[Health] The Infectious Diseases Thread

Sudy · Post by **Sudy** » Tue Jul 07, 2020 12:10 am

The videos I saw of the procedure made it look like a human blockhead act. "Oh, so that's how the ancient Egyptians extracted the brain for burial."

Kraken · Post by **Kraken** » Tue Jul 07, 2020 12:31 am

My favorite local bar shut down last summer for business reasons. After some drama and passing of money it ultimately reopened under new ownership after the summer had gone, but exactly as it had been. Because it's a beer bar, Wife only likes it for its patio, so we never go during the winter. Point being that I didn't get to go there last year.

Thanks to coronavirus, it only recently reopened for outdoor dining, and it was mobbed most nights, so we didn't go. I finally decided tonight that it wouldn't be busy on the Monday after a holiday weekend. Even if the usual after-work crowd was there, indoor dining just opened, and the regulars like to sit inside and watch sportsball. So we went, after agreeing that we'd turn right around if there was any kind of party atmosphere going on.

The place was indeed deserted. We got a very pleasant outdoor table (they have a quiet woodsy patio) with nobody else around. The server wore a mask and interacted as minimally as he could. An old friend stopped by and visited from 6' away. I had my first proper draft pint since March. And my second, and third...like I said, it's a beer bar. There were 10 different IPAs I'd have liked to try.

It was totally worth making a saving throw vs. disease. Will go again.

gilraen · Post by **gilraen** » Tue Jul 07, 2020 12:51 am

hitbyambulance wrote: Tue Jul 07, 2020 12:05 am I am having questions about the effiectiveness of the covid 19 test as administered by the ZoomCare clinic I went to tonight (one of those 'urgent care' kinda setups). i was brought into the exam room and handed what looked like a normal double-ended cotton swab (the kind that you [don't] clean your ears with) and was told I would be 'self-administering' the collection. at no point was I told to sanitize my hands for this procedure. i was told to insert the swab about an inch into each nostril and swirl it two or three times. i stuck it up my nose about that much and asked if that really was far enough (i have had nasal subsection surgery twice and the upper inside of my left nostril is very raw and sensitive to this day) and i was assured it was.

my question is, is this really effective? if so, why were the procurement of the longer (six inch) swabs such a big deal in the early days of the covid 19 pandemic? it was mentioned in many news outlets that normal sized cotton swabs would _not_ work.

Per FDA guidelines, this method is "acceptable" - but for symptomatic patients only. I believe the current theory still holds that for someone who's asymptomatic or presymptomatic, there may not be enough concentration of the virus in the nasal cavity to register on the PCR.

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Tue Jul 07, 2020 9:59 am

It was the method used in the drive-up testing I had a month ago. It was self-swabbing too...the national guard people tending to the cars only wanted the windows down an inch or so.

Ralph-Wiggum · Post by **Ralph-Wiggum** » Tue Jul 07, 2020 10:02 am

Was out in the field with a coworker who had Covid about a month and a half ago. He was really not very good at following the field protocols (e.g. stay 6'+ feet away, if closer wear masks, don't handle the same equipment, etc.). Hopefully a month a half is a long enough time for any virus particles he has/had to be gone/inert.

YellowKing · Post by **YellowKing** » Tue Jul 07, 2020 10:49 am

We're off on a new adventure!

The kids came down with Covid (aka every cold you've ever seen) like symptoms. Sore throat, runny nose. Very low fever in one kid, none in the other. No coughing. Took them to the doctor, they tested negative for strep. That's a bad thing, because it means whole family now has to self-isolate for 10 days. No testing available for the younger kid. Oldest will be tested Friday.

It's not a big deal for me as I work from home anyway, but my wife is now having to try to figure out how she's going to manage it. She works for a school and most of the records and things she works with are not electronic and cannot be taken off campus. Ugh.

The good news is that other than some restless nights, the kids are shrugging it off. They've been laughing, playing, running around. So I'm not overly concerned just yet. Hopefully Friday's test will give us some peace of mind.

