Children may be less likely to develop COVID-19, but they can get it too; and it may be more severe for infants. Reports on the new coronavirus disease COVID-19 have reassured us that children are less likely to be infected and are likely to have milder symptoms. An information page… read more "Covid-19 in Children: A New Study Out of China"
Measles Was Gone, But It Came Back
Measles was eliminated from the United States in 2000. It could have stayed gone, but it didn’t. As of April 19, 626 cases had been reported to the CDC so far in 2019 in multiple states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada,… read more "Measles Was Gone, But It Came Back"
Do Helmets Prevent Head Injuries?
A cycling enthusiast asked me about helmets. It seems compellingly obvious to me that a head impacting the pavement without a helmet is likely to sustain more damage than a head protected by a helmet. He challenged that, citing a BMJ article by Ben Goldacre that questioned whether the evidence showed that helmets do… read more "Do Helmets Prevent Head Injuries?"
Worms, Germs, and Dirt: What Can They Teach Us About Allergies and Autoimmune Diseases?
Humans evolved in an environment where they were exposed to animals, dirt, and a variety of pathogens and parasites. Our immune systems evolved to cope with that environment. Now most of us live in a different environment, with safe drinking water, flush toilets, food inspection, immunizations, and public sanitation. This… read more "Worms, Germs, and Dirt: What Can They Teach Us About Allergies and Autoimmune Diseases?"