Discrimination and mental health in the minority sexual population: Cross-sectional analysis of the first peruvian virtual survey.

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to evaluate the association between discrimination and having mental health problems in the past 12 months in the sexual minority population in Peru. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of a secondary database corresponding to the first LGBTI survey in Peru in 2017. We included adults who self-identified their sexual orientation as gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, or asexual/others. Both the exposure and dependent variables were self-reported by the participants. Multivariable Poisson regression was used to determine the association by calculating adjusted prevalence ratios (APR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). RESULTS: Out of 9760 respondents, more than two-thirds of the participants reported having been discriminated against or having experienced violence at some time in their lives (70.3%) and one-fourth reported having mental health problems (23.8%). In the multivariable regression model, the prevalence of mental health problems in the last 12 months was 72% higher for the group of individuals who experienced discrimination when compared with the group that did not experience discrimination (APR = 1.72, 95% CI 1.57-1.88). The association was stronger among who self-identified lesbians (APR = 2.08, 95% CI 1.65-2.64). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of mental health problems and discrimination was high in this population. In addition, we found a statistically significant association between discrimination and the occurrence of mental health problems in the last 12 months.

Rhino-Orbital-Cerebral Mucormycosis in a Post-COVID-19 Patient from Peru.

Mucormycosis has been reported increasingly in patients affected by COVID-19, especially in India where the first cases were described. In Latin America, there is limited information about this association, mainly coming from Brazil, Mexico, and Peru. Herein, we report the case of a 66-year-old female that presented with rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis, diabetic ketoacidosis, and COVID-19. The patient had the compromise of all the sinuses, orbital invasion, and intracranial extension. Isavuconazole was promptly initiated because amphotericin B was not available. She had a single open surgical debridement of necrotic tissues at the beginning of the diagnosis then multiple manual sessions to clear the residual or recurrent disease during approximately 5 months. Isavuconazole was effective and well-tolerated for 10 months without side effects. We highlight the importance of considering mucormycosis in post-COVID-19 patients with uncontrolled diabetes. The report emphasizes the favorable outcome of isavuconazole as an alternative therapy.

Parents' perceptions and intention to vaccinate their children under 12 years of age against COVID-19: A cross sectional study in Peru / Percepciones e intención de los padres de vacunar a sus hijos menores de 12 años contra la COVID-19: Estudio transversal en Perú

Objectives: To evaluate the perceptions and intention of parents to vaccinate their children under 12 years of age. Methodology: Analytical cross-sectional study based on an online survey that collected the parents' perception on the risk of their children getting COVID-19, on the need of vaccination and on the development of adverse events related to the vaccine. We evaluated the factors associated with the intention to vaccinate through crude (cPR) and adjusted prevalence rates (aPR), with confidence interval of 95% (CI 95%) Results: 83.5% of respondents had the intention of vaccinating their children under 12 years of age. In the multivariate analysis, the factors associated with an decrease in the intention to vaccinate were to think that the vaccine is not necessary (aPR 0.65; 95% CI 0.44 ­ 0.94), that it would not protect (aPR: 0.14; 95% CI 0.03 ­ 0.63) , that it would not be safe (aPR: 0.80; 95% CI 0.70 ­ 0.92) and that it would cause long-term side effects (aPR: 0.92; 95% CI 0.85 ­ 1.00). On the other hand, living on the highlands or jungle was associated with an increase on the intention. Conclusions: In Peru, 16.5% of parents would not vaccinate their children under 12 years of age, because they perceive that the vaccine is not necessary and would not protect against COVID-19. In addition, they expressed concerns about the development of possible adverse events.

