My first-ever medical mission trip, after 37 years of medical practice, was to Teleman, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. Prior to the trip, my excitement as an adult-trained rheumatologist was balanced against my apprehension about witnessing new diseases, caring for children and practicing in an austere environment with limited medical resources. As directed by the travel clinic,…
Primary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is caused by genetic mutations and inherited syndromes; it therefore occurs in the pediatric age group. Secondary HLH, however, is more common in adults and is often triggered by other disease states, such as malignancies, chronic immunosuppression, infections and autoimmune disease.1,2 Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is a subset of secondary HLH…
A pediatric rheumatologist in the thick of treating children with COVID-19 confronts a new and evolving syndrome.
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Cases of a rare hyperinflammatory syndrome believed to be linked to novel coronavirus continue to be reported around the world. During a 10-day period in mid-April, clinicians in London treated an “unprecedented” cluster of eight children with hyperinflammatory shock, who presented to Evelina London Children’s Hospital pediatric intensive care unit (ICU), triggering…
CHICAGO (Reuters)—On May 13, U.S. health officials said they will issue an alert telling doctors to report cases of a rare life-threatening inflammatory syndrome associated with COVID-19 in children to their state and local health departments. The alert from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will be released on Wednesday or Thursday,…
Rheumatology leaders are adapting to telemedicine and other modified collaborations to adjust patient care and research during the COVID-19 pandemic…
Social distancing and telemedicine are creating unique challenges for pediatric rheumatologists to care for their patients—many of whom are 5 years old or younger. Sangeeta Sule, MD, PhD, discusses how her clinic is adapting…
CHICAGO (Reuters)—Three U.S. children infected with the coronavirus are being treated for a rare inflammatory syndrome that appears similar to one that has raised concerns by doctors in Britain, Italy and Spain, a specialist treating the patients told Reuters. All three—who range in age from 6 months to 8 years—have undergone treatment at Columbia University…
(Reuters)—A key U.S. government trial of Gilead Sciences Inc.’s experimental coronavirus treatment may yield results as early as mid-May, according to the study’s lead investigator, after doctors clamored to enroll their patients in the study. Preliminary findings from the randomized trial of the antiviral drug remdesivir, begun in February by the National Institute of Allergy…
As the mystery solvers, we are supposed to be comfortable with the unknown, but how does that translate when COVID-19 hits home? A rheumatologist contracts COVID-19.