Medicine

51 articles

Watery diarrhea care starts with rehydration and warning signs

The World Health Organization identifies dehydration as the most severe immediate threat from watery diarrhea. Oral rehydration can replace fluid and electrolytes, while altered alertness, bloody or black stool, severe pain or an inability to keep fluids down require prompt care.

APPI News Editorial 6 min

Sudden hip pain needs a weight-bearing check before home care

England's National Health Service says severe hip pain after a fall, inability to walk or bear weight, and post-injury sensory loss require emergency care. For non-urgent pain, official sources list reduced strain, wrapped ice and supported side sleeping, but they use different follow-up deadlines.

APPI News Editorial 5 min

Head injuries in older adults need checks before home observation

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and England's National Health Service said in 2025 that neurological danger signs require emergency care and blood-thinning treatment requires urgent advice after a head injury. Home care begins only after hospital discharge or clinical advice, with an adult present for the first 24 hours.

APPI News Editorial 6 min

Warning signs and medicine checks guide a child's return to school

The World Health Organization classifies children under five as being at higher risk of severe influenza and calls for antiviral treatment as soon as possible in high-risk cases. Breathing problems, reduced alertness or dehydration require immediate care, while medicine and school-return rules vary by country.

APPI News Editorial 5 min

AST-to-ALT ratios need raw values and symptoms to guide follow-up

A 2024 guideline from the US-based American College of Gastroenterology uses the ratio of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to alanine aminotransferase (ALT) only as one part of an alcohol-associated hepatitis assessment. Raw values, symptoms, exposure history and other tests determine follow-up.

APPI News Editorial 5 min

Adult orthodontics requires diagnosis before braces or aligners

Adults can undergo orthodontic treatment, but appliance choice depends on the teeth, gums, roots and jaws rather than age alone. Clear aligners and fixed braces can produce similar results in some cases, while complex treatment and unsupervised mail-order care carry greater uncertainty.

APPI News Editorial 5 min

Suspected hypothermia calls for dry clothes, insulation and help

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies says suspected hypothermia requires immediate access to emergency medical care. First aid should stop further cooling, replace wet clothes and warm the person gradually while monitoring breathing and responsiveness.

APPI News Editorial 5 min

Low blood sugar calls for glucose only when swallowing is safe

The IFRC's 2025 first-aid guidelines recommend 15 to 20 grams of glucose for suspected hypoglycemia only when the person is responsive and can swallow. Anyone with impaired responsiveness, a seizure or unsafe swallowing needs emergency help and should receive nothing by mouth.

APPI News Editorial 6 min

Heat and exercise may ease period pain, but warning signs matter

A 2026 systematic review found that heat therapy reduced pain in trials of primary dysmenorrhea, while a Cochrane review found low-quality evidence for regular exercise. Severe or worsening pelvic pain, fainting, heavy bleeding and pain during pregnancy require medical assessment rather than home care alone.

APPI News Editorial 5 min

Night cough guidance puts warning signs before home remedies

England's NHS advises urgent assessment when a cough is severe or rapidly worsening, or comes with chest pain, breathing difficulty or blood. For milder symptoms, fluids and honey may offer limited relief, while sleep-position evidence applies mainly to nighttime reflux.

APPI News Editorial 6 min

Relaxation and neck packs may ease tension headaches, with limits

A 2025 systematic review found that psychological approaches reduced headache days among adults with tension-type headache, though most trials raised some risk-of-bias concerns. Heat or cold packs may help when neck pain accompanies a headache, but warning signs require medical assessment rather than home care.

APPI News Editorial 5 min

After vomiting, small sips should come before a return to food

People who have stopped vomiting can begin with small sips and increase fluids gradually rather than avoiding all drinks for a fixed number of hours. Food can follow when nausea eases, while dehydration, blood or green vomit, severe pain and confusion require prompt medical care.

APPI News Editorial 5 min

Ankle sprain guidance favors early movement but still allows ice

A 2022 review of seven clinical guidelines found support for functional bracing, early walking, rehabilitation and short-term cold therapy after an ankle sprain. The PEACE & LOVE framework favors early loading but is a 2020 editorial proposal, not proof that ice or RICE has become obsolete.

APPI News Editorial 5 min

WHO sets two-hour room-temperature limit for cooked food

World Health Organization guidance says cooked food should not remain at room temperature for more than two hours. United States guidance shortens that window to one hour above 32°C, while WHO advises cold storage below 5°C and hot holding above 60°C.

APPI News Editorial 4 min

Taiwan adds enhanced flu shots to 7.05 million-dose tender

Taiwan completed a tender in May 2026 for up to 7,050,150 publicly funded trivalent influenza vaccine doses for the 2026-27 season. The program adds adjuvanted and high-dose vaccines for older care-home residents, but its launch date had not been published by July 30.

APPI News Editorial 4 min

Hand, foot and mouth disease warning signs need urgent care

World Health Organization guidance tells parents to seek medical advice when a child with hand, foot and mouth disease develops high fever, vomiting, lethargy or limb weakness. Sudden weakness or trouble breathing, swallowing or speaking requires urgent assessment, while prevention centers on soap-and-water handwashing and cleaning shared surfaces.

APPI News Editorial 4 min

Lean adults can have fatty liver despite normal enzyme levels

A 2026 analysis of three cohorts found that lean adults with MASLD had higher relative rates of liver-related events and death than non-lean patients. Normal liver enzyme results cannot rule out fibrosis, while treatment goals differ according to weight, fibrosis and other metabolic risks.

APPI News Editorial 6 min

Gum treatment may aid diabetes control but not prevent heart disease

The American Heart Association said in December 2025 that gum disease remains associated with cardiovascular disease, but evidence has not established cause and effect. By contrast, a 2022 Cochrane review found that treating periodontitis modestly improved blood glucose control in people with diabetes.

APPI News Editorial 7 min