Medicine
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Find out everything there is to know about medicine and stay updated on the latest medical breakthroughs with the comprehensive articles and informative features at LiveScience.com. Learn more about these amazing discoveries as doctors and scientists reveal important information on medicine.
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![A mother sits on a hospital bed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with her newborn baby in her arms](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9FWvAcP4MHNHnuEbG83hmd-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9FWvAcP4MHNHnuEbG83hmd-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9FWvAcP4MHNHnuEbG83hmd-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9FWvAcP4MHNHnuEbG83hmd-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9FWvAcP4MHNHnuEbG83hmd-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9FWvAcP4MHNHnuEbG83hmd-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9FWvAcP4MHNHnuEbG83hmd-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9FWvAcP4MHNHnuEbG83hmd-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Antibiotics growing gravely ineffective for childhood infections
By Emily Cooke published
A study found that many common antibiotics were less than 50% effective at treating serious bacterial infections in children and newborn babies in the Asia-Pacific.
![Close-up photograph of the green flower buds and leaves of Trema micranthum](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/c6iVvmmjRML4EkLr3kAEAD-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/c6iVvmmjRML4EkLr3kAEAD-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/c6iVvmmjRML4EkLr3kAEAD-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/c6iVvmmjRML4EkLr3kAEAD-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/c6iVvmmjRML4EkLr3kAEAD-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/c6iVvmmjRML4EkLr3kAEAD-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/c6iVvmmjRML4EkLr3kAEAD-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/c6iVvmmjRML4EkLr3kAEAD-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
CBD reportedly discovered in plant that's not cannabis
By Emily Cooke published
Scientists say they've discovered CBD in a shrub that belongs to the same family as cannabis, although they've yet to publish the research.
![On a wooden table is a wooden bowl containing the roots of the Chinese thorowax plant. There is also a pile of these roots in front of the bowl in the foreground of the image](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZkmqGsN85NiaDqp8rCpAr6-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZkmqGsN85NiaDqp8rCpAr6-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZkmqGsN85NiaDqp8rCpAr6-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZkmqGsN85NiaDqp8rCpAr6-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZkmqGsN85NiaDqp8rCpAr6-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZkmqGsN85NiaDqp8rCpAr6-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZkmqGsN85NiaDqp8rCpAr6-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZkmqGsN85NiaDqp8rCpAr6-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Do traditional Chinese herbs actually 'heal'? This tool aims to find out.
By Emily Cooke published
A new tool may be able to predict the effectiveness of herbs used in traditional Chinese medicines — but what do experts think of its assessments?
![Nurse gives a vaccine to an older woman at a clinic](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pA468NXnDP6VMaYAEyH7wC-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pA468NXnDP6VMaYAEyH7wC-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pA468NXnDP6VMaYAEyH7wC-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pA468NXnDP6VMaYAEyH7wC-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pA468NXnDP6VMaYAEyH7wC-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pA468NXnDP6VMaYAEyH7wC-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pA468NXnDP6VMaYAEyH7wC-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pA468NXnDP6VMaYAEyH7wC-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Who should get the new RSV vaccines? Here's everything you need to know
By Nicoletta Lanese last updated
There are now RSV vaccines approved for older adults and for pregnant people, and antibody shots (not vaccines) available for babies. What's the difference?
![a mom and doctor wearing blue face masks chat near an infant boy who's being examined at doctor's appointment. he's seated next to a teddy bear](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A72XkktqNzLtrqwpc5dgcQ-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A72XkktqNzLtrqwpc5dgcQ-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A72XkktqNzLtrqwpc5dgcQ-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A72XkktqNzLtrqwpc5dgcQ-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A72XkktqNzLtrqwpc5dgcQ-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A72XkktqNzLtrqwpc5dgcQ-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A72XkktqNzLtrqwpc5dgcQ-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A72XkktqNzLtrqwpc5dgcQ-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
RSV drug shortage prompts CDC to adjust recommendations
By Nicoletta Lanese published
A new antibody shot called Beyfortus was recently approved to protect babies from RSV, but it's in short supply this season.
![gloved hand holds up a petri dish of pink and white bacteria](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xcyub8D6ipW2PTheFYYRVk-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xcyub8D6ipW2PTheFYYRVk-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xcyub8D6ipW2PTheFYYRVk-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xcyub8D6ipW2PTheFYYRVk-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xcyub8D6ipW2PTheFYYRVk-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xcyub8D6ipW2PTheFYYRVk-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xcyub8D6ipW2PTheFYYRVk-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xcyub8D6ipW2PTheFYYRVk-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Will we still have antibiotics in 50 years? 7 experts weigh in
By Lori L. Burrows, Yori Yuliandra, Fidelma Fitzpatrick, Roy Robins-Browne, Raúl Rivas González, Juliana Côrrea, André O. Hudson published
Experts across public health, microbiology and biochemistry agree that we'll still have antibiotics in 50 years, but the drugs may take a different form than those we have today.
![Computer illustration of a large orange and red bacteriophage, a type of virus, on a large green bacterial cell.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gbVscP5c7rRQbbtzdpRLhP-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gbVscP5c7rRQbbtzdpRLhP-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gbVscP5c7rRQbbtzdpRLhP-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gbVscP5c7rRQbbtzdpRLhP-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gbVscP5c7rRQbbtzdpRLhP-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gbVscP5c7rRQbbtzdpRLhP-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gbVscP5c7rRQbbtzdpRLhP-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gbVscP5c7rRQbbtzdpRLhP-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Could bacteria-killing viruses ever prevent sexually transmitted infections?
By Kamal Nahas published
The CDC will soon recommend that some people take a "morning-after" antibiotic to lower their risk of STIs. But someday, it's possible that bacteria-killing viruses could do this without driving antibiotic resistance.
![Close-up of cleaner spraying a handrail with disinfectant and cleaning it](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SytBQueUFWW8zH42QTm8EQ-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SytBQueUFWW8zH42QTm8EQ-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SytBQueUFWW8zH42QTm8EQ-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SytBQueUFWW8zH42QTm8EQ-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SytBQueUFWW8zH42QTm8EQ-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SytBQueUFWW8zH42QTm8EQ-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SytBQueUFWW8zH42QTm8EQ-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SytBQueUFWW8zH42QTm8EQ-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Cleaning product residues may be driving a deadly superbug's antibiotic resistance
By Emily Cooke published
When exposed to low levels of disinfectants and antiseptics in the lab, a bacterium that sickens thousands in the U.S. every year becomes more tolerant to antibiotics.
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