COVID-19 may leave behind more than the memory of an infection. A large new study suggests that when the illness becomes severe, it can disturb viruses that have been quietly living in the body for years. These viruses are not necessarily new infections. Some, including Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and herpes simplex virus, can remain …
Someone had to walk into a shrinking Brazilian rainforest, find a tree that grows nowhere else on Earth, and collect its leaves before this discovery could ever make headlines. Researchers studying the plant have now found compounds that showed antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 in laboratory experiments, with one molecule appearing to interact strongly with a …
The COVID-19 pandemic not only tested global healthcare systems but also transformed how we understand the human body, resilience, and recovery. What began as a respiratory virus soon revealed itself to be a multisystemic threat, capable of impacting organs and biological functions far beyond the lungs. From cardiovascular complications to neurological symptoms, the virus left …
Imagine swallowing glass every time you try to speak, eat, or even breathe. That’s how some people are describing the intense throat pain caused by the latest family of COVID-19 variants spreading across the United States—so sharp and searing it’s been dubbed the “razor throat” symptom. These newest strains, descendants of the “FLiRT” variants (KP.2, …
When most people think about COVID-19 vaccines, they think about preventing severe illness, hospitalization, or death. But new research suggests the benefits may extend beyond protecting the lungs. According to a large study involving more than one million U.S. veterans, receiving the updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine was associated with a lower risk of serious heart-related …
Most of us associate vaccine side effects with a sore arm or temporary fatigue, but new data suggests the impact may go much deeper than a day of feeling under the weather. A concerning study has identified a link between the Pfizer-BioNTech shot and structural changes inside the human eye, specifically targeting the cornea’s non-regenerative …
Parents typically navigate their children’s health with the comfort of a unified front, trusting that federal agencies and pediatricians are reading from the same playbook. However, a significant divergence has recently emerged that challenges this standard, potentially leaving families confused about whose advice to follow for the upcoming viral season. The American Academy of Pediatrics …
Professor Dennis McGonagle sat in his office at the University of Leeds, staring at medical charts that made no sense. Patients were arriving with a rare autoimmune disease he had studied for years, but something was different. Alarmingly different. MDA5-positive dermatomyositis has always been a condition of Asian populations, particularly among Japanese and Chinese patients. …