Quality Assurance in the Polio Laboratory. Cell Sensitivity and Cell Authentication Assays
The accuracy of poliovirus surveillance is largely dependent on the quality of the cell lines used for virus isolation, which is the foundation of poliovirus diagnostic work. Many cell lines are available for the isolation of enteroviruses, whilst genetically modified L20B cells can be used as a diagnostic tool for the identification of polioviruses. To be confident that cells can consistently isolate the virus of interest, it is necessary to have a quality assurance system in place, which will ensure that the cells in use are not contaminated with other cell lines or microorganisms and that they remain sensitive to the vi...
Source: Springer protocols feed by Infectious Diseases - December 15, 2015 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news
Teaching gratitude this holiday season – and all year long
(Follow me at @drClaire)
For most children, the holidays are, well, about presents. It’s understandable; it was certainly my favorite part of the holidays when I was growing up. But sometimes expectations can get out of hand. And often parents find themselves wondering why their children aren’t a bit more grateful for what they have.
Gratitude is important — and not just because it’s a good social grace to have. It’s also essential for overall happiness. When we’re grateful, we understand that there are still good things in our lives even when things don’t work out the way we’d h...
Source: New Harvard Health Information - November 27, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Claire McCarthy, MD Tags: Behavioral Health Children's Health Mental Health Parenting gratitude Source Type: news
Many babies and toddlers use mobile devices every day
This likely isn’t a surprise to anyone who has been paying attention to the world around them, but a study just published in the journal Pediatrics shows that 44% of children under the age of 1 use mobile devices every day. By the age of 2, that jumps to 77%.
By age 4, half of the children in the study had their own TV — and three-quarters had their own mobile device. And these weren’t rich kids, either; the study was done at an urban, low-income practice in Philadelphia.
When the researchers asked parents about different situations where they let their children use the devices, here’s what they said:
70% let the ...
Source: New Harvard Health Information - November 12, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Claire McCarthy, MD Tags: Children's Health Parenting mobile devices Source Type: news
Is it ADHD—or Autism?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism can look a lot alike. Children with either one can be very active and impulsive, and can have trouble focusing and interacting with other people. In fact, it can be hard to tell the difference between the two.
But telling the difference is very important.
In a study just published in the journal Pediatrics, researchers looked at about 1,500 children between the ages of 2 and 17 who had a current diagnosis of autism (as reported by their parents). They found that those who got an ADHD diagnosis before they got an autism diagnosis were diagnosed with autism an averag...
Source: New Harvard Health Information - October 27, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Claire McCarthy, MD Tags: Children's Health Mental Health Source Type: news
Enterovirus D68 No Deadlier for Kids Than the Common Cold
CDC still doesn't know if unusual paralysis cases are caused by this virus
Source: HealthDay
Related MedlinePlus Pages: Children's Health, Common Cold, Viral Infections (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)
Source: MedlinePlus Health News - October 15, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Enterovirus D68 Appears More Virulent, Not More Lethal in KidsEnterovirus D68 Appears More Virulent, Not More Lethal in Kids
Infected pediatric patients were more likely to have breathing difficulties than patients infected with other enterovirus strains, but were no more likely to die from their infection. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Pediatrics Headlines)
Source: Medscape Pediatrics Headlines - October 15, 2015 Category: Pediatrics Tags: Infectious Diseases News Source Type: news
Enterovirus D68 Not Tied to Elevated Risk for Death in Kids During 2014 Outbreak (FREE)
By Kelly Young
Edited by David G. Fairchild, MD, MPH, and Lorenzo Di Francesco, MD, FACP, FHM
Children diagnosed with enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) in late 2014 were not at greater risk for death … (Source: Physician's First Watch current issue)
Source: Physician's First Watch current issue - October 14, 2015 Category: Primary Care Source Type: news
How EMS Can Be Prepared for Enterovirus D68 and Other Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases
Learning Objectives
>>Learn about the possible causes of emergences and re-emergences of infectious diseases and how diseases spread.
>>Understand when to have a high index of suspicion for enterovirus D68, which can present with many different signs and symptoms.
>>Identify ways EMS systems can adapt during an outbreak to ensure provider safety while also still protecting and treating the community.
Key Terms
>>Emerging disease: A disease not previously recognized.
>>Fomites: Any objects, including an EMS worker’s uniform, that can be contaminated by infectious pathogens and can play a role...
Source: JEMS Patient Care - September 4, 2015 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: James F. Goss, MHA, MICP Tags: Infectious Diseases Patient Care Source Type: news
Enterovirus and Human Parechovirus Surveillance — United States, 2009–2013
(Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)
Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report - September 3, 2015 Category: American Health Source Type: news
Looking for Autism
Autism isn’t exactly something parents want to find in their child, so it’s understandable that parents might feel uneasy about looking for it. But looking for autism is important — and something that has become part of routine pediatric care.
Currently, one out of every 68 children has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. That means autism is really common. And — this is what’s really important — getting help early makes all the difference.
At every single visit in the early years, pediatricians carefully follow the development of children. We ask about how they are learning to move and use their hand...
Source: New Harvard Health Information - August 26, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Claire McCarthy, MD Tags: Children's Health autism Source Type: news
IOC Increasing Water Tests In Rio After Alarming Levels Of Sewage Reported
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The International Olympic Committee said Sunday it will order testing for disease-causing viruses in the sewage-polluted waters where athletes will compete in next year's Rio de Janeiro Games.
Before, the IOC and local Olympic organizers in Rio said they would only test for bacteria in the water, as Brazil and virtually all nations only mandate such testing to determine the safety of recreational waters.
But after an Associated Press investigation published last week revealed high counts of viruses directly linked to human sewage in the Olympic waters, the IOC reversed course after being ad...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - August 2, 2015 Category: Science Source Type: news
New Gene Test Speeds Diagnosis of Stomach Bug That Strikes Kids
Enterovirus D68 sickened more than 1,000 U.S. children last year, 14 deaths reported (Source: Pulmonary Medicine News - Doctors Lounge)
Source: Pulmonary Medicine News - Doctors Lounge - July 25, 2015 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: webmaster at doctorslounge.com Tags: Infections, Pediatrics, Pulmonology, Research, News, Source Type: news
Diagnostic test developed for enterovirus D68
A diagnostic test to quickly detect enterovirus D68, a respiratory virus that caused unusually severe illness in children last year, has been developed by researchers. The outbreak caused infections at an unprecedented rate, with over 1,000 confirmed cases and 14 reported deaths nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - July 22, 2015 Category: Science Source Type: news
Diagnostic test developed for enterovirus D68
(Washington University School of Medicine) Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have developed a diagnostic test to quickly detect enterovirus D68, a respiratory virus that caused unusually severe illness in children last year. The outbreak caused infections at an unprecedented rate, with over 1,000 confirmed cases and 14 reported deaths nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - July 22, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news
Child paralysis outbreak: Different virus may be cause
A mysterious outbreak of child paralysis cases previously linked to enterovirus D68 may instead have another cause, doctors are cautioning after determining that a stricken child appeared to be suffering from a different virus. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - July 16, 2015 Category: Science Source Type: news
