Low-dose CT chest scans could help detect pneumonia in at-risk patients while exposing them to only small amounts of radiation, a new study has found. The research, published in Radiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging, shows that ultra-low-dose scans can effectively detect pneumonia in patients with compromised immune systems, enabling doctors to treat the infection before it becomes life-threatening. According to the researchers, these scans expose patients to just 2% of the radiation dose used in a standard CT scan.

"This study paves the way for safer, AI-driven imaging that reduces radiation exposure while preserving diagnostic accuracy,” lead researcher Dr Maximiliano Klug, a radiologist with the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel, said in a news release. He added that CT scans are the gold standard for detecting pneumonia but there are concerns regarding the risk posed by repeated exposure to radiation. There is a solution- ultra-low-dose CT scan. However, the problem is that these scans can be grainy and hard to read, researchers said.

Study Gives Solution To This

To overcome that, Klug's team developed an AI program that could help "de-noise" low-dose scans, making them sharper and easier to read. Between September 2020 and December 2022, 54 patients with compromised immune systems who had fevers underwent a pair of chest CT scans -- a normal dose scan and an ultra-low-dose scan. The AI program cleaned up the low-dose scan, and then both sets of images were given to a pair of radiologists for assessment. Radiologists had 100% accuracy in detecting pneumonia and other lung problems with the AI-cleaned low-dose scans, but 91% to 98% accuracy in examining the scans that hadn’t been improved through AI, results show.

"This pilot study identified infection with a fraction of the radiation dose," Klug said. "This approach could drive larger studies and ultimately reshape clinical guidelines, making denoised ultra-low dose CT the new standard for young immunocompromised patients.

How Can You Detect Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is a lung infection that causes the air sacs in the lungs to fill with fluid or pus and can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. The symptoms can range from milk to severe, which includes:

Coughing with or without cough

Fever

Chills

Trouble breathing

Chest pain, especially when breathing deeply or coughing

Sweating or chills

Rapid heart rate

Loss of appetite

Bluish skin, lips, and nails

Confusion.

How to detect Pneumonia in coughing newborns and toddlers?

Pneumonia can severely affect newborns and young children as their lungs are comparatively more sensitive. As per Dr Goyal, young children can cough for various reasons including seasonal infections and tonsillitis, which is very common in this age group. But if they look visibly irritable and have poor sleep patterns, then parents must reach out to an expert. "I am not saying that parents must visit a hospital but any local paediatrician would be able to detect pneumonia in your kid.

Kratom is a plant-based product sometimes used as a natural way to boost energy, manage pain or ease opioid withdrawal. It is is showing up frequently among patients in addiction clinics across the US.

According to STAT, at Boulder Care, a telehealth addiction clinic, the number of new patients using kratom increased from 3% in September 2025 to 8% in July 2026, before reaching 14% in August.

Clinicians say the growing problem is not only traditional kratom leaf. Increasingly, patients are using products containing high concentrations of 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, a potent compound associated with opioid-like effects.

Dr Ayesha Appa, head of medical affairs at Boulder Care described "the increase as quite an explosion.”

Kratom May Become Addictive

Kratom is made from the leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa tree, which is found in Southeast Asia. The leaves have traditionally been used for their stimulant and pain-relieving effects. They are now sold in the US as powders, capsules, teas, extracts and other products.

At lower doses, kratom can produce stimulant-like effects, including increased alertness and energy. At higher doses, its effects can become more sedating and produce opioid-like effects.

The plant's main alkaloid is mitragynine. Another compound, 7-OH, occurs naturally in trace amounts in kratom leaf.

Kratom can interact with opioid receptors in the brain, which are involved in pain, reward and dependence. Regular use can therefore make the brain adapt to the substance.

When someone who has developed dependence suddenly stops taking it, withdrawal symptoms can occur, like irritability, restlessness, muscle aches, fatigue, sweating and other flu-like symptoms.

The FDA says epidemiological evidence suggests that some people develop substance use disorder after using kratom, although it also notes that the abuse potential of kratom has not been fully characterised in well-designed human studies.

Also read: Warning Letter Sent To Companies Selling Illegal Opioid Compound

7-OH Is Particularly Concerning

7-OH is different from the small amounts naturally present in ordinary kratom leaf. Some products now sold as kratom contain concentrated 7-OH, including tablets, gummies, drink shots and other products.

The FDA describes these products as potent opioids, warning that they have not been proven safe or effective for any medical use.

The American College of Medical Toxicology says clinical experience has linked 7-OH with opioid-like effects, including intoxication, respiratory depression, dependence and withdrawal.

CDC data show that kratom-related poison-center reports increased dramatically over the past decade. US poison centers recorded 3,434 kratom exposure reports in 2025, compared with 258 in 2015, an approximately 1,200% increase. Hospitalisations following single-substance kratom exposures also rose from 43 in 2015 to 538 in 2025.

The shift toward concentrated products is another concern. Poison Centers reported 901 exposures involving 7-OH between January and June 2026, compared with 593 during all of 2025.

Also read: Kratom Leaves in a ‘Wellness Drink’ Is Making People Addicted; Influencer Calls Out, Hundreds Join In

Traditional Kratom And 7-OH

Traditional kratom leaf contains a mixture of naturally occurring alkaloids, including mitragynine and small amounts of 7-OH. Commercial 7-OH products can contain far higher concentrations of the compound.

The stronger products may produce more pronounced opioid-like effects and carry greater risks of dependence and withdrawal.

Kratom is also not an FDA-approved treatment for pain, opioid withdrawal or any other medical condition. Its long-term effects remain vague.

