Chikungunya (CHIK) is a re-emerging viral infection endemic in tropical and subtropical areas. While the typical clinical presentation is an acute febrile syndrome, long-term articular complications and even death can occur. This review characterizes the global epidemiological and economic burden of chikungunya. The search included studies published from 2007 to 2022 in MEDLINE, Embase, LILACS, and SciELO for a thorough evaluation of the literature. Rayyan software was used for data analysis, and data were summarized descriptively and reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Seventy-six publications were included. Chikungunya is widely distributed in the tropics, including Africa, Asia, South America, and Oceania/the Pacific Islands, and co-circulates with other simultaneous arboviruses such as DENV, ZIKV, and YFV. Chikungunya infection can lead to chronic articular manifestations with a significant impact on the quality of life in the long term. In addition, it generates absenteeism and economic and social losses and can cause fatal infections in vulnerable populations, mainly in high-risk patients with co-morbidities and at the extremes of age. Reported costs associated with CHIKV diseases are substantial and vary by region, age group, and public/private delivery of healthcare services. The chikungunya disease burden includes chronicity, severe infections, increased hospitalization risks, and associated mortality. The disease can impact the economy in several spheres, significantly affecting the health system and national economies. Understanding and measuring the full impact of this re-emerging disease is essential.
31 January 2020 in Revista Brasileira de Medicina de Família e Comunidade
A doença do novo Coronavírus (Covid-19) é causada pelo SARS-CoV-2 e representa o agente causador de uma doença potencialmente fatal que tem se revelado um problema de saúde pública global. A pandemia causada pelo Covid-19 tem causado prejuízos severos nos sistemas de saúde em diversos países. Diante do grande número de pessoas infectadas e da ausência de tratamento específico, várias nações têm enfrentado superlotação em seus hospitais. Com a confirmação de casos desta doença no Brasil, várias ações têm sido tomadas por gestores públicos e privados, tanto a nível hospitalar quanto em nível de atenção primária, a fim de minimizar os impactos para o Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). O presente artigo apresenta uma breve análise do papel da atenção primária na luta contra o Covid-19 em âmbito nacional, além do impacto em saúde pública e das futuras perspectivas. Com base no grande número de pessoas infectadas no mundo e a experiência de diversos sistemas de saúde, torna-se imperativo a adaptação e adequação do SUS na condução de mecanismos de resposta para pandemia, sendo a atenção primária peça fundamental neste processo
Background: The State of Ceará, in Northeastern Brazil, suffers from a triple burden of arboviruses (dengue, Zika and chikungunya). We measured the seroprevalence of chikungunya, dengue and Zika and its associated factors in the population of Juazeiro do Norte, Southern Ceará State, Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study of analytical and spatial analysis was performed to estimate the seroprevalence of dengue, Zika and chikungunya, in the year 2018. Participants were tested for IgM and IgG against these three viruses. Those with IgM and/or IgG positive tests results were considered positive. Poisson regression was used to analyze the factors associated with positive cases, in the same way that the spatial analysis of positive cases was performed to verify whether the cases were grouped. Results: Of the 404 participants, 25.0% (103/404) were positive for CHIKV, 92.0% (373/404) for flavivirus (dengue or Zika) and of these, 37.9% (153/404) samples were classified as probable dengue infection. Of those who reported having had an arbovirus in the past, positive CHIKV cases had 58.7% arthralgia (PR = 4.31; 95% CI: 2.06–9.03; p = 0.000) mainly in the hands, ankles and feet. Age over 60 years had a positive association with cases of flavivirus (PR = 1.29; 95% CI: 1.09–1.54; p = 0.000). Fever, muscle pain, joint pain and skin rash were the most reported symptoms (46.1, 41.0, 38.3 and 28.41%, respectively). The positive cases of chikungunya and dengue or Zika were grouped in space and the city center was most affected area. Conclusions: Four years after the introduction of CHIKV, where DENV has been in circulation for over 30 years, 1/4 of the population has already been exposed, showing the extent of the epidemic. The measured prevalence was much higher than that reported by local epidemiological surveillance.
7 October 2020 in The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Coinfection of SARS-CoV-2/Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) in patients with HIV/AIDS has not been previously reported. Here, we present two cases of coinfection of SARS-CoV-2 and MTB in patients with HIV. The first case is a 39-year-old patient who was admitted with a 7-day history of fever, myalgia, headache, and cough. The second patient is a 43-year-old man who had a 1-month history of cough with hemoptoic sputum, evolving to mild respiratory distress in the last 7 days. Both patients already had pulmonary tuberculosis and subsequently developed SARS-CoV-2 infection during the 2020 pandemic. Nonadherence to antiretroviral treatment may have been a factor in the clinical worsening of the patients.
1 January 2019 in Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
Epidemics and outbreaks caused by the dengue virus pose risks to populations and have high mortality rates, causing burdens and economic costs worldwide. Brazil recently experienced an explosive increase in the number of dengue cases and fatalities. Dengue is an acute febrile illness that can progress to severe forms. It affects more than 100 countries, presenting ongoing challenges in Brazil and globally since its identification. Other conditions may be overlooked or mistaken for dengue. The most important differential diagnoses are other infectious diseases and rheumatological, hematological, gastroenterological, and neurological disorders. In this article, we discuss the primary differential diagnoses of dengue and offer a literature review highlighting the key clinical differences among clinicians. This review emphasizes the critical importance of differentiating dengue fever from infectious diseases such as meningococcemia and malaria and autoimmune and rheumatological conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus to ensure timely and appropriate management.