Caroline Huart, Karl Le Bras, Caroline de Toeuf, Naima Deggouj, Philippe RombauxPublished in the journal : May 2020Category : Otorhinolaryngology
Although fever, respiratory symptoms, cough, and fatigue were initially considered as the leading symptoms of COVID-19 infection, it has now become evident that patients often report ear, nose, and throat (ENT) symptoms. Notably, we are currently facing an outbreak of olfactory dysfunction along with the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the World Health Organization states that this symptom is less common, several studies have demonstrated that this symptom is often observed, and that anosmia may even constitute the only complaint of SARS-CoV-2 carriers in some cases. Consequently, it is now admitted that patients with isolated sudden anosmia and no nasal obstruction should be considered as potential COVID-19 patients. Hence, this symptom should motivate the initiation of quarantine and use of appropriate personal protective equipment for attending medical teams.
As SARS-CoV-2 has a tropism for ENT mucosa and given that ENT procedures may generate aerosolization, ENT examination is a procedure with a particularly high risk of transmission for medical doctors. Therefore, adequate personal protective equipment should be employed when performing ENT examination. Moreover, it is advised to limit procedures leading to aerosolization as much as possible, as well as to adapt ENT surgical techniques during the pandemic.
This paper has reviewed the ENT symptoms possibly related to COVID-19 infection, with a particular focus on anosmia. We have also provided a reminder concerning good clinical practice recommendations in the ENT setting.
Alice Kalantari, Jean-Pascal Machiels, Cédric Van MarckePublished in the journal : May 2020Category : Oncologie médicale
The management of oncology patients during a pandemic is a challenge on several levels. We have never faced before a pandemic of this magnitude, especially in the era of advanced medicine that uses many immunosuppressive or immunomodulating drugs.
Corinne Hubinont, Frédéric Debieve, Pierre BernardPublished in the journal : May 2020Category : Obstétrique
The COVID-19 pandemia may affect pregnant women. Though the vast majority of infected pregnant patients are asymptomatic, about 9% exhibit symptoms of pneumonia, which must be diagnosed and appropriately treated. The first published papers suggested a management similar to that of non-pregnant patients in terms of diagnostic tests and therapies. Given the increased risk of preterm labor, corticosteroids for fetal lung maturation should be administrated in case of imminent labor. The delivery route should be chosen based on obstetrical data even if elective caesarian section was reported in most published patients. Loco-regional anesthesia is permitted. Only a few cases of maternal-fetal transmission have been reported to date, with transmission mainly occurring during and after delivery. Perinatal morbidity and mortality have been shown to be very low. Only one maternal death was reported so far. Breastfeeding is possible using specific hygiene measures, such as hand washing and surgical mask wearing. In conclusion, this up-to-date literature review suggests that COVID-19-infected pregnant women and their newborn face a good outcome. However, more information from large multicenter studies must be collected, in an effort to confirm these encouraging data.
Pietro Maggi, Antoine Guilmot, Sofia Maldonado Slootjes, Caroline Huart, Bernard Hanseeuw, Thierry Duprez, Julien De Greef, Leila Belkhir, Jean Cyr Yombi, Adrian Ivanoiu, Vincent van PeschPublished in the journal : May 2020Category : Neurology
A steadily increasing number of cases with neurological manifestations that are potentially related to COVID-19 are being reported in the literature. These most often include sudden anosmia, headache, encephalopathy, and stroke. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying "Neuro-COVID" remain largely unknown, while the viral genome is very rarely detected in the cerebrospinal fluid. A study currently ongoing at the Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc is aimed at investigating COVID-19 associated cerebrospinal fluid changes as well as immunohistochemical evidences of olfactory neuroepithelial cells direct viral infection and evidencing a direct infection of olfactory neuroepithelial cells.
Johann Morelle, Arnaud Devresse, Nathalie Demoulin, Valentine Gillion, Eric Goffin, Nada Kanaan, Laura Labriola, Michel JadoulPublished in the journal : May 2020Category : Nephrology
This short contribution first focuses on the growing evidence showing that the kidney is a target for the coronavirus, with signs of kidney disease being a marker of COVID-19 severity. It next discusses the reasons not to withdraw angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers in high-risk groups, as well as the potential risk of virus transmission inside the hemodialysis unit or via peritoneal dialysis. Finally, the article summarizes the data available regarding COVID-19 in kidney transplant recipients and concludes with some considerations concerning the major challenges faced when it comes to ensuring high-quality medical care during this pandemic.
