People get sick from colds all the time. Coughs sneezes, and a stuffy nose is typical symptoms.
But two doctors have found something unexpected. A cold-causing virus might also cause serious blood clotting problems in some people.
What Happened at the Hospital?
A young child came to the hospital. This child had a common cold caused by a virus called adenovirus. But something was wrong.
The child also had a dangerous blood clot in their brain and a very low number of special blood cells called platelets. These cells help our blood to clot when we get hurt, like when we get a cut.
The doctors were puzzled. The usual reasons for such clotting problems were not there. The child hadn’t been given a particular medicine called heparin.
The child also didn’t get a specific type of COVID-19 vaccine known to have some clotting side effects. So, the doctors began to wonder if the cold virus was to blame.
Dr. Baskin-Miller, one of the doctors, decided to work with another expert, Dr. Moll. They tested the child’s blood to find out more.
The Test Results
What they found was surprising. The child’s blood had something that was acting against its platelets. It was making the child’s own body attack these helpful cells. As a result, blood clots were forming where they shouldn’t.
Dr. Moll knew someone else who might help. He contacted Dr. Warkentin, a famous blood doctor in Canada. They sent the blood samples to him to have a closer look.
Around the same time, Dr. Moll heard about another sick person. This person was in Virginia and had many blood clots all over their body.
Like the child, this person also had the cold-causing adenovirus. And their blood had the same unusual thing going on. The person’s body was also attacking its platelets.
Dr. Warkentin studied the blood from both patients. He found out that both had something in common. Their bodies were making a harmful substance.
This substance was making the platelets stick together, causing clots. It was very similar to what happens in some rare cases after getting a specific kind of COVID-19 vaccine or taking the medicine heparin.
So, the doctors had a big realization. The adenovirus, which usually just causes colds, might also be making some people’s bodies act against their platelets. This was leading to dangerous blood clots.
What Does This Mean for Everyone?
Finding out that a common cold virus can cause serious blood clotting is big news. But many questions are still unanswered.
We don’t know why this happens to some people and not others. Not everyone who catches this cold will get blood clots.
Dr. Moll and his team are now trying to find answers. They want to know how often this happens. They also want to figure out how to help people who get these blood clots because of the cold virus.
In simple words, a virus that usually just gives us the sniffles might also be causing bigger health problems in some people.
The discovery is a reminder that there’s so much we still need to learn about the human body and the viruses we catch.
For now, if someone has unusual symptoms after getting a cold, it’s essential to see a doctor. It could be something more than just a runny nose or a cough.
And while this discovery might sound a bit scary, remember that it’s rare. The chances of it happening to everyone are slim.
In the end, the story tells us how important it is for doctors and scientists to keep asking questions. Sometimes, finding the answers can help save lives.
If you care about medicine, please read studies about drugs that could inhibit the COVID-19 virus, and drugs for inflammation that may stop the spread of cancer.
For more information about medicine, please see recent studies about which drug can harm your liver most, and results showing this drug can give your immune system a double boost against cancer.
The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Follow us on Twitter for more articles about this topic.
Copyright © 2023 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
