HEALTH  UPDATE

Here we go!!  Transformers are transforming and vaccination deniers are bringing all the eradicated diseases back, while denying vaccinations!!  We’re in for a bumpy ride!!  Protect yourself!!  I DO! 

Whooping Cough Cases Are Spiking, CDC Warns.  11/05/2024 7:15 a.m.  Cases of whooping cough are five times higher than this time a year ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, is warning.

Officially known as pertussis, those infected have persistent, chronic fits of coughing followed by a “whoop” sound.  "Reports of pertussis cases were lower over the past few years, during and following the COVID-19 pandemic.," the CDC said in a new advisory.   The United States, however, is beginning to return to pre-pandemic patterns.   

The CDC recommends whooping cough vaccination for everyone, as the best way to prevent getting infected.  The agency notes that whooping cough outbreaks can be difficult to identify and manage for many reasons, including:

• Cases of whooping cough may go unreported
• Other respiratory bacteria and viruses often cause similar symptoms
• Other bacteria and viruses can spread at the same time

Can’t Shake That Cough? Walking Pneumonia Is on the Rise.  Oct. 30, 2024.   Young children are increasingly being infected with bacteria that can lead to the illness known as walking pneumonia.  A hallmark symptom is a cough that starts out dry but eventually produces moderate amounts of thick, non-bloody mucus.  The cough can last for weeks.

It’s an unexpected trend, since the bacteria, Mycoplasma pneumoniae,  was so uncommon during the height of the COVID pandemic, one medical journal ran an article suggesting that it may be gone forever.  The increase in illnesses among young children is also unusual, since documented cases usually occur among school-age kids or adolescents.

M. pneumoniae typically causes respiratory tract infections and can cause damage to the throat, windpipe, and lungs.  Most illnesses are mild, starting with a fever, sore throat, and cough and evolving into a chest cold.  The symptom onset is very gradual. 

What is Walking Pneumonia?   It’s a name given because it is typically less severe than other forms of bacterial pneumonia. 

The CDC issued the alert about the bacteria after noticing an increase in emergency room data listing mycoplasma pneumonia as a diagnosis.  The increase was first detected in the spring, and cases appear to have peaked in August but remain elevated.  The most surprising increase was seen among 2- to 4-year-olds, with a sizable jump also recorded among 5- to 17-year-olds.  The bacteria spreads through respiratory droplets, such as a cough or sneeze.

The long incubation period, one to four weeks, makes the bacteria prone to causing outbreaks, such as in residence halls, schools and nursing homes.  Coughing symptoms often last a long time.   

A swab of the nose or throat can test for the bacteria, but this test is not as commonly offered by labs as tests for flu, COVID and respiratory syncytial virus, RSV.  A chest X-ray is sometimes used to check for pneumonia.

Infections from the bacteria can be treated with antibiotics, macrolides, which includes the drug azithromycin.  Mycoplasma pneumoniae is resistant to other types of antibiotics, so making an accurate diagnosis is important although challenging since the symptoms can be similar to other respiratory illnesses.  10% of people go on to develop true cases of pneumonia.

UNDER PRESSURE.  THE HIDDEN CRISIS OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IN KIDS AND TEENS.  Chris and Bradley Ewing were vacationing near Lake Michigan in July 2023 when their 15-year-old son, Nate, started telling them his heart was racing and he was "not feeling right."  Nate, adopted from Ethiopia with his twin sister, Cate, when infants, was about to start high school and try out for the football team. One of his idols, 18-year-old LeBron "Bronny" James Jr., had just had a cardiac arrest and collapsed during basketball practice. The news was all over social media.

Chris and Bradley, who live in Cincinnati, attributed their son's symptoms to anxiety.  But he continued to report lightheadedness and unusual feelings in his chest, they sought help. The biggest challenge was just figuring out what was wrong.  

Alarming Statistics.  These statistics are four times higher than they were 30 to 40 years ago.

• 5% of U.S. children and teens under age 18 may have hypertension, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, AAP, up to 3.6 million kids with a serious condition that used to be found mainly in older adults.  
• 10% more, or 7.3 million, may have “elevated” blood pressure, putting them in danger of developing hypertension later.  “Elevated” blood pressure is above normal but below hypertension.

