Good morning! Today, we take a look at new research on long COVID symptoms and why they may differ in severity among patients.

Also, learn more about the long-term effects of eating disorders, and what primary care physicians can do to encourage positive health habits in children. Have an enjoyable weekend!

Whooping cough cases are surging nationwide, particularly in California, Florida, Oregon and Texas, driven by declining vaccination rates, waning immunity and improved testing according to health officials. Infants are at the greatest risk, and the CDC urges pregnant women to get the Tdap vaccine to protect them. Health experts say increased vaccination and awareness are needed to combat the outbreaks.

A study in BMJ Medicine associated eating disorders with long-term physical and mental health risks, including diabetes, depression, kidney or liver failure, broken bones and premature death. Researchers said that while the risk was highest within the first year of diagnosis, it remained elevated for years. The study included more than 24,700 people ages 10 to 44 who had an eating disorder diagnosis and 493,000 people who did not have the diagnosis.

A retrospective study found that 96.8% of infants and toddlers with suspected penicillin allergies safely tolerated direct amoxicillin challenges. The study, published in The Journal of Pediatrics, noted that 3.2% of children developed symptoms, such as mild skin reactions, which were treated with oral antihistamines.

A study in Nature Communications found that long COVID follows eight symptom trajectories, varying in severity and duration. Researchers tracked 3,700 adults and found 10% developed long COVID, with 81% of those still having symptoms a year later. "The variability we identified will enable future studies to evaluate risk factors and biomarkers that could explain why patients vary in time of recovery, and help identify potential therapeutic targets," said lead researcher Tanayott Thaweethai.

The World Health Organization has reported sharp increases in drug-resistant gonorrhea. Resistance to the two first-line antibiotics increased from 2022 to 2024, rising from 0.8% to 5% for ceftriaxone and from 1.7% to 11% for cefixime. The antibiotics are the last recommended treatments for gonorrhea, but two new antibiotics have shown promise for treating the sexually transmitted infection.

Early intervention in childhood obesity is crucial, with primary care clinicians playing a vital role in shaping lifelong health habits. Dr. Shagun Bindlish emphasizes the importance of using tools such as BMI-for-age percentiles, waist circumference and lifestyle assessments to identify at-risk children. Counseling should focus on health-promoting behaviors and address social determinants of health, such as food access.

The Center for Generational Kinetics conducted a survey for health technology firm WellSky exploring health care workers' attitudes toward technology. Many see technology as essential for improving efficiency and reducing administrative burdens, but others worry about job displacement, data accuracy and the adequacy of training as technology continues to be integrated into health care.

Insisting that patients use electronic portals for all communications could deepen inequities, particularly for patients who do not have technical skills or broadband access or who simply prefer a more personal interaction. Clinicians should offer a variety of communication options as well as training for patients with low digital literacy, according to the American Medical Association and Drs. Neela Patel and Susan Wehry.