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Cureus Mar 2023Background Post-COVID-19 syndrome, also known as long COVID, is a disorder that has many characteristics, one of which is chronic fatigue following acute infection with...
Background Post-COVID-19 syndrome, also known as long COVID, is a disorder that has many characteristics, one of which is chronic fatigue following acute infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Methodology We distributed a web-based survey among patients diagnosed with COVID-19 across the world and collected 190 responses regarding their demographics, histories, COVID-19 infection courses, and common symptoms. Results We found that about 85.3% of the patients experienced some form of symptom following recovery from the infection. Among the reported symptoms, 59% of patients experienced fatigue or lethargy, 48.9% reported decreased stamina, 32.6% reported shortness of breath, 16.8% had a persistent cough, and 23.7% experienced anxiety following recovery from COVID-19. Conclusions Reported symptoms closely resembled myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS); however, a deeper biochemical understanding of ME/CFS is required to confirm causation.
PubMed: 37128534
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.36886 -
Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine 2016Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte abnormality and is often neglected, especially in elderly and seemingly terminal patients. Hyponatremia can be asymptomatic... (Review)
Review
Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte abnormality and is often neglected, especially in elderly and seemingly terminal patients. Hyponatremia can be asymptomatic or can cause symptoms ranging from nausea and lethargy to convulsions and coma. This condition has become increasingly common over time with a similar time course to the increase in adoption of low salt diets. The popularization of low salt may not be justified in people with normal kidney function in whom the compatible statistically based evidence that salt causes hypertension has been challenged by experimental evidence to the contrary.
PubMed: 27774451
DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2016.00035 -
BMJ Case Reports Mar 2015A 61-year-old man presented with a 1-month history of breathlessness, chest pain and lethargy. He had been taking adalimumab for ankylosing spondylitis for 2 years....
A 61-year-old man presented with a 1-month history of breathlessness, chest pain and lethargy. He had been taking adalimumab for ankylosing spondylitis for 2 years. Pleural and pericardial effusions were both found. A video-assisted thorascopic (VATS) pleural and lung biopsy were performed. The pleural pathology showed eosinophils, acute inflammatory cells and lymphoid aggregates. The patient was positive for antinuclear, antidouble-stranded and antihistone antibodies consistent with drug-induced lupus due to adalimumab. His serositis resolved on withdrawal of the drug. Drug-induced lupus can occur as a consequence of anti-TNF-α agents from induction of autoimmunity in a predisposed host.
Topics: Adalimumab; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Cardiomegaly; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pericardial Effusion; Pleural Effusion; Serositis; Spondylitis, Ankylosing; Withholding Treatment
PubMed: 25739794
DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2014-207323 -
Proceedings. Biological Sciences Aug 2014Disease is a ubiquitous and powerful evolutionary force. Hosts have evolved behavioural and physiological responses to disease that are associated with increased... (Review)
Review
Disease is a ubiquitous and powerful evolutionary force. Hosts have evolved behavioural and physiological responses to disease that are associated with increased survival. Behavioural modifications, known as 'sickness behaviours', frequently involve symptoms such as lethargy, somnolence and anorexia. Current research has demonstrated that the social environment is a potent modulator of these behaviours: when conflicting social opportunities arise, animals can decrease or entirely forgo experiencing sickness symptoms. Here, I review how different social contexts, such as the presence of mates, caring for offspring, competing for territories or maintaining social status, affect the expression of sickness behaviours. Exploiting the circumstances that promote this behavioural plasticity will provide new insights into the evolutionary ecology of social behaviours. A deeper understanding of when and how this modulation takes place may lead to better tools to treat symptoms of infection and be relevant for the development of more efficient disease control programmes.
