COVID-19 Precautions to Reduce Risk of Transmission and Illness

There are well-known basic protective measures to prevent spread of viral illnesses like COVID-19 including washing hands frequently, stay home, avoid touching your face, maintain social distancing, cleaning surfaces routinely , wear a mask , etc. However, there are also some interesting reports of other interventions that may provide further protection that one may not know about. 1) Published back in 2004, researchers noted that daily saline nasal spray  (plain old saltwater) use appears…

3/19/2020 0

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"The Flu" vs "H. Flu" (Hint, they are not the same thing)

Electon microcope image of the influenza virus. Image from Wikipedia . Prior to 1933, the flu was thought to be caused by the bacteria Haemophilus influenzae and not a virus. Since 1933, we now know that the flu is actually caused by the influenza virus (types A, B, and C). However, there is much confusion among patients and even healthcare professionals who still erroneously consider Haemophilus influenzae and the flu or influenza to all be the same thing... they absolutely are not! …

10/13/2019 0

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At-Home Influenza (Flu) Testing

There are kits that can be purchased inexpensively over-the-counter to test for strep and mono . You can also add influenza (aka "the flu") to the do-it-yourself list, but unfortunately, this test kit is expensive at several hundred dollars on Amazon to perform 10-20 tests or about $20 per test. Taking about 15 minutes to perform, these flu test kits are designed to detect Influenza A (including H1N1 virus) as well as the Influenza B virus antigens in nasopharyngeal specimens …

1/24/2015 0

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Another Egg-Free Flu Vaccine Approved by FDA

First there was Flucelvax  introduced in 2012 and now there is Flublock , both considered egg-free for those concerned with egg allergy in traditional flu vaccines. Rather than being cultured in eggs, Flucelvax is cultured in mammalian cells and Flublock is grown in caterpillar cells injected by an insect virus containing the flu gene. Both vaccines are approved for use in people 18 years and older. Why the concern of egg-allergic patients with the traditional flu vaccine used to defend…

1/17/2013 1

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Egg Free Flu Vaccine Approved by FDA

Why the concern of egg-allergic patients with the flu vaccine used to defend against both seasonal and pandemic flu virus ? Traditionally, the flu shot vaccine (both H1N1 and seasonal) are grown inside eggs which is where this concern arises. It also doesn't help that the pre-flu shot questionnaire specifically asks about egg allergy. Though egg-based, during vaccine production the egg protein is filtered out such that there should be no egg contaminants in the final vaccine. However, i…

12/02/2012 0

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Is Flu Shot Safe for Patients With Egg Allergy?

It is the season for flu shots... and with that... we invariably get phone calls from patients asking whether it is safe to receive the flu shot if they are egg allergic. Generally speaking, the blunt answer is that it is safe... even if you have a life-threatening egg allergy. Why the concern? The flu shot vaccine (both H1N1 and seasonal) are grown inside eggs which is where this concern arises. It also doesn't help that the pre-flu shot questionnaire specifically asks about egg allerg…

10/09/2012 0

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