Infection News

Hospitals in the U.S. and the CDC have reported rising incidence of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children after COVID-19 infection.

While most children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome are previously healthy, those hospitalized with severe COVID-19 pneumonia typically have pre-existing conditions, such as diabetes or obesity, according to data.

Dysphonia, dysphagia and anosmia/hyposmia were the most common otolaryngologic manifestations among a small cohort of children with pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome temporally associated with COVID-19, according to data.

Patients with COVID-19 who require supplemental oxygen, or noninvasive or mechanical ventilation, should receive systemic glucocorticoids as they can decrease mortality, according to EULAR “points to consider.”

Interleukin-1 inhibitors are associated with a “significant reduction” in mortality among patients hospitalized with COVID-19, respiratory insufficiency and hyperinflammation, according to data published in The Lancet Rheumatology.

Moderate and high disease activity, as well as the use of immunosuppressants, were associated with a higher risk for COVID-related death in patients with rheumatic diseases, according to data in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

It is only natural that individuals taking immunosuppressive medications would fear COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has provided a “wakeup call” that physical activity and wellness-related lifestyle changes can reinforce immunity and viral defenses, noted a speaker at the Basic and Clinical Immunology for the Busy Clinician symposium.

Rheumatology patients with musculoskeletal, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases should be vaccinated for COVID-19, according to newly released recommendations from the American College of Rheumatology.

Compared with usual care, tocilizumab reduced deaths by an absolute difference of 4% among patients with COVID-19 who required oxygen and had evidence of inflammation, investigators from the RECOVERY trial reported Thursday.