Tuesday, September 08, 2020

COVID – why terminology really, really matters | Dr. Malcolm Kendrick

"COVID – why terminology really, really matters
[And the consequences of getting it horribly wrong]
When is a case not a case?
Since the start of the COVID pandemic I have watched almost everyone get mission critical things wrong. 
In some ways this is not surprising. 
Medical terminology is horribly imprecise, and often poorly understood. 
...To start with, we have the mangling of the concept of a ‘case’.
Previously, in the world of infectious diseases, it has been accepted that a ‘case’ represents someone with symptoms, usually severe symptoms, usually severe enough to be admitted to hospital. 
...now we stick a swab up someone’s nose, who feels completely well, or very mildly ill. We find that they have some COVID particles lodged up there, and we call them a case of COVID. 
...A symptomless, or even mildly symptomatic positive swab is not a case. 
Never, in recorded history, has this been true. 
However, now we have an almost unquestioned acceptance that a positive swab represents a case of COVID. 
This is then parroted on all the news channels as if it were gospel...Read all!!!

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