Health What is the deadly ‘black fungus’ seen in Covid patients in India? Usually very rare, mucormycosis has a high mortality rate and is difficult to treat.

Health What Causes Nose Acne and How Can I Treat It? What to do Your nose is one of the most common sites of acne. Pores in this area tend to be larger in size, so they can clog more easily. This can result in pimples and red bumps that look like cysts. Still, not all nose acne is created equal. Before you try to treat nose acne, it’s important to determine the underlying source: acne vulgaris or acne rosacea. Once you identify the exact cause of your nose acne, you’ll be able to use more targeted treatments. Keep reading to learn how to identify which type of acne you’re dealing with, how to treat it, and more. Is it acne vulgaris or acne rosacea? It can be difficult to tell the difference between acne vulgaris and acne rosacea because they have similar symptoms. They can also both occur on the nose. Still, these are two very different conditions. Acne vulgaris is related to pimples, blackheads, cysts, and  other forms of acne , whereas acne rosacea is a type of rosacea. It’s also pos

Health World’s ‘best’ vaccines could soon come to poor countries -By Vishnu /11/5/21 In the 6 months since Covid vaccines became available, those based on mRNA technology have scored top marks. So far, there are only two – made by Pfizer and Moderna – and both show 95% efficacy. Other types of vaccines are usually 80% or less efficacious. This difference affects not only the protection you get as an individual but also the protection available to the ‘herd’ or society. With a better vaccine a country can reach ‘herd immunity’ faster by vaccinating fewer people. But mRNA vaccines are still confined to the rich world. This is partly because supply is limited and those countries placed their orders first. Another reason is these vaccines get spoilt if they are not stored at extremely cold temperatures. The Pfizer shot initially required storage at -80°C. Poor countries couldn’t afford to buy specialised freezers for it in bulk. A fragile molecule Why do mRNA vaccines need ultra-cold stora

Health What to know about mermaid syndrome Medically reviewed by  Karen Gill, M.D.  —  Written by Lowri Daniels   What it is Causes Signs and symptoms Treatment Risk factors Outlook Summary Mermaid syndrome, or sirenomelia, is an extremely rare but very serious condition that is present from birth (congenital). It is called mermaid syndrome because the baby’s legs are partially or completely fused. Babies born with mermaid syndrome often also have serious internal problems that affect multiple organs in the body. Keep reading to learn more about mermaid syndrome, including the risk factors, causes, and treatment options. What is mermaid syndrome? Share on Pinterest Image credit: Cavan Images / Getty Images. Mermaid syndrome is a serious condition in which a baby’s legs are completely or partially fused from birth. It is often fatal early in life. Mermaid syndrome is, however,  extremely rare . In fact, it is so rare that the exact incidence is hard to measure. Experts believe that it o

Health Popular Diets and Patient Support Nutrition Patient Communication Obesity and Weight Management Learn about recent research on popular diets and how to advise patients with and without diabetes about consuming healthier foods and beverages. Christopher Gardner, PhD, talks about his research on popular weight-loss diets, the four fundamental principles of healthy eating, and how health care professionals can help patients find an eating pattern that works for them. Q: What are the biggest challenges to understanding the way Americans think about diets? A: “Diet” is a really fascinating word for me. As a nutrition professional, I think of the Mediterranean diet, the Asian diet, a weight-gain diet, a weight-loss diet, and so on. But the American public thinks of a diet as something you’re going to go on, which is the worst possible way to

Health Eating Disorders and the Patient with Diabetes  Nutrition Patient Communication Complications of Diabetes How can health care professionals help patients with diabetes and an eating disorder? Disordered eating behaviors are common among individuals with diabetes and can have devastating effects for diabetes management, while diagnostic threshold eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder may affect up to 20% of all people who have diabetes. Rhonda M. Merwin, PhD, addresses the links between diabetes and disordered eating, the signs of eating disorders, and how health care professionals can support patients with diabetes who are affected by eating disorders. Q: What types of eating disorders occur in people with diabetes? A: Eating disorder behaviors occur on a continuum and may involve sev