Systematic data are lacking on pediatric long COVID. This study prospectively assessed 90 children with persistent symptoms who presented to a designated multidisciplinary clinic for long COVID. In nearly 60%, symptoms were associated with functional impairment at 1–7 months after the onset of infection. A comprehensive structured evaluation revealed mild abnormal findings in approximately half the patients, mainly in the respiratory aspect.

We examined the rate, clinical impact, and risk factors of cytomegalovirus (CMV) drug resistance in 561 patients who underwent 616 hematopoietic stem cell transplantations (HSCTs) over 5 years. Drug resistance was exclusively identified in haploidentical (haplo)-HSCT recipients receiving preemptive therapy, among whom the rate was 14.5%. Resistance appeared after prolonged treatment (median, 70 days), was associated with higher preceding viral load (P < .001), and was the strongest predictor for disease by multivariate analysis. The high rate of drug resistance as interlinked with severe disease in haplo-HSCT recipients suggests the potential advantage of prophylactic over preemptive treatment in high-risk patients and highlights the need for better-tolerable anti-CMV drugs.

During the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 outbreak in Israel, incidence rates among children were 2× higher than that of the previous 4 influenza seasons; hospitalization rates were 5× higher. Children hospitalized for pandemic (H1N1) 2009 were older and had more underlying chronic diseases than those hospitalized for seasonal influenza.

Background: During the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, wearing facemasks became obligatory worldwide. Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of facemasks on gas exchange. Methods: Healthy adults were assessed at rest and during slow and brisk 5-minute walks, with and without masks. We monitored O₂ saturation, end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO₂), and heart and respiratory rates. Participants graded their subjective difficulty and completed individual sensations questionnaires. Results: Twenty-one participants with a median age of 38 years (range, 29–57 years) were recruited. At rest, all vital signs remained normal, without and with masks. However, during slow and brisk walks, EtCO₂ increased; the rise was significantly higher while wearing masks: slow walk, mean EtCO₂ (mmHg) change +4.5 ± 2.4 versus +2.9 ± 2.3, P = .004; brisk walk EtCO₂ change +8.4 ± 3.0 versus +6.2 ± 4.0, P = .009, with and without masks, respectively. Wearing masks was also associated with higher proportions of participant hypercarbia (EtCO₂ range, 46–49 mmHg) compared with walking without masks, though this was only partially significant. Mean O₂-saturation remained stable (98%) while walking without masks but decreased by 1.2 % ± 2.2 while walking briskly with a mask (P = .01). Mild desaturation (O₂ range, 93% to 96%) was noted during brisk walks among 43% of participants with masks, compared with only 14% without masks (P = .08). Borg9s scale significantly increased while walking with a mask, for both slow and brisk walks (P < .001). Sensations of difficulty breathing and shortness of breath were more common while walking with masks. Conclusion: While important to prevent viral spread, wearing facemasks during brisk 5-minute walks might be associated with mild hypercarbia and desaturation. The clinical significance of these minor gas exchange abnormalities is unclear and should be further investigated.