Viruses and Health

Before the Covid pandemic, most people caught respiratory syncytial virus before the age of 2. Now things have changed. You may have seen respiratory syncytial virus, or R.S.V., in the news recently, as rates of the virus have ticked up across the United States. R.S.V. usually circulates from late December to mid-February. But this year, an early spike in cases is resulting in markedly higher numbers of infections and hospitalizations. As rising R.S.V. rates coincide with the expected wintertime surge in Covid-19 as well as an early flu season, experts are worried about a "tripledemic" and the strain it could place on hospitals and emergency departments that are already stretched thin. Here's what to know about R.S.V., who is most at risk and what you can do to avoid getting sick. What is R.S.V. and why is it on the rise? R.S.V. is a common winter virus that typically causes mild cold-like illness in most people, but can occasionally be very dangerous for young children a...

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) will use a $7.9 million National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant to expand its infectious disease research capacity and establish a Pandemic Response and Public Health Laboratory by renovating existing research space. The renovation will create about 9,900 sq. ft. of additional research space on the first floor of Biomedical Research Center Building One. The renovation is expected to begin in mid-2024 and be completed in 2025. It will include new Biosafety Level-3 space, which is equipped to handle highly infectious pathogens transmitted by air. It will better prepare UAMS for future pandemic responses, create new opportunities for collaboration and help UAMS recruit new infectious disease researchers, according to UAMS officials. The Pandemic Response and Public Health Laboratory will be available for a rapid response to the next outbreak. It will also be immediately available to process human samples for COVID-19...

Dear Prudence is Slate's advice column.  Submit questions here.   (It's anonymous!) Dear Prudence, My wife ("Laura") and I have been together for 10 years and we've mostly had a good relationship until the past couple of years. Laura is a hypochondriac. In the beginning, it was really minor and barely noticeable—she insisted any cold she got was actually pneumonia or an upset stomach was appendicitis. As time went on, she became convinced she was suffering from an undiagnosed illness and after years of seeing doctors and getting tested, a doctor diagnosed her with a syndrome that mostly consists of a collection of symptoms with no other cause, no test to confirm the diagnosis, and no treatment except lifestyle and diet changes. I had hoped by getting a diagnosis her hypochondria would calm down. It has not and I fear it is getting worse and turning into Munchausen syndrome. It was brought ...

Tonsillitis and strep throat are common conditions that cause throat pain. These terms may be interchangeable, but they are two separate conditions. Strep throat is only caused by bacteria called group A  Streptococcus . Tonsillitis can be caused by a strep infection, but it can also be caused by other bacteria and viruses. This article will cover the differences between tonsillitis and strep throat and discuss their symptoms, causes, and treatments. Brothers91 / Getty Images Symptoms Tonsillitis and strep throat symptoms are very similar. They both cause throat pain, fever, difficulty swallowing, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck. However, tonsillitis can also cause a white or yellow coating on the tonsils. Whereas strep throat is more likely to cause small, red spots called petechiae on the roof of the mouth. Tonsillitis symptoms can include: Sore throat Difficulty swallowing Swollen tonsils Fever Swol...

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The Ledger LAKELAND REGIONAL HEALTH Imad Dibo, M.D., joined Lakeland Regional Health as an infectious disease specialist. He has substantial experience working in both clinic and hospital settings. Dibo is board certified in infectious diseases and internal medicine. He earned his medical degree and Diploma of Public Health from Damascus University in Damascus, Syria. He completed the Categorical Residency Program in Internal Medicine and Fellowship Program in Infectious Diseases at Suny at Buffalo in Buffalo, New York. He cares for patients at the Medical Center. Marines Acevedo Rodriguez, M.D., provides holistic geriatrics care. She has extensive experience in palliative care, hospice and internal medicine. Acevedo Rodriguez is board certified in internal medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Acevedo Rodriguez earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus, in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. She earned her medical degree from...

In the UK, 150,000 people develop pneumonia every year. We explore the causes and symptoms of pneumonia, and what to do if you catch it In the UK, 150,000 people develop pneumonia each year. Most cases are bacterial, and thanks to effective antibiotics, the vast majority of people recover. However, the condition can be fatal. In the UK, 3,000 people aged between 15 and 55 die from pneumonia each year, and the disease causes up to a quarter of all deaths in elderly people. "Pneumonia" is a general term for an acute inflammation of the lungs—specifically the air sacs (alveoli). The many types of pneumonia are all caused by infection with one of three micro-organisms: bacteria, viruses and mycoplasma.  "Most cases are bacterial, and thanks to effective antibiotics, the vast majority of people recover" Pneumonias caused by mycoplasma...

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