According to the CDC, the causes are clear, childhood obesity rates rose from 5% in the late 1970s to 19.7% in 2020.  This is a major risk factor for hypertension, as are poor nutrition, a sedentary lifestyle, too much sodium, poor sleep, energy drinks packed with sugar and caffeine, and genetics.  

Blood Vessels Aging Too Soon.  Children having unmanaged hypertension or “elevated” blood pressure is that it adds a pressure burden to their cardiovascular systems and kidneys for a much longer time.  Children are already showing signs of vascular aging, such as blood vessels are a little stiffer and the heart muscles are a bit bigger.

Hypertension can be managed and even reversed with lifestyle changes, including better nutrition, more exercise and weight loss, and if necessary, medication.

A Routine Check That's Often Skipped.  Before the mid-1970s, doctors didn't measure blood pressure in children without symptoms, it was assumed children did not have hypertension.  Since 2017, the AAP is recommending it a routine part of annual wellness checks from age 3.  But this procedure isn't as routine as it may sound.  Getting an accurate reading from youngsters is challenging.

Margaret Solomon, MD, is a pediatrician and internal medicine doctor at the Redwood Health Center in Salt Lake City, UT despite best efforts to make everyone more aware of this "silent illness" through accurate diagnosis, education, and management, "a lot of kids with blood pressure issues are becoming adults with hypertension. 

Kids' blood vessels are smaller, the blood pressure levels used to separate normal from abnormal in adults don't apply to those under 13 years of age.  Doctors must figure out what percentile the child is in based on age, sex, and height, then consult a standardized table to determine their blood pressure category. For teens, the benchmarks are the same as for adults.

Using Tech to Simplify Diagnosis.  University of Utah Health system, automated this entire process implementing a "best practice alert".  Here's how it works:

• An initial abnormal blood pressure - an alert pops up, telling the medical assistant to take two more manual readings, one with a stethoscope and one with a blood pressure cuff, later in the visit.
• The program automatically averages the three readings and analyzes the result based on the child's age, sex, and height.
• If further action is needed, a pop up showing AAP recommendations for treatment.
• The program automatically schedule a follow-up visit in a few weeks or months with either the attending pediatrician or a specialist.

What Parents Can Do.  Don't hesitate to ask for your child's blood pressure to be taken, especially if hypertension runs in your family.  Ask for the number and where that stands given the child's percentile or age. If it's a little high, ask the doctor if more tests are needed or what else can be done.

It works the other way, too.  Jennifer Bright of Hellertown, PA, took Austin, her 12-year-old son for his annual wellness check, his initial blood pressure was 130/90.  The nurse looked alarmed and launched into the dangers of high blood pressure.  She asked if the nurse could take it again.  Then explained that blood pressure can read high if talking or under stress.  I asked him to relax, rest his feet on the floor, close his eyes and take some deep breaths. When the nurse took it again, it was normal.  He was just nervous."

IMMUNITY GUIDE FOR KIDS.  Cold and Flu Remedies for the Whole Family.  REMEDIES, NOVEMBER  2024 ISSUE.  There is probably not a person alive who escaped childhood without at least a cold or two.  Grandma knew best, lots of fluids, warm soup, chicken noodle or miso, a couple days of rest, Vitamin C and immune-strengthening herbs!   If your child suffers from recurrent colds or difficulty recovering from a devastating flu, could indicate the immune system is compromised or an underlying problem needs to be addressed.  If so, seek the guidance of your healthcare professional. 

First Line of Defense

• Echinacea.  At the first signs of a cold or flu, give your child higher than normal doses of echinacea which will jump start the immune system. 
• Elderberry.  Rich in antioxidants and Vitamins A and C, elderberries have immune-enhancing properties that help ward off colds and flu.  Elderberries are often combined with Echinacea to make an immune stimulating cold remedy for the entire family.  Elderberries have powerful, antiviral properties.
• Vitamin C.  Start with smaller doses of Vitamin C and increase gradually, up to 5,000 milligrams in children 12 and older.  If the child develops a runny nose, decrease the amount. 

