Treating Older Adults for Flu Is Cost-Effective,
But Preventing It With a Yearly Flu Shot Is Better
Click here for a news release. This article is the subject of a video news release. Call for coordinates.
Criteria for Mass Screening for Anthrax After a Bioterrorist Attack
A study of recorded symptoms of 28 patients with inhalational anthrax and 4,694 patients with viral respiratory illnesses found that fever and cough were common in both infections (Article,
p. 337). Mental confusion or loss of consciousness, shortness of breath, and nausea and vomiting more often indicated anthrax, while sore throat and runny nose more often indicated viral infection. After a large-scale bioterrorist attack, mass screening based on the criteria identified in this study could aid in rapidly identifying patients who might have inhalational anthrax in a situation in which timely treatment is essential and laboratory or radiographic testing would be difficult.
Preventing Infectious Diseases During and After International Adoption
International adoption can put family members at risk for acquiring diseases carried by the new child (Review, p. 371). This article reviews infectious diseases in adopted children and their potential for transmission. Adoptive families should prepare by updating routine immunizations, getting vaccines for hepatitis B, and possibly hepatitis A. Adoptive parents must consider the destination, prevalence of disease in the adopted child's country and the child's health status.
New Study of Hong Kong SARS Patients Finds Higher Death Rate
This early-release article is available online at www.annals.org on Tuesday, September 2. It will appear in a later print edition of Annals.
New Study of Hong Kong SARS Patients Finds Higher Death Rate Than Ear
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Contact: Penny Fuller
pfuller@acponline.org
215-351-2656
American College of Physicians
1-Sep-2003