Faculty Experts in the News: Week of December 12
Friday, December 16, 2011
- Dr. Kumanan Wilson from the Department of Medicine has conducted a study on the increasing number of Ontario children who visit hospital emergency rooms after being vaccinated for measles, mumps and rubella. The study, published in the Ottawa Citizen, found that visits to the ER occurred two weeks post-vaccination, with a small number of children developing a fever or rash.
The study concluded that the children suffered from allergic reactions, a result of the vaccine’s rare side effects not being properly conveyed to parents and guardians. Dr. Wilson recommended that health officials educate parents and guardians on how the vaccine actually works to prevent misinformation. Measles outbreaks in the past year have increased globally, with 26,000 cases reported in Europe and 750 in Quebec alone.
- The Canadian Press and CTV report that a higher rate of heart attacks and arrhythmias occur throughout the holiday season, according to Dr. Andrew Pipe of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. The incidence of cardiac events “does tend to peak” over the season, says Dr. Pipe, due to a number of factors combined with pre-existing or risks of heart disease. Factors include increased intake of alcohol and food, reduced exercise and emotional stress.
- Dr. Duncan Stewart, Department of Medicine, provided commentary for media coverage of the new research facility opened by The Ottawa Hospital (TOH). The Centre for Practice-Changing research aims to bring together researchers from the University, TOH and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) to work on lung diseases, pregnancy and newborn health, kidney disease, infectious diseases and blood diseases.
“This kind of independent, academic research is essential for improving patient care and increasing efficiency at The Ottawa Hospital and CHEO, as well as other hospitals across the country,” said Dr. Stewart, CEO and scientific director of the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.