Additional Immune Support.   

• Antiviral herbs, such as licorice and lemon balm, are helpful fighting infections.
• Garlic also supports the immune system.
• Burdock root, Red clover and Calendula are used to help detoxify the body
• Milky oats, Chamomile and Catnip can soothe irritated children during infection. 
• Supplements such as Bioflavinoids, Vitamin D, Zinc and a medicinal mushroom complex that includes Chaga, Shiitake, Turkey tail and Reishi.  Start supplements at the first sign of Illness and continue for 2 – 3 weeks after the child is well

VARIANT  UPDATE

COVID Variant XEC Could Become Dominant Soon: How You Can Protect Yourself.  Verywell Health.  The COVID-19 variant XEC, spreading across Europe, now accounts for 17% of cases in the United States. 

The XEC variant is an Omicron offshoot.  Research shows that it’s a hybrid of the Omicron sub-variants KS.1.1 and KP.3.3, the latter spawned from KP.3, which was spreading this summer.  This new variant has several mutations on the spike protein, which the virus uses to latch onto and infect cells.  “It seems to be a bit more infectious than previous strains, and it’s more immune-evasive, depending on your prior immunity,” Thomas Russo, MD, a professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York. 

How Transmissible Is XEC?  One study suggests XEC could become the dominant strain worldwide soon.  The immunity many Americans have built up to COVID-19 is “waning,” given that many people haven’t gotten the updated vaccine.  A result is an increasing pool of susceptible hosts. 

Many people didn’t get the updated COVID-19 vaccine, a wave of infections in late summer may cause some “cross immunity” between variants that may “blunt the impact” of XEC, said Amesh A. Adalja, MD, an infectious disease expert at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.  The CDC also recommends adults ages 65 and older get a second dose of the updated COVID vaccine six months after their first dose.

What Are the Symptoms of XEC?  There are “no distinct symptoms” that make the XEC variant different from previous strains of COVID-19.  Those symptoms include:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• New loss of taste or smell
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

If you experience any COVID symptoms or have been exposed to someone who's infected, a rapid test can help you identify an infection. You can order more free COVID tests if you haven't done so already.

3 Things to Know About XEC, the Latest COVID Strain.  Family Health.  October 18, 2024.  Originally published: Oct. 1, 2024; Updated: Oct. 18, 2024.  A new highly transmissible coronavirus sub-variant is starting to spread in the United States.  Experts say it could become the dominant SARS-CoV-2 strain just in time for winter, when COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations tend to peak.

The variant is called XEC, a sub-variant of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain, which has spawned multiple descendants since it surfaced in the U.S. in 2021.  The good news so far, there is no evidence that XEC causes different symptoms or more severe disease than other recent strains.

In mid-October, XEC was responsible for 10.7% of COVID infections in the U.S., making it the second most prevalent strain in the U.S.  It still lags behind the Omicron strain KP.3.1.1, which accounted for 57.2% during the same time frame, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC.

The XEC COVID strain is also rising at a time when people are starting to get the updated 2024-2025 COVID vaccines that became available in the U.S. in August.  

1. How is XEC different from other recent COVID strains?  XEC is a recombinant strain, a hybrid resulting from a merger and rearrangement of two pre-existing COVID sub-variants: Omicron sub-lineages KP.3.3, descendant of the FLiRT variants, and KS.1.1.Such a merger can occur when one person is infected with two different strains. 

XEC has at least one new mutation beyond those two strains in its spike protein, although how this might affect a person who is infected isn’t clear.   Omicron and its sub-variants have caused milder disease than strains that surfaced early in the pandemic, such as Alpha and Delta and symptoms haven’t changed. 

2. Will the 2024-2025 updated COVID vaccines protect against XEC?  It’s impossible to guarantee a 100% match between a vaccine and a circulating variant when a virus is constantly mutating.  Newly updated Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines, designed to target KP.2, the dominant COVID strain this spring and the latest Novavax vaccine that targets an earlier strain, JN.1, should provide protection against XEC.

