The Medical journal of Australia
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To assess rates of disruption of gender-affirming health care, of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) illness, testing, and vaccination, and of discrimination in health care among Australian trans people during the COVID-19 pandemic. ⋯ High rates of COVID-19 vaccination among the trans people we surveyed may reflect the effectiveness of LGBTIQA+ community-controlled organisation vaccination programs and targeted health promotion. Training health care professionals in inclusive services for trans people could improve access to appropriate health care and reduce discrimination.
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To estimate the number of deaths and the cost of deaths attributable to wood heater smoke in the Australian Capital Territory. ⋯ The estimated annual number of deaths in the ACT attributable to wood heater PM2.5 pollution is similar to that attributed to the extreme smoke of the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires. The number of wood heaters should be reduced by banning new installations and phasing out existing units in urban and suburban areas.
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Cough is the most common symptom leading to medical consultation. Chronic cough results in significant health care costs, impairs quality of life, and may indicate the presence of a serious underlying condition. Here, we present a summary of an updated position statement on cough management in the clinical consultation. ⋯ Algorithms for assessment and diagnosis of adult and paediatric chronic cough are recommended. High quality evidence supports the use of child-specific chronic cough management algorithms to improve clinical outcomes, but none exist in adults. Red flags that indicate serious underlying conditions requiring investigation or referral should be identified. Early and effective treatment of chronic wet/productive cough in children is critical. Culturally specific strategies for facilitating the management of chronic cough in First Nations populations should be adopted. If the chronic cough does not resolve or is unexplained, the patient should be referred to a respiratory specialist or cough clinic.