1/ A common misconception: children need infections to build strong immune systems. Prof. Jörn Klein explains this is false. It's exposure to harmless microbes in nature – not illnesses like measles or flu – that truly strengthens immunity. #ChildHealth #ImmuneSystem
2/ The "hygiene hypothesis" is often misinterpreted. It's not about being "too clean," but a lack of diverse microbial exposure. Children thrive with a rich microbial life around them, from soil, animals & nature, which doesn't cause illness. #Microbiome #HealthyKids
3/ Historically, infections were the leading cause of child deaths. The dramatic decline in child mortality is thanks to improved hygiene, vaccination, and antibiotics, not children becoming "stronger" by getting sick. #PublicHealth #VaccinesWork
4/ Crucially, infections don't protect against allergies or autoimmune diseases. In fact, some viruses (like RSV & measles) can increase the risk of asthma, allergies, or even damage the immune system's memory, making kids more vulnerable. #InfectionPrevention #HealthFacts
5/ Frequent early infections pose unnecessary risks. Research shows each infection before age three can increase the need for antibiotics or risk of more severe illness later in life, particularly respiratory infections. #EarlyChildhood #ProtectKids
6/ And remember: clean air is vital! Protecting children from infections also means ensuring they breathe clean air, both indoors and out. Good ventilation & reducing pollution are key defenses for their developing lungs. #CleanAirNow #EnvironmentalHealth
7/ Vaccines offer a safe way to build immunity without the child getting sick. Healthcare professionals emphasize: children aren't stronger from illness, but from a safe, varied environment, good hygiene, infection control, and vaccination. #VaccineSafety #ParentingTips
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Every infection is an unnecessary risk. Children's immune systems are strengthened by growing up in a secure environment with contact with animals, nature, and other children – alongside protection through vaccination.
H/T @scott_squires for posters!
1/ New science from bioRxiv (10.64898/2025.12.31.697156) shows that asthma isn't just a "reaction"—it's a fundamental destruction of our airway's molecular program. Our lungs are being physically rewritten by chronic exposure. 🧵👇 The #LeonardiEffect is very real!
2/ Crucially, the study highlights how T-cells become dysfunctional and drive permanent scarring (remodeling). But there's more: research from MedUni Wien confirms that SARS-CoV-2 infections cause long-term damage to our entire immune system. 🫁⚠️
3/ The Vienna study shows that even mild infections can inhibit T-cell memory and significantly reduce immune cells in the blood for over 10 months. This means your body has a harder time fighting off common infections like Influenza A, Staph, or VZV.
1/ Is SARS-CoV-2 more than just a respiratory virus? Emerging research is raising a chilling question: Could COVID-19 be an oncovirus? Recent studies suggest the virus may interfere with our body’s ability to prevent and fight cancer. Let’s dive into the science. 🧬👇 #Cancer
2/ A key study in Nature shows that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein can inhibit DNA damage repair. It blocks the recruitment of critical proteins like BRCA1 and 53BP1 to repair sites. If our DNA can’t fix itself, mutations accumulate: the first step toward cancer.
3/ The P53 protein is known as the ”Guardian of the Genome” because it stops tumors. Research in the Journal of Infection shows that P53 is significantly downregulated during and long after infection. Losing this shield creates a high-risk environment for oncogenesis. 📉🦠
1/ Following the thread on the cumulative risk of Long COVID in children after reinfection, let's look at a new study on vaccination and adults. The evidence is overwhelmingly clear: vaccination is protective. #VaccinesWork #PublicHealth
2/ A massive Swedish nationwide study (Sahlgrenska Academy, European Heart Journal) of over 8 million adults confirms that full COVID-19 vaccination significantly reduces the risk of severe cardiovascular conditions linked to the infection.
3/ 📉 VACCINES REDUCE SEVERE RISKS:
After full vaccination (especially the 3rd dose), the risk of severe cardiovascular events—including heart attack, stroke, and heart failure—was generally 20-30% lower compared to the unvaccinated.
1/ 🚨 The Double-Edged Sword: New research suggests #SARSCoV2 might be an unseen accelerant for #LungCancer. Beyond acute illness, the virus's long-term effects could fuel cancer development and progression. This is a critical public health warning. 👇 #COVID19 #Oncology
2/ The study highlights several terrifying potential mechanisms:
Chronic Inflammation: The cytokine storm and persistent, dysregulated inflammation after COVID are well-known cancer promoters.
3/ ACE2 Receptor: SARS-CoV-2 binding disrupts the protective RAS pathway, potentially contributing to cancer progression.
Dormant Cells: Respiratory infections like COVID-19 can even wake up dormant cancer cells (DCCs) in the lungs, triggering metastasis.
1/ Marie Ewerz is 49. She got COVID in 2021 and has not been well since. Her symptoms are getting worse. 💔 Thousands in Sweden still suffer from a condition—Long COVID—that remains largely misunderstood, years after the first cases. Marie says: "You feel so alone."
@SwedishPM
2/ The illness has fundamentally changed her family life. At 9, her son first found her passed out on the kitchen floor. "He's been terrified and barely dared to leave me," Marie shares. Now 13, his worry meant he’s had to grow up too fast.
@Folkhalsomynd @jakobforssmed
1/ A new study on #LongCovid in children shows worrying results. Researchers found a strong link between persistent neuropsychiatric symptoms (like headaches, dizziness, and memory issues) and changes in brain volume, specifically in the temporal and subcortical regions.
2/ The study published in Pediatric Neurology found that children with more severe symptoms during the acute phase of COVID-19 were more likely to have significant brain volume changes months later. This suggests that the initial severity of symptoms can predict long-term effects
3/ Additionally, the research highlights that visual perception is also affected. Children with visual symptoms had lower scores on perceptual skills tests, pointing to potential underlying issues with how the brain processes visual information.