Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

While adenovirus remains a prime suspect in the unexplained cases of acute hepatitis in children, the CDC is "keeping an open mind and focusing on hypothesis generation," said Jacqueline Tate, PhD, of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, during a Clinician Outreach and Community Activity (COCA) this week. To date, 180 suspected cases of the mysterious hepatitis in kids are under investigation across 36 U.S. states and territories, according to the CDC. At a press briefing on Friday, agency officials said that over 90% of cases under investigation reported onset prior to May 2022, with most being retrospectively identified. Adenovirus has been detected in nearly half of the cases and "continues to be a strong lead," according to the agency. Six children in the U.S. have died, with the latest death reported on Friday. However, the proportion of patients requiring liver transplant has fallen from 15% to 9%, as more cases have b

Persistent headaches and back pain. Achy bones, especially feet and hands. Gnawing, cramping guts. Whole-body soreness. So many people live with various flavors of chronic pain, and often go months or years without finding relief. Some 20 percent of Americans are affected by chronic pain, according to the Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC) — making it one of the most common reasons adults seek medical care. Chronic pain can be caused by ailments like fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel diseases, or it can spring from stubbornly lingering injuries. Left untreated, pain can limit mobility, curb daily activities, and lessen quality of life — often leading to anxiety and depression. Chronic pain is different from its cousin, acute pain. The latter occurs in response to tissue damage and inflammatory processes that follow, where the pain is viewed as part of the healing process, Steven P. Cohen, MD, chief of pain medicine at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Parasitic gastroenteritis is a form of gastrointestinal inflammation caused by a parasite. There are different types of parasitic infections that can lead to this form of gastroenteritis, but each one can cause uncomfortable — and sometimes serious — symptoms. Read on to learn about the causes and symptoms associated with parasitic gastroenteritis, and how it may be treated and prevented. The term "gastroenteritis" refers to inflammation of the digestive tract. Gastroenteritis may be caused by: Parasitic gastroenteritis is caused by an infection of the gastrointestinal tract from parasites. The two most common parasites that cause parasitic gastroenteritis are Cryptosporidium and Giardia . Cryptosporidium is spread through drinking water and recreational sources of water, such as pools, and is a common cause of waterborne illnesses. Giardia is transmitted through water as well as through contaminated soil and food. This contamination can come from the feces of an animal or

The acting Social Security commissioner will launch a "full investigation" on Monday of Inspector General Gail Ennis's oversight of an anti-fraud program that imposed extensive penalties on disabled and elderly people, a senior agency official said Saturday. The action follows a Washington Post report that revealed how attorneys in charge of a little-known program run by Social Security's watchdog division issued unprecedented fines starting during the Trump administration. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. More than 100 people who received disability benefits to which they were not entitled were hit with penalties as high as hundreds of thousands of dollars. Those fines were imposed on poor, disabled and elderly people, many of whom had no hope of ever being able to pay. The acting commissioner "has very serious concerns about the issues raised by The Washington Post about the inspector

Chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) isn't well understood and therefore difficult to diagnose. About a quarter of people with ME/CFS cannot leave their homes due to severe pain and fatigue. The cause of ME/CFS is unclear and there is no cure, but lifestyle changes may help manage symptoms. Myalgic encephalomyelitis, aka chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), is a serious illness characterized by severe exhaustion that does not improve with rest or sleep. ME/CFS is not well understood, but doctors believe that it involves both the neurological and immune systems, and is often triggered by a seemingly unrelated bacterial or viral infection making it difficult to diagnose. There are currently no FDA-approved treatments for ME/CFS but there are some protocols that can improve quality of life, says Emily Taylor, vice-president of advocacy and enga

Fungal infections kill around the same number of people each year as tuberculosis. They mostly take hold in people who are vulnerable because they have a defective immune system caused by an underlying disease, such as cancer, or a viral infection, such as HIV or COVID. Our new study shows that antibiotics can cause immune system defects that increase the risk of dangerous fungal infections. Candida is a fungus that is a common cause of fungal infections in humans. The yeast infection thrush is caused by Candida . But it can also cause a life-threatening bloodstream infection called invasive candidiasis. One of the risk factors for getting invasive candidiasis is antibiotics. When we take antibiotics, we kill off some of our gut bacteria. This can create space for gut fungi (like Candida ) to grow. And if your intestines become damaged by chemotherapy or surgery, then the Candida can get out of the gut and cause a bloodstream infection. Yet the most common way people get

Immunocompromised patients are particularly at risk of developing persistent and severe anemia caused by parvovirus infections. A recent case report published in Cureus demonstrated that long-term maintenance intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy resulted in an excellent therapeutic response in a patient with HIV and a chronic parvovirus infection resulting in chronic anemia. According to the authors, anemia is a common finding in patients with HIV and has a wide range of potential causes. Opportunistic parvovirus infection, which causes pure red cell aplasia, is an uncommon cause of anemia; although, immunocompromised patients with abnormal antibody production may be more susceptible to acquiring a chronic parvovirus infection requiring long-term IVIG treatment. However, there are no specific guidelines for these patients. Parvovirus is typically transmitted through respiratory droplets, although it can also be transmitted through other means, such as blood products and organ tra

Quick, Easy Access to COVID-19 Vaccine Available via Online Scheduling for General Public, in Addition to Calling and Texting SAN MARCOS, Calif. , May 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TrueCare™  is providing easy access to the newly approved COVID-19 booster shots for children ages 5 to 11 years through its community healthcare centers in North San Diego and South Riverside Counties. The CDC recommends children receive a booster shot at least 5 months after their initial Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination series. Continue Reading According to TrueCare's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Marie Russell, vaccinations against COVID-19 are the most effective way to combat moderate to severe complications such as hospitalization and Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C), a condition that causes long COVID. With rising rates across the county, it is important to do everything we can to provide the most protection to our kids. TrueCare™ is

Almost everyone experiences constipation at some point. But chronic constipation can have a significant impact on quality of life. If you're living with chronic constipation, you're not alone. It can be a difficult topic to discuss. So, it may surprise you to know that chronic constipation has a worldwide prevalence of 15 percent . When chronic constipation has no clear relationship to another health condition, it's considered the primary disorder. When it's due to another health problem, constipation is considered a secondary disorder. Chronic constipation can lead to complications. Sometimes, treating the primary condition can get it under control. If not, there are other treatments to address constipation. If you have chronic constipation, it may be time to see a doctor. Knowing the cause can help you find the best treatment. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal disorder. Constipation is one potential symptom. Other symptoms include bloating and abdom

Your calf—located in the back of your leg just below the knee—is made up of three muscles: the gastrocnemius, soleus, and plantaris muscles. An injury to any of these can cause calf pain. But conditions that affect the blood vessels, nerves, or tissues that surround your calf muscles can be painful as well. This article discusses the potential causes of your calf pain. It also includes strategies you can try to manage your symptoms and prevent muscle-related calf pain in the future. Verywell / Joshua Seong Types of Calf Pain Calf pain can be broken up into two categories: pain that is related to the muscles, and pain that is not. Muscular pain often results from acute or chronic physical strain. These are the types of injuries that commonly happen in sports or other types of physical activity. On the other hand, if you are having calf pain and you are not sure why, you may have an underlying condition that needs medical attention. Pain th