CLINICAL MATTERS Before the arrival of effective vaccines, Covid-19 treatment was the only thing doctors could offer patients who were infected with SARS-CoV-2. At the start of the pandemic, the mortality rate for those in the vulnerable population who developed Covid-19 was 10 percent or more. One...
CLINICAL MATTERS Living in the tropics, most Filipinos are familiar with the two big mosquito borne illnesses—dengue and malaria. But there are many other infectious diseases borne by mosquitoes that infect a significant number of Filipinos every year. These diseases include Chinkungunya,...
CLINICAL MATTERS In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized the dangers of health misinformation and included it among the top global health threats. Vaccine hesitancy has left millions of children without proper protection against deadly but preventable diseases. Every day, thousands...
CLINICAL MATTERS Three years ago, any cough or cold symptoms generated a lot of anxiety, dread, and panic since there was a big possibility it was Covid-19. Prior to the discovery of effective treatment and widespread vaccination, the risk of dying from Covid-19 could be as high as 10 percent,...
CLINICAL MATTERS The University of the Philippines National Institutes of Health’s (UP-NIH) recent win at a prestigious international competition in the US serves as a strong reminder that the Philippine government continues to support relevant health research in the Philippines. The double...
CLINICAL MATTERS When I returned to the Philippines as a Balik Scientist in 2009, little did I know I would be playing a major role in fighting HIV in our country. When I graduated from medical school at the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Medicine in 2001, I knew very little...
CLINICAL MATTERS A flurry of respiratory illnesses in the last few weeks triggered school closures anew. Thankfully, it wasn’t from a resurgence of Covid-19 cases. Neither was it from Nipah virus, which triggered some panic in Cagayan de Oro but was found to be fake news. While there were several...
CLINICAL MATTERS The Covid-19 pandemic introduced the word “RT-PCR” into the mainstream. RT-PCR, which stands for Reverse-Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction was the only test available for diagnosing Covid-19 when the pandemic was just starting. World Health Organization director general...
CLINICAL MATTERS The Covid-19 pandemic has clearly demonstrated the immense value of vaccination. While many people continue to believe that vaccination is something that is only for children, the life-saving properties of vaccines are of benefit to people of all ages. Special populations like the...
CLINICAL MATTER Is it really over? One month after the lifting of the state of emergency due to the Covid-19 pandemic in the Philippines, many people continue to wear masks. Perhaps the reemergence of influenza and other viral respiratory infections has made people realize that masks are valuable...
CLINICAL MATTER Nothing causes an “outbreak” of a disease more than a celebrity claiming to have that condition. The most recent revelation from a supermodel that she had Lyme disease has resulted in a deluge of consults from patients in my clinic wondering whether they had the same problem....
CLINICAL MATTER “Na-lepto,” is not an uncommon reply when someone dies unexpectedly in a community. Colloquially known as “lepto,” leptospirosis is a disease that is typically associated with rainy days and floods. While most leptospirosis infections are mild, those who develop severe...
