Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

Allergic Rhinitis Rarely Emerges in Adulthood

While many urgent care patients present in the early days of spring with the common symptoms of stuffy nose and sneezing, an allergic rhinitis diagnosis can be somewhat nuanced, according to a review in JAMA Network. Allergic rhinitis, seasonal allergic rhinitis, perennial allergic rhinitis, and non-allergic rhinitis each have different typical symptoms, and therefore, there can be differences in treatment, according to the authors. In a follow-up, MedPage Today reports the majority of allergic rhinitis …

Underlying Conditions Increase Rates of Flu Hospitalization

Patients with underlying medical conditions (UMCs) were more likely to be hospitalized for influenza than those without UMCs, according to a retrospective study across 4 flu seasons published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases. Among 1,403 patients hospitalized with influenza at least once within a season, flu-related hospitalization was highest for patients with congestive heart failure (adjusted rate ratio, 4.2, 95% confidence interval: 3.6–4.9), followed by those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Multiple UMCs …

New Oral Antibiotic for UTI May Help Address Drug Resistance

A new oral antibiotic, gepotidacin, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week for the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs). According to the manufacturer, GSK plc, gepotidacin is a first-in-class antibiotic with a novel mechanism that inhibits bacterial DNA replication to treat female adults and pediatric patients (≥12 years, ≥40 kg) with uncomplicated UTIs. It’s designed to target several of the most common UTI-causing bacteria such as E. coli and …

First-Line Antibiotic Treatment For Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Underutilized

Too few patients are receiving recommended chlamydia and gonorrhea treatment in primary care settings, according to a study published in the Annals of Family Medicine analyzing electronic health records from 2018 to 2022. Among 6,678 confirmed chlamydia cases and 2,206 confirmed gonorrhea cases studied, 75.3% and 69.6%, respectively, received treatment. Treatment rates were higher among women than men (chlamydia: 78.4% vs 67.2%; gonorrhea: 78.9% vs 51.4%). Additionally, younger individuals and those with coinfections were more …

One-Fourth of Patients Prescribed Rx Stimulants Misuse Them

A cross-sectional study recently published in JAMA Psychiatry sums up the prevalence of prescription stimulant use disorder (PSUD) among U.S. adults. Using national data, researchers found that 25.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 23.8%-26.8%) of adults using prescription stimulants reported misuse, and 9.0% (95% CI, 8.0%-10.0%) had PSUD as measured by DSM-5 criteria. Misuse and PSUD were significantly more prevalent among those prescribed amphetamines compared to methylphenidate. The study also identified demographic trends, with the largest …

What Helps Low Back Pain? Not Much.

Back pain seems to trouble a significant percentage of adults, inspiring some to seek medical treatment and options for pain relief. But a new study in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine suggests that most non-surgical interventions have little or no effect on acute or chronic low back pain. Researchers considered 10 treatments compared with placebo and found that in the 301 trials studied, 90% of treatments were not efficacious and are unlikely to be suitable treatment options …

Cannabis Use Increases Myocardial Infarction Risk

There is an association between cannabis use and cardiovascular risks, particularly myocardial infarction (MI), in relatively healthy populations under 50 years old, according to a retrospective cohort study in preprint from JACC: Advances. Analyzing data from 4.6 million adults over 5 years, the study found that cannabis users had a significantly higher risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes compared to non-users. Key findings include a sixfold increase in the risk of MI among cannabis users (absolute …

Nitrous Oxide Inhalation Leads to Increase in Adverse Events: FDA

Health officials are raising concern about easily obtained products that have names such as Cosmic Gas and Whip-It! The products are sold in neighborhood retail and convenience stores and might include attractive flavors like strawberry or watermelon. What’s troubling is that they contain nitrous oxide—which when inhaled can result in a variety of adverse health effects, ranging from lightheadedness to paralysis to death. Last week, the Food and Drug Administration posted a consumer warning about …

Probiotics Might Help Reduce Fever For Kids With Respiratory Infection

A small randomized controlled trial in Italy found that probiotics may help children with upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). From November 19, 2021, to June 20, 2023, 128 children who presented with a fever and URTI were randomized to receive a daily single dose of a probiotic mixture containing Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium lactis, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus or a daily dose of placebo for 14 days. As published in JAMA Network Open, researchers found the median …

Some Links Found Between NSAIDs and Dementia Risk

Long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was associated with a 12% lower risk of dementia, although cumulative dose did not affect this risk, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Short-term NSAID use (less than 24 months) was linked to a slightly increased dementia risk. These findings suggest that prolonged exposure to anti-inflammatory medication—rather than high doses—may help reduce dementia risk. Researchers propose that inflammation plays a role …

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