Articles related to Allergy & Immunology

In this commentary from The Lancet, the author suggests that COVID-19 is not a pandemic, but a syndemic, which is defined as a set of linked health problems involving two or more afflictions, interacting synergistically, and contributing to excess burden of disease in a population. The syndemic approach reveals biological and social interactions that are important for prognosis, treatment, and health policy.

In this feature from the British Medical Journal (BMJ), associate editor Peter Doshi explores the emerging research on immunological responses to COVID-19. Is it true that the human population had no pre-existing immunity to SARS-CoV-2? The article attempts to answer this question with a deeper discussion around herd immunity, T cells, antibodies, and more.

In this KevinMD podcast/article, Dr. Gregory Jasani, an emergency medicine physician in an inner-city, discusses his experiences treating COVID-19 patients and his thoughts surrounding the current mask mandates across the country. In his experience, wearing a mask is not about a person’s civil liberties, but rather the numbers game when you work in healthcare.

Our friends at the Mayo Clinic have provided this excellent resource to track the data you need to help protect yourself, your patients, your friends, your family, and anyone else you may come in contact with during this unprecedented time. Trends for the US are simple to access and see, whether they are new cases, positive taste rates, total new cases, or others.

Data on this topic continues to accumulate, with experts evaluating and revising their previous findings to reflect more accurately what is taking place with coronavirus transmission. The most current data shows transmission primarily occurs from person to person in close proximity. These are the top places and activities that increase the risk of catching coronavirus/COVID-19.

From KevinMD.com comes the story of Hope Cook, who talks about her two bouts of burnout and how she overcame. “It takes courage, honesty, and a hard look at your role in the situation to overcome burnout. ‘Wusses’ are the ones who refuse to admit burnout and allow it to destroy their relationships, their career, and their own mental health.”