Iraqi National journal of Medicine

Background: The idea of convalescent plasma usage is to give passive immunity to the patients, so their immune system has a good chance of combating the virus. This study will review 6 cases of eligible Covid-19 patients that had been treated with convalescent plasma therapy in Basra Covid-19 quarantine.





Objectives: to demonstrate efficacy and safety of convalescent plasma in the patient series that had been enrolled.





Method: this study has pioneered a new method to collect up to 3,000 mL of convalescent plasma in one session by an off-label use of Spectra Optia Apheresis systems/TerumoBCT /Exchange set. In this study 250 mL of the collected convalescent plasma had been given to each of the 6 patients, from one donor. Response in SpO2, dyspnea, and tachypnoea was observed.


Any reaction to plasma also has been monitored .





Result: Our case series have demonstrated both safety and effectiveness of convalescent plasma. This study was successful in reaching our primary and secondary outcomes in all 6 patients (improvement in SpO2 and symptoms). With negligible difference in time of post transfusion response.





Conclusion: convalescent plasma is apperantly safe and effective. In this study 250 mL of convalescent plasma has been given to each of the 6 patients, from one donor, using Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE) protocol by Spectra Optia Apheresis system/TerumoBCT.

Background: There has been a rapid rise in cases of COVID-19 infection and its mortality rate since the first case reported in February 2020. This led to the rampant dissemination of misinformation and rumors about the disease among the public.


Objectives: To investigate the scale of public misinformation about COVID-19 in Basrah, Iraq.


Methods: A cross-sectional study based on a 22-item questionnaire to assess public knowledge and understanding of information related to the COVID-19 infection.


Results: A total of 483 individuals completed the questionnaire. The most frequent age group was 26–35 years (28.2%); there were 280 (58%) males and 203 (42%) females. Of the participants, 282 (58.4%) people had completed only up to high-school level education, 342 (70.8%) were married, and 311 (64%) were living in districts in Basra other than the central district. Overall, 50.8% (11.8/ 22 * 100%) of individuals had the correct information regarding COVID-19. There was a significant association between the level of COVID-19 related misinformation and participants’ educational levels and occupation (p <0.05). However, there was no significant difference found across sex, age group, marital state, and area of residence.


Conclusions: Misinformation related to COVID-19 is widely spread and has to be addressed in order to control the pandemic.

Background: COVID-19 epidemic is escalating in Basrah regardless of the efforts to abate the wave of new cases.
Objectives: To present a profile on the demographic and selected clinical characteristics of COVID-19 cases reported in Basrah from March 9 to May 19, 2020.
Patients and Method: A record-based observational study was conducted in Basrah. Data were compiled from all available sources on the cases reported between March 9 and May 19, 2020. Data included age, sex, residence, occupation, date of onset of detection of infection, severity of clinical condition, and fate in terms of cure, continuing treatment, or death. Excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences programs were used for data-base generation and for statistical analysis.
Results: A total of 696 cases were identified, with ages ranging from < one year to 99 years. Males accounted for 42.5% and females for 57.5%. Most of the cases were from Basrah city and the district of Hartha. Housewives and self-employed people represented a majority of cases (28.4 and 21.6% respectively). Most of the cases were either asymptomatic (51.3%) or with mild condition (30.3%). Critical cases represented a small proportion (3.2%) and case fatality was relatively low (2.6%). The presence of co-morbidity, older age and travel history were significant predictors of both severe cases and higher case fatality.
Conclusions: COVID-19 cases in Basrah was found among young people, predominantly females, and the fatal outcomes are predicted by severity, older age, and presence of co-morbidity

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is a puzzling phenomenon and complete knowledge regarding its various aspects is yet to be available.
Objective: This research aims to present a comparative profile of the epidemiological features of the COVID-19 pandemic in Iraq and several other countries.
Methods: This paper used data on the daily cases of COVID-19 pandemic in Iraq and eight other countries—three from the Eastern Mediterranean region (Bahrain, Iran and Lebanon), four from Europe (Greece, Switzerland, Austria and Norway), along with Brazil. These countries were chosen based on the similarity in the date of onset of the pandemic. Relevant data were obtained from several websites, including Corona World meters, www.sehhty and the Iraqi Ministry of Health for daily reports on new cases.
Results: Substantial variations were found in the time trend of COVID-19 cases (epidemic curves) and three epidemiological outcome measurements (incidence rate, case fatality ratio and cause-specific mortality rate) during the first five months of the pandemic in the nine countries studied in this paper. The four European countries—Greece, Switzerland, Austria and Norway—achieved a leveled curve and still maintain such leveling despite their differences in the three outcome measurements. The rest of the countries could not achieve any sustainable leveling in their epidemic curves and also had varying outcome measurements. Among these countries, Bahrain showed the highest incidence rate (15531.3/million) but the lowest case fatality ratio (0.4%). Brazil had the highest cause-specific mortality rate (274.7/million), and Greece had the highest case fatality ratio (12.2%). The other countries had values that were within these ranges.
Conclusions: The outcome of COVID-19 within the last five months of experience with the pandemic is very difficult to predict. Different countries have exhibited diverse infection-related behaviors and epidemiological parameters. A study of the multiple factors that might be behind such variations would be helpful in facilitating a successful exit from the pandemic.

During ENT practice, we have to
examine the nose and perform several nasal procedures in our
clinic s . Otolaryngologists are at a high risk of exposure to the COVID 19 virus . N asal endoscopy
is a major procedure for the diagno sis of the nasal and paranasal sinus diseases and introduc ing
proper health services for our patients I n addition, the world is living the era of the COVID 19
pandemic for which we have to protect ourselves educate our medical staff and work together
against the spread of this sever ely contagious disease within o ur communit ies The main purpose
of this study is to review the protocol of nasal endoscopy in the ENT clinic and enhance the
safest way to deal with patients during this pandemic. pandemic.