Latest healthcare news
Loss of Taste and Smell with Coronavirus
Loss of Taste and Loss of Smell Early and accurate diagnosis of COVID-19 infection is paramount. Clinical diagnosis of COVID-19 is complicated as patients present with an influenza like illness. The definitive diagnosis relies on a positive PCR swab from the...
Non-Pharmaceutical Options for COVID 19
Non-pharmaceutical Interventions Against Coronavirus Disease, Do They Work? What Evidence is There? A study performed in Hong Kong looked at the use of aggressive public health measures including massive mobility restrictions, universal fever screenings in all...
An Exit Strategy?
Coronavirus Lockdown – The Way Forward A proposal in the Lancet Journal by Julian Dopito of The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine: We as a population are being offered alternating periods of lockdown and relaxation of restrictions during this...
Face Masks and Coronavirus
Wearing Facemasks The WHO has shown inconsistency in their initial guidance on whether these should be worn. In January 2020 the WHO did not recommend the mass wearing of masks in healthy individuals within the community as a way to prevent infection of...
Understanding the Accuracy of COVID 19 Testing
COVID TESTING AND THE UNDERSTANDING OF IMMUNITY AND THE RESULTS Let us start with the basics. SensitivityThis is the ability of the test to detect the immune protection. If 100 patients have immunity and the test is positive in 90 of them, then it has a 90%...
COVID-19 Testing Update
COVID-19 TESTING Rapid near patient testing for both current and past infection is urgently required. Test, test, test was the mantra of the World Health Organisation and is the key to controlling the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and its clinical manifestation COVID-19....
What is Coronavirus?
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses capable of causing infection ranging from a common cold to severe respiratory conditions. The most recently discovered coronavirus is COVID-19. The current guidance from Public Health England suggests that most people...
Cancer awareness
There are more than 200 different types of cancer that can cause many different symptoms. Knowing what is normal for your body means you are more likely to recognise new symptoms. Detecting cancer at an early stage can save lives. Self-checks including...
Alcohol awareness
New Year’s resolutions start to wane and the good intention of giving up alcohol is now passing as we return to our usual drinking habits. However, are we really aware of the risk of drinking alcohol? Alcohol is a powerful chemical that can have a wide range of...
Bowel cancer: the facts
Bowel cancer: the facts Bowel cancer is also known as colorectal cancer. It is a cancer of the large bowel or rectum. Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and the second biggest cancer killer. Over 42,000 people are diagnosed with bowel...
