EURACTIV on Instagram: "The shortage of #antibiotics and other drugs has caused governments across the European Union severe headaches as citizens grow increasingly angry as they deal with the consequences of not being able to access essential medications. Painkillers and drugs against fever (anything containing Paracetamol or Ibuprofen), as well as antibiotics, are in short supply in pharmacies, and children’s medicines are particularly scarce. According to the EU generics boss Adrian van den Hoven, the antibiotics market is expected to stabilise in about a month as long as the rate of infections declines. However, the continent is currently plagued by a combination of influenza, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus, leading to a surge in hospitalisations and the demand for medicines. With some three months of winter and flu season left, there are concerns that supply chains may be stretched to breaking point. EURACTIV’s network looked at the current situation in EU capitals as well as examined the reasons why the EU market reached such a deadlock. ✍️ By Sarantis Michalopoulos 👉 Read the full article in the link in bio 📸 [Shutterstock/futuristman]"

EURACTIV shared a post on Instagram: "The shortage of #antibiotics and other drugs has caused governments across the European Union severe headaches as citizens grow increasingly angry as they deal with the consequences of not being able to access essential medications. Painkillers and drugs against fever (anything containing Paracetamol or Ibuprofen), as well as antibiotics, are in short supply in pharmacies, and children’s medicines are particularly scarce. According to the EU generics boss Adrian van den Hoven, the antibiotics market is expected to stabilise in about a month as long as the rate of infections declines. However, the continent is currently plagued by a combination of influenza, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus, leading to a surge in hospitalisations and the demand for medicines. With some three months of winter and flu season left, there are concerns that supply chains may be stretched to breaking point. EURACTIV’s network looked at the current situation in EU capitals as well as examined the reasons why the EU market reached such a deadlock. ✍️ By Sarantis Michalopoulos 👉 Read the full article in the link in bio 📸 [Shutterstock/futuristman]". Follow their account to see 659 posts.

Mid- and Long-Term Atrio-Ventricular Functional Changes in Children after Recovery from COVID-19

Background: Although most children may experience mild to moderate symptoms and do not require hospitalization, there are little data on cardiac involvement in COVID-19. However, cardiac involvement is accurately demonstrated in children with MISC. The objective of this study was to evaluate cardiac mechanics in previously healthy children who recovered from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in a long-term follow-up by means of two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE). Methods: We analyzed a cohort of 157 paediatric patients, mean age 7.7 ± 4.5 years (age range 0.3–18 years), who had a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection and were asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic for COVID-19. Patients underwent a standard transthoracic echocardiogram and STE at an average time of 148 ± 68 days after diagnosis and were divided in three follow-up groups (<180 days, 180–240 days, >240 days). Patients were compared with 107 (41 females—38%) age- and BSA-comparable healthy controls (CTRL). Results: Left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (post-COVID-19: −20.5 ± 2.9%; CTRL: −21.8 ± 1.7%; p < 0.001) was significantly reduced in cases compared with CTRLs. No significant differences were seen among the three follow-up groups (p = NS). Moreover, regional longitudinal strain was significantly reduced in LV apical-wall segments of children with disease onset during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the first wave (second wave: −20.2 ± 2.6%; first wave: −21.2 ± 3.4%; p = 0.048). Finally, peak left atrial systolic strain was within the normal range in the post-COVID-19 group with no significant differences compared to CTRLs. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated for the first time the persistence of LV myocardial deformation abnormalities in previously healthy children with an asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic (WHO stages 0 or 1) COVID-19 course after an average follow-up of 148 ± 68 days. A more significant involvement was found in children affected during the second wave. These findings imply that subclinical LV dysfunction may also be a typical characteristic of COVID-19 infection in children and are concerning given the predictive value of LV longitudinal strain in the general population.

Redirection

The coronavirus is speaking. It’s saying it’s not done with us.

The newest dominant strain of covid shows that it's a mistake to let down our guard.

Private schools got £157m Covid help denied to state schools

Ministers’ own schools were among those that received millions while state schools faced bankruptcy