Covid-19 and the Endocrine System | Chapter 5 | Clinical Manifestations of Covid-19: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach

 

When SARS-CoV-2 virus, the agent responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), made its first appearance in the later part of the year 2019, it was popularly known for primarily causing respiratory symptoms such as cough and shortness of breath. These symptoms were sometimes severe enough to require hospitalization and intensive care. Due to the novel nature of the virus at that time, very little was known about its extrapulmonary effects. It is now clear to the world's scientific community that the virus also affects virtually every system in the human body and not just the respiratory system.

The Endocrine system is one of the various systems affected during COVID-19 infection, and almost no endocrine gland is spared. Endocrine glands such as the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, pancreas and gonads are all known to be affected in varying degrees in individuals with COVID-19 virus. The aim of this review article is to provide a synopsis of how the virus exerts its effect on various endocrine cells, and ultimately provide information that would be useful in addressing potential endocrine and/or metabolic complications that may arise, following COVID-19 infection.

 

Author(s) Details:

 

Beatrice Nelson-Ogbonna
Department of Internal Medicine, Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia, Nigeria.

 

Jones Uwakwe
Department of Internal Medicine, Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia, Nigeria.

 

Please see the book here:  https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/mono/978-81-973195-5-6/CH5

Implementing a SARS CoV2 Antigen Testing Program (COVID-ATP) in Healthcare Organisations| Chapter 13 | Highlights on Medicine and Medical Science Vol. 4

 The study's goal is to find out how common SARS-CoV-2 is in asymptomatic healthcare workers and patients, as well as the impact of preventative measures, at a private oncology provider in the United Kingdom. The findings of this study are applicable to other healthcare organizations interested in implementing a SARS-CoV-2 preventative testing program. Design of the Study: In this study, asymptomatic staff and patients were enrolled in a prospective screening program called the SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Testing Program (COVID-ATP), which consisted of a nasopharyngeal swab test for SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA. The program ran from April to December 2020, at the height of the pandemic, and covered the first lockdown, the summer period of viral remission, and the second wave in autumn/winter 2020. We present our results from April to October 2020 in this section. Methods: Cancer patients were checked at predetermined intervals based on their treatment plan, and asymptomatic personnel working in 14 different locations were tested weekly. The COVID-ATP testing program was supplemented by staff and patient adherence to infection prevention control (IPC) procedures, social distancing, clinic spacing, virtual clinics, intensive cleaning routines, and appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) use. Results: An average of 204 healthcare workers and 21 patients were tested each week. The prevalence of asymptomatic staff infection was 0.8 percent shortly after the first lockdown in April/May 2020, 0 percent between June/July 2020, 1 percent in August/September 2020, and 0.8 percent in September/October 2020. Two asymptomatic patients tested positive on routine testing near the end of the first lockdown, but they continued with treatment and fared well. According to Public Health England guidelines, employees who tested positive on routine testing were placed in a period of self-isolation. Conclusions: This is the first longitudinal study to use a systematic testing program to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic COVID-19 in healthcare staff and patients in a private healthcare group in the United Kingdom. At the time of testing, the asymptomatic COVID-19 prevalence in staff was comparable to the community prevalence in England, and the temporal prevalence mirrored community prevalence trends. The protective measures implemented within the centers, as well as the self-isolation of staff who tested positive, resulted in a lack of viral spread. As we entered the second wave, the program was extended until December 2020, with no increase in the prevalence of asymptomatic infections. The introduction of mass vaccinations in England beginning in December 2020 provided additional protection against the virus for those vulnerable cancer patients.

 
Author (S) Details

Dr. P. Kechagioglou
Department of Clinical Oncology, GenesisCare Windsor, UK.

View Book :- https://stm.bookpi.org/HMMS-V4/article/view/1696

Oral Cavity - A Potential Repository for Early Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Asymptomatic Carriers | Chapter 12 | Challenges in Disease and Health Research Vol.3

 The new Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic has become a worldwide health emergency. The early diagnosis and successful isolation of patients is the key cause of concern among the health authorities, as the present influenza is very close to the old common flu in its initial clinical appearance. Real Time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (rRTPCR) is currently considered to be the gold standard for the identification of the causative virus, SARS-Cov-2, but in the meantime, it takes time and poses the risk of further spread to the exposed individuals , especially healthcare staff. Social distancing is also the only way known worldwide to avoid the spread of the disease and to keep isolating, screening and acting on individuals with clinical symptoms. Asymptomatic carriers, however, are the next point of concern and need mass screening that is not feasible with rRT-PCR per se. Researchers are trying to create a way out for the Detection of the SARS-Cov-2 virus in asymptomatic carriers or in patients who are incubated, thereby eradicating the spread of the disease and flattening the virus multiplication curve. As stated in the literature on salivary research, early detection of a related virus during the outbreak of SARS was found to be encouraging. This paper is an attempt to emphasise that, due to its anatomical relationship with the salivary glands, naso-oro-pharynx, and the mucosa that are gradually filled with saliva, the oral cavity may be a possible reservoir of SARS-CoV-2 both in the incubation process and/or convalescence time. Samples of saliva are easy to obtain and possibly make it an excellent method for mass screening, thereby promoting the early detection and prevention of further spread of the deadly From a pandemic.

Author (s) Details

Dr. Anmol Agarwal
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Institute of Dental Studies and Technologies, Modinagar, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Dr. Gaurav Mittal
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Institute of Dental Studies and Technologies, Modinagar, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Dr. Payal Agarwal
Department of Oral, Dental and Craniofacial Care, Yashoda Super Specialty Hospital, Kaushambi, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India

Dr. Shimona Raj Mittal
Private Practitioner, Tooth Tamers the Family Dentists, Govindpuram, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India.

View Book :- https://bp.bookpi.org/index.php/bpi/catalog/book/286