Update on dad: 10+ days since positive test, still no symptoms. So he was either a false positive or asymptomatic. He'll be tested again before his surgery next month, but so far so good.

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Tue Jul 07, 2020 10:53 am

Good luck! Hopefully it's just typical kid illness.

What's the protocol with their daycare? Have you notified them? Do they have to do any extra monitoring or deep cleaning?

YellowKing · Post by **YellowKing** » Tue Jul 07, 2020 12:37 pm

ImLawBoy wrote:What's the protocol with their daycare? Have you notified them? Do they have to do any extra monitoring or deep cleaning?

Kids are just not allowed if they have any symptoms of anything whatsoever. They were notified Monday that the kids have symptoms since we kept them home. I'm not sure if they take any extra measures, as they already do a lot of deep cleaning, etc. Parents are not allowed in the daycare at all these days - it's a drop off at the door with temp check. Obviously if the oldest tests positive we'll let them know immediately.

stessier · Post by **stessier** » Tue Jul 07, 2020 12:59 pm

Good luck with everything YK!

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Tue Jul 07, 2020 1:11 pm

Holy crap - just trying to catch up on this thread; I've been focused mainly on the COVID one in R&P. Sorry to hear about your family stuff YK. I have a friend in GA that is currently experiencing something similar with his kids. They sent them to summer camp and within a week the kids had mild symptoms of COVID-like illness but my friend and his wife are much sicker. They were tested, but I haven't heard the results. I strongly suspect that kids are probably spreading other things that haven't been circulating because of the closure of schools and daycare, but now that contact has resumed, more common viral diseases are spreading again.

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Tue Jul 07, 2020 1:47 pm

I strongly suspect that kids are probably spreading other things that haven't been circulating because of the closure of schools and daycare, but now that contact has resumed, more common viral diseases are spreading again.

I hate you. You don't need to feed my aversion to parents of young children at every turn. You're supposed to come here and tell YK I'm overly paranoid and herd immunity good or some such thing.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Tue Jul 07, 2020 1:51 pm

LordMortis wrote: Tue Jul 07, 2020 1:47 pmI hate you. You don't need to feed my aversion to parents of young children at every turn. You're supposed to come here and tell YK I'm overly paranoid and herd immunity good or some such thing.

The human body is just a way for a virus to make more viruses. Maybe we exist for them?

/bong hit

MHS · Post by **MHS** » Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:08 pm

The hard part is getting a cold and realizing that despite all your precautions, if you can catch a cold, it could just as easily have been COVID.

Brian · Post by **Brian** » Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:10 pm

Brian wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2020 10:21 pm The wife and I got our tests done today.
It was...unpleasant...but not particularly painful or anything.

For the test they basically rammed a swab so far up my nose that I saw stars. Wife was phased more than I was and said she'd prefer never having to do that again.

We should have our results by Friday.

Still no results as of this morning.
Assuming that, even though we got tested on Wednesday, the lab didn't get our samples until Thursday morning, and then allowing them the 3-5 business days (we were only told 3-5 days but we'll assume business days), we should get our results no later than tomorrow afternoon.

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:11 pm

Smoove_B wrote: Tue Jul 07, 2020 1:51 pm
LordMortis wrote: Tue Jul 07, 2020 1:47 pmI hate you. You don't need to feed my aversion to parents of young children at every turn. You're supposed to come here and tell YK I'm overly paranoid and herd immunity good or some such thing.
The human body is just a way for a virus to make more viruses. Maybe we exist for them?

/bong hit

I for one welcome our new viral overlords.

Paingod · Post by **Paingod** » Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:13 pm

MHS wrote: Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:08 pmThe hard part is getting a cold and realizing that despite all your precautions, if you can catch a cold, it could just as easily have been COVID.

/shiver

coopasonic · Post by **coopasonic** » Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:15 pm

Word came down officially, we are remote work for the remainder of 2020. Not that we are going back in on 1/4/2021, just that a labor day return to the office is an emphatic no and the yes date is TBD.

