By now, many (perhaps most) Americans have used and become comfortable with the idea of at-home tests for COVID-19. So why not at-home flu tests? The Food and Drug Administration and pharmaceutical companies have considered the idea in the past but rejected it because 1) at-home flu tests were deemed too inaccurate and 2) those who tested positive probably wouldn't stay home.

But post-pandemic, the idea has been revived, with the FDA looking at the question anew and a number of startup companies working to develop an at-home flu test, though it's not clear when the first efforts might show up.

In the meantime, if you haven't gotten a flu shot, it's not too late.

Bac to the Future

Before COVID, the world's deadliest pathogens weren't viruses. They were bacteria. They still are. A new Lancet study estimates that 7.7 million people worldwide died from infections from 33 different types of bacteria in 2019, making it the second most common cause of death after heart disease.

For the record, COVID-19 has caused 6.7 million deaths since the pandemic began in 2019.

Body of Knowledge

Have you ever noticed that if you're walking really fast, your body will almost slip into a state of running on its own accord? The change of gait, some researchers suggest, is the body's effort to sustain a stable state (either walking or running) and that running slowly may use less energy than walking faster.

Get Me That, Stat!

Approximately 2.5 million children are cared for by their grandparents. That's a good thing. It means they stay out of the foster care system. The bad: These "grandfamilies" are more likely to face issues like food insecurity. That is, an ongoing challenge to put enough quality food on the table.

A new study found that one-quarter of grandfamilies surveyed suffered from food insecurity in 2019 and 2020 compared to 15% of other families with children. When looking at grandparents over 60 caring for children, the rate of food insecurity is 22%, compared to 7% for people of that age with no children.

Part of the problem is that it's difficult to transfer benefits like SNAP, WIC or free school meals to grandparents, say survey authors, calling for better coordination of these programs.

Stories for the Waiting Room

Hopefully, this will never happen. But if you one day find yourself sitting in a doctor's office, or worse, a hospital emergency room, waiting to be checked out for an injury related to a car accident, consider the other driver and where you live (or were driving).

A survey by WalletHub ranked the states with best and worst drivers. The top five states with the best drivers, based on 31 metrics like car ownership, maintenance and accident data, are Iowa, Georgia, Ohio, Oklahoma and North Carolina. The five worst: Hawaii, Washington, Delaware, Rhode Island and Maryland.

Doc Talk

Oral mucosa: the layer of soft pinkish tissue that lines the interior of the mouth. (If you didn't know this, say "Ahhhh.")

Mania of the Week

Ergasiomania: an excessive desire to work

Best Medicine

Q: What's the difference between the Sahara and Jell-O?

A: One is an inhospitable desert and the other is an in-hospital dessert.

Observation

"Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt." — American naturalist John Muir (1838-1914)

Medical History

This week in 1864, Rebecca Lee Crumpler became the first Black woman to receive an American medical degree, from the New England Female Medical College in Boston. She began her medical career in 1852 as a nurse and spent her lifetime working to improve the health of the Black community. In 1883, her desire to educate others in general medical principles resulted in the publication of her "A Book of Medical Discourses: In Two Parts." In the book, based on her personal journals, she focused on instructions for women on how to provide medical care for themselves and their children.

Sum Body

Six ways to remove a splinter:

No. 1: Soak in warm water with dissolved Epsom salts, then bandage for a day to help bring the splinter to the skin surface where it can be pulled out with tweezers.

No. 2: No Epsom salts? Try soaking in hot (but not too hot) water, which will cause the wood to swell and push it closer to the skin surface for removal.

No. 3: Make a paste of water and baking soda, apply to splinter and cover for 24 hours. Splinter should move to surface. If not, repeat until it can be removed.

No. 4: If the splinter is already at surface but tweezers can't do the job, apply a piece of duct tape. Leave for a couple of minutes, then gently pull off at the angle the splinter went in. Soaking site in warm water first can help.

No. 5: Dunk affected area in oil or vinegar for 20-30 minutes. Again, these liquids help draw the splinter closer to the skin surface.

No. 6: Similar to tape, a dab of nontoxic, water-soluble glue (like Elmer's school glue) on the splinter can aid in removal. Apply, allow to dry, then carefully pry off with fingernail, hopefully bringing the splinter along with the glue.

Curtain Calls

Henry Taylor was a pallbearer at Kensal Green Cemetery in London. During a funeral in November 1872, he stumbled while performing his duties, with the coffin fatally crushing him. The widow of the dead man Taylor had been carrying reportedly "nearly went into hysterics."

To find out more about Scott LaFee and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: stevepb at Pixabay