Students' class attendance and engagement plays an important role in contemporary higher education. The present study aimed to investigate the compliance of Respiratory Care students to attendance regulations and the relationship between mandatory class attendance and final exam performance in four Respiratory Care courses. Attendance was measured by the overall lecture attendance percent, throughout the course. Students' performance was assessed by the final exam mark obtained. No statistically significant differences in student attendance between the different courses were found; although attendance was lower in cardiopulmonary anatomy and physiology course compared with the other 3 courses. Statistically significant differences in performance were present between the four courses. Positive correlation was found between attendance and final exam performance in all courses together, but the relationship between the variables was not statistically significant. Correlation between attendance and final exam results for each separate course was also examined and found to be positive, but also lacked statistical significance. Students' compliance with the student regulations and the overall attendance is excellent. Class attendance got a positive impact on students' academic performance. This suggests that lecture attendance is critical for learning, but a larger study is required to adjust for other factors like, English language proficiency student CGPA (cumulative average grade point) and gender and to minimize the effect of the small sample size used in this pilot study.

The new coronavirus disease which emerged in Wuhan late in 2019 is caused by SARS CoV2, it was named COVID-19 and declared a pandemic by the world health organization (WHO). Human coronavirus normally causes mild disease. The new COVID-19 emerged from bats to human and it’s associated with highly infectious disease. The disease clinical features range from an asymptomatic state to mild fever, cough, severe respiratory disease, and multiple organ failures. The disease is confirmed by detecting the virus genome using polymerase chain reaction and antibody detection is used for screening. Radiologic imaging is nonspecific but can help in staging lung involvement. Treatment of patients with COVID-19 is generally supportive, however oxygen and ventilatory support might be needed in some of the cases. Dexamethasone proved to decrease mortality in critically ill patients, but up to date no specific treatment or vaccine is available and many drugs are under clinical trials including ritonavir and remdesivir. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) which is an old antimalarial drug, has given hope, but now it’s a victim for information uncertainty and contravention of clinical reports. The objective of this article is to review the current reports on hydroxychloroquine efficacy and safety in the treatment of COVID 19 patients.

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Background: Chronic cough has been reported to be the fifth most common complaint seen by primary care physicians. Diseases causing chronic cough include asthma, eosinophilic bronchitis, GERD (Gastro esophageal Reflux Disease), PNDS (Post Nasal Drip Syndrome) or rhinosinusitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary fibrosis, lung tumors, tuberculosis and bronchiectasis. In some patients, no cause is identified, leading to the diagnosis of idiopathic cough or UCC (Unexplained Chronic Cough). Chronic cough is associated with deterioration in patients' quality of life and the health-related dysfunction is most likely psychosocial. Methods:This study was carried out to assess incidence of specialist chest physician visits attributable to chronic cough and to characterize patients and their underlying causes for chronic cough. One hundred and fifty subjects, who presented with chronic cough as their main complaint to our clinic setting in Khartoum North, were assessed clinically and investigated (Guided by the ACCP Approach). The specific causes were confirmed by appropriate investigations, as well as response to specific therapy. If rhinosinusitis was suspected, patients were then referred to otolaryngologist for an ENT workup. Results:The frequency of chronic cough among patients was 13%, it was more frequent in females than in males, and there was increased chronic cough incidence with advancing age. Out of the 150 patients; 53 patients (35%) had chronic rhino-sinusitis; 43 patients (29%) had asthma and 30 patients (20%) had GERD. Other causes like tuberculosis and smoking constituted the remaining 16% of the patients. Conclusion:Chronic cough remains a common benign disorder with rhinosinusitis as its principal cause, followed by asthma and gastro esophageal reflux disease. The cause of chronic cough could be frequently outside the lower respiratory tract. Cough duration and the age of patient are important in the diagnostic workup.

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