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:20 pm

MHS wrote: Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:08 pm The hard part is getting a cold and realizing that despite all your precautions, if you can catch a cold, it could just as easily have been COVID.

Stop!

Alefroth · Post by **Alefroth** » Tue Jul 07, 2020 5:55 pm

MHS wrote: Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:08 pm The hard part is getting a cold and realizing that despite all your precautions, if you can catch a cold, it could just as easily have been COVID.

Or maybe more easilier.

gameoverman · Post by **gameoverman** » Tue Jul 07, 2020 6:26 pm

MHS wrote: Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:08 pm The hard part is getting a cold and realizing that despite all your precautions, if you can catch a cold, it could just as easily have been COVID.

Has anyone verified if it's possible to have a cold and COVID-19 at the same time? Has anyone ever seen them in the same room together?

gilraen · Post by **gilraen** » Tue Jul 07, 2020 7:30 pm

gameoverman wrote: Tue Jul 07, 2020 6:26 pm
MHS wrote: Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:08 pm The hard part is getting a cold and realizing that despite all your precautions, if you can catch a cold, it could just as easily have been COVID.
Has anyone verified if it's possible to have a cold and COVID-19 at the same time? Has anyone ever seen them in the same room together?

How would you ever know? Many symptoms overlap, and it's not like you can test for a cold.

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Tue Jul 07, 2020 8:10 pm

Hamilton county as of Friday will be full masks in public law. But they described gyms as you wear it inside and stuff but once you start lifting weights or exercising you can take it off. What flipping good is a mask law if thats the way it works?? You'd thing all that heavy breathing and stuff is the time you should wear the darn thing.

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Tue Jul 07, 2020 8:40 pm

Daehawk wrote: Tue Jul 07, 2020 8:10 pm once you start lifting weights or exorcising you can take it off.

Those must be some hellish gyms!

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Tue Jul 07, 2020 9:41 pm

Priests only

hitbyambulance · Post by **hitbyambulance** » Wed Jul 08, 2020 4:07 am

went through the 'return to work' materials today - sounds like being in the office would be a real pain (e.g. only one working microwave and refrigerator, and they're on on a different floor) and given the choice, i'll keep working at home

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Wed Jul 08, 2020 6:51 am

hitbyambulance wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 4:07 am went through the 'return to work' materials today - sounds like being in the office would be a real pain (e.g. only one working microwave and refrigerator, and they're on on a different floor) and given the choice, i'll keep working at home

We've done the opposite, we put in a 2nd mircrowave even though almost no one is in office. No more than a total of six people can be in the kitchen and that capacity is reached if only if one person is starting prep, one is finishing prep, one actively prepping, and three are at their own table. People were discouraged from eating at their desks before. Now they are encouraged. I've never been in to work where we've had more than 7 people in at a time. We have a lot of rules now that are what they are and I like most of them, as I am high risk and paranoid, but I hate touch-less sinks.

Brian · Post by **Brian** » Wed Jul 08, 2020 8:24 am

Brian wrote: Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:10 pm
Brian wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2020 10:21 pm The wife and I got our tests done today.
It was...unpleasant...but not particularly painful or anything.

For the test they basically rammed a swab so far up my nose that I saw stars. Wife was phased more than I was and said she'd prefer never having to do that again.

We should have our results by Friday.

Still no results as of this morning.
Assuming that, even though we got tested on Wednesday, the lab didn't get our samples until Thursday morning, and then allowing them the 3-5 business days (we were only told 3-5 days but we'll assume business days), we should get our results no later than tomorrow afternoon.

So the lab texted our results at 10:30pm. Negative.

Seriously though, ten freakin' thirty? I mean, thanks for the results and all but, WTF?

Paingod · Post by **Paingod** » Wed Jul 08, 2020 8:56 am

Brian wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 8:24 am
Brian wrote: Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:10 pm
Brian wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2020 10:21 pm The wife and I got our tests done today.
It was...unpleasant...but not particularly painful or anything.

