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Towards Solving the Long Covid Puzzle

Ground Truths • 10191 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Research Treatment Infections Vaccination
  1. Recent studies shed light on the disrupted blood-brain barrier in Long Covid, with implications for brain fog and inflammation.
  2. Persistent SARS-CoV-2 infections increase the risk of Long Covid, with viral loads indicating active replication.
  3. Interferon-gamma biomarker shows promise in diagnosing and treating Long Covid, potentially aiding in clinical trials.

Immunity Debt: The Conspiracy Theory Elevated to Popular Pseudoscience That Is Making Children Sick

LIL Science • 1277 implied HN points • 03 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Immune System Infections Conspiracy Theories
  1. The concept of 'Immunity Debt' is a dangerous and misleading idea that lacks scientific evidence.
  2. Exposure to pathogens does not weaken the immune system but can lead to severe illness in immunocompromised individuals.
  3. Post-COVID-19 immune system dysfunction can have serious consequences like increased rates of cancer and autoimmune diseases.
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Friday Q&A: COVID, flu & RSV

Are You Okay? • 279 implied HN points • 25 Aug 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Health Vaccines Infections Medication Immune System
  1. Do not worry about taking over-the-counter medications like Ibuprofen for common vaccine side effects; they do not significantly affect vaccine effectiveness.
  2. It is possible for individuals to contract Covid, flu, and RSV at the same time; the severity of the illness can vary depending on the individual's health condition.
  3. Consult with your doctor if you are taking immunosuppressants while considering getting a vaccine; adjustments may be needed to ensure vaccine efficacy.

Return of the mask?

Logging the World • 358 implied HN points • 30 Apr 23
🏥 Health & Wellness COVID-19 Public Health Masks Infections Prevention
  1. Masks may help reduce COVID spread, but their impact could be limited. Calls for widespread mask-wearing may not significantly alter infection rates and could be less effective than expected.
  2. Clarity in messaging is crucial. Different perspectives within organizations like Independent SAGE can lead to confusion in public health recommendations. Consistent and clear communication is essential for effective response.
  3. Temporary return to mask-wearing might not have a significant long-term impact. Adherence to such measures could be short-lived and may not prevent exponential growth unless sustained over time.

UK COVID data, week starting 30th January

Logging the World • 338 implied HN points • 02 Feb 23
🏥 Health Politics Covid data Science communication Long Covid Infections Vaccination
  1. The XBB.1.5 COVID variant is around 10-12%, growing but not as dominant as other variants like BA.5 or BA.1
  2. ZOE data shows a rise in COVID cases and hospital admissions are increasing again, with a 4-week doubling rate
  3. The latest Long COVID data from ONS indicates a modest drop in severe symptoms, despite high infection numbers

Virulence Management

Splitting Infinity • 19 implied HN points • 04 Oct 23
🔬 Science Evolution Immunity Infections
  1. Evolution plays a crucial role in the development of pathogens where they adapt quickly to evade the immune system.
  2. The level of virulence of a pathogen depends on a tradeoff between its ability to spread and the health of the host.
  3. Virulence management is an approach that aims to make pathogens evolve into less harmful strains through changing the evolutionary context in which they exist.

Get your Flu Shot

Are You Okay? • 0 implied HN points • 24 Aug 20
🏥 Health & Wellness Medical Vaccination Infections Prevention Treatment
  1. Flu season in the U.S. generally starts in October and can last till early spring, with a peak in December.
  2. The effectiveness of the flu vaccine varies from 20-60%, but even with lower effectiveness, it can still significantly reduce morbidity and mortality.
  3. Getting a flu shot this year is especially critical to prevent overwhelming the healthcare system and helping to manage both flu and COVID-19.