Piedmont Pediatrics

11/21/2025

11/21/2025

In our latest Substack, Kristin Rose Jutras and Dr. Brandon Jutras authored a guest essay on alpha-gal syndrome—a tick-borne meat allergy that just claimed its first documented fatality.

A healthy 47-year-old pilot died after eating a hamburger, revealing critical gaps in our understanding of this condition. Unlike typical food allergies, alpha-gal causes delayed reactions 3-6 hours after eating red meat, making it easy to miss or misdiagnose as food poisoning.

With the lone star tick's range expanding northward and westward, this isn't just a Southern problem anymore. We break down what we know, what we don't, and why clinical awareness needs to catch up—fast.

This case transforms alpha-gal from "rare but manageable" to potentially fatal. If you live in tick-endemic areas or have experienced delayed reactions after eating red meat, we provide practical guidance on recognition and prevention.

Read it here:
🔗https://theunbiasedscipod.substack.com/p/no-its-not-just-a-meat-allergy-the

11/21/2025

And more health news stories from the Morning Rounds newsletter

11/21/2025

It's honestly shocking how many people have a problem with children… yes, children having enough food to eat. Our future deserves better.

11/21/2025

Some people say they don't want to get the vaccine because it isn't very effective. It's true that depending on the year, flu vaccine effectiveness is typically around 40-60%. It all comes down to predicting which strains will circulate months in advance, and sometimes the virus mutates after the vaccine is already made. But here's what matters - even when it's not a perfect match, the vaccine does a great job of reducing severity, keeping people out of the hospital, and preventing deaths. You know what the effectiveness of NOT getting the vaccine is? Zero percent.

We'll take 40-60% protection over no protection any day, especially when this is predicted to be the worst flu season in a decade.

11/21/2025

11/21/2025

11/21/2025

The AAP and more than 40 organizations representing autistic individuals, their families, medical professionals and public health workers, are alarmed that the CDC is promoting the outdated, disproven idea that vaccines cause autism.

Medical researchers across the globe have spent more than 25 years thoroughly studying this claim. All have come to the same conclusion: Vaccines are not linked to autism.

Together, we’re calling on the CDC to return to its long history of promoting evidence-based information to protect Americans’ health. Read the full statement: https://bit.ly/3XILwry

11/21/2025

"Kennedy and his allies... cannot erase the dozens of high-quality studies that have thoroughly shown that children who are vaccinated are no more likely to be diagnosed with autism than their unvaccinated peers," the Editorial Board writes. https://wapo.st/3LRxHo2

11/21/2025

Researchers tracked thousands of Americans for decades, finding no links between ingesting recommended levels of fluoride and lower cognitive skills

11/21/2025

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently added misleading claims to its autism webpage. We want to be clear: decades of high-quality, large-scale studies show that vaccines do not cause autism. "Parents deserve peace of mind. Decades of rigorous research have shown vaccines do not cause autism," said Dr. Susan Kressly, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics. "Vaccines are one of the safest and most effective ways to protect children’s health and help them thrive."

The American Academy of Pediatrics stands with members of the autism community who have asked for support in stopping this rumor from spreading any further. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4rbx4FX

11/20/2025