For the test they basically rammed a swab so far up my nose that I saw stars. Wife was phased more than I was and said she'd prefer never having to do that again.

We should have our results by Friday.

Still no results as of this morning.
Assuming that, even though we got tested on Wednesday, the lab didn't get our samples until Thursday morning, and then allowing them the 3-5 business days (we were only told 3-5 days but we'll assume business days), we should get our results no later than tomorrow afternoon.
So the lab texted our results at 10:30pm. Negative.

Seriously though, ten freakin' thirty? I mean, thanks for the results and all but, WTF?

Probably chugging 24 hours a day. I'm sure someone out there is going 3:00am? Really? WTF?

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Wed Jul 08, 2020 8:58 am

gilraen wrote: Tue Jul 07, 2020 7:30 pm
gameoverman wrote: Tue Jul 07, 2020 6:26 pm
MHS wrote: Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:08 pm The hard part is getting a cold and realizing that despite all your precautions, if you can catch a cold, it could just as easily have been COVID.
Has anyone verified if it's possible to have a cold and COVID-19 at the same time? Has anyone ever seen them in the same room together?
How would you ever know? Many symptoms overlap, and it's not like you can test for a cold.

It's been COVID the whole time?!??!!!

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Wed Jul 08, 2020 9:09 am

LawBeefaroni wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 8:58 am
gilraen wrote: Tue Jul 07, 2020 7:30 pm
gameoverman wrote: Tue Jul 07, 2020 6:26 pm
MHS wrote: Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:08 pm The hard part is getting a cold and realizing that despite all your precautions, if you can catch a cold, it could just as easily have been COVID.
Has anyone verified if it's possible to have a cold and COVID-19 at the same time? Has anyone ever seen them in the same room together?
How would you ever know? Many symptoms overlap, and it's not like you can test for a cold.
It's been COVID the whole time?!??!!!

The 'Rona is calling from inside the house!

Anonymous Bosch · Post by **Anonymous Bosch** » Wed Jul 08, 2020 10:03 am

gilraen wrote: Tue Jul 07, 2020 7:30 pm
gameoverman wrote: Tue Jul 07, 2020 6:26 pm
MHS wrote: Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:08 pm The hard part is getting a cold and realizing that despite all your precautions, if you can catch a cold, it could just as easily have been COVID.
Has anyone verified if it's possible to have a cold and COVID-19 at the same time? Has anyone ever seen them in the same room together?
How would you ever know? Many symptoms overlap, and it's not like you can test for a cold.

Indeed, and (non-novel) human coronaviruses are known to be associated with the common cold:

Wikipedia.org wrote:Cause - Viruses

Coronaviruses are a group of viruses known for causing the common cold. They have a halo or crown-like (corona) appearance when viewed under an electron microscope.

The common cold is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract. The most commonly implicated virus is a rhinovirus (30–80%), a type of picornavirus with 99 known serotypes. Other commonly implicated viruses include human coronaviruses (≈ 15%), influenza viruses (10–15%), adenoviruses (5%), human respiratory syncytial virus (orthopneumovirus), enteroviruses other than rhinoviruses, human parainfluenza viruses, and human metapneumovirus. Frequently more than one virus is present. In total, more than 200 viral types are associated with colds.

em2nought · Post by **em2nought** » Wed Jul 08, 2020 10:16 am

5 additional Hand Sanitizers to avoid per the FDA
https://www.yahoo.com/news/avoid-9-hand ... 01521.html

Grupo Insoma's Hand Sanitizer Gel Unscented, 70% alcohol)

Transliquid Technologies' Mystic Shield Protection Hand Sanitizer

Soluciones Cosmeticas' Bersih Hand Sanitizer Gel Fragrance Free and Antiseptic Alcohol 70% Topical Solution Hand Sanitizer

