Doctors amputate arms and feet after flea bite; Drinking Borax latest TikTok trend; Hepatitis C rates soar among pregnant women - Morning Medical Update

Doctors amputate arms and feet after flea bite

A Texas man contracted typhus from a flea bite which led to the loss of his arms up to his elbows. Doctors are still trying to determine how much, if any, of his feet can be saved. Michael Kohlhof, 35 was admitted to the hospital with suspected flu symptoms.By the end of the day, he had become septic. Kohlhof did not swell after the bite and therefore had no idea that he was bitten until it was too late.

Drinking Borax latest TikTok trend

In one of the latest TikTok trends, several influencers have recommended drinking Borax in water or bathing in it to “detoxify” the body. One creator even went so far as to say Borax is an “essential nutrient.” Some experts are making their own videos to attempt to cancel out the dangerous information. Carlo Ledesma, a medical laboratory professional in Oklahoma City is one of them.“As a medical professional, we swore an oath to protect the interests of the greater good,” he said in an article. TikTok is currently removing all videos associated with Borax misinformation.

Hepatitis C rates soar among pregnant women

Rising rates of Hepatitis C in pregnant women have experts turning their attention to the opioid epidemic once again. According to a study, between 1998 and 2018, the risk of HCV in pregnant women ages 21 to 30 increased by 3000%. “The crisis is only getting worse,” Dr. David Bernstein, professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine said in an article. “And that’s unfortunate. Because this sort of thing is 100% preventable.”