Objectives: This case series aims to present three cases of pediatric cancer – two acute leukemia and one solid tumor with active COVID-19 infection who underwent chemotherapy Methodology: Three cases of pediatric cancer who tested positive for SARS-CoV2 are presented. All proceeded with scheduled chemotherapy despite active COVID-19 infection. Two had no post-chemotherapy complications, while one had febrile neutropenia and hospital-acquired pneumonia. Results: In this case series, COVID-19 infection in pediatric patients with cancer does not appear to be more severe compared with the general population. The severity of signs and symptoms can be attributed to a lower Cycle Threshold (CT) value and a co-infection. COVID-19 infection did not change the course and post-chemotherapy complications in all cases. Conclusion Patient demographics, comorbidities and type of malignancy played an essential role in the pre- and post-chemotherapy outcome. Individual patient factors including CT values, comorbidities, co-infections, COVID19 disease severity classification, and blood count picture are also instrumental in the management and outcome of these cases. Pediatric cancer treatment should be a priority during active COVID-19 infection.
COVID-19 ; Drug Therapy ; Neoplasms ; Child

BACKGROUND: At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare professionals including pediatric occupational therapists (OTs) mandatorily had to shift to the practice of telehealth in the absence of a safe in- person setup caused by the outbreak. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine the psychosocial experiences encountered by selected pediatric OTs in the Philippines brought by the shift to telehealth practice during the COVID-19 pandemic METHODOLOGY: Purposive sampling was used in the study to gather six (6) licensed pediatric OTs who provide occupational therapy (OT) services via telehealth in the Philippines, and the respondents were not personally connected to any of the researchers. A semi-structured one-on-one interview with the participants through a Zoom call was conducted to obtain their psychosocial experiences. A thematic analysis was used and four (4) themes emerged by the end of the study: consequences of the shift to telehealth practice, changes during telehealth provision, increased resilience, and increased psychological strain. CONCLUSION In conclusion, the transition to provision of telehealth services to pediatric clients has challenged the practices of the selected pediatric OTs in terms of preparing for the session, where one of the main prevalent concerns was toward collaboration and communication with the caregivers; conducting of telehealth sessions, where communication interruption was one of the main concerns; and in ethical considerations, where OTs made it a point that they rectified ethical dilemmas amidst telehealth provision. These experienced challenges also included increased workload and psychological distress, while improved occupational balance and adaptability were most commonly experienced by OTs
COVID-19 Pandemic ; Occupational Therapy ; Telehealth

Humans ; COVID-19 ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Pain

An epidemic outbreak of the corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19) Omicron variant occurred in most regions of China. Children are susceptible to COVID-19 and the vast majority of them suffer from upper respiratory tract infection. Cough is one of the most common symptoms. COVID-19 infection related cough includes acute cough, persistent cough and chronic cough, and children with original chronic cough or chronic lung disease can also induce or aggravate symptom of cough after infection, which has a great impact on children's physical and mental health. The treatment for COVID-19 infection related cough vary with the etiology. Improper treatment would delay the patient's condition and increase adverse drug reaction. Currently, there is no guideline or consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 infection related cough in children in China, therefore this consensus is drafted. Referring to the latest international research and the diagnostic and therapeutic strategy for COVID-19 infection (Tenth Edition For Trial Implementation), and combining with clinical diagnosis and treatment experience,the consensus elaborates the pathogenesis and etiology of COVID-19 infection related cough, the use of cough relievers and expectorants, as well as the key points of diagnosis and treatment of different etiological factors. It is expected to provide specific and feasible guidance scheme for pediatricians, general practitioners and clinical pharmacists.
Child ; Humans ; Cough/therapy* ; COVID-19/therapy* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Consensus ; COVID-19 Testing

Humans ; SARS-CoV-2 ; COVID-19 ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Immunosuppression Therapy ; COVID-19 Testing

The corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2), has created an urgent need of scientific and effective biomarkers for the purpose of prevention and control. Currently, commonly employed viral nucleic acids, antibodies, and rapid antigen test detection technologies all exhibit a range of limitations, including restricted applicability, inadequate sensitivity and specificity. Plasma SARS-CoV-2 quantitative antigen, as an emerging biomarker, has garnered significant attention due to its potential clinical value in the diagnosis and management of COVID-19. This article comprehensively analyzes the principles and clinical applications of quantitative detection technology for plasma SARS-CoV-2 antigen. Additionally, it explores the challenges encountered in this field and provides insights into future prospects.
Humans ; COVID-19/therapy* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Antigens, Viral ; COVID-19 Testing

The corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2), has created an urgent need of scientific and effective biomarkers for the purpose of prevention and control. Currently, commonly employed viral nucleic acids, antibodies, and rapid antigen test detection technologies all exhibit a range of limitations, including restricted applicability, inadequate sensitivity and specificity. Plasma SARS-CoV-2 quantitative antigen, as an emerging biomarker, has garnered significant attention due to its potential clinical value in the diagnosis and management of COVID-19. This article comprehensively analyzes the principles and clinical applications of quantitative detection technology for plasma SARS-CoV-2 antigen. Additionally, it explores the challenges encountered in this field and provides insights into future prospects.
Humans ; COVID-19/therapy* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Antigens, Viral ; COVID-19 Testing

COVID-19/therapy* ; Consensus ; Critical Illness ; Humans ; SARS-CoV-2

COVID-19/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; Pandemics

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic, neurodegenerative condition resulting in various motor impairments, including speech disorders. However, at the height of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, a patient with PD could not access traditional in-person neurorehabilitation care. This case report highlights the feasibility of telerehabilitation to deliver speech therapy over a distance using available resources in a developing country. We describe a Filipino elderly woman, public speaker, and marriage counselor, seeking teleconsultation for her voice problems (slow and soft) attributed to PD. At that time, most center-based outpatient rehabilitation centers in Manila were closed due to the pandemic, and the patient preferred to stay at home for safety reasons. Hence, she was evaluated and managed remotely by an interdisciplinary team (neurologist, physiatrist, speech-language pathologist) through video calls. Since the ideal rehabilitation set up (in-person evaluation and therapy; use of Lee Silverman Voice Therapy) could not be done, the clinicians had to find practical alternatives, such as remotely administering subjective perceptual voice assessments, objective speech analysis using the Praat™ computer application, and speech teletherapy through synchronous (videocalls, phone calls) and asynchronous (e-mails, text messages, pre-recorded exercise videos) techniques. Notable speech improvements were observed by the clinicians, patient, and patient’s frequent communicative partners after at least four teletherapy sessions. However, the carry-over of the improvements was affected by the patient’s lack of compliance with the prescribed home exercise program. Telerehabilitation using synchronous and asynchronous techniques for speech disorders due to PD was found feasible, beneficial, safe, and practical amid social distancing and low resources in a developing country
Speech Therapy ; Telerehabilitation ; Parkinson Disease ; Voice Disorders ; COVID-19