JN.1 had 30 mutations distinguishing it from the XBB strain, which last winter’s updated vaccine was made to protect against.  That vaccine still offered good protection against JN.1, even though it was very distinct. 

3. What steps can a person take to avoid an XEC infection?  Get the updated vaccine.  The way variants waves work is we'll have six to eight weeks of diminished activity and then it will pick up again.   Getting vaccinated by October at the latest, you’ll have peak immunity during the holidays. 

      Also recommended, taking the usual precautions to avoid a COVID infection, including staying away from people who are sick, wearing a mask in crowded indoor spaces, and following other recommendations provided by the CDC.

      If you do test positive for COVID, antivirals such as Paxlovid are recommended. Paxlovid is available by prescription to anyone ages 12 and up, depending on their risk of severe illness from COVID.  It is most effective when taken within the first few days of developing symptoms.

VACCINE  UPDATE

An Idaho health department isn’t allowed to give COVID-19 vaccines anymore. Experts say it’s a first.  Updated 11:36 AM PST, November 1, 2024.  A regional public health department in Idaho is no longer providing COVID-19 vaccines to residents in six counties after a narrow decision by its board.

Southwest District Health, the first in the nation, to be restricted from giving COVID-19 vaccines.  Vaccinations are an essential function of a public health department.  While policymakers in Texas banned health departments from promoting COVID vaccines and Florida’s surgeon general bucked medical consensus to recommend against the vaccine, governmental bodies across the country haven’t blocked the vaccines outright.

“I’m not aware of anything else like this,” said Adriane Casalotti, chief of government and public affairs for the National Association of County and City Health Officials.  “Health departments have stopped offering the vaccine because of cost or low demand, but not based on “a judgment of the medical product itself.”

The six-county district along the Idaho-Oregon border includes three counties in the Boise metropolitan area.  Demand for COVID vaccines in the health district has declined — with 1,601 given in 2021 to 64 so far in 2024.  The same is true for other vaccines:  Idaho, has the highest childhood vaccination exemption rate in the nation and last year, the Southwest District Health Department rushed to contain a rare measles outbreak that sickened 10.

Oct. 22, the health department’s board voted 4-3 in favor of the ban — despite Southwest’s medical director testifying to the vaccine’s necessity.  At the meeting, many who spoke are nationally known for making the rounds to testify against COVID vaccines.  Dr. Peter McCullough, a Texas cardiologist who sells “contagion emergency kits” that include ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine,  drugs that have not been approved to treat COVID-19 and can have dangerous side effects.

Board Chairman Kelly Aberasturi told The Associated Press, the board had overstepped the relationship between patients and their doctors, possibly opened a door to blocking other vaccines or treatments.

The people are getting vaccinated at health departments, including people without housing, who are homebound, in long-term care facilities or in the immigration process, have no other options, Jansen and Aberasturi said.

Aberasturi said he plans to ask at the next board meeting if the health department can at least be allowed to vaccinate older patients and residents of long-term care facilities, adding that the board is supposed to be caring for the “health and well-being” of the district’s residents.

How to Protect Yourself?  Getting vaccinated is your best bet!

IT’S NOT OVER!

Stay safe.  Mask.  Social distance.  Frequent hand washing.  Avoid crowds

ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR PERSONAL HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL

• https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20241030/walking-pneumonia-is-on-the-rise-kids
• https://www.webmd.com/children/story/high-blood-pressure-in-children
• https://apnews.com/article/covid19-vaccine-public-health-idaho-76f1c29bf3f07a2c029175bf6c2180c4
• https://apnews.com/article/covid19-vaccine-public-health-idaho-76f1c29bf3f07a2c029175bf6c2180c4
• https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/covid-variant-xec-could-become-dominant-soon-how-you-can-protect-yourself/ar-AA1tHyff
• https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/3-things-to-know-about-xec-the-latest-covid-strain
• https://dailyvoice.com/new-york/whiteplains/whooping-cough-cases-are-spiking-cdc-warns/
• Remedies for life.  November 2024 issue.  Kids Immunity Helpers.