The short answer is yes you can, and if you do it’s called a ‘vaccine breakthrough infection’. However, you have much less chance of catching COVID-19 if you’re fully vaccinated and have had your booster, and you’re also much less likely to get seriously unwell or require hospital treatment, which is a very important reason to have the vaccine. In addition, if you do get COVID-19 after having had the vaccine in the past, the chance of you passing it on to others is much lower, making you less contagious.
Ringworm (also known as jock itch) is a common fungal skin infection of the groin. Sometimes doctors call it the medical term tinea cruris - we should be clear it has nothing to do with worms! This fungal infection usually occurs in warm, moist areas such as the groin or in the armpit area or feet (where it is called tinea pedis or athlete's foot. It produces symptoms of a rash that is usually red, sore and itchy and has clear edges that can form a ring-like pattern. It is commonly found in athletes and the elderly but can affect anyone. When it is found in the crease of the groin it can spread a short way down the upper thigh. The majority of cases are mild and can be treated easily with over-the-counter antifungal creams available from your pharmacy. If the medication is for a child, you should check with your pharmacist about the most appropriate over-the-counter medication. There are a number of different antifungal creams available (you will see names such as terbinafine, clotrimazole, tolnaftate, and miconazole), so check the directions that come with each cream as it will tell you how often and for how long to use it. Apply the cream to the affected area and to the non-affected skin that is up to 2 inches around the affected area.
COVID-19 has morphed and changed, with new variants appearing all the time. This is normal for a virus. The Delta variant was another concerning strain of the novel coronavirus. It was more contagious at the time of discovery than previous variants but has since been found to be less contagious than the following variant, Omicron. Nevertheless, Delta had a severe and devastating impact on people and economies worldwide. Here’s our take on it.
Flu is the common name for illness caused by the influenza virus. It brings on headache, muscle aches, sore throat, runny nose, and cough. It's much worse than the common cold, often requiring a few days in bed, struggling with fever, poor appetite, and feeling very tired and drained. It usually comes in the winter, it's highly contagious, and most people have experienced it at one time or another. If you're healthy, you have a miserable 2 to 7 days, then get better and back to normal life. The risk comes to those who are elderly or have ongoing medical conditions. It can also hard-hit those with suppressed immune systems from conditions or medication. It causes inflammation in the lungs and airways, leading to breathing problems, pneumonia, and even death. Antibiotics won't help as they don't work on viruses, only bacteria. Your immune system will fight it off, and you may need intravenous fluids and oxygen if you are admitted to the hospital.
As the days get shorter and the temperature cools, it can be tempting to curl up on the sofa with some comfort food and a binge-worthy box set. But we are not naturally hibernating animals, so it's important to understand why your energy levels may dip while your appetite increases and address it with healthy choices. The doctors at Healthwords will always encourage a healthy balanced diet over and above taking supplements, and the more colorful and varied your meals, the more nourishing nutrients you get. But there are times that supplements may be helpful or even vital. There is less choice of fresh foods over winter and less sunshine to naturally make vitamin D, plus fighting off colds and flu means our immunity needs to be in tip-top condition. Let's talk you through the challenges of winter and how to counter them to keep you healthy in mind and body.
Long COVID describes the ongoing symptoms people feel after infection with COVID-19. Doctors term this post-COVID syndrome and class it as any symptoms lasting three months after your infection started. Recovery from COVID-19 infection differs from person to person. For many, the common symptoms of COVID-19 will resolve within a few weeks. We don’t yet know why, but some people are left with symptoms a long time after initial symptoms of the infection have improved. Severe illness with COVID-19 doesn’t necessarily make people more likely to get longstanding symptoms. We haven’t yet found any links between the severity of COVID-19 symptoms and the chance of getting longstanding symptoms. There is a lot we still don’t know.
