Background Overcrowded housing, as well as inadequate sanitary conditions, contribute to making homeless people particularly vulnerable to the SARS-CoV-2 infection. We aimed to assess the seroprevalence of the SARS-CoV-2 infection among people experiencing homelessness on a large city-wide scale in Marseille, France, taking into account different types of accommodation. Methods A consortium of outreach teams in 48 different locations including streets, slums, squats, emergency or transitional shelters and drop-in centres participated in the inclusion process. All participants consented to have a validated rapid antibody assay for immunoglobulins M (IgM) and G (IgG) and to answer a questionnaire on medical health conditions, comorbidities, and previous COVID-19 symptoms. Information on their housing conditions since the COVID-19 crisis was also collected from the participants. Results From June 01 to August 05, 2020, 1,156 homeless participants were enrolled in the study and tested. The overall seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG/IgM antibodies was 5.6% (95%CI 2.3–7.0), ranging from 2.2% in people living on the streets to 8.1% in people living in emergency shelters (P = 0.009). Around one third of the seropositive participants reported COVID-19 symptoms. Compared to the general population in Marseille (3.6%), the homeless population living in the same urban area experienced a significantly increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection (|z| = 3.65 > 1.96). Conclusion These findings highlight the need for regular screening among the homeless to prevent clustering in overcrowded or inadequate accommodations. It is also necessary to provide essential resources to keep homeless people healthy, the vast majority of whom have cumulative risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Objectives: Polyuria-polydipsia syndrome (PPS) is a common presentation in children but the differential diagnosis rests on burdensome water deprivation tests. The aims of this study were to determine a copeptin threshold to distinguish patients with central diabetes insipidus from those with primary polydipsia and to estimate the normal range of copeptin concentrations in children. Design: Single-centre retrospective descriptive study. Patients: Two hundred and seventy-eight children aged 2 months to 18 years who consulted for PPS (N = 40) or other reasons (control group, N = 238

Background: The healthcare pathway of persons with complex developmental disabilities differs by country, depending both on the specificities of the associated healthcare system and the related societal views. In 2017, the French National Organization of Solidarity for Autonomy entrusted to a group of French experts with a specific mission to analyze three European experiences. Specific Aim: The aim of this article is to report the similarities and differences in the healthcare pathways of persons with complex developmental disabilities between France and two other European countries, Italy and Norway. The three countries present different health policies and different ideologies for the care management of persons with complex developmental disabilities.Method: A group of six French experts (including a neuro-pediatrician, an occupational therapist, a specialist of physical medicine and rehabilitation, a responsible member of a residential facility, a family caregiver representative, and the administrative coordinator of the French Polyhandicap Federation) traveled throughout Italy and Norway (3 and 4 days, respectively). Standardized forms were used to collect information, including dedicated structures, care delivery, dedicated physicians and other healthcareworkers, human and financial aid, place of the caregivers, and preventive and therapeutic actions.Findings: Law and health policies, funding, care coordination, and education differ between the three countries (France, Italy, and Norway) and in their effect on the lives of patients and their families.Discussion: The three different society models for modalities of care for persons with complex developmental disabilities may have consequences on the lives of patients and their families. This work may help to optimize the level of care according to both patient and family characteristics.

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