Tropicosmeticos' Britz Hand Sanitizer Ethyl Alcohol 70%

stessier · Post by **stessier** » Wed Jul 08, 2020 10:22 am

em2nought wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 10:16 am 5 additional Hand Sanitizers to avoid per the FDA
https://www.yahoo.com/news/avoid-9-hand ... 01521.html

Grupo Insoma's Hand Sanitizer Gel Unscented, 70% alcohol)

Transliquid Technologies' Mystic Shield Protection Hand Sanitizer

Soluciones Cosmeticas' Bersih Hand Sanitizer Gel Fragrance Free and Antiseptic Alcohol 70% Topical Solution Hand Sanitizer

Tropicosmeticos' Britz Hand Sanitizer Ethyl Alcohol 70%

It should be mentioned that these should be avoided because the contain methanol instead of ethanol. Those aren't interchangeable at all.

hepcat · Post by **hepcat** » Wed Jul 08, 2020 1:27 pm

My idiot cousin and her equally idiotic husband decided to head to Florida this past weekend to visit friends. They also left their dog with my 84 year old father while gone. If they expect to come back from one of the hottest infectious zones on Earth right now and just waltz into my father's place to get their dog when they get back to Ohio this coming weekend, I will personally drive back to Ohio, hunt them down and then...well...administer a severe tongue lashing. Although I'd rather just beat them about the head and shoulders.

The worst part? Her husband is a paramedic. He should KNOW better...but obviously he's a very shitty paramedic.

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Wed Jul 08, 2020 2:20 pm

pr0ner · Post by **pr0ner** » Wed Jul 08, 2020 4:33 pm

The 2020 Ryder Cup is the latest big casualty of Covid-19, as it has been postponed to 2021.

The Meal · Post by **The Meal** » Wed Jul 08, 2020 4:34 pm

Brian wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 8:24 am
Brian wrote: Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:10 pm
Brian wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2020 10:21 pm The wife and I got our tests done today.
It was...unpleasant...but not particularly painful or anything.

For the test they basically rammed a swab so far up my nose that I saw stars. Wife was phased more than I was and said she'd prefer never having to do that again.

We should have our results by Friday.

Still no results as of this morning.
Assuming that, even though we got tested on Wednesday, the lab didn't get our samples until Thursday morning, and then allowing them the 3-5 business days (we were only told 3-5 days but we'll assume business days), we should get our results no later than tomorrow afternoon.
So the lab texted our results at 10:30pm. Negative.

Seriously though, ten freakin' thirty? I mean, thanks for the results and all but, WTF?

Mine game in 26 minutes ahead of yours. Your sister's came in at 5:40pm. (I was tested 4 minutes ahead of her, but our results were revealed almost 4.5 hours apart.) I'm guessing the labs are pretty heavily utilized.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Wed Jul 08, 2020 5:42 pm

Ivy League just cancelled all fall sports.

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Wed Jul 08, 2020 6:10 pm

Isgrimnur wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 5:42 pm Ivy League just cancelled all fall sports.

They are just acting like they are smarter than the rest of the leagues.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Wed Jul 08, 2020 10:08 pm

Yahoo

The Environmental Protection Agency has approved two Lysol Disinfectant Sprays that can effectively kill SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) in just two minutes, the government agency announced Monday.

Lysol Disinfectant Spray and Lysol Disinfectant Max Cover Mist are the first two disinfectants to be approved for their ability to kill the virus. In May, the CDC recommended that people clean homes with common EPA-registered household disinfectants, which were expected to kill SARS-CoV-2, “harder to kill” viruses and other types of coronaviruses. However, the EPA’s new announcement names two products that are specifically effective against SARS-CoV-2.

“These products are distinct because of how they’ve been tested,” an EPA spokesperson tells Yahoo Life. “As SARS-CoV-2 is a new virus, it has only recently become available for laboratory testing. These two products are the first for which EPA has completed its review of laboratory testing data confirming that the products are effective against SARS-CoV-2 when used according to the label directions.” The spokesperson adds that users should allow the substance to remain wet on surfaces for two minutes before wiping clean.

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