Health
Respiratory virus spiked as COVID, RSV cases fell, agency data shows
Health officials reported that cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) spiked this spring as COVID-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus cases fell.
National data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows circulating strains of coronavirus on a downward trend as temperatures have warmed.
In addition, both detections and percent positive respiratory syncytial virus tests in the U.S. have plummeted since late last year.
Agency data also showed nearly 11% of PCR tests and more than 19% of antigen tests for HMPV were positive in the U.S. in March.
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The CDC says symptoms of the respiratory virus commonly include cough, fever, nasal congestion and shortness of breath.
However, clinical symptoms of infection may progress to bronchitis or pneumonia.
It can take anywhere from three to six days for incubation, and the average duration of illness is largely similar to other respiratory infections caused by viruses.
HMPV can cause both upper and lower respiratory disease in people of all ages, especially among young children, older adults and those with weakened immune systems.
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Discovered in 2001, HMPV is in the Pneumoviridae family, as well as RSV.
It is spread by coughs and sneezing, close personal contact and touching infected surfaces and then touching the mouth, nose or eyes.
There is currently no specific antiviral therapy to treat HMPV and no vaccine to prevent infection.
People can prevent the spread by avoiding close contact with those who are sick, not touching their eyes, noses or mouths with unwashed hands and by washing their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
In addition, cleaning possible contaminated surfaces may potentially help stop the spread. Medical professionals should consider testing for it in the winter and spring, especially when HMPV is commonly circulating.
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Health
Disrupted sleep, plus nightmares could be linked to autoimmune diseases, experts say
Those who experience vivid nightmares and odd hallucinations might have an underlying autoimmune disease, a new study suggests.
An international research team led by scientists at the University of Cambridge and King’s College London explored the potential link between nightmares and hallucinations and systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases.
The study, published in March in the journal eClinicalMedicine, included 676 people with lupus and 400 people from the medical field, as well as interviews with 69 people living with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases, SWNS reported.
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Those with autoimmune diseases were asked about the timing of their neurological and mental health symptoms, such as disrupted sleep, hallucinations, depression and loss of balance.
Of the 29 symptoms listed, the participants were asked to rank such symptoms in the order in which they occurred relative to their disease flare-ups.
The study found that three in five people experienced “vivid” and “distressing” nightmares that involved being trapped, attacked or falling — resulting in disrupted sleep.
One-third of those immune-compromised participants said they noticed the trend over a year before their lupus onset.
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Lupus is defined as “a disease that occurs when your body’s immune system attacks your own tissues and organs,” according to the Mayo Clinic.
One in four participants stated that they noticed hallucinations — although 85% said they didn’t experience the symptoms until the disease onset or later.
Three in five people with lupus and one in three with other rheumatology-related conditions said they noticed an uptick in sleep disruptions just before their hallucinations would begin, according to SWNS.
The lead author of the study, Dr. Melanie Sloan of the University of Cambridge, noted in the study that in many cases, patients and doctors will not discuss mental health or neurological symptoms in relation to these diseases.
Three in five people with lupus noticed an uptick in sleep disruptions just before their hallucinations began.
“It’s important that clinicians talk to their patients about these types of symptoms and spend time writing down each patient’s individual progression of symptoms,” she said.
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Misdiagnosis was also mentioned in the study, as some participants said lupus and other autoimmune diseases were overlooked at first, SWNS reported.
For example, a participant from Scotland was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder at age 18 before being diagnosed with lupus at 19.
“It was all very close together,” the participant said — noting that it was just a six-month period between “when my borderline personality disorder got under control and my lupus got under control,” SWNS said.
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Dr. Raj Dasgupta, a California-based chief medical adviser for Sleepopolis, was not involved in the study but shared reaction to the findings with Fox News Digital.
Dasgupta, who is quadruple-board certified in pulmonary, sleep, internal and critical care medicine, said the study supports the perspective that a “high prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as headaches, mood and fatigue” are commonly linked to patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
SLE is a “chronic disease that can affect any organ, including the nervous system,” Dasgupta noted.
“This study also supports the fact that patients with SLE are subject to complications of its treatment, including steroid-related psychosis,” he added.
Misdiagnosis was also mentioned in the study.
Sleep issues are common in people with SLE, said Dasgupta, with over half of patients experiencing restlessness, poor sleep quality and difficulty falling asleep.
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“These issues can be caused by pain, medication effects and the disease’s impact on the brain,” he said.
Fox News Digital reached out to the eClinicalMedicine journal for further information.
Sleepoplis consists of a team of writers, product reviewers and sleep experts who provide reviews and sleep health content, per the company’s website.
For more Health articles, visit foxnews.com/health
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