Treating Patients, not Diseases

Abstract

Introduction: I am pleased to again have Dr. Bob Singer reach out with his reflection. I love how far our FMM messages travel.

Bob was a resident at UMass Family Practice Residency Program from 1978 to 1981 when the Family Health Center of Worcester was called the Family Health and Social Service Center. He then practiced in Everett for years and then moved to Maryland to do geriatric work before retiring.

He wrote today's piece after reading the headline and article below. I think it is a nice follow up from last week's theme of relationship as medicine. I had a similar experience to Bob - his words really resonate with me.

Researchers Find Evidence Of “Long Cold” Syndrome Following Infection With Variety Of Common Respiratory Viruses NBC News (10/6, Carroll) reported, “The coronavirus isn’t the only pathogen that can cause symptoms that last months, or even years, after an initial infection is overcome, a...study published Friday in The Lancet’s eClinicalMedicine suggests.” According to “an analysis of data from 10,171 U.K. adults, the researchers found evidence of a ‘long cold’ syndrome that can follow infection with a variety of common respiratory viruses, including common cold viruses and influenza.”