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Prevention and Control Strategies for the COVID-19 Pandemic
Published in Debmalya Barh, Kenneth Lundstrom, COVID-19, 2022
Isfendiyar Darbaz, Gizem Morris, Şükrü Tüzmen
Various mechanisms can increase the risk of respiratory tract infections in smokers. Smoking impairs immune function and has been shown to nearly double the risk of tuberculosis infection, increase the risk 3–5-fold of several types of pneumonia infection, and enhance the risk by approximately 5-fold for influenza virus infection [24, 25]. In terms of COVID-19–related dangers, electronic cigarettes and other alternative devices are unlikely to be a safer choice. They can cause the contagious lung damage seen with conventional cigarettes because they also use tobacco and emit smoke or vapor [1, 26].
Respiratory Infections
Published in Miriam Orcutt, Clare Shortall, Sarah Walpole, Aula Abbara, Sylvia Garry, Rita Issa, Alimuddin Zumla, Ibrahim Abubakar, Handbook of Refugee Health, 2021
Risk factors include old age, comorbidities, viral respiratory tract infection, impaired airway, smoking (e.g. tobacco, cannabis, shishah water pipe), alcohol, pollution, living conditions (overcrowding/poor ventilation), bronchiectasis, diabetes, HIV infection and immunocompromise.
Anatomy overview
Published in Stephanie Martin, Working with Voice Disorders, 2020
The respiratory tract has two parallel entrances, the nose and the mouth, through which air enters. These entrances merge into a common tract, known as the pharynx. The pharynx is a cone-shaped tube approximately 13–14 cm long, composed of muscular and membranous layers, wider at the top where it is continuous with the nasal cavity and opening laterally into the mouth. At its lower and narrower end it leads into the laryngeal inlet anteriorly and the oesophagus posteriorly. The area within the pharynx immediately behind the nose (the nasopharynx) and the area behind the mouth (the oropharynx) are separated by a muscular valve, the soft palate, which, when raised, closes off one section from the other, thus effectively preventing food or liquid escaping from the nose when swallowing. Along with the most inferior part of the pharynx, which contracts at rest and prevents any reflux of the stomach contents into the pharynx or air entering the oesophagus, the soft palate forms part of the involuntary protective mechanism in the respiratory tract. By far the most vigorous protective mechanisms, which are involuntary and reflexive, exist within the larynx. Some mechanisms attempt to ‘repel’ by closing off the airway and some attempt to ‘expel’ by forcing substances out of the respiratory tract.
Antiviral and antibacterial potential of electrosprayed PVA/PLGA nanoparticles loaded with chlorogenic acid for the management of coronavirus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection
Published in Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, 2023
Asmaa Saleh, Dalia H. Abdelkader, Thanaa A. El-Masry, Duaa Eliwa, Badriyah Alotaibi, Walaa A. Negm, Engy Elekhnawy
Respiratory tract infections present a global challenge due to the increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria and the very limited number of antiviral agents available, which necessitates the search for novel treatment strategies. Natural substances have recently served as a crucial starting point for developing medicinal ingredients for treating different disorders [7]. For instance, numerous plants have demonstrated potent in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial activity, which has prompted a more focussed investigation into the antimicrobial properties of numerous plants derived materials [8]. A number of active compounds found in plants can effectively inhibit the growth of certain microbes [9]. One of these promising compounds, chlorogenic acid (CGA) exhibited high biological activity, particularly anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antimicrobial properties [10].
Psychosocial Effects of COVID-19 pandemic on Yemeni healthcare workers: A Web-based, Cross-sectional Survey
Published in Libyan Journal of Medicine, 2023
Gamil Ghaleb Alrubaiee, Mohammed Alsabri, Farouk Abdulrahman Al-Qadasi, Talal Ali Hussein Al-Qalah, Jennifer Cole, Yaser Abdullah Ghaleb Alburiahy
SARSCoV2 is the name given by the International Committee on Virus Taxonomy (ICTV) to the novel coronavirus first detected in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, in December 2019 [1]. SARSCov2 is the causative agent of COVID-19. On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic [2]. The consequences of infection range from asymptomatic carriage, through mild upper respiratory tract symptoms to respiratory failure, multi-organ failure and death [3], particularly in elderly patients and those with certain underlying health conditions, such as chronic lung or kidney disease. By 23 July 2021, the virus had infected more than 192 million people worldwide and the number of deaths had totaled more than 4 million [4]. Close to 10% of all COVID-19 cases worldwide, according to the WHO, were linked to HCWs [5]; COVID-19 may have killed 80,000 to 180,000 healthcare workers [6] by that time.
Neurological manifestations of COVID-19: a systematic review and detailed comprehension
Published in International Journal of Neuroscience, 2023
Zeina Hassan Ousseiran, Youssef Fares, Wafaa Takash Chamoun
COVID-19 transmission can occur by either direct mode from covid-19 positive human to human transmission through respiratory droplets or indirect mode from contaminated surfaces and objects and airborne contagions to humans [5]. Disease presentation ranges from asymptomatic (in rare cases) to severe pneumonia and death [6]. The symptoms of this pandemic disease range from mild to moderate in most cases, and sometimes severe with high death risk especially in elderly people and those suffering from chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and others. The most common symptoms identified include lower respiratory tract infection, pneumonia, dry cough, fever, shortness of breath and myalgia; other symptoms may occur but less frequently reported including confusion, sore throat, hemoptysis, runny nose, chills, chest pain, rhinorrhea, and diarrhea with nausea and vomiting [4].