The American journal of case reports
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BACKGROUND There was a growing presumption that coinfection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and another viral respiratory illness was nonexistent. Although there has been an increasing number of coinfection cases since the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, there is still a significant lack of information regarding the symptomatology, treatment, prognosis, and reasoning behind coinfection. ⋯ This patient unfortunately died of persistent respiratory failure after several days in the ICU. CONCLUSIONS Coinfection of SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A can occur and lead to a poor prognosis.
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Review Case Reports
Parapharyngeal Neuroglial Heterotopia: A Case Report and Literature Review.
BACKGROUND Pediatric neck masses have a wide differential diagnosis. Neuroglial heterotopia is a rare condition that was first described by Reid in 1852. The majority of neuroglial heterotopias are found in the nasal cavity (mistakenly termed as nasal glioma), but they can also occur in extra-nasal areas such as the scalp, orbit, palate, neck, and other areas. ⋯ CONCLUSIONS Neuroglial heterotopias is one of the differential diagnoses for masses causing airway obstruction in pediatric age groups. Preoperative diagnoses of parapharyngeal neuroglial heterotopias can be challenging, as they have no confirmed specific clinical or radiological features. This paper contributes to parapharyngeal neuroglial heterotopia research, which will ultimately enable clinicians to ascertain these tumors' characteristic features more promptly for earlier diagnoses.
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BACKGROUND This case report is of a patient who presented with loss of taste and facial weakness and was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) and Bell's palsy, associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. GBS is a neurological emergency defined as acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. The patient responded to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment. ⋯ CONCLUSIONS Our case is rare because the patient did not present with lower extremity weakness, but only with bilateral Bell's palsy. Physicians should be aware of GBS because it is a neurological emergency for which COVID-19 can be a risk factor. Early diagnosis and treatment of GBS can prevent neurological disability.
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BACKGROUND Coagulation abnormalities are frequently encountered in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), especially in those with more severe disease. These hematologic abnormalities are suspected to occur in the context of underlying immune dysregulation and endothelial dysfunction. Elevated D-dimer levels, COVID-19-associated coagulopathy (CAC), disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), and positive lupus anticoagulants are the most common findings to date. ⋯ CONCLUSIONS This report highlights the importance of a comprehensive evaluation of prolonged partial thromboplastin time, rather than making an assumption based on a positive lupus anticoagulant result. In the case presented, the concomitant factor VIII inhibitor caused the patient to have a greater bleeding tendency. It is imperative that physicians balance the risk of bleeding and clotting in patients with COVID-19 because patients seem to have varying presentations based on disease severity and level of immune dysregulation.
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BACKGROUND COVID-19 is the disease caused by the novel virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The spectrum of disease seen in patients with COVID-19 infection ranges from asymptomatic or mild symptoms to severe pneumonia and even acute respiratory distress syndrome, which often requires invasive ventilation and intensive care. COVID-19-associated infection can be catastrophic, leading to both arterial and venous occlusion, microinfarcts, and multiorgan failure, although retinal vein occlusion has not yet been reported. ⋯ CONCLUSIONS COVID-19 infection can cause RVO. Early full-dose anticoagulation should be considered in high-risk patients with severe COVID-19 infection. Ophthalmologists and other clinicians should have a high index of suspicion for RVO in patients with COVID-19 infection who presenting with blurred vision and severe pneumonia.