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The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to spread worldwide with over 260 million people infected and more than 5 million deaths, numbers that are escalating on a daily basis. Frontline health workers and scientists diligently fight to alleviate life-threatening symptoms and control the spread of the disease. There is an urgent need for better triage of patients, especially in third world countries, in order to decrease the pressure induced on healthcare facilities. In the struggle to treat life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia, scientists have debated the clinical use of ionizing radiation (IR). The historical literature dating back to the 1940s contains many reports of successful treatment of pneumonia with IR. In this work, we critically review the literature for the use of IR for both diagnostic and treatment purposes. We identify details including the computed tomography (CT) scanning considerations, the radiobiological basis of IR anti-inflammatory effects, the supportive evidence for low dose radiation therapy (LDRT), and the risks of radiation-induced cancer and cardiac disease associated with LDRT. In this paper, we address concerns regarding the effective management of COVID-19 patients and potential avenues that could provide empirical evidence for the fight against the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by recurrent complete or partial obstruction of the upper airway. The prevalence is 1–4% in children aged between 2 and 8 years and rising due to the increase in obesity rates in children. Although persistent OSA following adenotonsillectomy is usually associated with obesity and underlying complex disorders, it can also affect otherwise healthy children. Medical treatment strategies are frequently required when adenotonsillectomy is not indicated in children with OSA or if OSA is persistent following adenotonsillectomy. Positive airway pressure treatment is a very effective modality for persistent OSA in childhood; however, adherence rates are low. The aim of this review article is to summarize medical treatment options for OSA in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]