Julien Toulmonde, Olivier Danhaive, Nancy Laval, Fiammetta PiersigilliPublished in the journal : May 2020Category : Neonatology
The beginning of 2020 was marked by the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus, a new virus from the beta-coronavirus family, from Hubei, China. This virus is responsible for a global pandemia of pneumonia with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Although the infection appears to be less acute in the pediatric population, neonates tend to be more frequently affected. Several cases of neonatal SARS-CoV-2 infections have been reported to date, including one in an extremely premature neonate. Nevertheless, the clinical picture seems to be less critical and neonatal mortality associated with COVID-19 has not been reported to date. The transmission mode from mother to infant has not been clearly demonstrated so far. Breastfeeding is allowed in most countries. The aim of this article is to summarize the epidemiological context and current knowledge on COVID-19 in infants and neonates.
J. De Greef, L. Pothen, H. Yildiz,W. Poncin, G. Reychler, S. Brilot, S. Demartin, E. Lagneaux, R. Lattenist, J. Lux,G. Pierman, G. Vandercam, S. Wallemacq, A. Scohy , A. Verroken, B. Mwenge, G. Liistro, A. Froidure, C. Pilette, L. Belkhir, J-C. YombiPublished in the journal : May 2020Category : Médecine interne et maladies infectieuses
The world is facing a serious pandemic. The disease called COVID-19 is caused by a new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, which started to spread in China in December 2019. COVID-19 is a condition that may be particularly serious and even fatal in elderly people, as well as in patients with comorbidities such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and cancer. The clinical presentation is mild in approximately 80% of cases, moderate to severe in 15% of cases, and critical in 5% of cases. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, fatigue, muscle aches, and dry cough. Some patients may exhibit nasal congestion, chills, sore throat, or diarrhea. Severely ill patients can develop an acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), shock, thrombosis, and multiple organ failure, and they are at risk of death. COVID-19 patients with ARDS have a poor prognosis, with an estimated mortality rate of more than 10%. SARS-CoV-2 is primarily transmitted through respiratory droplets. Airway and hand hygiene is therefore essential. The diagnosis is made by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction on a nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal swab and, in suggestive cases, by chest computed tomography, which has a high sensitivity. There is currently no effective specific treatment for COVID-19. Many molecules have been tried or are under investigation. The treatment currently remains supportive.
Cédric Hermans, Catherine LambertPublished in the journal : May 2020Category : Hémostase
COVID-19, especially in its severe form, is associated with a coagulopathy responsible for an increased incidence of venous and arterial thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and pulmonary microthrombosis. Biologically, it results in increased D-dimer levels, which is of diagnostic and prognostic relevance. Depending on its severity, the COVID-19 infection requires a treatment with low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) at preventive or semi-therapeutic doses. In case of proven or strongly suspected thrombosis, anticoagulation with LMWH at therapeutic doses is recommended.
Violaine Havelange, Ines Dufour, Juliette Raedemaeker, Fabio Andreozzi, Géraldine Verstrate, Sarah Bailly, Xavier Poiré, Marie-Christiane VekemansPublished in the journal : May 2020Category : Hématologie adulte
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic poses an unprecedented challenge to the medical community. COVID-19 is potentially devastating for elderly patients, those who have comorbidities, as well as those with chronic hematological conditions.
Exceptional measures have been implemented by hospitals to prevent the spread of the virus and ensure optimal access to care for everyone, without jeopardizing the chances of recovery for patients with curable diseases. The hematological societies have issued guidelines that we summarize in this article for the diseases most commonly treated in our center, in the light of our experience.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had and still has a remarkable impact on general medicine in Belgium. From the day the first Belgian case was diagnosed on February 4, 2020 until the beginning of de-containment- three full months have passed during which general medicine needed to re- structure itself more effectively to be able to speak up with one voice, adapted itself by switching to telemedicine during the population’s confinement period, and constantly developed updated management procedures. In the first month, general practitioners (GPs) did not expect a pandemic of this magnitude to occur. In the second month, things accelerated and GPs’ offices closed their doors, with GPs applying themselves the procedures they helped convey to their patients over the phone. By the third month, while suspicious cases sharply dropped, procedures needed to be strengthened. The situation is more difficult in nursing homes. Within 3 months, relations with patients, colleagues, paramedics, and institutions were, there, entirely altered. In other countries as well, there has been a profound change that is likely to profoundly impact medical practices in the long term. On the eve of a new phase consisting of progressive de-containment, general medicine is now properly prepared to assume its role of an essential player in the fight against coronavirus in the wider community.