This treatment could save your life – COVID-19 and Convalescent Plasma Therapy
Ajay Kohli
Vinay Kohli
Chitra Chhabra Kohli
By CHITRA CHHABRA KOHLI MD, AJAY KOHLI MD, and VINAY KOHLI MD, MBA
With a doubling time of cases estimated between 3 days within the U.S. and about 6 days globally (at the time of this writing) COVID-19 is demonstrating its terrifying virulence as it spreads across the world.
What’s perhaps equally terrifying, if not more, is the absence of a known cure or treatment plan for COVID-19. While there has been a lot of attention focused on Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin, there has been debate on the scientific validity of these treatment options, either as thera...
Source: The Health Care Blog - March 30, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Christina Liu Tags: COVID-19 Patients Physicians Ajay Kohli Azithromycin convalescent plasma therapy coronavirus COVID-19 treatment hydroxychloroquine Pandemic Vinay Kohli Source Type: blogs
False Negative: Testing ’s Catch-22
By SAURABH JHA, MD
In a physician WhatsApp group, a doctor posted he had fever of 101° F and muscle ache, gently confessing that it felt like his typical “man flu” which heals with rest and scotch. Nevertheless, he worried that he had coronavirus. When the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the virus on his nasal swab came back negative, he jubilantly announced his relief.
Like Twitter, in WhatsApp emotions quickly outstrip facts. After he received a flurry of cheerful emojis, I ruined the party, advising that despite the negative test he assume he’s infected and quarantine for ...
Source: The Health Care Blog - March 29, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Christina Liu Tags: COVID-19 Health Policy RogueRad @roguerad coronavirus coronavirus testing COVID-19 testing false negatives novel coronavirus Pandemic RT-PCR Saurabh Jha Source Type: blogs
Is COVID-19 the new plague?
written by Dr. Stephen A. Berger
A frightening pandemic arises from animals in Asia and spreads westward, killing thousands in Italy, France, Spain, and many other countries. The more severe infections are characterized by cough and fever, leading to progressive pneumonia. There is no specific treatment available, and entire cultures live in fear and uncertainty.
And so, during 541-542 C.E. Yersinia pestis the bacterium that causes bubonic plague, spread out from China into the Byzantine Empire. Few were spared, and an estimated 25 to 100 million Europeans went on to die during repeated waves of infec...
Source: GIDEON blog - March 27, 2020 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Kristina Symes Tags: Ebooks Epidemiology Events Outbreaks Source Type: blogs
Minimizing the Risks of PTSD from the COVID-19 Pandemic
It is a stressful time. Many have begun feeling the emotional and psychological effects of being quarantined. People are being told to stay indoors, to limit leaving their home except for necessities and to skip socializing altogether, if possible. Supermarket shelves are empty; toilet paper and hand sanitizer are sold out. Many communities are placing restrictions on where people can go. Buzzwords like “social distancing” and “martial law” are in the news in recent weeks. Hospitals are overcrowded and staff are overworked. Many playgrounds, amusement parks, hotels and beaches have been closed until further notice....
Source: World of Psychology - March 27, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Dr. Annie Tanasugarn Tags: General Mental Health and Wellness PTSD coronavirus COVID-19 quarantine traumatic experience Source Type: blogs
Why follow a vaccine schedule?
Right now, many people are hoping for a vaccine to protect against the new coronavirus. While that’s still on the horizon, new research suggests that families who do vaccinate their children may not be following the recommended schedule.
Vaccines are given on a schedule for a reason: to protect children from vaccine-preventable disease. Experts designed the schedule so that children get protection when they need it — and the doses are timed so the vaccine itself can have the best effect. When parents don’t follow the schedule, their children may not be protected.
And yet, many parents do not follow the schedule.
A th...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - March 26, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Claire McCarthy, MD Tags: Adolescent health Children's Health Parenting Vaccines Source Type: blogs
Rationing Tests?
Rationing tests? In the U.S.A.? It may sound strange to hear that in the land of plenty we are rationing tests. But here we are, ill prepared for a global pandemic.
One of the most difficult things to say to patients who are having symptoms of cough and/or fever during this pandemic is that they need to stay home and act as if they had COVID-19. Testing, for the most part, is being reserved for the patients sick enough to require a hospital admission. I don’t think it helps that many people keep seeing things in the news touting how people can get tested without fully explaining the limitations we have. Or maybe ...
Source: JeffreyMD.com - March 25, 2020 Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Dr. Jeff Tags: After Residency My Life covid covid19 infection pandemic panic Source Type: blogs
Rationing Tests?