Topics: Biological Evolution; Female; Humans; Illness Behavior; Male; Social Behavior; Social Environment
PubMed: 24943375
DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2014.0218 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) May 2019Acute food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) is a non-IgE-mediated allergy and is characterized by repetitive profuse vomiting episodes, often in... (Review)
Review
Acute food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) is a non-IgE-mediated allergy and is characterized by repetitive profuse vomiting episodes, often in association with pallor, lethargy, and diarrhea, presenting within 1-4 h from the ingestion of a triggering food. In 2017, the international consensus guidelines for the diagnosis and management of FPIES were published. They cover all aspects of this syndrome, which in recent decades has attracted the attention of pediatric allergists. In particular, the consensus proposed innovative diagnostic criteria. However, the diagnosis of acute FPIES is still currently discussed because the interest in this disease is relatively recent and, above all, there are no validated panels of diagnostic criteria. We propose some ideas for reflection on the diagnostic and suspicion criteria of acute FPIES with exemplary stories of children certainly or probably suffering from acute FPIES. For example, we believe that new definitions should be produced for mild forms of FPIES, multiple forms, and those with IgE-mediated symptoms. Moreover, we propose two clinical criteria to suspect acute FPIES and to refer the child to the diagnostic oral food challenge.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Child; Child, Preschool; Dietary Proteins; Enterocolitis; Female; Food Hypersensitivity; Humans; Infant; Lethargy; Male; Milk
PubMed: 31141916
DOI: 10.3390/medicina55060216 -
Epigenomics Mar 2018As the 'third brain' the placenta links the developing fetal brain and the maternal brain enabling study of epigenetic process in placental genes that affect infant... (Review)
Review
As the 'third brain' the placenta links the developing fetal brain and the maternal brain enabling study of epigenetic process in placental genes that affect infant neurodevelopment. We described the characteristics and findings of the 17 studies on epigenetic processes in placental genes and human infant neurobehavior. Studies showed consistent findings in the same cohort of term healthy infants across epigenetic processes (DNA methylation, genome wide, gene and miRNA expression) genomic region (single and multiple genes, imprinted genes and miRNAs) using candidate gene and genome wide approaches and across biobehavioral systems (neurobehavior, cry acoustics and neuroendocrine). Despite limitations, studies support future work on molecular processes in placental genes related to neurodevelopmental trajectories including implications for intervention.
Topics: Arousal; Attention; Brain; CpG Islands; DNA Methylation; Epigenesis, Genetic; Female; Fetal Development; Fetus; Genome, Human; Humans; Infant; Infant Behavior; Lethargy; MicroRNAs; Motor Activity; Neurogenesis; Neurosecretory Systems; Placenta; Pregnancy
PubMed: 29381081
DOI: 10.2217/epi-2016-0171 -
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental... 2021Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a severe complication of advanced liver disease and acute liver failure. The clinical spectrum ranges from minor cognitive dysfunctions to... (Review)
Review
Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a severe complication of advanced liver disease and acute liver failure. The clinical spectrum ranges from minor cognitive dysfunctions to lethargy, depressed consciousness, and coma and significantly impact the quality of life, morbidity, and mortality of the patients. It is commonly accepted that the gut milieu is essential for the development of HE; however, despite intensive research efforts, the pathogenesis of HE is still not fully elucidated. As our knowledge of gut microbiota moves from the pioneering era of culture-dependent studies, the connection between microbes, inflammation, and metabolic pathways in the pathogenesis of HE is becoming increasingly clear, providing exciting therapeutic perspectives. This review will critically examine the latest research findings on the role of gut microbes in the pathophysiological pathways underlying HE. Moreover, currently available therapeutic options and novel treatment strategies are discussed.
PubMed: 34900994
DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.748253 -
Clinical Pediatric Emergency Medicine Dec 2019A 3-year-old boy presented to the emergency department with a chief complaint of "lethargy" and was found to have ptosis with eventual respiratory failure and need for...
A 3-year-old boy presented to the emergency department with a chief complaint of "lethargy" and was found to have ptosis with eventual respiratory failure and need for emergent intubation. There is a broad differential for a patient with respiratory failure, and careful physical examination and history are imperative to reduce morbidity and prevent mortality. After further evaluation and workup, the diagnosis is ultimately revealed.
PubMed: 32288647
DOI: 10.1016/j.cpem.2019.100742 -
Journal of Clinical Microbiology Nov 2016
Topics: ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1; Blood; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Lethargy; Lymphadenopathy; Male; Membrane Glycoproteins; Microscopy; Middle Aged; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Skin; Trypanosoma brucei gambiense; Trypanosomiasis, African
PubMed: 27935833
DOI: 10.1128/JCM.03295-14