The new coronavirus: What we do — and don’t — know
A rapidly evolving health story broke in late December when a novel illness originating in Wuhan, China made the news. Reports of the number of infected people swiftly rose, and isolated cases of this new coronavirus — dubbed 2019-nCoV by scientists — have appeared in several countries due to international travel. At this writing, almost 1,300 confirmed cases and over 40 deaths have occurred in China, according to an article in the New York Times.
Fortunately, public health officials in many countries, including the US, have put measures in place to help prevent further spread of the virus. These measures include healt...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - January 25, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Todd Ellerin, MD Tags: Health Source Type: blogs
Vaccines for women: Before conception, during pregnancy, and after a birth
The rise of vaccine-preventable illnesses, such as measles and hepatitis, in the United States and around the globe has been alarming in recent years. For women — especially those hoping to become pregnant, as well as women who are pregnant or have recently had a baby — vaccines can be a worrisome topic. There are many misconceptions about vaccine safety in and around pregnancy that can lead to confusion and unnecessary fear of a lifesaving medical tool. As a practicing ob/gyn, I often discuss vaccines with my patients and help them sort out fears versus facts.
Which vaccines should you consider before conception?
The ...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - January 10, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Ilona T. Goldfarb, MD, MPH Tags: Health Parenting Pregnancy Vaccines Women's Health Source Type: blogs
Why do parents worry about vaccines?
We are in the midst of a measles epidemic. As of July 25th, more than 1,100 cases have been reported in 30 states since the beginning of the year. That’s the highest number since 1992 — and since measles was declared eliminated in 2000. Given that measles is extremely contagious — the virus can linger in rooms even after a sick person has left — and can lead to serious complications, this is really alarming.
There is a simple way to help: get more people immunized.
How many children receive vaccines?
Most children in the US are immunized. Only a little more than 1% of children have no immunizations. This is importa...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - August 2, 2019 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Claire McCarthy, MD Tags: Children's Health Parenting Vaccines Source Type: blogs
Our terrifying chickenpox problem
This article prompted a little thought experiment. Chickenpox used to be a routine childhood illness. For a couple of […]Find jobs at Careers by KevinMD.com. Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now. Learn more. (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - May 6, 2019 Category: General Medicine Authors: < span itemprop="author" > < a href="https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/steven-mussey" rel="tag" > Steven Mussey, MD < /a > < /span > Tags: Conditions Infectious Disease Pediatrics Source Type: blogs
Celebrities get shingles, too
Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling
Perhaps you heard the news recently that Lin-Manuel Miranda has shingles. Headlines announced this in a variety of ways:
Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda is suffering from shingles (NY DailyNews)
Lin-Manuel Miranda has shingles; must be quarantined from his baby (today.com)
Lin-Manuel Miranda has shingles, regrets joke about blurred vision (CBS News).
Without more information, these headlines might leave you wondering: is this a serious condition? Is it dangerous for children? Can it lead to blindness?
What is shingles?
The term “shingles” refers to a painful rash caused by infec...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - April 11, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Robert H. Shmerling, MD Tags: Health Infectious diseases Skin and Hair Care Vaccines Source Type: blogs
Vaccinations: More than just kid stuff
Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling
This is the time of year when it’s important to think about flu vaccinations. And there’s good reason for that! The flu causes thousands of preventable hospitalizations and deaths each year.
But what about other vaccinations? Do you think of them as something for kids? You aren’t alone. And it’s true, a number of vaccinations are recommended for young children as well as preteens and teenagers. These vaccinations have provided an enormous benefit to public health by preventing diseases that were common and sometimes deadly in the past, including polio, rubella, and whooping cough....
Source: Harvard Health Blog - February 7, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Robert H. Shmerling, MD Tags: Health Infectious diseases Prevention Vaccines Source Type: blogs
How Long Does Shingles Last In The Elderly?
View Original Article Here: How Long Does Shingles Last In The Elderly?
Shingles is a viral infection that follows a varicella-zoster infection, although it can take decades for symptoms of the secondary disease to emerge. The condition presents as a painful and blistering rash, but it is not life-threatening.
According to the Center for Disease Control, there are nearly one million cases in the United States each year, and almost half of those cases are in older adults over age 60. Some people only see one instance of the illness, while others have recurring symptoms, but 30 percent of Americans will develop shingles at s...
Source: Shield My Senior - December 8, 2017 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Vin Tags: Senior Safety Source Type: blogs
How Long Does Shingles Last In The Elderly?
Shingles is a viral infection that follows a varicella-zoster infection, although it can take decades for symptoms of the secondary disease to emerge. The condition presents as a painful and blistering rash, but it is not life-threatening.