Rationing tests? In the U.S.A.? It may sound strange to hear that in the land of plenty we are rationing tests. But here we are, ill prepared for a global pandemic.
One of the most difficult things to say to patients who are having symptoms of cough and/or fever during this pandemic is that they need to stay home and act as if they had COVID-19. Testing, for the most part, is being reserved for the patients sick enough to require a hospital admission. I don’t think it helps that many people keep seeing things in the news touting how people can get tested without fully explaining the limitations we have. Or maybe ...
Source: JeffreyMD.com - March 25, 2020 Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Dr. Jeff Tags: After Residency My Life covid covid19 infection pandemic panic Source Type: blogs
CT scanning is just awful for diagnosing Covid-19
This study, in the same high-tier journal, claims that the sensitivity of CT is 98% vs a sensitivity of 70% for viral PCR. They say:
“Our results support the use of chest CT for screening for COVD-19** for patients with clinical and epidemiologic features compatible with COVID-19 infection particularly when RT-PCR testing is negative.”
With a statement as strong as that, surely they are saying that they have evidence that CT can be applied broadly? They even mention patients with epidemiological features of infection … that is to say, folks who have been exposed but don’t have symptoms.
Here is the patient...
Source: The Health Care Blog - March 25, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Christina Liu Tags: Artificial Intelligence COVID-19 Health Tech Physicians Research CT Luke Oakden-Rayner Radiology Source Type: blogs
Can telehealth help flatten the curve of COVID-19?
Telehealth, the virtual care platforms that allow health care professionals and patients to meet by phone or video chat, seems tailor-made for this moment in time. Also known as telemedicine or digital health, it’s often touted as a convenience for patients who are busy or far away, or when travel isn’t feasible due to severe weather or an urgent condition like a stroke. The current crisis makes virtual care solutions like telehealth an indispensable tool as COVID-19 spreads across US communities. As director of the Center for TeleHealth at Massachusetts General Hospital and vice president of virtual care for Partners ...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - March 24, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Lee H. Schwamm, MD Tags: Health Health care Infectious diseases Managing your health care Men's Health Women's Health Source Type: blogs
A curious CT scan in Cardiology
Presentation
A 38-year-old women,with episodic chest discomfort, mild dyspnea, and occasional non-productive cough. She was investigated in a non-emergent fashion. After an abnormal X-ray chest, A CT scan was requested. (*X-ray chest is Intentionally not posted here to add some curiosity factor)
This is probably one of the most curious Images in cardiology I have stumbled upon. At the first look, it seemed a baseball has replaced a heart. Is it not?
Posted with Creative Commons Attribution License CC-BY 3.0. Afzal et al. Dept of Internal Medicine, Florida Hospital, Orlando, USA.Cureus 10(11): e3566.
When you see su...
Source: Dr.S.Venkatesan MD - March 23, 2020 Category: Cardiology Authors: dr s venkatesan Tags: Uncategorized aneurysm of coronary artery coronary artery aneurysm Images in cardiology Source Type: blogs
The Dizzying Experience of Healthcare in the Time of a Pandemic
By Lyle Fettig@fettiglyleCheck out the Pallimed COVID-19 Resource page here. - Ed.I love theletter co-published by Pallimed and Geripal about COVID,and you should read that too. As an erstwhile (for now) Pallimed contributor, I thought I ' d toss in my two cents with some additional thoughts/reflections based on week 1 of preparing for the COVID pandemic as a palliative care physician.Over the last week, I ' ve operated mentally in most of these lanes:1. Primary prevention and public health:Through extensive advocacy for social distancing and widespread testing. I have talked about it with my patients and my own family and...
Source: Pallimed: A Hospice and Palliative Medicine Blog - March 17, 2020 Category: Palliative Care Tags: covid emergency preparedness fettig Source Type: blogs
Four tips to practice good mental hygiene during the coronavirus outbreak
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Just a few days ago my son’s college, the University of Washington, announced it would be cancelling all in-person classes and finals to help contain the spread of the coronavirus. One confirmed on-campus case prompted the university’s response.
Though the university will incur high costs—they have to deep-clean the whole campus, for example—I, for one, am truly grateful for their swift action and putting students first. It’s one of the many ways that I feel cared for in the midst of this crisis, and one of many caring acts that I expect to see in the weeks ahead.
Why expect more cooperation and compassion in ...
Source: SharpBrains - March 17, 2020 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Greater Good Science Center Tags: Cognitive Neuroscience Education & Lifelong Learning Health & Wellness coronavirus coronavirus outbreak emotional reactivity fear good hygiene Gratitude handwashing mental hygiene mindfulness social hygiene stay calm stay focus Source Type: blogs
