HIV infection more than doubles COVID-19 death risk; Pediatricians know masks can be scary

The following is a roundup of some of the latest scientific studies on the novel coronavirus and efforts to find treatments and vaccines for COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus.

HIV infection more than doubles COVID-19 death risk

People with HIV have a "markedly raised" risk of COVID-19 death, according to a UK study posted on Friday ahead of peer review. Researchers in England analyzed data on 17.3 million adults, including 27,480 with HIV.

Overall, there were 14,882 COVID-19 deaths from February through late June.

People living with HIV had a more than two-fold higher risk of dying, even after accounting for social and health factors, and the risk was even higher for Black HIV patients.

Given that British people have access to free healthcare, "the impact of HIV on the progression of the pandemic in other settings will need to be carefully monitored," the researchers wrote.

They added, "People living with HIV may also need priority consideration if and when a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 becomes available."

Pediatricians know masks can be scary

In a survey of nearly 400 pediatricians in Israel, 82% said face masks affect their ability to interact with children, 63% felt children are more fearful of doctors wearing masks, and 59% had experienced difficulty assessing or treating children while wearing a mask.

Doctors should use their eyes and body language, and consider temporarily removing their masks to smile when appropriate, said Dr. Leo Arkush of Wilf Children's Hospital in Jerusalem, who coauthored a report published on Saturday in the Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health.

"Verbal communication is more important than ever to keep infants engaged, calm and entertained and to reassure them and their parents. With older children, jokes and rapport play an even greater role than usual."

Parents can prepare their children, he added, by role-playing and by offering age-appropriate explanations of why doctors are wearing masks. -- Reuters