Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Tinnitus, Hearing Damage Linked To Coronavirus Infections In Study
Sky News: Hearing Loss, Tinnitus And Vertigo May Be Associated With Coronavirus, Research Suggests
Hearing loss and other auditory problems may be strongly linked to coronavirus, new research suggests. Scientists estimate 7.6% of people infected with COVID-19 experience hearing loss, while 14.8% suffer tinnitus. They also found the prevalence of vertigo was 7.2%. The researchers, from The University of Manchester and Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, compiled data from 24 studies that identified an association between coronavirus and auditory and vestibular problems. The vestibular system includes parts of the inner ear and brain that process the information involved with controlling balance and eye movements. (Bennett, 3/22)
AP: Texas Roadhouse CEO Takes Own Life As Tinnitus Worsened By COVID
Kent Taylor, founder and CEO of the Texas Roadhouse restaurant chain, has died. He was 65. His family and the company say he took his own life after suffering from symptoms related to COVID-19, including severe tinnitus. Taylor's family and the company on Sunday confirmed his death in a statement. Tinnitus is a common condition involving ringing or or other noises in one or both ears. Experts say the coronavirus can exacerbate tinnitus problems. (3/21)
In other covid research news —
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: 17% Of U.K. COVID Patients Had Skin Rash As First Symptom
Skin rash might join the list of other symptoms associated with COVID-19.Dr. Alessia Viscont at King’s College London and fellow researchers analyzed data from 336,847 U.K. users of the COVID Symptom Study app to examine the diagnostic value of body rash or an acral rash in SARS-CoV-2 infection. ... The researchers found a significant association between skin rashes and a positive swab test result. Among respondents of the online survey, 17% reported skin rashes as the first symptom, and 21% said it was their only clinical sign. (Clanton, 3/18)
Axios: Long-Haul COVID-19 Can Happen In Kids, Too
Like adults, children can suffer from long-haul symptoms after having the coronavirus, the Washington Post reports. Cases are rare but growing, doctors told the Post. (Owens, 3/19)
KHN: The Hype Has Faded, But Don’t Count Out Convalescent Plasma In Covid Battle
Six months after it was controversially hailed by Trump administration officials as a “breakthrough” therapy to fight the worst effects of covid-19, convalescent plasma appears to be on the ropes. The treatment that infuses blood plasma from recovered covid patients into people newly infected in hopes of boosting their immune response has not lived up to early hype. Some high-profile clinical trials have shown disappointing results. Demand from hospitals for the antibody-rich plasma has plunged. After a year of large-scale national efforts to recruit recovered covid patients as donors and the collection of more than 500,000 units of covid convalescent plasma, known as CCP, some longtime advocates of the therapy say they’re now pessimistic about its future. (Aleccia, 3/22)
