Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Latest Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Antibiotics ineffective for cough treatment in lower respiratory tract infections

Use of antibiotics provided no measurable impact on the severity or duration of coughs even if a bacterial infection was present, finds a large, prospective study of people who sought treatment in U.S. primary or urgent care settings for lower-respiratory tract infections.

15 Apr 2024

Breast milk's secret weapon against RSV revealed in new study

Researchers explored how human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) protect infants from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), suggesting that these components in breast milk may prevent or reduce the severity of RSV infections through multiple mechanisms including gut microbiome modulation and direct antiviral actions.

15 Apr 2024

Study reveals how SARS-CoV-2 hijacks lung cells to drive COVID-19 severity

Researchers identified how SARS-CoV-2 targets and manipulates specific lung cells, using innovative techniques to trace the virus's impact on the cells' gene expression, revealing insights into early COVID-19 pathogenesis.

14 Apr 2024

U-M study reveals potential pathway to reverse lung fibrosis

The most common type of lung fibrosis -; scarring of the lungs -- is idiopathic, meaning of unknown cause.

13 Apr 2024

Radon exposure associated with concerning rise in non-smoking lung cancer

Although lung cancer is traditionally thought of as a "smoker's disease," a surprising 15-20% of newly diagnosed lung cancers occur in people who have never smoked, many of whom are in their 40s or 50s.

12 Apr 2024

Meta-analysis uncovers stress-responsive genes in Arabidopsis

Plants can be temperamental. Even weeds along the side of highways or pushing their way up in the cracks of concrete sidewalks can get stressed out by dehydration, cold, excess salt and more.

12 Apr 2024

Blocking polyphosphates could help treat chronic infections

Most disease-causing bacteria are known for their speed: In mere minutes, they can double their population, quickly making a person sick.

12 Apr 2024

Exploring the health secrets of cucurbits: A closer look at Cucumis and Momordica

Review investigates the health impacts of Cucumis and Momordica plants, emphasizing their potential in managing diabetes, inflammation, and cancer due to their rich bioactive compounds.

11 Apr 2024

Annual COVID-19 vaccine proves to be a wise investment for personal health and pocketbook

Study finds that receiving an annual COVID-19 vaccine is clinically and economically beneficial for individuals, regardless of insurance status, offering savings by reducing the likelihood of infection and its associated costs.

11 Apr 2024

Gut bacteria play a pivotal role in obesity's impact on body fat metabolism

Review explores the complex interplay between gut microbiota dysregulation in obesity and its impacts on white and brown adipose tissue metabolism, focusing on direct and indirect effects on mitochondria, highlighting potential avenues for obesity treatment through microbiota-focused strategies.

11 Apr 2024

ChatGPT could be an effective tool to help reduce vaccine hesitancy

New research being presented at this year's ESCMID Global Congress (formerly ECCMID) in Barcelona, Spain (27-30 April) suggests that the free-to-use, widely accessible ChatGPT could be an effective tool to help reduce vaccine hesitancy among the general public, as well as providing helpful advice on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in conjunction with sexual health clinics, by improving knowledge and access to care.

10 Apr 2024

Researchers create novel drug that can prevent flu-induced lung injury

Infection with the influenza virus leads to lung injury through inflammation over-activation that causes collateral damage to cells required for breathing.

10 Apr 2024

Human-wildlife interface: Starling movements linked to E. coli carriage

Research unveils how spotless starlings' movements, monitored via GPS, relate to the carriage and potential spread of Escherichia coli (E. coli), emphasizing the significant role of bird movement patterns in transmitting pathogens across different environments.

10 Apr 2024

Study reveals unexpected vulnerability of lung immune cells to SARS-CoV-2

The lung-cell type that's most susceptible to infection by SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is not the one previously assumed to be most vulnerable.

10 Apr 2024

An Arm and a Leg: Attack of the Medicare machines

Covering the American health care system means we tell some scary stories. This episode of "An Arm and a Leg" sounds like a real horror movie.

10 Apr 2024

Avian flu's leap to humans: Understanding risks and prevention strategies

Comprehensive report by the EFSA and ECDC delves into the factors that could prompt an avian influenza virus to evolve and potentially spark a pandemic, emphasizing the One Health approach for effective prevention and risk mitigation strategies.

10 Apr 2024

Blood protein could be a potential biomarker for delayed concussion recovery in children

Researchers have discovered a blood protein that could help detect which children will experience ongoing concussion symptoms more than two weeks after an injury.

9 Apr 2024

Denmark's pertussis epidemic reveals the power of maternal vaccination

A study published in Eurosurveillance details the 2023 pertussis epidemic in Denmark, emphasizing the age-specific incidence, the role of maternal vaccination in reducing infant hospitalizations, and the impact of vaccination strategies on managing the outbreak.

8 Apr 2024

Gold nanoparticle adorned polymers boost infectious disease testing

By harnessing the power of composite polymer particles adorned with gold nanoparticles, a group of researchers have delivered a more accurate means of testing for infectious diseases.

5 Apr 2024

Study reveals the impact of prompt design on ChatGPT's health advice accuracy

Study by CSIRO and The University of Queensland highlights how the phrasing of prompts influences the accuracy of health information provided by ChatGPT, showing a significant variance in effectiveness based on prompt design.

4 Apr 2024