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Pappalardo M, Fanelli U, Chiné V, Neglia C, Gramegna A, Argentiero A, Esposito S. Telemedicine in Pediatric Infectious Diseases. CHILDREN-BASEL 2021; 8:children8040260. [PMID: 33800549 PMCID: PMC8066295 DOI: 10.3390/children8040260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Telemedicine is the remote practice of medicine through the use of information and communication technologies for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management of diseases. In this narrative review, we illustrate how telemedicine technologies are increasingly integrated into pediatric infectious disease programs with the aim of facilitating access to specialist care and reducing costs. There is widespread use of telemedicine for the management of acute and chronic infectious diseases, particularly in countries in which the majority of the population lives in rural areas, far from third-level hospital centers located in large urban centers. Obviously, telemedicine is also used in developed countries, and its importance has been further increased recently given the COVID-19 pandemic. It has many advantages for patients, such as saving time, money and working hours, and reducing cancelled appointments and delays, while there are also many advantages for doctors, allowing collaborations with specialists and continuous updating. Among the disadvantages are the limitation in carrying out an objective examination, which is particularly important for children under 2 years of age, and the need for cutting-edge technology and reliable connectivity. Telemedicine increasingly represents the future and the beginning of a new healthcare system that also will redefine medical care for the treatment of infectious diseases, both acute and chronic. However, the majority of the experience has involved adults, and its validation in pediatric care, as well as its application in real-life practices, are urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Pappalardo
- Pediatric Clinic, Pietro Barilla Children’s Hospital, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy; (M.P.); (U.F.); (V.C.); (C.N.); (A.A.)
| | - Umberto Fanelli
- Pediatric Clinic, Pietro Barilla Children’s Hospital, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy; (M.P.); (U.F.); (V.C.); (C.N.); (A.A.)
| | - Vincenzo Chiné
- Pediatric Clinic, Pietro Barilla Children’s Hospital, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy; (M.P.); (U.F.); (V.C.); (C.N.); (A.A.)
| | - Cosimo Neglia
- Pediatric Clinic, Pietro Barilla Children’s Hospital, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy; (M.P.); (U.F.); (V.C.); (C.N.); (A.A.)
| | - Andrea Gramegna
- Respiratory Unit and Cystic Fibrosis Adult Center, Internal Medicine Department, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy;
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Alberto Argentiero
- Pediatric Clinic, Pietro Barilla Children’s Hospital, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy; (M.P.); (U.F.); (V.C.); (C.N.); (A.A.)
| | - Susanna Esposito
- Pediatric Clinic, Pietro Barilla Children’s Hospital, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy; (M.P.); (U.F.); (V.C.); (C.N.); (A.A.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0521-704790
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Naveen R, Sundaram TG, Agarwal V, Gupta L. Teleconsultation experience with the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: a prospective observational cohort study during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rheumatol Int 2020; 41:67-76. [PMID: 33150493 PMCID: PMC7640991 DOI: 10.1007/s00296-020-04737-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Teleconsultation has assumed a central role in the management of chronic and disabling rheumatic diseases, such as the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM), during COVID-19. However, the feasibility, challenges encountered, and outcomes remain largely unexplored. Here, we describe our teleconsultation experience in a prospectively followed cohort of adult and juvenile IIM. 250 IIM enrolled into the MyoCite cohort (2017-ongoing) were offered the option of audio/visual teleconsultation using WhatsApp during the nationwide lockdown. Clinical outcomes (major/minor relapse) and prescription changes were compared between IIM subsets. Socio-demographic and clinico-serological characteristics of those who sought teleconsultation were compared with those who did not. 151 teleconsultations were sought over a 93 day period by 71 (52.2%) of 136 IIM (median age 38 years, F:M 4.5:1). Nearly one-third (38%) consulted on an emergency basis, with voice consultations being the primary medium of communication. Over a quarter (26.8%) reported relapse (15.5% minor, 11.3% major), these being more common in JDM [71.4%, OR 8.9 (1.5-51)] as compared with adult IIM, but similar across various antibody-based IIM subtypes. Patients who relapsed required more consultations [2(2-3) vs 1(1-2), p 0.009]. The demographic and socioeconomic profile of the patients seeking consultation (n = 71) was not different from those who did not (n = 65). Voice-based teleconsultations may be useful to diagnose and manage relapses in IIM during the pandemic. Patient education for meticulous and timely reporting may be improve care, and larger multicentre studies may identify subsets of IIM that require greater care and early tele-triage for effective management of the condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Naveen
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
| | - T G Sundaram
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
| | - Vikas Agarwal
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
| | - Latika Gupta
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India.
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