika virus.

Clinical and laboratory characteristics of sars-cov-2 infection in children and adolescents / Características clínicas e laboratoriais da infecção por sars-cov-2 em crianças e adolescentes

ABSTRACT Objective: To present the current evidence on clinical and laboratory characteristics of infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) during childhood and adolescence. Data source: This is a narrative review conducted in the databases: Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE/PubMed), Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature in the Virtual Health Library (LILACS/VHL), Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, portal of the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), ScienceDirect, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL). The terms used were SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, novel coronavirus, child, newborn, and adolescent. Data synthesis: Unlike adults, most children infected by SARS-CoV-2 have mild or asymptomatic clinical presentations. Symptomatic children mainly have low fever and cough, with some associated gastrointestinal symptoms. Severe cases are rare and occur especially in infants under one year of age. Detection of viral particles in feces seems to be more persistent in children and can be used as a tool for diagnosis and control of the quarantine period. Different from adults, children can present distinct inflammatory responses, as has happened in new cases of Kawasaki-like syndrome associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Conclusions: Most children have asymptomatic or mild presentations, with a prevalence of fever, cough, and gastrointestinal symptoms. New cases with different systemic inflammatory reactions in children have been reported, with clinical manifestations distinct from those typically found in adults.

RESUMO Objetivo: Apresentar as atuais evidências sobre as características clínicas e laboratoriais da infecção pelo coronavírus da síndrome respiratória aguda grave 2 (SARS-CoV-2) durante a infância e a adolescência. Fonte de dados: Revisão narrativa realizada nas bases de dados Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE/PubMed), Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde na Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (LILACS/BVS), Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, portal da Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), ScienceDirect e Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), com o uso dos termos SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 e novo coronavírus e criança, recém-nascido e adolescente. Síntese dos dados: Diferentemente dos adultos, as crianças infectadas pelo SARS-CoV-2 apresentam formas clínicas leves ou assintomáticas na maior parte dos casos. As crianças sintomáticas apresentam predominantemente febre baixa e tosse, com alguns sintomas gastrointestinais associados. Casos graves são a minoria e ocorrem especialmente abaixo de um ano de idade. A detecção de partículas virais em fezes parece ser mais persistente em crianças, podendo servir como ferramenta diagnóstica e de controle do tempo de quarentena. Diferentemente dos adultos, as crianças podem apresentar respostas inflamatórias distintas, como tem ocorrido nos novos casos de síndrome de Kawasaki-like associada à infecção pelo SARS-CoV-2. Conclusões: Crianças, na sua maioria, apresentam quadros assintomáticos ou leves, com predomínio de febre, tosse e sintomas gastrointestinais. Novos relatos de diferentes reações sistêmicas inflamatórias em crianças têm sido notados, com manifestações clínicas distintas daquelas tipicamente observadas em adultos.

CLINICAL AND LABORATORY CHARACTERISTICS OF SARS-COV-2 INFECTION IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS.

OBJECTIVE: To present the current evidence on clinical and laboratory characteristics of infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) during childhood and adolescence. DATA SOURCE: This is a narrative review conducted in the databases: Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE/PubMed), Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature in the Virtual Health Library (LILACS/VHL), Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, portal of the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), ScienceDirect, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL). The terms used were SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, novel coronavirus, child, newborn, and adolescent. DATA SYNTHESIS: Unlike adults, most children infected by SARS-CoV-2 have mild or asymptomatic clinical presentations. Symptomatic children mainly have low fever and cough, with some associated gastrointestinal symptoms. Severe cases are rare and occur especially in infants under one year of age. Detection of viral particles in feces seems to be more persistent in children and can be used as a tool for diagnosis and control of the quarantine period. Different from adults, children can present distinct inflammatory responses, as has happened in new cases of Kawasaki-like syndrome associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. CONCLUSIONS: Most children have asymptomatic or mild presentations, with a prevalence of fever, cough, and gastrointestinal symptoms. New cases with different systemic inflammatory reactions in children have been reported, with clinical manifestations distinct from those typically found in adults.

