TOPLINE: Point-of-care urine dipstick demonstrated higher sensitivity (90.2%) and specificity (92.6%) than laboratory urinalysis for diagnosing urinary tract infection (UTI) in febrile infants aged 2-6 months. The findings suggested laboratory urinalysis may not be necessary for initial treatment decisions. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional analysis included 9387 previously healthy infants aged 2-6 months who presented with fever … Read more
Researchers from the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI), the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) have developed a reverse genetics system for African swine fever virus (ASFV). This new system will aid researchers in developing vaccines and in studying the pathogenesis and biology of ASFV, a highly contagious, deadly viral disease affecting … Read more
Key Takeaways In cases of acute arthritis, it is crucial to consider infectious causes, particularly viral infections. This recommendation was made by a team of rheumatologists led by Dr Matthias Wahle, head and senior physician in the Department of Internal Medicine at University Hospital Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany, based on the case of a 59-year-old woman. … Read more
Dengue fever’s clinical progression is closely tied to platelet dynamics, yet predicting recovery remains challenging. Immature platelet fraction (IPF) is recognized as a marker for thrombopoiesis, but its role in dengue has been underexplored. This finding indicates that IPF% can be utilized as a predictor of platelet increase in patients with dengue infection. Additionally, IPF … Read more
TOPLINE: A probiotic mixture containing three specific strains reduced fever duration by 2 days in children with upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). The treatment showed significant efficacy with a median fever duration of 3 days vs 5 days for placebo. METHODOLOGY: A randomized clinical trial was conducted between November 2021 and June 2023 at the … Read more
Why are some children devastated by mysterious post-COVID inflammation? Scientists uncover how a ‘silent’ virus awakens – and a promising path to stop it. Study: TGFβ links EBV to multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. Image Credit: Kateryna Kon / Shutterstock A new study published in the journal Nature reveals a potential mechanism associated with the development of … Read more
MIS-C is a serious inflammatory shock that affects children. It can occur several weeks after a COVID infection and can be life-threatening. Until now, however, the precise cause of the condition was unknown. Researchers at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the German Rheumatology Research Center (DRFZ), an institute of the Leibniz Association, have identified that … Read more
In multiple sclerosis (MS), antibodies to the common Epstein-Barr virus can accidentally attack a protein in the brain and spinal cord. New research shows that the combination of certain viral antibodies and genetic risk factors can be linked to a greatly increased risk of MS. The study has been published in the journal PNAS and … Read more
Targeted molecular interventions in the replication cycle and the immune recognition of viruses are intended to prevent viral entry into cells and virus replication. That is the goal of an international research project in which scientists work on new approaches to combating highly dangerous viral diseases such as yellow fever or Lassa fever. Coordinating the … Read more
Topline A child hospitalized with measles in Lubbock, Texas, has died, local officials said Wednesday, marking the first death in an outbreak of the highly contagious virus, which has spread to more than 120 confirmed cases over the last month. Eighteen people sickened with the virus have been hospitalized. Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All … Read more