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[1/26/2005] Annual Flu Shot Decreases Death in Elderly Yearly Flu Shots Reduce Risk From Influenza, Other Causes
[1/26/2005] Mystery illness is parainfluenza virus, Hong Kong
[1/26/2005] Tips for Preventing/Fighting the Flu
[10/15/2004] Fever in Infants and Children
[10/15/2004] Avian influenza, situation in Viet Nam
[10/15/2004] Bird flu (avian influenza), current evaluation of risks to humans from H5N1
[10/15/2004] News-Medical.Net Computer modeling method for mapping the evolution of the influenza virus
[2/15/2004] UK study on influenza vaccination
[2/15/2004] Female flight attendants and teachers more likely to develop upper respiratory symptoms.
[11/30/2002] Breastfed infants more resistant to colds.
[11/30/2002] Wine drinkers don't catch colds.
Source: WebMD Medical News - By Salynn Boyles Reviewed By Charlotte Grayson
Nov. 2, 2004 -- New research shows a single flu shot can reduce the risk
of death among elderly people, but the protection is twice that for those
who get flu shots annually. The news highlights the importance of yearly vaccinations for this part of the population.
To read more click here:
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/96/103728.htm
Source: medicalnewstoday.com
A mystery illness which has affected 32 people at Caritas Medical Centre,
Hong Kong, has been identified as being caused by a parainfluenza virus. Scientists from the CHP (Centre for Health Protection, Hong Kong) have confirmed the findings.
To read more click here:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=16566
Source: medicalnewstoday.com
The first cases of the flu in Minnesota are usually reported in November
and December and continue through May, with the most intense outbreaks
in January and February. The first cases have already been reported in
Minnesota and Wisconsin this month. Here are some tips for protecting
yourself against the flu and lessening the symptoms if you do get it.
To read more click here:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=16951
Fever in Infants and Children
SOURCE: familydoctor.org
Checking temperatures rectally or axillary (under the arm) is necessary in small children because they're not able to hold a thermometer in their mouths. Axillary temperatures are generally 1o lower than rectal temperatures.
Temperatures above 105o (oral) can be dangerous, and immediate action must be taken.
http://familydoctor.org/x2575.xml
Avian influenza, situation in Viet Nam
SOURCE: medicalnewstoday.com
August 20, 2004
In the present outbreak in Viet Nam, first reported last week, three fatal human cases of avian influenza have now been laboratory confirmed, two in the north and one in the south. For two of these cases, further testing has identified the H5N1 strain as the causative agent.
The most recent case died on 6 August and no new cases have been identified since then.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=12310
Bird flu (avian influenza), current evaluation of risks to humans from H5N1
SOURCE: medicalnewstoday.com
July 19, 2004
July 19, 2004 - In the last two weeks, avian influenza appears to have re-emerged in poultry in several countries in Asia. These outbreaks could either be new outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) virus or a
continuation of the outbreaks first reported earlier in the year.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/newssearch.php?newsid=10932
News-Medical.Net Computer modeling method for mapping the evolution of the influenza virus
SOURCE: News-Medical.Net
July 21, 2004
A University of California scientist working at Los Alamos National Laboratory with collaborators from the University of Cambridge (England) and the World Health Organization National Influenza Center at Erasmus Medical Center,
(Rotterdam, Netherlands) have developed a computer modeling method for mapping the evolution of the influenza virus.
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=3479
UK study on influenza vaccination
SOURCE : Occup Environ Med.
2003 Dec;60(12):929-34.
(Does influenza vaccination increase consultations, corticosteroid prescriptions, or exacerbations in subjects with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?
Tata LJ, West J, Harrison T, Farrington P, Smith C, Hubbard R.
Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK)
The influenza epidemics and the increased need for prevention means that a growing number of people seek influenza vaccination. There have been some concerns over the safety of influenza vaccination in individuals with obstructive airways disease.
A paper recently published by the Division of Epidemiology and Public Health” of the University of Nottingham in the UK investigated the safety of vaccine in the population groups more at risk, for example the elderly with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The study evaluated 12,000 individuals in the UK with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The study looked for acute exacerbations of symptoms on the day of vaccination and on days 1-2 and 3-14 after vaccination. The results of the study show that there is no increased risk of adverse acute outcomes in the first 2 weeks after vaccination and strongly suggest that influenza vaccination is safe in this segment of population.
Female flight attendants and teachers more likely to develop upper respiratory symptoms.
SOURCE: Occup Environ Med.
2003 Dec;60(12):929-34.
(Prevalence of respiratory symptoms among female flight attendants and teachers.
Whelan EA, Lawson CC, Grajewski B, Petersen MR, Pinkerton LE, Ward EM, Schnorr TM.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Industrywide Studies Branch, Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations and Field Studies, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226, USA)
In recent years, concerns increased about the effects of respiratory illnesses on human health that develops in indoor environments like office buildings and aircrafts.
Flight attendants and teachers are among the most exposed groups to this type of respiratory illnesses.
A study analyzed the prevalence of self reported respiratory symptoms among female flight attendants and teachers. The study evaluated 1824 flight attendants and 331 teachers and looked at the incidence of work related eye, nose, and throat symptoms, as well as wheezing, physician diagnosed asthma, chest illness, and cold or flu.
The results show how the two categories reported work related eye, nose and throat symptoms more often than workers occupied in different industries. Moreover both study groups reported five or more episodes of cold or flu in the past year, higher than other working women. It is not surprising that flight attendants and teachers report a higher prevalence of work-related upper respiratory symptoms like chest illness and cold or flu than the general working population.
Breastfed infants more resistant to colds.
Nursing infants for at least 6 months reduces the risk of respiratory diseases.
SOURCE: Annual Meeting Pediatric Academic Societies
2002
Breastfeeding is healthy. It helps strengthen the immune system in neonates. And it helps protect them from certain diseases. A group of American researchers has found that breastfeeding for at least 6 months helps reduce the risk of respiratory diseases during the first two years of life.
The researchers studied over 2000 infants aged between 6 and 12 months among which only very few were breastfed for at least 6 months.
An analysis of the incidence of certain respiratory diseases showed that infants who were breastfed longer were less susceptible to these illnesses. Recurrent colds are frequent complaints in infancy. Generally, they pass without complications. However, breastfeeding seems to protect infants against more severe infections such as pneumonia.
Wine drinkers don't catch colds.
Report from Spain.
SOURCE: American Journal of Epidemiology
2002;155:853-8.
The beneficial properties of wine drinking are as well known as is the fact that wine in moderation helps prevent heart disorders.
A group of Spanish researchers have discovered that wine can also protect against the common cold. People who drink wine regularly were less susceptible to catching colds than teetotalers. Wine drinking reduced by 40% the risk of coming down with a cold. A couple of glasses a day seemed to do the trick. Red wine was more effective, but other alcoholic beverages had a similar effect.
The link between wine consumption and reduced risk of colds is not clear. Wine contains naturally occurring pigments found in plants called flavonoids. Flavonoids appear to be able to fight rhinoviruses, the viruses responsible for causing colds. So people who drink wine have greater resistance against the viruses.
The effect may also be due to other habits associated with regular wine consumption.
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