Arboviral diseases in pediatrics / Arboviroses na infância

Abstract Objectives To present the currently available evidence on transmission, clinical, diagnostic methods, treatment, and prevention methods of major arboviruses that occur in childhood. Source of data Non-systematic review carried out in MEDLINE (PubMed), LILACS (VHL), Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, CAPES Portal, and Google Scholar databases for the past five years using the search terms arboviruses, dengue, chikungunya, Zika, Mayaro, and West Nile fever, as well as child, newborn, and adolescent. Synthesis of data The main characteristic of arboviruses is the fact that part of their replication cycle occurs inside insect vectors, thus being classically transmitted to humans through the bite of mosquitoes (hematophagous arthropods), although non-vector transmission of these viruses is also possible in specific situations. These diseases remain a major public health challenge, due to the lack of specific antiviral treatment, the co-circulation of different arboviruses in endemic/epidemic regions, the lack of effective and safe immunizations for the vast majority of these viruses, and the great difficulty in vector control, especially in large urban centers. Conclusions Children are especially vulnerable to this group of diseases due to characteristics that facilitate the development of the most severe forms. More detailed knowledge of this group of diseases allows the pediatrician to diagnose them earlier, implement the correct treatment, monitor warning signs for the most severe forms, and establish effective preventive measures.

Resumo Objetivos Apresentar as evidências atualmente disponíveis sobre transmissão, quadro clínico, métodos diagnósticos, tratamento e métodos de prevenção das principais arboviroses que ocorrem na infância. Fonte de dados Revisão não sistemática feita nas bases de dados Medline (Pubmed), Lilacs (BVS), Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, portal Capes e Google Scholar nos últimos cinco anos, com o uso dos termos arboviroses, dengue, chikungunya, zika, mayaro, febre do oeste do Nilo e criança, recém-nascido, adolescente. Síntese de dados Os arbovírus têm como característica principal o fato de parte de seu ciclo de replicação ocorrer em insetos vetores. Assim, são classicamente transmitidos aos seres humanos pela picada de mosquitos (artrópodes hematófagos), embora seja também possível a transmissão não vetorial desses vírus em situações específicas. Essas doenças ainda constituem um grande desafio na saúde pública, devido à inexistência de tratamento antiviral específico, à cocirculação de diferentes arbovírus em regiões endêmicas/epidêmicas, à falta de imunizações efetivas e seguras para a grande maioria desses vírus e à grande dificuldade do controle vetorial, em especial nos grandes centros urbanos. Conclusões As crianças constituem um grupo especialmente vulnerável a esse grupo de doenças, pois têm características que facilitam o desenvolvimento das formas mais graves. O conhecimento mais detalhado desse grupo de doenças permite ao pediatra diagnosticar mais precocemente, instituir o tratamento correto, vigiar os sinais de alarme para as formas mais graves e colocar em prática efetivas medidas de prevenção.

Arboviral diseases in pediatrics.

OBJECTIVES: To present the currently available evidence on transmission, clinical, diagnostic methods, treatment, and prevention methods of major arboviruses that occur in childhood. SOURCE OF DATA: Non-systematic review carried out in MEDLINE (PubMed), LILACS (VHL), Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, CAPES Portal, and Google Scholar databases for the past five years using the search terms arboviruses, dengue, chikungunya, Zika, Mayaro, and West Nile fever, as well as child, newborn, and adolescent. SYNTHESIS OF DATA: The main characteristic of arboviruses is the fact that part of their replication cycle occurs inside insect vectors, thus being classically transmitted to humans through the bite of mosquitoes (hematophagous arthropods), although non-vector transmission of these viruses is also possible in specific situations. These diseases remain a major public health challenge, due to the lack of specific antiviral treatment, the co-circulation of different arboviruses in endemic/epidemic regions, the lack of effective and safe immunizations for the vast majority of these viruses, and the great difficulty in vector control, especially in large urban centers. CONCLUSIONS: Children are especially vulnerable to this group of diseases due to characteristics that facilitate the development of the most severe forms. More detailed knowledge of this group of diseases allows the pediatrician to diagnose them earlier, implement the correct treatment, monitor warning signs for the most severe forms, and establish effective preventive measures.

Effects of Zika infection on growth.

