As New York City officials grapple with the sudden appearance of a rare inflammatory condition in children exposed to COVID-19, a new Italian report describes similar cases that have cropped up in that country. The researchers say their findings provide “the first clear evidence” of a link between the new coronavirus and this inflammatory condition. Between Feb. 18 and April 20, there were 10 cases of young children hospitalized with an inflammatory condition that resembles Kawasaki disease in the Lombardy region of northern Italy. In the five years leading up to the middle of February, only 19 children in the region had ever been diagnosed with the condition. Those recent cases represent a 30-fold increase in the number of cases, but it’s difficult to draw firm conclusions with such small numbers, the scientists noted. Eight of the 10 children hospitalized after Feb. 18 were found to have antibodies to the new coronavirus. All 10 children survived, but they had more severe symptoms than those diagnosed with Kawasaki disease in the previous five years. “We noticed an increase in the number of children being referred to our hospital with an inflammatory condition similar to Kawasaki disease around the time the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak was taking hold in our region,” said study co-author Dr. Lucio Verdoni, from the Hospital Papa Giovanni XXIII in Bergamo, Italy. “Although this complication…  read on >

It’s happened before: Couples stuck at home during blizzards, hurricanes or other natural disasters enjoy some “alone time” — and a baby boom follows. But a new survey from researchers at the University of Florence in Italy suggests the same probably won’t unfold during the COVID-19 pandemic. Why? “What we found the main reasons that led people to not wanting to conceive included worries related to future economic difficulties and consequences on pregnancy,” said study author Elisabetta Micelli, from the university’s Assisted Reproduction Technologies Center. The researchers conducted nearly 1,500 online interviews and found that nearly 82% of those surveyed said they didn’t plan to conceive during the coronavirus pandemic. The survey was conducted in the third week of the lockdown in Italy and included men and women in a stable heterosexual relationship for at least one year. The findings were published May 7 in the Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology. Of the 268 participants who said that, prior to the pandemic, they had plans to have a child, more than one-third abandoned their intentions when the pandemic struck. The main reasons were worries about future economic struggles (58%) and any potential consequences on pregnancy (58%) from the new coronavirus. Even though almost half of those who responded to the survey had not lost their jobs or income, “the fear of imminent and future…  read on >

Asking your child to mow the lawn is a risky proposition, a new study suggests. About 9,400 American kids are injured by lawn mowers each year, and mowers cause 12% to 29% of all traumatic amputations among them, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Toe and foot amputations are the most common. “Lawn mower injuries are largely preventable, but despite increased awareness, my colleagues and I continue to see a significant number of cases from May through October, some of which can be truly devastating,” said study senior author Dr. Theodore Ganley, an orthopedic surgeon at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. His team analyzed data on more than 1,300 patients under age 18 who were treated for lawn mower injuries at 49 U.S. hospitals between 2005 and 2017. The lawn mower incident rate was 7.26 injuries per 100,000 cases in rural areas, and 1.47 injuries per 100,000 in urban areas, the findings showed. The average age of injured kids was 7.7 years. Rural areas had a significantly higher percentage of injuries among 1- to 5-year-olds, compared to urban areas. Ganley said that’s likely due to the increased use of riding mowers. “I personally encourage parents not to give toddlers rides on lawn mowers for fun, because when a child hears the mower, they are likely to run outside for a ride and the operator…  read on >

Need counseling about the care of bone or joint issues? During the coronavirus pandemic, it may be available on the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ (AAOS) website. Its OrthoInfo.org blog includes tips for treating bone and joint pain while sheltering in place, as well as a look the pandemic’s implications for postponed surgery. “To say that the COVID-19 pandemic has been an unparalleled challenge for all of us is an understatement,” AAOS spokesman Dr. Stuart Fischer said in an academy news release. “The AAOS recognizes that patients, families and caregivers are facing a host of unique and unexpected worries about their current, and even future, orthopedic care.” The blog provides answers to common patient questions, including: How can I continue my orthopedic care while sheltering in place during the pandemic? Telehealth phone and video calls can be used if it’s not possible to see your doctor in person. What should I do if my orthopedic surgery is postponed? Talk to your doctors. They can help patients better understand what is an “elective procedure” and why many hospitals are postponing these procedures during the pandemic, the AAOS says. Can my orthopedic surgeon still provide treatment? AAOS says: “Although the COVID-19 pandemic presents many hurdles to delivering patient care, orthopedic surgeons continue to provide safe and effective treatment in the midst of what has become the ‘new…  read on >

Fear of exposure to COVID-19 appears to be exacting an unexpected toll on public health: Childhood vaccination rates have plummeted, leaving millions at risk for other life-threatening illnesses. “We’re seeing a general drop in pediatrician visits of 70% to 80% — and that’s very concerning,” said Dr. Sara Goza, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). She added that the pandemic has prompted many parents to skip “well visits” for their little ones. Babies under age 2 traditionally get check-ups this time of year, and older kids get vaccinated for summer camp. But not this spring, she said. Dr. Sean O’Leary, an associate professor of pediatrics-infectious diseases at the University of Colorado, in Aurora, agreed. “Most practices are seeing a huge drop,” he said. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is trying to get a handle on the pandemic’s effect on childhood vaccine rates. “We are currently examining the impact on a national level,” said Dr. Melinda Wharton of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. The agency’s findings and additional guidance will be published in the next several weeks, she added. Evidence of a potential public health disaster is already more than anecdotal. The New York Times reported last week on a pediatric vaccine survey by the Physician’s Computer Company (PCC), a pediatric electronic health records firm. PCC contacted…  read on >

The severity of COVID-19 illness may be influenced by what researchers call “cytokine storms.” In a new study, investigators assessed 522 COVID-19 patients, aged 5 days to 97 years, who were admitted to two hospitals in Wuhan, China, in December and January. The study also included a “control group” of 40 healthy people. Compared to the control group, 76% of COVID-19 patients had significantly lower levels of T cells — a type of white blood cell that plays a crucial role in immune response against viral infections. Patients admitted to the intensive care unit had much lower T cell counts than those who didn’t require ICU care. Patients over age 60 had the lowest T cell counts, the findings showed. And the T cells that did survive in COVID-19 patients were exhausted and unable to function at full capacity, the study authors said. COVID-19 patients also had high levels of cytokines — a protein that normally helps fight off infection. Too many cytokines can prompt an excessive inflammatory response called a “cytokine storm,” which causes the proteins to attack healthy cells. That suggests the new coronavirus does not attack T cells directly. Instead, it triggers the cytokine release, which results in the loss and exhaustion of T cells, according to the authors of the study published May 1 in the journal Frontiers in Immunology. The…  read on >

Though most Americans are well aware that protecting themselves from sunburn is important, many don’t take precautions, a new survey finds. Protecting yourself from exposure to sunlight is the best way of preventing skin cancer, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). The results of the AAD survey show that 76% of Americans know the importance of sun protection, but only 41% regularly protect themselves outdoors. Exposure to harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays is the most preventable risk factor for skin cancer, but 28% of survey respondents said they rarely or never use sun protection and 65% don’t know that shade protects them from UV rays. “It is estimated that more than 9,500 people are diagnosed with skin cancer every day, and nearly 20 Americans die every day from melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer,” said Dr. Bruce Thiers, the president of the AAD. “Skin cancer affects more Americans than any other cancer, yet most cases are preventable by seeking shade, wearing sun-protective clothing and applying sunscreen on all skin not covered by clothing,” he added in an AAD news release. The AAD recommends that everyone: Seek shade when the sun’s rays are the strongest, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Wear sun-protective clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses. Use a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with a sun-protection factor (SPF)…  read on >