Browsing by Author "Araya del Pino, Andrea Paz"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 virus in ambulatory children under 2 years old
    (2022) Pérez, Carolina A.; Ormazábal, Ivana; Pérez Valenzuela, Javier; Araya del Pino, Andrea Paz; Medina, Rafael; Perret Pérez, Cecilia
    Background: SARS-CoV-2 is an emerging virus that has mainly affected adults; hence, most clinical information has been derived from that population. Most pediatric cases are mild and with nonspecific symptoms requiring outpatient management. Children are a major source of spread for most traditional respiratory viruses. Their role in SARS-CoV-2 transmission was thought to be relevant. Children under the age of two comprise a group that is more susceptible to infection since vaccines have not been approved for them until recently. The knowledge of clinical manifestation of COVID-19 in young children is scarce. Objectives: To describe the clinical, epidemiological, and demographic characteristics of children under 2 years old with confirmed COVID-19, who did not require hospitalization. Methods: This descriptive study was performed from May, 2020 to June, 2021. Children ages 0-2 years with COVID-19, confirmed by transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay that were performed in laboratories of the Red de Salud UC CHRISTUS Health Network, were selected to be contacted. If the parents accepted participating and their children were not hospitalized, a survey was sent to the patients' caregivers. Results: Of the 242 cases, 159 caregivers answered the survey (65.7%). The median age of the subjects was 14 months, and 53.5% were males. Fifty percent had comorbidities, of which one third corresponded to atopy. Ninety eight percent were secondary cases. Most of them were infected within their households (81%). The most frequent sources were their parents, followed by their grandparents. The most common symptom was fever (78%) followed by irritability (67.3%), rhinorrhea (66%), and fatigue (64.8%). Infants less than 6 months old more often presented with conjunctival congestion and less loss of appetite compared to older children (p < 0.05). Conclusions: This study provides valuable insights regarding COVID-19 in ambulatory young children. Most cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children under 2 years old do not require hospitalization. There was a slight male predominance, and the majority had been infected within their households. SARS-CoV-2 infection should be suspected in children under 2 years old presenting with fever, irritability, fatigue, and rhinorrhea. Children with positive household contacts and fever should also be tested for COVID-19.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Fisiopatología de la retinopatía y nefropatía diabéticas
    (2009) Olmos Coelho, Pablo Roberto; Araya del Pino, Andrea Paz; González Carvallo, Cristian; Laso Ulloa, Pablo; Irribarra Pastenes, Verónica; Rubio Quiroz, Lorena Alejandra
    Despite the availability of multiple therapeutic approaches, diabetes mellitus with chronic hyperglycemia remains as the main cause of new cases of blindness and chronic renal failure in the western hemisphere. We herein review the molecular mechanisms by which chronic hyperglycemia causes retinopathy and nephropathy in type I and type 2 diabetic patients. Diabetic retinopathy develops silently along years or decades, producing symptoms only in its very late stages. Its slow development starts with the activation of aldose reductase, shortly followed by the destruction of the retinal pericyte cells, and ends in sudden blindness when vitreous hemorrhage ensues. Nephropathy, on the other hand, centers its pathophysiology in the mesangial cell, that starts as a modified smooth-muscle cell, and turns itself into a myo-fibroblast, produces such amounts of cytoplasm and extracellular protein that strangulates the glomerular capillaries and causes renal failure. After a detailed review of the molecular mechanisms of the aforementioned complications, we conclude that, apart from directing our attention to the emerging medications that are being developed to block these molecular pathways, we should never abandon the struggle for improving the glycemic control of our diabetic patients
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Profile of inflammatory mediators in tonsils of patients with periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome
    (2013) Valenzuela Contreras, Patricia; Araya del Pino, Andrea Paz; Pérez, Carlos; Maul Fonseca, Ximena; Serrano Honeyman, Carolina; Harris D., Paul R.; Talesnik Guendelman, Eduardo; Valenzuela Contreras, Patricia; Araya del Pino, Andrea Paz; Pérez, Carlos; Maul Fonseca, Ximena; Serrano Honeyman, Carolina; Harris D., Paul R.; Talesnik Guendelman, Eduardo