MUHC in the Media - September 23, 2024

The MUHC is one of the first hospitals to offer therapy sessions through virtual reality to treat various phobias, such as the fear of flying. The virtual environments used to replicate different anxiety-inducing situations that can occur at the airport, without being physically present there. Psychologist Dr. Jean-Philippe Gagné offers this alternative to patients who may benefit from it, at the Allan Memorial Institute of the MUHC. La Presse

The Quebec government recently issued a warning to schools about whooping cough. The highest number of cases in the province is currently among 10- to 14-year-olds. Immunity after vaccination or infection doesn't last very long, says Dr. Earl Rubin, Director of the Infectious Diseases Division at the Montreal Children's Hospital. CTV News

After significant growth, the number of pertussis cases is down in Quebec, but peaking in Ontario. We're still assessing how the pandemic has influenced the cycles of the various infectious diseases, notes Dr. Jesse Papenburg, pediatric infectious disease specialist and medical microbiologist at the Montreal Children's Hospital. La Presse canadienne

Thanks to a generous donation from Fuel Transport, the Montreal Children’s Hospital (MCH) cancer clinical trials program is expanding, giving more children with cancer, like patient Jameson (on the photo), access to novel therapies and greater potential for better outcomes, explain Dr. Catherine Vézina, Director of the Hematology-Oncology Division at the MCH, and Nicole Sidhu, clinical trials manager in the MCH’s Hematology-Oncology Clinical Research Unit. La Presse, 98.5 FM, Montreal Gazette, CityNews, CTV News

People who are gestational carriers (or “surrogates”) may have a higher risk of severe complications during pregnancy and early postpartum, hypertension in pregnancy, and postpartum hemorrhage, compared to people who conceive without assistance or with IVF, according to a new study led by Dr. Maria Velez, a new physician in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the MUHC and a scientist in the Child Health and Human Development Program at the RI-MUHC. The Guardian, US News, SciTechDaily

It's important to be well prepared before going to a medical appointment. Dr. Hussein Wissanji, pediatric general surgeon at the Montreal Children's Hospital, offers some advice. 98.5 FM

Mood swings occur unpredictably and are not necessarily triggered by external events. These mood changes can be symptomatic of a more serious mental health issue, such as depression or bipolar disorder. A person can shift from joy to sadness without warning, within a short period of time. To know more, listen to the segment by psychologist Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief of the Psychology Department (adult sites) at the MUHC, on CJAD