The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) virus and resulting COVID‐19 pandemic present important diagnostic evaluation challenges. These range from understanding the value of signs and symptoms in predicting possible infection, assessing whether existing biochemical and imaging tests can identify infection and people needing critical care, and evaluating whether new diagnos...
Preface Influenza is a seasonal respiratory illness that occurs annually, usually peaking in winter. It affects 5-10% of adults and 20-30% of children each year.[1] This common, yet serious, infectious disease, represente a significant threat to public health. Globally, annual influenza epidemics are estimated to result in about 3 to 5 million cases of severe illness, millions of hospita...
COVID-19 caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was officially declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020[1,3] . According to European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the rate of COVID-19 cases among people aged 65 years and older increased by 7% by the week ending 18 December 2022 compared with the previo...
Mild or moderate COVID-19 lasts about two weeks for most people. But others experience lingering health problems even after the fever and cough go away and they are no longer testing positive for the illness, which is known as post-COVID conditions (PCC) or long COVID. The World Health Organization has developed a definition for long COVID as coronavirus symptoms that persist or return three month...
Mind the Gap in Kidney Care Facts about Kidney Worldwide At least 1 in 10 people worldwide is living with kidney disease.1 According to the Global Burden of Disease study, in 2019,>3.1 million deaths were attributed to kidney dysfunction, making it the seventh leading risk factor for death worldwide (Figure 1).2 However, global mortality from all kidney diseases may actually range betwee...
Things You Need to Know about Folate Folate, a B vitamin which is essential for red blood cell formation and for other healthy cell growth and function. It is a necessary nutrient for everyone, but particularly crucial for women who may become pregnant. Adequate intake of folate before and during pregnancy can prevent significant birth defects in the baby's brain and spine. What’s more, the ...
Build a COVID-19 Protective Barrier with Getein COVID-19 cases spike in summer months this year. SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is constantly changing and new variants of the virus are expected to occur. Numerous variants of the virus that cause COVID-19 are being tracked globally during this pandemic. Is COVID on the rise? From barbecues to festivals and elder facilitie...