Coughs can prove to be quite bothersome. Typically stemming from viral or bacterial infections, new coughs can often be effectively managed at home without needing a doctor's visit. Where to start? Starting small by taking it easy, getting good amounts of sleep, and ensuring that you are eating and hydrating well will help. You can also try some simple over-the-counter treatments to help with your symptoms. Healthwords pharmacists have put together some of our favorite medications that can be purchased over the counter to help with a productive cough.
Pneumonia is where one or both of the lungs' air spaces become inflamed. An infection with a virus or bacteria usually triggers this, but in some cases it can also be caused by irritation from things getting into the lungs that shouldn't be there (food, fungus, vomit, smoke). In these cases, it is more accurate to call it pneumonitis. Pneumonia is usually a bacterial infection. Seasonal flu in the autumn and winter, caused by the influenza virus, is another common cause of pneumonia. This is one of the reasons a yearly flu vaccine is recommended for high-risk groups who are more susceptible to infections or would be more unwell if they caught the flu. Pneumonia usually leaves you feeling very tired, achy, and generally unwell. You might get a cough or fever, your heart might be racing, and you might get chest pain when you take a deep breath in; you might find breathing more difficult and get out of breath easily, and it may bring on confusion.
Quinsy describes a pocket of infection just next to one of your two tonsils at the back of your throat. Also called a peritonsillar abscess, it’s caused by bacteria and occurs as a rare complication of tonsillitis. It is mainly seen in young people from teenagers up to the mid twenty's. It can be serious and may require hospitalization to treat. Symptoms to look out for are a sudden worsening of a sore throat that can be one-sided, which may cause difficulty swallowing or opening your mouth. This can lead to drooling, bad breath, pain in the ear on the side of the quinsy, and you may speak at a very low volume or with minimum movement of the mouth. A high fever usually accompanies this and it is likely you’ll feel unwell.
As we learn to live alongside COVID-19, it can be hard to tease apart the threat it poses to us, and it depends on so many factors – age, sex, ethnicity, and health conditions. Will it be a simple cold or will I end up in the hospital? Add the fact that you’re pregnant into the equation, and confusion reigns. In the simplest terms, the overall risk to those who are pregnant is low. However, when compared to people of your age and gender, the risk is raised. This is for both becoming unwell enough to need hospital treatment, and of needing intensive care support. This risk is much reduced if you are in good health, and significantly reduced if you are fully vaccinated. The doctors here at Healthwords follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US government in advising you that getting fully vaccinated offers the best protection for you and your baby. Real-world data suggests that pregnant women that are unvaccinated are significantly more likely to end up seriously unwell or needing hospital care than those who are vaccinated. Your baby may also risk being born prematurely if you contract COVID-19.
Respiratory Syncytial (‘sin-SISH-uhl’) Virus (RSV) was first identified in the 1950s and is a cause of illness affecting the respiratory system in infants, young children, and the elderly. It is also one of the leading causes of respiratory infections worldwide. In this article we take a detailed look at RSV, including its symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and how to prevent it from affecting you. What is RSV? RSV is a type of RNA virus, in the same family as the human parainfluenza viruses and the mumps and measles viruses. It is one of the common viruses that cause coughs and colds in winter. The virus primarily targets the epithelial cells in the lungs and throat, leading to inflammation and various respiratory (breathing) symptoms. One of the distinctive features of RSV is its ability to form ‘syncytia’ or large, multinucleated cells, by ‘clumping’ or fusing neighboring cells together. This syncytial formation allows RSV to spread quickly in the respiratory tract and is a key reason why it causes illness in people.
Robitussin is a well-known brand of over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine that offers relief for various types of coughs. Robitussin stands out as a popular choice for individuals experiencing dry, non-productive coughs. This comprehensive guide aims to provide detailed information about Robitussin, including its active ingredients, mechanism of action, indications, dosage, potential side effects, and precautions. Active ingredients and formulation Robitussin typically contains dextromethorphan as its active ingredient. Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant that works by affecting the cough reflex in the brain, thereby reducing the urge to cough. In addition to dextromethorphan, Robitussin may also contain other ingredients such as preservatives, flavorings, and sweeteners to enhance palatability and stability.