Læknablađiđ
-
Introduction Infections due to COVID-19 can lead to life threatening pneumonia. Accompanying severe disease are more prominent pulmonary changes on Computed Tomography (CT) scan of the chest. The goal of this study was to describe pulmonary CT changes during acute COVID-19 and at follow up and whether the extent of changes correlate with severity of illness, demographics or other risk factors. ⋯ Full recovery was seen at follow-up CT in 31% of patients (median 68,5 days between acute and follow-up imaging). Conclusion Patients with severe COVID-19 have more pronounced lung involvement on CT than patients with milder disease during the acute phase and follow-up. Older patients and males are at greater risk of acute and persistent COVID-19 related lung changes.
-
Background Diagnosing anaphylaxis is often straightforward but can be challenging if the presentation is atypical. In patients with atypical symptoms suspected to be due to an acute allergic reaction, s-tryptase can give additional diagnostic information. Measuring s-tryptase is also helpful in diagnosing mastocytosis. ⋯ Conclusions Obtaining a s-tryptase level from ED patients with possible anaphylaxis seems to be useful in atypical cases. The measurement is specific but not sensitive. No cases of mastocytosis were identified in the patient cohort.
-
In recent decades there has been a notable increase in the prescription of opioids in western countries. With this rise in use of opioids the risk of side effects, opioid abuse and deaths linked to opioids have become more apparent. The increase in opioid prescription may partly stem from a change in attitude in relation to pain management. Research has shown that pain is among the most common reasons people seek medical care and chronic pain is prevalent. Iceland is leading the Nordic countries in opioid prescriptions. ⋯ the evolution of prescriptions for every type of opioid to the clients of the health clinics in the capital area that occured in the years from 2008 to 2017, proportionately highest for the strongest opioids, should encourage a review of pain treatment within the health clinics and development within that field.