We all ask what COVID does, but ‘What does COVID not do?’ might be the better question as we work to understand not only the symptoms of COVID and Long COVID, but more importantly the mechanisms by which this virus and others cause such long-term harm. Interestingly, this mounting push for understanding exactly how viruses…
Understanding causation of a disease often starts with recognizing correlations between possible triggers and an identified disease syndrome. Myalgic encephalomyelitis/ chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) has been recognized as a syndrome affecting millions for a number of years yet a full understanding of its mechanisms and causes is still forthcoming. Researchers who take it seriously rather…
The news offers a never-ending smorgasbord of COVID-19 studies, but analyses like this one which bring together a lot of information into one presentation deserve special attention. Many are studying the aftereffects of COVID 19, something we call Post-COVID syndrome or Long-Hauler Syndrome. Countless symptom fingerprints are attributed to this unholy viral disease thrust upon…
Most kids shrug off the call to bed as long as they can. With TV’s, smartphones, computers, and headphones among other bedroom electronics to keep them busy, young children want to keep going. Life is too much fun and there are too many things to do to justify turning out the lights and turning off…
Though tiny in size, viruses pack a big punch. Most recognize that from the various acute illnesses we face, including the recent heavyweight SARS CoV2 (which causes COVID 19). On the other hand, many may not know that viruses can contribute to long term conditions. Sure we know that some viruses can contribute to liver…
Mothers cherishes their little bundles of joy. We celebrate their birth and joyously commemorate the day for a lifetime. So much is poured into the infant’s first months and years in order to raise them into healthy adults. We should not ignore the fact that the little life has been swimming in amniotic fluid, absorbing…
Our cells undergo a lot of wear and tear in this fallen world of infection, toxins, and inflammation. The proteins take a beating, and sometimes they end up getting unfolded, misfolded, or stuck together. These dysfunctional proteins need to be cleaned up and cleaned out if the cells are going to continue working properly. When…
Foggy brains during a viral illness are nothing new as most of us feel foggy during the flu or bad head cold. This fogginess typically resolves as the infection is clear. COVID foggy brains can rise to a different level, however, both in terms of severity and duration. Not that the flu bug can’t kill…
Unlike those who consider life to be an illusion, we all know that our experiences can leave long-lasting effects on who we are. For any pediatric health care provider and many adopting parents, the fact that early life deprivation for children leaves life-long effects is an undeniable conclusion. Having worked with many families who adopted…
Sometimes antibiotics are needed to save a life. They are not inherently evil. However, not all uses of antibiotics are worth the risks associated. We know that antibiotics can trigger yeast overgrowth, intestinal problems, and possible allergic reactions. In this study, researchers also found a link between increased use of antibiotics over the lifetime and…