OBJECTIVES: To present the currently available evidence of the effects of congenital Zika virus infection on infant growth, to discuss possible intervening factors, and to describe preliminary data on this growth in a cohort of exposed children. SOURCE OF DATA: Non-systematic review in PubMed, BVS, CAPES, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane and Google Scholar databases in the last 5 years, using the terms infection/disease by Zika virus and growth/nutrition/nutritional status/infant nutrition and nutritional needs. Additionally, the anthropometric data of the first 2.5 years of a cohort of children exposed to the Zika virus during pregnancy were reviewed. SYNTHESIS OF DATA: Both intrauterine growth restriction and low birth weight were reported in series of cases of children with congenital Zika syndrome. The postnatal growth deficit of these children appears to be directly proportional to the degree of neurological impairment. The etiology is multifactorial, and nutritional and non-nutritional factors are probably involved. The data from the present cohort show that the head circumference evolution depends on this measurement at birth and that weight-height growth has a trend toward lower weight and length in children with congenital microcephaly and normocephalic at birth who develop some neurological abnormality. CONCLUSIONS: The few existing data suggest that, in children with congenital Zika, the greater the degree of neurological impairment, the greater the impact on growth, whether or not associated with microcephaly at birth.

Effects of Zika infection on growth / Repercussões da infecção por Zika sobre o crescimento

Abstract Objectives: To present the currently available evidence of the effects of congenital Zika virus infection on infant growth, to discuss possible intervening factors, and to describe preliminary data on this growth in a cohort of exposed children. Source of data: Non-systematic review in PubMed, BVS, CAPES, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane and Google Scholar databases in the last 5 years, using the terms infection/disease by Zika virus and growth/nutrition/nutritional status/infant nutrition and nutritional needs. Additionally, the anthropometric data of the first 2.5 years of a cohort of children exposed to the Zika virus during pregnancy were reviewed. Synthesis of data: Both intrauterine growth restriction and low birth weight were reported in series of cases of children with congenital Zika syndrome. The postnatal growth deficit of these children appears to be directly proportional to the degree of neurological impairment. The etiology is multifactorial, and nutritional and non-nutritional factors are probably involved. The data from the present cohort show that the head circumference evolution depends on this measurement at birth and that weight-height growth has a trend toward lower weight and length in children with congenital microcephaly and normocephalic at birth who develop some neurological abnormality. Conclusions: The few existing data suggest that, in children with congenital Zika, the greater the degree of neurological impairment, the greater the impact on growth, whether or not associated with microcephaly at birth.

Resumo Objetivos: Apresentar as evidências atualmente disponíveis das repercussões da infecção congênita pelo vírus Zika no crescimento infantil, discutir possíveis fatores intervenientes e descrever dados preliminares desse crescimento em uma coorte de crianças expostas. Fonte dos dados: Revisão não sistemática nos portais de banco de dados PubMed, BVS, Capes, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane e Google Scholar nos últimos cinco anos, com o uso dos termos infecção/doença pelo vírus Zika e crescimento/nutrição/status nutricional/nutrição infantil e necessidades nutricionais. Além disso, foram revistos os dados antropométricos dos primeiros dois anos e meio de uma coorte de crianças expostas ao vírus Zika durante a gestação. Síntese dos dados: Tanto a restrição do crescimento intrauterino como o baixo peso ao nascer têm sido relatados em séries de casos de crianças com síndrome de Zika congênita. O déficit de crescimento pós-natal dessas crianças parece ser diretamente proporcional ao grau de comprometimento neurológico. A etiologia é multifatorial, com fatores nutricionais e não nutricionais provavelmente envolvidos. Os dados de nossa coorte mostram que a evolução do perímetro cefálico é dependente do valor dessa medida ao nascimento e que o crescimento pondero-estatural apresenta uma tendência de menor peso e comprimento em crianças com microcefalia congênita e normocefálicas ao nascimento, mas com alguma anormalidade neurológica evolutiva. Conclusões: Os poucos dados existentes sugerem que em crianças com Zika congênita, o impacto sobre o crescimento será tanto maior quanto maior for o grau de comprometimento neurológico, associado ou não à microcefalia ao nascimento.