When dehydration occurs, it’s important to restore the levels of fluids and electrolytes. Mild cases of dehydrations can sometimes be treated with oral rehydration solutions. In more severe cases, or when a child can’t keep liquids down, fluids must be restored intravenously.  A product, called hylenex recombinant, is easing the ability to rehydrate sick kids. Hylenex is made from hyaluronidase, an enzyme that breaks down hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid, an enzyme that holds cells together, like glue, and enables tissue to become a natural barrier).

As with seasonal flu, there are steps to take to reduce risk for H1N1 infection. Everyone should practice good hygiene - wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth (you can pick up flu germs by touching contaminated surfaces). Those who are sick should avoid contact with healthy people and stay home until 24 hours after the fever is gone. For most healthy people, that’s 3 to 5 days after the first symptoms.

A new report from the CDC found secondary bacterial lung infections are now becoming more prevalent in H1N1. Roughly 29 percent of patients who died of H1N1 complications between May and August had secondary bacterial infections. Thus, researchers now say doctors should now also consider the need for antibiotics in patients with H1N1-associated pneumonia.

With a new shipment of the H1N1 vaccine in the Lowcountry, the first public clinic has been moved up.

With a new shipment of the H1N1 vaccine in the Lowcountry, the first public clinic has been moved up.

An experimental vaccine for cocaine addicts can help some users kick the habit, according to a new study.  Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have tested a vaccine that makes people produce antibodies to cocaine. The theory is that high levels of anti-cocaine antibodies can inactivate cocaine before it enters the brain, preventing users from getting high.

The majority of MUSC’S portion of a shipment of seasonal flu vaccine has been destroyed during shipment.  The hospital was supposed to receive 13,000 doses; however they say they have only received 2600 doses. Many other medical centers across the nation are likewise affected after the vaccines froze during shipment.

Flu season has barely started, but swine flu cases have already begun to surge. Experts say vaccines won’t be ready for weeks but people should start preparing now.

Today, 50 students at Mitchell Elementary school in downtown Charleston were given free seasonal flu vaccines.  The vaccines were paid for by grants the school nurse applied for.

Sibley Hospital, in Washington D.C., is a testing site for a breast cancer vaccine that researchers hope can prevent tumors from coming back in patients. The vaccine is given once a month, for six months with minimal side effects and could be especially beneficial for younger women.

Many adolescent health specialists and epidemiologists continue to question the benefit of vaccinating all girls against HPV, a c that causes genital warts and some cases of cervical cancer.

U.S. officials say the first big rollout of the swine flu vaccine in October will be much smaller than originally planned.

A French drugmaker began clinical trials Thursday to test the vaccine’s safety and determine how many doses are needed to protect people from swine flu.

Even when doctors have successfully removed a breast cancer, there is a chance the cancer will recur. John Stewart, IV, M.D., Surgical Oncologist with Wake Forest University School of Medicine, says some factors associated with a higher risk of recurrence include: positive lymph nodes, a high grade tumor or estrogen receptor negative tumors.

The first human trials of a swine flu vaccine are expected to start in Australia, as the World Health Organization confirmed that more than 700 people had died from the virus worldwide