Nasal Swab May Help Physicians Predict Severity Of COVID-19 Infection, Study Suggests

HealthDay (11/6, Thompson) reports “a simple nasal swab might help” physicians “predict the severity of a person’s COVID infection, a new study suggests.” Over “70% of people with mild or moderate COVID develop certain antibodies in their nasal cavities that are linked to fewer symptoms, better immune response and faster recovery, researchers reported.” According to the investigators, “these are autoantibodies, or antibodies that attack the body and typically are associated with autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis.” The findings were published in Science Translational Medicine.