Clinical

Patients may rightly feel a sense of relief upon “getting over” a virus that has killed more than half a million Americans. That may dissipate as weeks—and months—go on with persistent symptoms that inhibit quality of life and raise the specter of ongoing illness, however. And new data published by JAMA Network now indicate that this problem may be much more widespread than previously understood. Fully three quarters of patients continue to have symptoms 6 …

The excitement and optimism that erupt with every approval of a COVID-19 vaccine are tempered by the problematic system of distributing and administering those vaccines. The public is further frustrated and fearful that there is no “cure” for the virus. A new method of inhibiting symptoms and preventing spread within members of the same household may be on the horizon, however, according to a report presented recently at the (virtual) annual meeting of the Conference …

Every iteration of COVID-19 tests has been celebrated as a significant step forward in curbing the pandemic and helping the country inch back closer to “normal” life. What if one variety of test proved to be a hindrance to that effort, though? The College of American Pathologists is the latest group to raise concerns that COVID-19 tests administered at home by patients or family members may not be as accurate as those conducted in the …

As we’ve reported, there seems to be confusion among the public regarding when it’s relatively safe to interact with others after being vaccinated against COVID-19. The consensus among public health officials has been that the vaccine reaches optimal protection against the virus 14 days after administration. However, recently there have been reports of breakthrough cases occurring beyond that window. While patients who’ve tested positive more than 2 weeks after getting the vaccine have been asymptomatic, …

At a couple of points over the past year as the country (and the world) struggled with the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been brief moments of triumph. One was when tests became widely available. Another was when the first vaccines were approved. Those moments were also marked with the disappointment that urgent care was not looked at as part of the solution, in either case. Now that urgent care centers are, for the most part, …

Even though the increasing number of approved vaccines is grabbing the headlines these days, the hard truth is that millions of Americans continue to become infected with the COVID-19 virus. An unacceptably high number of those patients require a stay in the hospital, where the risk of mortality is still relatively high compared with patients who do not need to be admitted. Thankfully, new research continues to shed light on which patients are at the …

With more American receiving the COVID-19 vaccine every day, confusion is bubbling up over what “safe behavior” means post-shot. Are masks still advised? What about social distancing and quarantine procedures? Recognizing the potential for misinformation to cause a setback in our fight against the pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued guidance on appropriate safety standards for people who have been vaccinated and those around them. Among the highlights are the revelation …

Television station WRIC in Virginia ran a story recently about a woman who visited a local urgent care center as well as the emergency room after awaking one morning with eye pain and vision disturbances (including total vision loss in one eye). Various providers in both settings were stumped after ruling out conditions ranging from severe conjunctivitis to an unknown foreign body. After weeks of running from one doctor to the next, an optometrist suggested …

Every year at this time, much of the country starts to shake off the winter doldrums. The days are longer, the temperature starts creeping up, and there’s a sense of renewal. People just can’t wait to say goodbye to winter and to being stuck inside. This year, of course, that urge may be particularly strong. The fatigue of social distancing restrictions that have kept us from even the lower intensity interactions could be a serious …