Objetivos: Evaluar las percepciones e intención de los padres de vacunar a sus hijos menores de 12 años en Perú. Metodología: Estudio transversal analítico a partir de una encuesta en línea (25 de noviembre al 6 de diciembre del 2021) para padres de niños menores de 12 años que recopiló la percepción sobre el riesgo de contagio por COVID-19 en sus hijos, sobre la necesidad de vacunación y sobre los eventos adversos relacionados con la vacuna. Evaluamos los factores asociados a la intención de vacunación mediante razones de prevalencia crudas (RPc) y ajustadas (RPa) con intervalos de confianza al 95% (IC 95%). Resultados: El 83.5% de los padres tenían la intención de vacunar a sus hijos menores de 12 años. En el análisis multivariado, los factores asociados a una disminución de la intención de vacunación fueron pensar que la vacuna no es necesaria (RPa: 0.65; IC 95% 0.44 ­ 0,94), que no protegería (RPa: 0.14; IC 95% 0.03 ­ 0.63), que no sería segura (RPa: 0.80; IC 95% 0.70 ­ 0.92) y que ocasionaría efectos negativos a largo plazo (RPa: 0.92; IC 95% 0.85 ­ 1.00). Por otro lado, residir en la Selva (RPa: 1.09; IC 95%: 1.03 ­ 1.15) o en la Sierra (RPa: 1.06; IC 95%: 1.00 ­ 1.11) se asoció a una mayor prevalencia de intención. Conclusiones: En Perú, un 16.5% de padres no vacunaría a sus hijos menores de 12 años, ya que perciben que la vacuna no es necesaria y no protegería contra la COVID-19, además de tener la preocupación de posibles eventos adversos.

Un nuevo virus A/H1N1, una nueva pandemia: Influenza un riesgo permanente para una humanidad globalizada / A new virus A/H1N1, a new pandemic: Influenza a continuing risk to a globalized humanity

La influenza es una enfermedad altamente infectocontagiosa de la cual se tienen registros históricos descriptivos desde la época griega y de certeza etiológica tan solo hace casi ocho décadas atras. Su agente causal es el virus del influenza de los que se conoce existen tres grandes tipos: A B y C. El tipo A tiene la propiedad de circular por diversos reservorios biológicos, tales como el hombre, los cerdos y las aves, entre otros. Representa ademas una elevada variabilidad genética lo que le permite continuos cambios o derivas antigenicas menores responsables de la influenza humanas epidemicas y a veces reordenamientos amplios con cambios antigenicos mayores los que originan la temida influenza pandémica. En un mundo cada vez mas globalizado, con una poblacion superior a los seis mil millones de personas, marcado por grandes inequidades sociales y con cambios climaticos evidentes los virus de la influenza serán un riesgo permanente para la seguridad de la humanidad. La clínica de los diverso subtipos virales puede balancearce desde las formas inaparentes hasta las formas graves de gripe o influenza, dependiendo de la virulencia del subtipo viral infectante y del huésped. Aunque la tecnología diagnóstica y de inmunización ha avanzado sorprendentemente la preparación y disposición de los nuevos kits diagnósticos suelen tardar al principio y en el caso de las vacunas estas no estan disponibles para un nuevo subtipo viral pandemico en el momento que se las necesita. El desarrollo de antivirales contra la gripe no es notorio, contándose aprobados para uso humano los amadantanes como la amantadina y la rimantadina y los inhibidores de la neuraminidasa conocidos como oseltamivir y sanamivir principalmente. Claramente los más vulnerables en este contexto son los países en vías de desarrollo y en especial aquellos mas pobres, hecho que nos debería llevar a una profunda reflexión.

Influenza is a highly contagious disease. There are some historical descriptions of this condition by ancient Greek physicians, and the etiological agents have been known only for the last eight decades. The causative agent is the influenza virus, which has three main types: A, B, and C. Type A is capable of circulating within many different biological reservoirs, including humans, swine, and birds. It also has high genetic variability, which allows it to have minor antigenic drifts or mutations which are responsible of epidemics in humans. Sometimes changes are quite marked, leading to pandemics. In a globalized world, with more than 6 billion inhabitants, with many social inequities and evident climate changes, influenza viruses are a permanent risk for mankind. Clinical features for the different viral subtypes may vary from subtle infections to full blown and severe, life-threatening forms. Event with the great advances in diagnostics and immunization, the manufacture and distribution of new diagnostic kits may take some time, and new vaccines are not always readily available. Specific therapies against influenza are not well developed. There are two groups of drugs, the so called adamantane derivatives, such as amantadine and rimantadine, and the neuraminidase inhibitors, such as oseltamivir and zanamivir. Most vulnerable areas for the new flu pandemics include developing countries, particularly the poorest ones, so that the greatest effort must be made for helping these areas.