Tag: acute vs chronic

Comparison of Symptoms in Covid-19 Acute Infection and Long Covid-19

Abstract:

Background: Relatively little is known about the clinical course of covid-19 and the differences between the symptoms of covid-19 in acute phase of infection and the symptoms of long covid-19 in people with milder outpatient illnesses.

Objective: To compare clinical characteristics of covid-19 in acute infection with long covid-19 (presence of prolonged symptoms for at least 12 weeks, lasting at least 2 months, after acute covid-19 infection, and that are not explained by an alternative diagnosis).

Methodology: Comparison of secondary data among tow previous observational, longitudinal and prospective studies: 1) patients with post-acute covid-19 syndrome from March 15, 2020 to March 31, 2021; and 2) patients with Long covid-19 from March 15, 2020 to October 31, 2022, in the same population in general medicine.

Results: 33 covid-19 in acute phase, with 138 symptoms and 27 Long covid-19 cases with 44 symptoms were included. Respiratory symptoms predominated in both groups. Symptoms in Long covid-19 cases were significantly lower in general symptoms (X2= 5.9539. p= .014), and higher in Circulatory and Genitourinary system (Fisher exact test= 0.05).

Conclusion: Both in Long covid-19 and in covid-19 acute phase respiratory symptoms predominate. But they differ in that the symptoms of long covid-19 are less general than those of covid-19 acute phase, and present more symptoms of almost all organs and systems, those of the Circulatory and Genitourinary system being significant. The symptoms of Long covid-19 vs. acute phase are more debilitating and clinically heterogeneous.

Source: Turabian, Jose. (2023). Comparison of Symptoms in Covid-19 Acute Infection and Long Covid-19. 2694-5843. 10.36266/JCMHR/170.  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/369088222_Comparison_of_Symptoms_in_Covid-19_Acute_Infection_and_Long_Covid-19 (Full text)

The relationship of Fennell phases to symptoms among patients with chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

The Fennell Phase Inventory (FPI) is an instrument designed to measure phases of the illnesses known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). The current study explored how the FPI was related to physical and psychological functioning as well as coping style. Based on FPI scores, 111 adults with ME/CFS were placed in one of three groups: crisis, stabilization, or resolution. Results showed that the crisis group demonstrated significantly worse functioning than at least one other group for depression, quality of life, mental functioning, anxiety, and self-efficacy; and utilized less adaptive coping styles. These results indicate that patients with ME/CFS who are in the crisis phase tend to experience more severe psychological and physical symptoms and utilize poorer coping strategies. Those in the resolution phase maintain the most adaptive coping strategies. Implications for these findings are discussed.

 

Source: Reynolds NL, Brown MM, Jason LA. The relationship of Fennell phases to symptoms among patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Eval Health Prof. 2009 Sep;32(3):264-80. doi: 10.1177/0163278709338558. Epub 2009 Aug 20. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19696083

 

Parvovirus B19 infection–persistence and genetic variation

Abstract:

53 patients with acute B19 infection were studied; symptoms at acute infection were rash and arthralgia (n = 26), rash (n = 7), arthralgia (n = 16), aplastic crisis (n = 3), and intrauterine fetal death (n = 1). These patients were followed for 26-85 months (mean 57 months) and re-assessed for persistent symptoms, anti-B19 antibodies, and B19 DNA. At follow-up, 7 individuals were positive for serum B19 DNA, compared with none of the controls (2-tailed p value = 0.016). All 7 of those persistently infected were women, 3 of whom had symptoms; 1 had a chronic haemolytic anaemia (initial presentation was aplastic crisis); 1 had persistent arthralgia in both knees (initial presentation was bilateral knee arthralgia); and 1 had arthralgia in one knee and chronic fatigue syndrome (initial presentation was bilateral arthralgia in knees and shoulders). For the 7 persistently infected patients, serum from the time of diagnosis of acute B19 infection was available for 4, all of which contained B19 DNA. With single-stranded conformational polymorphism (SSCP) assay of these 11 PCR products, identical SSCP types were demonstrated in 5 of 7 follow-up isolates. In 2 of the 4 cases for which both acute and follow-up PCR product was available, the SSCP type of the follow-up product was different from that of the acute product. Two B19 virus types were demonstrated in one patient (with persistent arthralgia and chronic fatigue syndrome) at follow-up assessment.

 

Source: Kerr JR, Curran MD, Moore JE, Murphy PG. Parvovirus B19 infection–persistence and genetic variation. Scand J Infect Dis. 1995;27(6):551-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8685632