liver

What Is the Pneumococcal Pneumonia Vaccine?
The pneumococcal vaccine protects against infections from a type of bacteria called pneumococcus. Pneumococcus is a common cause of pneumonia (a lung infection), as well as other serious infections. The vaccine prepares your immune system to recognize and fight pneumococcal bacteria. The vaccine is usually given through an injection into the arm. Some versions can also be inhaled. The vaccines do not contain living or dead bacteria. The pneumococcal vaccine does not protect you from other lung infections like the flu (influenza), COVID-19, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), or other kinds of bacteria that cause pneumonia. It is still important to get your flu shot every year and other vaccines your doctor recommends, even if you already got the pneumococcal vaccine.

What Are Benefits of Pneumococcal Pneumonia Vaccines?
The vaccine substantially lowers your risk of hospitalization or dying from serious pneumococcal infection. Vaccination can reduce the risk of pneumonia-related deaths by almost half.

Why Is There a New Pneumococcal Pneumonia Vaccine, and How Does It Differ From Prior Versions?
There are several types of pneumococcal bacteria that can cause pneumonia. Being vaccinated against one type of pneumococcus may not protect you from other types that could make you sick. Previous pneumococcal pneumonia vaccines like PPSV23 or PCV13 do not protect against all types of the pneumococcal bacteria that cause pneumonia. Newer vaccines were made in 2021 (PCV15 and PCV20) and 2024 (PCV21). These help to prevent infections from types of bacteria not covered by older versions.

What Are the Potential Side Effects?
Side effects are frequent but generally mild. The most common side effect is pain or redness at the site of injection. Less common side effects include fever, feeling tired, muscle ache, and headache. These are less severe than for other vaccines like flu and shingles. These effects can be treated with over-the-counter medications and generally go away within 24 to 48 hours. Life-threatening allergic reactions are extremely rare but possible. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience severe symptoms like difficulty breathing or progressive weakness after vaccination. The pneumonia vaccine cannot cause pneumonia or other bacterial illness.

Who Should Get a New Pneumococcal Pneumonia Vaccine?
All adults 50 years and older who have not been vaccinated should receive one of the new vaccines: PCV21, PCV20, or a sequence of PCV15 followed by PPSV23. People younger than 50 years with certain health problems should also get the new vaccine. These health problems include diabetes; chronic conditions affecting the heart, lungs, liver, or kidneys; current tobacco use or heavy alcohol consumption; a weak immune system from certain health problems or medications; absence or prior removal of the spleen; and a history of spinal fluid leak or a cochlear (inner ear) implant.

Most adults who got either PPSV23 and/or PCV13 should still get a booster with one of the newer vaccines. The different pneumococcal vaccines protect against different types of bacteria. Some types of bacteria are more common in people depending on their age, health, and where they live. Talk to your doctor about which vaccine is best for you.

Author/s:

Jerard Z. Kneifati-Hayek, Michael A. Incze

Diagnosis and Management of Hereditary Hemochromatosis

Aubrey Delammermore — Sat, 12 Nov 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Date Added:

November 12, 2022

Journal/Publication:

JAMA

Publisher:

Massachusetts Medical Society

Publication Date:

November 8, 2022

Issue:

Volume:

328

Pages:

1862-1863

URL:

Diagnosis and Management of Hereditary Hemochromatosis

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.1001/jama.2022.17727

Keywords

Hemochromatosis Protein

diagnosis

Hereditary hemochromatosis

management

diagnosis and management

PMID (1):

36346422

MeSH

liver

Hemochromatosis* / diagnosis

Hemochromatosis* / genetics

Hemochromatosis* / therapy

Hemochromatosis Protein

A updated summary of the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of hemochromatosis. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is a heterogeneous genetic disorder that results in unregulated and excessive intestinal iron absorption leading to overabundance of iron deposition in tissue. HH is most common in people of northern European ancestry, for whom the prevalence is 1 case per 300 people.1-3

Author/s:

Cabrera, E., Crespo, G., VanWagner, L.B.

Itchy vesicles

Bethie Seay — Sun, 17 Oct 2021 05:00:00 +0000

Date Added:

October 17, 2021

Journal/Publication:

MDedge

Publication Date:

October 14, 2021

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

A concise summary of the appearance, cause, and treatment of dermatitis herpetiformis.

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A 58-year-old man presented to the family medicine skin clinic with a 4-month history of intensely pruritic vesicles on his forehead, back, elbows, dorsum of his hands, and knees. The patient also reported lesions inside his mouth; however, they were not visible at the time of the office visit. He had a history of psoriasis and Graves disease and had recently been given a biopsy-confirmed diagnosis of celiac disease.

What’s your diagnosis?

Author/s:

Colom, M., Stulberg, D.

Drug interactions with cannabinoids

John Bayhi — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 18:41:14 +0000

Date Added:

March 2, 2020

Journal/Publication:

CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne

Publisher:

Joule Inc.

Publication Date:

March 2, 2020

Issue:

Volume:

192

Pages:

E206

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

Format:

Article

Keywords

MeSH

Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2

cannabinoids

Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A Inhibitors

Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A

Tacrolimus

Trimethoprim

Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination

Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C9

Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C9 Inhibitors

CYP2C19 protein

Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C19

Benzodiazepines

International Normalized Ratio

Marijuana Use

cholinergic antagonists

A nice one-page review of drug interactions with cannabinoids. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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No abstract available

Author/s:

Antoniou, T, Bodkin, J, Ho, JMW

Cannabidiol Products Are Everywhere, but Should People Be Using Them?

Brian Desmarais — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 18:13:38 +0000

Date Added:

November 22, 2019

Journal/Publication:

Journal of the American Medical Association

Publication Date:

November 20, 2019

URL:

Cannabidiol Products Are Everywhere, but Should People Be Using Them?

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2019.17361

Keywords

CBD

MeSH

cannabis

cannabidiol

united states food and drug administration

Here is another concise review on cannabidiol. This one looks like it could be useful to give to patients who have questions about it. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Even with pharmaceutical-grade CBD, potentially dangerous adverse events can occur. With unregulated CBD products, the adverse events are unpredictable, in part because their ingredients might not be the same as those listed on the package.

Author/s:

Rubin, R.