According to the Center for Disease Control, there are nearly one million cases in the United States each year, and almost half of those cases are in older adults over age 60. Some people only see one instance of the illness, while others have recurring symptoms, but 30 percent of Americans will develop shingles at some point in their lifetime.
Duration of Shingles: Timeline of the Viru...
Source: Shield My Senior - December 8, 2017 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Vin Tags: Senior Safety Source Type: blogs
How Long Does Shingles Last In The Elderly?
View Original Article Here: How Long Does Shingles Last In The Elderly?
Shingles is a viral infection that follows a varicella-zoster infection, although it can take decades for symptoms of the secondary disease to emerge. The condition presents as a painful and blistering rash, but it is not life-threatening.
According to the Center for Disease Control, there are nearly one million cases in the United States each year, and almost half of those cases are in older adults over age 60. Some people only see one instance of the illness, while others have recurring symptoms, but 30 percent of Americans will develop shingles at s...
Source: Shield My Senior - December 8, 2017 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Vin Tags: Senior Safety Source Type: blogs
Dr. David Brownstein fought Shingrix, and Shingrix won
Dr. David Brownstein is a "holistic" family practice physician in my area. Consistent with being "holistic," he is antivaccine to the core. That's why he's unhappy with the recent CDC recommendation that adults over 50 receive the new shingles vaccine. He thinks he's found a clever argument to show it doesn't work. Unfortunately, his argument only reveals his bias and misunderstanding.
The post Dr. David Brownstein fought Shingrix, and Shingrix won appeared first on RESPECTFUL INSOLENCE. (Source: Respectful Insolence)
Source: Respectful Insolence - November 17, 2017 Category: Surgery Authors: Orac Tags: Antivaccine nonsense Homeopathy Medicine Pseudoscience Quackery Skepticism/critical thinking chickenpox clinical trial David Brownstein GlaxoSmithKline number needed to treat ozone Peter Lipson shingles Shingrix vaccines va Source Type: blogs
What Every Parent Needs to Know About Back to School Vaccine Threats and Exemptions
Conclusion
Because the mainstream media has financial interest in promoting vaccines, informed parents must seek information elsewhere about back to school vaccine mandates and exemptions. Parents, as you prepare to send your child back to school, do your homework and determine which exemptions are available in your area. A list of vaccine exemptions for all fifty states is published online by the National Vaccine Information Center.
Sharing this article with other parents will also help them make informed decisions about vaccines.
References:
http://www.nvic.org/vaccine-laws/state-vaccine-requirements.aspx
http://www.oma...
Source: vactruth.com - August 17, 2017 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Missy Fluegge Tags: Top Stories truth about vaccines Vaccine Exemptions Source Type: blogs
Varicella Virus, the Old and the New
I want to reawaken awareness of a disappearing but highly contagious infectious disease — varicella. Thanks to immunizations for the wild-type varicella virus and shingles, or herpes zoster, younger health care providers are less aware of the appearance and clinical presentations of this viral infection.Presentations of this viral disease have markedly declined and presentations are often atypical since the advent of immunizations for varicella in 1995. This DNA virus within the herpes virus family is generally a mild childhood disease but can wreak physical havoc in adults, especially pregnant women. Immunosuppressed...
Source: M2E Too! Mellick's Multimedia EduBlog - February 1, 2017 Category: Emergency Medicine Tags: Blog Posts Source Type: blogs
A Necessary Retelling of the Smallpox Vaccine Story
A curious confluence
of events unfolded Tuesday night. Just hours before President Obama uttered the
powerful “science and reason matter” in his farewell address, Robert F. Kennedy
Jr. announced that the incoming president had tapped him to head a committee on
vaccine safety.
RFK Jr. is not a
pediatric immunologist nor an epidemiologist, but a vocal “vaccine
skeptic.” Although the
PEOTUS dialed back on the purported appointment shortly after social media
erupted, a tweet from March 28, 2014 makes his analysis
of the history and science of vaccines clear: Healthy young child goes
...
Source: blog.bioethics.net - January 30, 2017 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Bioethics Today Tags: Health Care syndicated vaccines Source Type: blogs
Mockingbird #1: Medical Annotations
I hope everyone has been reading Mockingbird, which recently finished its first storyline. It’s a fun comic featuring an enjoyable character, good writing, and great art. Since much of the first story takes place in a SHIELD medical clinic — and since Bobbi keeps reminding us she has a doctorate in biology — I thought the series was ripe for some elucidating medical annotations. Since I don’t want this post to drag on forever, I’m going to break the storyline down into three separate posts. This first one will just deal with the first issue.
Mockingbird #1
Chelsea Cain, writer
Kate Niemczyk, a...
Source: Polite Dissent - September 12, 2016 Category: Primary Care Authors: Scott Tags: newtag Source Type: blogs
