CDC Calls for Antiviral Drug Use to Combat Flu
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a public health advisory warning that the incidence of influenza infection, primarily with the virulent A(H3N2) strain, has been increasing rapidly over the last month.1 Historically, influenza A(H3N2) has been linked to an increased risk of hospitalizations…
Viruses May Be Harmful, Helpful, or Passengers
One of the best estimates we have for the average total number of cells in the human body is 37.2 trillion. It sounds like a lot, until you consider that the average number of microbes in an adult human is estimated at 20 times the number of cells in the body. That would equal approximately 744 trillion microorganisms. In other words, we humans are vastly more microbial than cellular in nature. Each of us is, essentially, one giant germ.
Sneaky Lyme Bacterium Avoids Detection, Defies Treatment
Lyme disease has been around for thousands of years. The tenacious bacteria were found in the 5,300-year-old mummy known as “Ötzi” or the “Iceman,” and Lyme is widely regarded as the most common tick-borne illness in North America. Despite pervasiveness of Lyme, currently…
Fever is Not an Enemy
One of the most common recommendations for fever is to alleviate it by giving Tylenol (acetaminophen). Although may sometimes be unpleasant to experience fever or to care for a feverish child, it is important to understand that fever itself is a symptom of the body’s immune system fighting an infection or illness.
Childhood Flu Could Predict Future Vulnerability
The press release subhead reads: “UCLA, Arizona researchers explain that birth year may largely determine people’s risk for serious illness in an influenza pandemic.” It sounds vaguely astrological, as if our birth date predicts our future health. In fact, it introduces an interesting scientific hypothesis for why some people are…
The Immune System: The Body’s Battlefield
We often hear the terms immunity, the immune system and immune response thrown around when discussing the topic of vaccination. But do we really understand how the immune system is designed, its mechanism and the impact of vaccination on its overall function? Immunology is a vast and complex field of study, however, it is important to understand the basics…