Polio is making a comeback in the United States. The first case of paralytic polio was reported last month in New York, and the disease was also found in the city’s sewage. Only 1 in 4 people infected with poliovirus are symptomatic, and less than 1% of patients develop paralysis, so it is important to suspect cluster infection if you encounter even one case.
What to look for: Acute flaccid weakness, particularly in unvaccinated patients and those who have traveled internationally in the past 30 days. In cases of unexplained acute flaccid paralysis that appears similar to the polio virus, test for the virus and notify your local health department of a suspected case. What to talk about: Vaccinations with your patients, especially if you work in or near an under-vaccinated community. Polio vaccines are so safe and effective that, in the United States, we consider polio an eradicated disease. Annual PSA Screening Important for Black Men Annual prostate cancer screening may be more important for black men than for white men, according to the results of a review of more than 45,000 cases of veterans diagnosed with the disease. The study team assessed prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening patterns for each patient in the 5 years before diagnosis and correlated these data with risk of death. Irregular vs Annual Screening: The reduction in prostate cancer mortality risk among black men was similar to that among white men. However, further analysis showed that annual screening compared with irregular screening was associated with a significant reduction in mortality risk only in black men. Higher benefit: Aggressive prostate cancer is more common in black men, so perhaps annual screening could have a higher benefit for this population. Black men in the study were also younger, on average, when they were diagnosed. STDs Up, Testing Down: AMA Creates Toolkit for Physicians Rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) have increased since the beginning of the pandemic, while medical screenings for sexually transmitted infections (STDs), HIV, viral hepatitis and latent tuberculosis have plummeted, according to the CDC. Because of COVID-19, many people have not had easy access to preventive care and may not know they have an infection. This concern prompted the American Medical Association (AMA) to create a new toolkit for clinicians to implement more STD testing. Monkey pox is also a target. Do not wait: The toolkit, which has not yet been finalized, will be tested in six community centers across the United States. Talk to your patients now about the importance of regular check-ups. Let go of prejudice: Like anyone else, doctors can fall prey to assumptions about certain populations and the potential for infections, but it’s important to screen everyone, says the executive director of the American Public Health Association. For more news, follow Medscape on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube
