People who’ve had COVID-19 may have long-term immune protection against new variants of the virus, but researchers say vaccination remains the best safeguard against reinfection. Their small new study analyzed blood samples from 24 people whose COVID infections ranged from symptom-free to severe enough to send them to the hospital. While those who had mild… read on > read on >
All Mommy:
Variants of COVID Virus May ‘Hide Out’ in Body: Study
It looks like coronavirus variants can hide out in the human body much like some of their viral cousins do, making it hard for infected people to get rid of the virus entirely, researchers report. Successive variants have appeared since the original version of SARS-CoV-2 triggered the global pandemic, and vaccines and antibody treatments have… read on > read on >
What You Need to Know About the Infant Formula Recall
If you’re a parent using Similac, Alimentum or EleCare infant formulas, here’s updated facts on the ongoing product recall. As the U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigates, Abbott Nutrition has recalled certain powdered formulas made at its Sturgis, Mich., facility. The products have been linked to bacterial infections in five babies. All had to be… read on > read on >
Is Pandemic Social Media Use Worsening Tic Disorders in Teens?
For reasons that remain murky, new research warns that a spike in social media use during the pandemic might have worsened tic disorders in children. Tics are sudden twitches, movements or sounds that people do repeatedly because they can’t control their body. In the study, 90% of 20 tic patients aged 11 to 21 said… read on > read on >
Cloth Masks Don’t Cut It for Keeping COVID Away
If you’re counting on a cloth mask to protect you from COVID-19, you may need to re-think that strategy, a new study shows. Researchers found that cloth face masks do little to fend off tiny airborne particles, while concluding that specialized N95 and similar masks do a much better job. “Masks are air filters, and… read on > read on >
Fewer Breast Cancers May Be ‘Overdiagnosed’ by Mammograms Than Thought
Screening mammograms can lead to overdiagnosis of breast cancer, but a new study finds it happens less often than experts have thought. Researchers estimated that about 15% of breast cancers caught through routine mammography screening are overdiagnoses — meaning the tumors would never have caused harm if they had not been detected. The figure suggests… read on > read on >
Pfizer Vaccine Much Less Potent in Kids Aged 5-11
Fresh data shows that Pfizer’s COVID vaccine is far less powerful at preventing infection among children ages 5 to 11 than teens, a finding that could leave some parents of younger children worried. The vaccine — the only one authorized for that age group in the United States — does prevent severe illness in young… read on > read on >
Medical Treatments for Trans Youth Cut Rates of Depression, Suicidal Thoughts
Although Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has deemed it “child abuse,” access to “gender-affirming” services cuts the odds of severe depression and maybe even suicide among transgender teens, a new study finds. Investigators came to that conclusion after tracking the mental health of 104 transgender and nonbinary kids, aged 13 to 20. Over a year, roughly… read on > read on >
Which New Moms Are at Highest Risk for Postpartum Depression?
First-time moms and new mothers of twins may be among those at greatest risk of postpartum depression symptoms, a large new study suggests. Postpartum depression is a common illness. In the United States alone, about one in eight women report depression symptoms soon after giving birth, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and… read on > read on >
Nearly Half of 500 Million Free COVID Tests Still Left
As coronavirus cases across the United States drop, nearly half of the 500 million free COVID tests offered by the federal government have gone unused, according to the White House. It said Americans have placed 68 million orders for packages of four free rapid tests per family, but about 46% of the tests are still… read on > read on >