Clinical

Evidence that alterations in a patient’s senses of smell and taste were common in COVID-19 infection was abundant at the outset of the pandemic. It was also completely anecdotal, and sometimes refuted in early studies. Now that more cases have amassed and more in-depth research completed, however, it seems clear that such alterations are, in fact, strong (but not universal) indicators that a patient has been infected with the virus. JAMA Otolaryngology – Head & …

We’ve read a lot lately about the prospect of social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic raising incidence of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and other behavioral concerns in the general public. Looking back farther, you may recall a handful of urgent care operators trying to develop a line of behavioral services in their communities. Could the current public health crisis serve as a conduit to finally get such initiatives off the ground? Freeman Health System …

Both the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines seem to be eliciting a higher-than-expected rate of anaphylaxis, according to an article just published by Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. While the rate of allergic reaction is roughly 10 times greater than it is for flu vaccine, the authors conclude that the incidence could still be called “rare” (21 cases out of 1.9 million doses given as of December 23, 2020) and that the benefits of receiving …

We told you recently about the “new,” more contagious variant of COVID-19 causing illness in the United Kingdom. Less than 2 weeks later, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed multiple U.S. cases caused by the same variant. It’s also been found in Canada, as well as numerous other countries. Further, it’s been revealed that the variant was actually identified in London back in September. While disease caused by this variant has not …

Once the celebration over the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines died down, it didn’t take long for questions to arise over whether the regimen laid out was really the best one. An ongoing resurgence of cases led some experts to question whether it might not be wise to spread out the two-shot sequence, conjecturing that delaying the second shot might allow for more people to receive their first dose earlier. That prospect is being debated in …

Use of e-cigarettes and similar devices, a practice collectively known as vaping, was promoted early on as a “safer” alternative to traditional tobacco smoking or a way to help smokers wean themselves off the habit. Urgent care providers now know that’s far from the truth, as vaping has been blamed for a slew of serious health problems. The somewhat good news is that an upward trend in the number of U.S. adolescents who vape may …

It’s been presumed—but not confirmed or quantified—that there’s a window of protection from further infection after an individual recovers from COVID-19. This is especially important when it comes to the healthcare workers who provide care for patients, including the invaluable team members in your urgent care center. Now data published online by The New England Journal of Medicine offers a glimmer of good (and validated) news, however: Antibodies protect most healthcare workers from reinfection for …

Readers of mainstream media reports on availability of the COVID-19 vaccine are likely to be confused as to when they themselves will be eligible to get the shot. Where the Boston Herald just reported that the general population might be eligible for immunization “by February,” Forbes posted an article saying that a quarter of the world’s population won’t be able to get the vaccine until 2022. They’re both likely to be correct. The Herald’s source …

With coronavirus vaccinations now being administered to the first round of recipients, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just issued a new advisory specifying groups who are deemed to be “safe” to receive the vaccine. Specifically, the CDC advises that adults with underlying health conditions and autoimmune conditions, as well as those with a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome and Bell’s palsy can be immunized. Last week, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted …

We know that immunocompromised patients are at increased risk for all manner of infection, including COVID-19. We also know that patients with cancer fall under that broad umbrella. However, new research indicates that cancer patients, specifically, are at greater risk for infection and subsequent mortality due to the virus. This phenomenon seems to be especially prevalent in those recently diagnosed with leukemia, lung cancer, and non–Hodgkin lymphoma, according to a study just published in JAMA …