Common cold strongly linked to diabetes

(Source: On Medica News, 05 February 2011)
The study found a strong association between enterovirus infection and type 1 diabetes in what claims to be the first review of molecular studies in this area. Type 1 diabetes is thought to come from a mixture of genetic predisposition, the immune system and environmental factors. Enteroviruses are common viruses especially found in infants and children, which can lead to cold or flu symptoms, fever, muscle aches, a rash, or in more severe cases, meningitis. Recently, there has been a sharp rise in the incidence of childhood type 1 diabetes worldwide, especially in those under the age of five. Some previous studies have found a link between enteroviruses and type 1 diabetes, but findings have been contradictory and no reviews of molecular studies have been carried out. Read more