Archive for infectious diseases
Social distancing: Benefits beyond COVID-19
During COVID-19, social distancing has largely kept children away from school, daycare, and other contact with friends. But even though social distancing may be difficult and annoying, new research from Boston Children’s Hospital shows it has proven benefits beyond preventing COVID-19; it also helps stop the spread of other common childhood infections, like flu. “Any ... Read More about Social distancing: Benefits beyond COVID-19
COVID-19 and kids: Do you know myth from fact?
As COVID-19 continues to spread across the United States, there is still much misinformation and confusion about how kids are affected by the illness. Test your knowledge by taking our quiz. [smartslider3 slider=”31″] Take our previous quiz and get more answers about Boston Children’s response to COVID-19. Share this:
Natural killer cells: Protect the placenta cell but kill the infection
Infections that reach the placenta can lead to spontaneous abortions, intrauterine growth restriction, congenital abnormalities, and premature births. New research from the laboratory of Judy Lieberman, MD, PhD, and colleagues at Harvard University shows that a group of cells near the site where the placenta attaches to the uterine wall plays an essential role in ... Read More about Natural killer cells: Protect the placenta cell but kill the infection
Q and A: What you need to know about ticks and Lyme disease
With summer on the way, you and your family will probably be spending more time outdoors. You may be taking walks, playing in your yard or a park, biking, or camping. But before you head outside, it’s important to take precautions to reduce your children’s risk for a common tick borne illness, Lyme disease. Dr. Rebekka ... Read More about Q and A: What you need to know about ticks and Lyme disease
Capturing SARS-CoV-2’s shape-shifting spike protein
The rod-like spike proteins on the surface of SARS CoV-2 are the tip of the spear of the COVID-19 pandemic. The spikes bind to human cells via the ACE2 receptor and then dramatically change shape. They jack-knife, folding in on themselves to fuse their own membrane with the membrane of our cells. And that opens ... Read More about Capturing SARS-CoV-2’s shape-shifting spike protein
Internet searches provide real-time estimate of Lyme disease risk
Lyme disease season is well underway. How much of a risk do we face for this tick-borne illness? A new method dubbed Lymelight, developed by researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital and Google, can accurately estimate Lyme disease risk in real time, down to the county level. Historically, estimates of Lyme disease have been based on ... Read More about Internet searches provide real-time estimate of Lyme disease risk
More details on MIS-C, the post-COVID multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children
Boston Children’s Hospital and collaborators launched the national Overcoming COVID-19 study in April to track children, teens, and young adults hospitalized with COVID-19 across the U.S. In yesterday’s New England Journal of Medicine, investigators provides a fuller picture of the still-mysterious, life-threatening multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). Key takeaways· The largest case series of ... Read More about More details on MIS-C, the post-COVID multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children
EEE: A worried parent’s questions, answered
In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, the last thing we want to think about is another virus. But now that summer is upon us, so are mosquitoes. And with mosquitoes comes the risk of eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), a rare but deadly virus. Last fall in Massachusetts, there were 12 confirmed cases of EEE, ... Read More about EEE: A worried parent’s questions, answered
Getting to a COVID-19 vaccine as fast and as safely as possible
The novel coronavirus is not expected to disappear anytime soon. With physical distancing, virus testing, contact tracing, and potentially new therapeutics, we may be able to keep it partially at bay. But many eyes are looking toward a COVID-19 vaccine, and scientists are feeling the urgency. Key takeaways. Work is moving quickly, but to show ... Read More about Getting to a COVID-19 vaccine as fast and as safely as possible
Type III interferon in COVID-19: Protective or harmful?
Our immune system makes interferons and other cytokines to help us fight viruses. But in COVID-19, we’ve learned that they can also contribute to damaging, potentially life-threatening lung inflammation. New work published yesterday in the journal Science helps tease out the good from the bad for one interferon of interest: type III. Key takeaways. At ... Read More about Type III interferon in COVID-19: Protective or harmful?