Natl Med J India
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Background Persistence of symptoms following Covid-19 infection has now been recognized as an upcoming public health crisis. Understanding these persistent symptoms and quantifying them is vital in planning care for these patients. Studies from India estimating the magnitude of these persistent symptoms are scarce. ⋯ Those who required hospitalization for longer duration were found to be more associated with having persistent symptoms (p=0.018). Conclusion A sizable proportion of individuals had persistent symptoms after recovering from Covid-19 infection. Health facilities should be equipped to address these emerging issues.
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Background The Covid-19 pandemic has posed a challenge to organizing a safe clinical assessment for postgraduate degree candidates completing the residency programmes in various specialties. Although minimizing the risk of Covid-19 transmission is a priority, fulfilling the objectives of the assessment is equally important. Methods We conducted this study in the Department of Internal Medicine at our institute. ⋯ Results Clinical assessment examination of 27 candidates for the degree of Doctor of Medicine showed that the median cumulative score gained in narrating and analysing various differential diagnoses was lower compared to the mean cumulative score gained in arriving at a single correct diagnosis (50% [interquartile range-IQR 39%-64%] v. 79% [IQR 64%-100%], p<0.01). Most of the candidates agreed that case scenarios were good alternatives to the conventional physical examination amidst the pandemic. Conclusion CVS-OSCE-based assessment using structured case scenarios is a feasible and effective alternative for clinical skill assessment in high-stake examinations.
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Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2) was expected to induce a monophasic disease with subsequent immunity. However, case reports have since emerged which have found patients with either re-infection or re-activation of the virus. ⋯ Our patient underlines that caution should be exercised while planning for discharge of a patient irrespective of his previous negative test, especially in vulnerable patients and those who had moderate-to-severe disease requiring the use of immunosuppressive therapy. The fact that such patients could experience a re-activation or re-infection, requires monitoring and vigilance in the management of the pandemic at individual and collective levels.
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Background Hand sanitizer (HS) has been increasingly used during the Covid-19 pandemic. We compared the telephonic calls received by the National Poisons Information Centre (NPIC), New Delhi, India, related to its unsafe exposure and inappropriate use during the lockdown and prelockdown periods. Methods We analysed and compared telephonic call records of 3 months of pre-lockdown and 3 months of the lockdown and HS-related calls in different age groups and zones during these periods. ⋯ Conclusions Our study shows that unsafe exposure of HS is common under conditions of stress as seen during the lockdown period of the Covid-19 pandemic. It should be kept out of reach of small children. Further, providing psychological help and counselling to older age groups under conditions of stress are important issues of concern.