RSS Feeds
Update in Infectious Diseases
- John G. Bartlett, MD
- From Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. For the current author address, see end of text. Requests for Reprints: John Bartlett, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Ross Research Building, Room 1159, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205. Current Author Addresses: Dr. Bartlett: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Ross Research Building, Room 1159, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205.
1997-98 Series
John Roberts, MD, Editor
In 1996, the field of infectious diseases was dominated by advances in both general infectious diseases and HIV medicine. Table 1 outlines the most important developments in 10 categories. These developments, as well as noteworthy advances in general internal medicine practice, are discussed here.
- In this window
- In a new window
Common Outpatient Infections
Upper respiratory tract symptoms take a large toll in terms of both morbidity and mortality. The average adult, for example, has two to three colds per year. The rate of influenza in the 1996-1997 season exceeded the normal rate, and the disease is still among the most common causes of death in elderly persons in the United States.
Zinc Seemed To Help with the Common Cold
Mossad SB, Macknin ML, Medendorp SV, Mason P. Zinc gluconate lozenges for treating the common cold. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Ann Intern Med. 1996; 125:81-8.
Zinc gluconate lozenges for the common cold have received much public attention. Although possibly apocryphal, the following anecdote has supported the contention that the lozenges are effective: The father of a young man receiving chemotherapy for cancer observed that his son, who was also receiving zinc supplements, had no colds during the 2-year treatment course. Several observational studies have suggested a similar conclusion, prompting Mossad and colleagues to test zinc in a clinical trial.
One hundred patients with predefined symptoms of the common cold were randomly assigned to use zinc lozenges (containing 13.3 mg of zinc) or placebo every 2 hours while awake, starting within 24 hours of symptom onset. The 50 patients who received zinc had a shorter duration of symptoms (4.4 days compared with 7.6 days in the placebo group) and fewer days with cough (2.0 compared with 4.5 days), nasal congestion (4.0 compared with 6.0 days), nasal drainage (4.0 compared with 7.0 days), sore throat (1.0 compared with 3.0 days), and headache (2.0 …
