Lockdowns and masks good for childhood asthma, Australian study finds
Lockdowns and mask mandates led to dramatic reductions in paediatric hospital presentations for asthma, Australian-first research has found. Based on figures from two major hospitals in Sydney, the 50-70% falls were likely linked to the overall reduction in viral respiratory infections, the researchers say. There was also evidence that general outdoor air...
Respiratory physician recognised in Queen’s Birthday Honours
Tuberculosis is a long way from top of the agenda for most Australian clinicians in 2022, which may explain why Professor Guy Marks spends much of his time in Vietnam. On Monday, he was honoured as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO), for “distinguished service to respiratory medicine and...
Australian trial backs early azithromycin for kids with CF
Azithromycin failed to reduce structural lung damage in infants with cystic fibrosis (CF) but could still form part of early management strategies given its impact on airway inflammation, exacerbations and hospitalisations, an Australian-led trial suggests. In the phase 3 COMBAT CF study infants aged aged 3-6 months with newly...
‘The clock has run out’: Fed Govt axes specialist telehealth funding
The AMA has accused the Federal Government of failing an early test of its pandemic response by failing to extend Medicare phone items for specialists and GPs. It follows a last-ditch attempt by doctor groups to convince the Federal Government to...
The AMA has accused the Federal Government of failing an early test of its pandemic response by failing to extend...
High readmission rates for childhood asthma show need for new approach
High hospital readmission rates for paediatric asthma show the need to treat exacerbations as 'lung attacks' and with similar thorough follow up as heart attacks, Australian specialists say. One third of children admitted to hospital for asthma in Victoria were readmitted...
High hospital readmission rates for paediatric asthma show the need to treat exacerbations as 'lung attacks' and with similar thorough...
Black summer: Even ‘careful’ patients not safe from bushfire asthma triggers
Smoke from the 2019-20 ‘black summer’ bushfires triggered persistent symptoms in patients with severe asthma, even in those who took steps like staying indoors and closing windows and doors, a study shows. Newcastle University researchers say the finding highlights the need...
Smoke from the 2019-20 ‘black summer’ bushfires triggered persistent symptoms in patients with severe asthma, even in those who took...