Latest news with #AlisonMitzner
USA Today
7 hours ago
- Health
- USA Today
Titer tests: Everything you need to know
Whether you're welcoming home a new baby, flying to a new destination for a vacation or working around sick patients as a doctor or nurse, your immunity is your invisible armor against all the bugs and diseases lurking out there. Checking to see how strong that armor really is under these and other circumstances is a priority to individuals, educators and employers. Titer tests are how such strength can be measured. These quick and easy blood tests reveal whether your body has enough antibodies to fend off the infections you're hoping to keep away and can also tell you if a booster is in order. Here's what a titer test is, how one is administered and what results you can expect from taking one. What is a titer test? A titer test is a simple blood test that identifies whether your body has any antibodies associated with a specific disease. An antibody is a protein that's created by your body's immune system to fight bacteria and viruses. "Prior to getting a vaccine or being exposed to a viral infection, our bodies have little to no antibodies against that specific vaccine or virus," explains Cynthia Leifer, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Cornell University. But once our body has already been exposed to a virus or vaccine, "our antibody levels against it increase dramatically," she says. Titer tests are what's used "to help you determine if you currently have immunity to certain diseases due to past infection or vaccination,' says Dr. Alison Mitzner, a New York board-certified pediatrician and the author of "Calm and Confident Parenting." In other words, whether you're going to be exposed to varicella (chickenpox), hepatitis, rubella, COVID-19 or the measles or mumps, these tests will help you know if you'll be protected. And for some of these diseases that provide long-term or lifelong immunity after exposure, a single titer is all that is needed to know if protection is still intact. But for viruses like COVID-19, multiple tests may be necessary as such antibody levels ebb over time. How is titer testing given? A titer test is administered through a standard blood draw that's both quick and usually painless. No special preparation is necessary, and the procedure takes only a few minutes. "They are administered by a healthcare provider at the doctor's office, in the hospital, at various pharmacies or at laboratory diagnostic centers,' says Mitzner. A few days after your blood has been drawn, your healthcare provider will receive the results and contact you "to go over the results and to make recommendations for any treatments or vaccines,' says Leifer. Did you see? What experts need you to know about the MMR vaccine Who is titer testing for? Just about anyone can get a titer test. They're especially valuable for people who don't have a complete record of their past vaccinations, pregnant women and individuals who are frequently interacting with large groups of people. Healthcare professionals and healthcare students also usually want them because of the number of sick patients they are frequently exposed to. Parents of a new baby, people with autoimmune disorders or symptoms "and individuals who may have been exposed to an infection while traveling abroad may want clear evidence of immunity against specific diseases or need a titer test to confirm their immune response,' says Mitzner. Sometimes employers and school systems also recommend for an employee or a student to take a titer test, particularly if that employee or student doesn't have a complete record of past vaccinations. What is Tdap? Here's what you need to know to stay protected against whooping cough What do titer test results mean? Titer tests can show if you have active immunity that you've received directly from a past infection or vaccine; passive immunity that's been passed from mother to baby or from donated blood; or no immunity at all. And titer tests don't just determine if you have immunity, they can also help you determine just how protected you really are; they quantify the number of specific antibodies in your blood. 'Titer tests measure both the amount and type of antibodies in a blood sample," explains Leifer. 'This information is used to help you determine if you should receive treatment for a viral infection you may have been exposed to or be given a vaccine or booster to protect you against one going forward."
USA Today
05-06-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Colitis may be the cause of your frequent tummy troubles. What to know.
Colitis may be the cause of your frequent tummy troubles. What to know. Show Caption Hide Caption Improve gut health with these targeted exercises These targeted exercises can help with bloating, inflammation and gas. Reviewed Whether it's a dull ache, sharp cramp or persistent discomfort, most of us have experienced some degree of stomach pain throughout our lives. While something as mild as indigestion, gas, bloating or anxiety about an upcoming test or public speech can all cause varying degrees of tummy troubles, there are sometimes more serious medical issues to blame. Ulcers, IBS, kidney stones and even appendicitis are all well-known causes of at times severe stomach cramping or pain. Colitis is another medical condition that can be behind intestinal discomfort, though it's generally less well known than other causes. Here's what colitis is, what leads to it and how the condition is most commonly treated. What is colitis? Colitis is the inflammation of the colon, also known as the large intestine. This inflammation is characterized by "swelling, irritation or damage to the colon's inner lining," says Dr. Alison Mitzner, a board-certified pediatrician in New York City. Inflammation in this part of the body can lead to abdominal pain and cramping, fatigue, loss of appetite, diarrhea, blood in the stool, nausea and an urgent need to go to the bathroom. Food passing through the colon is the body's last stage of digestion, she explains. Different forms of the condition can "vary in severity, but colitis is especially concerning when it becomes chronic," says Dr. Jason Nagata, a pediatrician at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in San Francisco. In chronic cases, colitis can cause anemia, dehydration, fever and weight loss. Chronic colitis "can also raise the risk of colon cancer and other inflammatory diseases and can lead to serious medical complications like colon perforation," he says, which is where a hole forms in the colon wall. Toxic megacolon can also occur, which is "a dangerous condition where the colon swells and stops functioning properly," Nagata explains. He adds that colitis can be particularly worrisome in children "because it may delay growth and development." How long does it take to digest food? Plus, which foods are easy on the stomach What is the main cause of colitis? Any inflammation in the body, including in the colon, occurs as a response to an infection or injury. The various types of colitis are thus categorized around what causes inflammation in the colon to occur. Infectious colitis is commonly caused by food poisoning-related bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli. Infectious colitis is the most common type of colitis "and impacts millions of people worldwide each year," says Mitzner. is commonly caused by food poisoning-related bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli. Infectious colitis is the most common type of colitis "and impacts millions of people worldwide each year," says Mitzner. Radiation colitis is caused by radiation therapy and is more common among cancer patients, says Nagata. is caused by radiation therapy and is more common among cancer patients, says Nagata. Parasitic colitis is caused by parasitic organisms associated with cryptosporidium, amoeba or giardia. Worms (called helminths) like trichuris and strongyloides can also be behind parasitic colitis. is caused by parasitic organisms associated with cryptosporidium, amoeba or giardia. Worms (called helminths) like trichuris and strongyloides can also be behind parasitic colitis. Allergic colitis is caused by food intolerances and can affect anyone but is most common among breastfeeding babies experiencing lactose intolerance, explains Nagata. is caused by food intolerances and can affect anyone but is most common among breastfeeding babies experiencing lactose intolerance, explains Nagata. Inflammatory bowel diseases include a group of chronic conditions such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis that may include inflammation of the colon as one of their many symptoms. Are you suddenly lactose intolerant? This is why. Does colitis go away? The cause and type of colitis determines the degree of medical attention that is needed. "Some types of colitis, like those from infections, can be short-lived and treatable," says Mitzner. The most common form of treatment is a round of antibiotics. Sometimes infectious colitis even resolves on its own with rest and hydration. Chronic forms of colitis, on the other hand, "can be more serious when left untreated and can lead to serious complications," Mitzner explains. Common treatments for chronic colitis include anti-inflammatory medications, immune-suppressing drugs, newer treatments like biologics "and dietary changes can also be helpful as some people benefit from low-fiber foods or customized nutrition plans," says Nagata. "In more severe cases, especially if there's damage to the colon, surgery may be needed," he adds. Not every case of colitis "requires an immediate trip to the doctor," Nagata explains, "but if you or your child has ongoing belly pain, blood in the stool, diarrhea that doesn't go away or a fever that lasts more than a couple of days, it's important to see a healthcare provider."
