Virus

Dr. M’s SPA Newsletter Audiocast Volume 14 Issue 11

Measles Overview Again
From the CDC: As of this week, there have been 35 cases of measles, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported including seven direct importations of measles by international travelers and two outbreaks with more than five cases each. Most of these cases were among children and adolescents who had not received a measles-containing vaccine (MMR or MMRV), even if age eligible. (Site) In 2023, there were 58 total cases. A far cry from the 1274 cases in 2019, but still a sign that risk persists for some unvaccinated and immune compromised people.
What is measles – a refresher?
Measles is a serious, highly contagious and potentially deadly viral infection. It is caused by an RNA paramyxovirus. It is spread by contact with droplets from an infected person’s nose, mouth or throat. Sneezing and coughing can aerosolize the droplets and increase the range of infectious spread.
Enjoy, Dr. M

Dr. M’s SPA Newsletter Audiocast Volume 13 Issue 49

Respiratory Syncytial Virus
RSV is a 150 nanometer RNA virus that comes from a human orthopneumovirus that circulates in the winter primarily. Young children and infants infected with RSV mostly have upper respiratory tract symptoms where a subset develop lower respiratory tract disease known as bronchiolitis with the primary infection. It is the most common reason for hospitalization in infants between 0 and 6 months of age. Bronchiolitis appears as a wheezy, cough centric illness that rarely may progress to increased respiratory effort noted by wheezing, rales (lung crackles – sounds like stepping on leaves), chest wall rib retractions, grunting, fast breathing, nasal flaring and eventually respiratory hypoxia. If it persists, the event can rarely lead to respiratory collapse and death. Annually, 150 children under 5 years of age die from RSV in the US. Most of these children are premature births and have cardiopulmonary disease issues. Term healthy children rarely succumb to RSV in a serious way. A recent study of German infants and children hospitalized with RSV identified these risk factors: age <6 months, birth at 28–37 weeks gestational age, congenital defects, perinatal respiratory and cardiovascular disorders, and various other comorbidities as significant risk factors for ICU admission and death. ( Cai et. al. 2020) plus a mini lit review and a discussion on thanksgiving.
Enjoy
Dr. M

Dr. M’s SPA Newsletter Audiocast Volume 13 Issue 48

Covid 19 Post Mortem Part II
The story of the Standard American Diet and its directional connection to death from Sars2 – Covid.
Post Covid population health data has shown us that humans that chronically consume more meat, sugar, animal products and highly processed foods were associated with more death and morbidity if they contracted early versions of Covid19. The effect of consuming sugar products on mortality was considerable, and obesity has affected increased death rates and reduced recovery rates. (Kamyari et. al. 2021) (Greene et. al. 2021) (Merino et. al. 2021) – also a Recipe of the Week.
Enjoy
Dr. M

Dr. M’s SPA Newsletter Audiocast Volume 13 Issue 9

Coronavirus Update 81 plus other stuff
We continue to have a highly infectious Omicron endemic national state with new strain XBB.1.5 accounting for 75% of our cases now with absolutely no signs of worsening disease severity or morbidity. Having had a previous Omicron natural infection is beneficial towards preventing moderate to severe disease from current circulating Omicron strains, but not helping against getting mild infection at all. This week we look at the residual data that is of interest. It is thinning out for me. We also look at men’s health and the micronutrient iodine.
Enjoy,
Dr. M

Dr. M’s SPA Newsletter Audiocast Volume 13 Issue 5

 

Covid update #79 – This week we do a literature review looking at Covid and the post illness effects on lipid metabolism, chemical clearance and general long term health. We look at the effects of different mask types. We have a lifestyle Covid illness mitigation strategy moving forward. We finish with a look at liver and a recipe using liver as a main ingredient.   Enjoy, Dr. M

Dr. M’s Women and Children First Podcast #39 Paul Offit, MD – Latest Information of Vaccines for Covid and Children

Dr. Paul A. Offit is Director of the Vaccine Education Center and professor of pediatrics in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He is the Maurice R. Hilleman Professor of Vaccinology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Offit is an internationally recognized expert in the fields of virology and immunology, and was a member of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He is a member of the Food and Drug Administration Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, a member of the Institute of Medicine and co-editor of the foremost vaccine text, Vaccines.

He is a scientist, a skeptic, a thinker and an individual deeply passionate about children’s health.

This week we sit down again to discuss the latest with Covid, vaccines and children’s health as new data has prompted a new discussion.

I hope that you enjoy my latest conversation with Dr. Offit,

 

Dr. M

Dr. M’s SPA Newsletter Audiocast Volume 12 Issue 51

Coronavirus Update 76 plus other stuff
The work around Covid research is fading for me. This is now mostly a highly contagious upper respiratory infection for most. The morbidity has faded to a level where we are seeing very limited disease in children and the hospital data remains completely plateaued. Unless there is a dramatic shift in this virus, we are moving toward a world where Covid will be like the other 4 circulating coronaviruses for most of the United States population save for the high risk individuals as described throughout the pandemic.
Focus remains on self care to boost all immune activity to thwart all infections from all microbes.
Dr. M

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