Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Latest Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

What a dirty lot many American men are!

An observational study sponsored by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) and the Soap and Detergent Association (SDA), has found that almost a third of American men leave public restrooms without washing their hands.

18 Sep 2007

$Once a year osteoporosis jab reduces fractures and saves lives$

Once a year osteoporosis jab reduces fractures and saves lives

A once a year injection of an osteoporosis drug has been found to reduce the number of new hip fractures for older people and also saves lives.

18 Sep 2007

Skin cooling may increase risk of discoloration after laser treatment

A cooling technique intended to protect the skin may actually increase the risk of discoloration in dark-skinned patients undergoing laser treatments for mole-like skin lesions, according to a report in the September issue of Archives of Dermatology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

18 Sep 2007

When it comes to washing with soap and water, some Americans seem be slipping up

When it comes to washing with soap and water, some Americans seem be slipping up.

18 Sep 2007

Cryoablation for treating arrhythmias

When out-of-control nerve impulses cause the heart to beat irregularly, cardiologists often use heat during a minimally invasive outpatient procedure to destroy the defective signaling pathways and restore the rhythm to order.

17 Sep 2007

Evista (raloxifene hydrochloride) approved for breast cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Evista (raloxifene hydrochloride) for reducing the risk of invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and in postmenopausal women at high risk for invasive breast cancer.

17 Sep 2007

China culls 33,000 ducks to contain bird flu outbreak

Authorities in China say a suspected outbreak of the H5N1 bird flu virus has been discovered among ducks in an outlying district of the southern city of Guangzhou.

17 Sep 2007

Global child deaths have reached a record low

Global child deaths have reached a record low, falling below 10 million per year to 9.7 million, down from almost 13 million in 1990, according to UNICEF.

13 Sep 2007

Hungry people crave more variety

You're whale watching in Alaska, longing for a margarita and a spot on a beach. You think to yourself, "How did I get here? I hate the cold. Never finished Moby Dick. And I get seasick!" A fascinating new study from the Journal of Consumer Research finds that when we long for something intensely - like a much-needed vacation - a wider array of options will sound appealing, potentially leading to some out-of-character choices.

13 Sep 2007

Doctors need support to help them deal with grief and emotional disturbance they may experience

Doctors could benefit from support to help them cope with the trauma of patient death, says a psychologist speaking at the Death, dying & disposal conference organised by the University of Bath.

13 Sep 2007

Occupational vocal cord dysfunction

Researchers from the UAB and the Vall d'Hebron Hospital have diagnosed two patients affected with vocal cord dysfunction, which causes coughing and difficulty in breathing due to irritating agents that are breathed in at the workplace.

10 Sep 2007

Virochip technique identifies new viruses in study of respiratory infections and asthma attacks

A new study has found an unexpected number of viruses and viral subtypes in patients with respiratory tract infections (RTIs). The technique used in the study may help identify new viruses associated with human diseases.

10 Sep 2007

Two cases of anthrax in the U.S. from African animal hides

Two cases of anthrax have been reported in the U.S. and the culprit again appears to be African animal hides.

9 Sep 2007

Adolescents need to see their doctors more often to receive the HPV vaccine

Despite recommendations for annual preventive exams for adolescents, only 10 percent of teens have enough visits within 12 months to receive the recommended three shots needed for HPV vaccine. Ideally the three shots are delivered within six months, and only 1 percent of teens see their physicians that often.

5 Sep 2007

Parent's views on their children's asthma medications can hamper kids' asthma care

The next battle in the war on asthma symptom control could be a psychological one, a new study finds.

5 Sep 2007

Key differences discovered between avian and human flu

St. Jude scientists have found key features that distinguish influenza viruses found in birds from those that infect humans.

5 Sep 2007

Flu shots prevent many visits to the doctor during flu season

Vaccinating children against the influenza virus will help prevent many outpatient visits and hospitalizations due to the flu, according to a recent study published in the September issue of Pediatrics by a pediatrician at Brenner Children's Hospital, part of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

5 Sep 2007

1.5 million children suffering from diarrhoea can be saved every year with the right treatment

Despite global efforts to control it, diarrhoea is still one of the most common reasons for the high child mortality rates in many low and middle-income countries.

5 Sep 2007

Revlimid receives approval in Switzerland for treatment of multiple myeloma

Celgene International Sarl has announced that it's oral cancer drug, Revlimid (lenalidomide) has been granted approval by the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products (Swissmedic) for use in combination with dexamethasone as a treatment for patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy.

5 Sep 2007

Equine flu highlights issue of biosecurity

Not long before the equine flu outbreak, Dr Phil McManus from the University of Sydney School of Geosciences sent out an Australia-wide questionnaire to thoroughbred horse breeders. He asked them what they thought was the biggest threat to their industry.

5 Sep 2007