Category: Science and Medicine
A Rare and Mysterious Inflammatory Syndrome in Children is Linked to COVID-19
A mysterious inflammatory condition, likely caused by COVID-19, is affecting a small number of children. We don't know much about it yet, but we are certain to see additional cases and to learn more about why this is happening. Still, it's not time to panic.
Antivaxxers launch a preemptive disinformation war against a COVID-19 vaccine that doesn’t yet exist
We don't yet have a vaccine against COVID-19, but that hasn't stopped the antivaccine movement from launching a preemptive disinformation war on social media against it. Unfortunately, as a recent study demonstrates, on Facebook at least, they have been so successful that it is possible that antivaccine messaging will surpass pro-vaccine messaging on FB within a decade.
Smoking and COVID
Does smoking worsen COVID infections? Or is it protective? As more evidence emerges, the smoke is starting to clear.
COVID-19: Out-of-control science and bypassing science-based medicine
During the COVID-19 pandemic, there hasn't just been a pandemic of coronavirus-caused disease. There's also a pandemic of misinformation and bad science. It turns out that doctors today are just as prone as doctors 100 years ago during the 1918-19 influenza pandemic to bypass science-based medicine in their desperation to treat patients.
Hydroxychloroquine, retinal toxicity, and COVID-19
Hydroxychloroquine is being promoted as a treatment or prevention for COVID-19 based on questionable evidence. The long-term impact of hydroxychloroquine on the retina introduces another reason to be cautious about its use outside of clinical trials.
The p-hackers toolkit
P-hacking is a common and persistent problem in research, with impacts on the scientific literature, reporting, and practice in medicine. But what is it, really?
The Wisdom of Third Molar Removal
In the Olden Times (ten or so years ago), the indication for third molar (aka “wisdom teeth”) removal was the presence of wisdom teeth. Now, oral surgeons are rethinking things.
“Miracle cure” testimonials aside, azithromycin and hydroxychloroquine probably do not work against COVID-19
Here we go again. Didier Raoult has published another uninformative study looking at the use of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin to treat COVID-19. Unfortunately, recent data examining these drugs have been trending in the direction of the conclusion that these drugs probably don't work against COVID-19 but do cause harm. Sadly, the lack of evidence hasn't stopped the hucksters from promoting hydroxychloroquine as...
The CDC Releases New Data on COVID-19 in Children
Another large data set, this time from the CDC, supports the anecdotal observations that pediatric COVID-19 cases tend to be mild and that a very small percentage of children are requiring intensive care. The absence of obvious symptoms increases the risk of spreading the virus, so social distancing and proper hygiene are key when it comes to kids.
More Pseudoscience for COVID-19
The science and pseudoscience of COVID-19 are being tested in the real world.