The US measles outbreak is showing no signs of slowing down as it has reached new locations. A new case was recently reported in Wisconsin's Chippewa County, outside the state's main southwestern outbreak area, while Philadelphia health officials are warning of a possible measles exposure at the city's international airport.

The developments are crucial as measles cases continue to increase across the US, with Pennsylvania reporting hundreds of cases and Wisconsin recording 171 confirmed cases so far in 2026.

New Measles Case Reported In Chippewa County

Wisconsin's Department of Health Services confirmed one measles case in Chippewa County on September 22. According to reports, the case has been attributed to out-of-state travel.

It means that it may not be connected to southwestern Wisconsin outbreak, where cases are concentrated. The state said no public exposure sites have been identified so far. The Chippewa County Health Department is working with the infected person and healthcare providers to identify anyone who may have been exposed.

“Measles is highly contagious, so confirming a case in our community is concerning,” Chippewa County Health Officer Brittnay Herrick said. “Our public health team is working closely with partners to identify potential exposures and ensure those affected have the information and guidance they need.”

Wisconsin has reported cases in Grant, Iowa, Lafayette, Marathon and Vernon counties since August. The state's largest cluster remains in southwestern Wisconsin, where 161 confirmed and six possible cases had been reported by September 18.

Also read: ‘Zombie’ Drug Medetomidine, Spotted In Heroin Supply, Raises Concern As It Could Evade Overdose Antidote

Measles Exposure At Philadelphia Airport

On the other hand, Philadelphia health officials are also warning travelers about a separate possible measles exposure at Philadelphia International Airport. According to health officials, an infected person walked through Terminals B and F, as well as areas connecting to Terminals C, D and E, between 7:25 p.m. on September 13 and 12:05 a.m. on September 14.

The person remained inside the airport and did not leave the premises. Health officials said the airport exposure is not connected to a separate measles exposure reported recently at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Health Commissioner Dr. Palak Raval-Nelson said, “This week's measles exposures are a reminder of how important it is for all of us to be up to date on our vaccinations.” She added that fully vaccinated people are not at high risk from the suspected exposures.

People who were at the airport during the exposure period are being advised to check whether they are immune.

Those who are unvaccinated or unsure of their vaccination status, along with infants, pregnant people who are not immune and people with weakened immune systems, should contact a healthcare provider.

Also read: Debby Ryan Opens Up About ‘Life-Altering’ Brain Injury And ‘Hellish’ Migraines That Followed

US Health Officials Concerned Measles Spread

Measles is among the most contagious infectious diseases. The virus spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes or breathes, and can remain in the air for up to two hours after the person has left an area.

Early symptoms typically include fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes, followed several days later by a characteristic rash. Serious complications can include pneumonia, brain inflammation and, in some cases, death.

The Philadelphia Health Department says measles can be transmitted from four days before through four days after the rash appears, meaning an infected person can spread the virus before realizing they have measles.

People who may have been exposed should first find out if they are immune. Two documented doses of the MMR vaccine provide strong protection against measles. People who are not immune may be eligible for post-exposure treatment, depending on when the exposure happened.

The Trump administration has canceled Obamacare health insurance enrollments covering more than 760,000 people, claiming the policies were linked to unauthorized enrollment. The move is part of a crackdown on fraud in the Affordable Care Act Marketplace.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) said it canceled approximately 315,000 Marketplace enrollments on August 31, after investigations with insurers confirmed that the enrollments were unauthorized. The agency estimates that it will return about $2.2 billion in federal premium subsidies.

The administration is also investigating another 419,000 to 450,000 enrollees to determine whether they meet citizenship or immigration and income requirements. These people have not been found ineligible yet and are undergoing additional verification.

Why Is The Trump Administration Canceling These Plans?

The authorities says it is targeting fraudulent, unauthorized and improper enrollments, rather than trying to eliminate Obamacare coverage itself.

CMS said it found that some people were enrolled without their knowledge, while others had unresolved identity, citizenship or immigration-status information. The agency also found applications missing information such as Social Security numbers.

Vice President JD Vance said the canceled group includes “a mix of both phantom people, but also real people who just don’t meet the eligibility requirements,” including some people who he said were enrolled by brokers without their knowledge.

CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz said some enrollees were classified as “phantoms” because officials believe they either did not exist or did not know they had coverage.

Also read: 6 US Hospitals Will End Gender-Affirming Care For Minors; What The New DOJ Deals Entail

760,000 People Affected

The administration says the 760,000 people were covered by enrollments that CMS determined were unauthorized. But it does not mean every individual has committed fraud.

Some cases involve alleged actions by insurance agents or brokers. CMS says it found applications submitted without required applicant information and evidence that some consumers may have been enrolled without their authorization.

CMS has issued notices to 569 agents and brokers that it intends to terminate their agreements over applications that allegedly lacked key information. The agency says 66 had already received termination notices.

The administration has identified another group of approximately 419,000 to 450,000 people for additional verification.

Officials say they want to establish whether these enrollees are legally eligible for Marketplace coverage and whether they meet the income requirements for the federal subsidies.

Also read: Why Is Trump Administration Testing Drinking Water For Abortion Pills? EPA’s Controversial Move Explained

Insurance Brokers Under Radar

CMS says newly registered brokers for the 2026 plan year accounted for a disproportionate share of the fraudulent Obamacare enrollments.

According to the agency, enrollments handled by these newer brokers were 2.8 times more likely to have unresolved income-verification issues, 2.7 times more likely to be missing Social Security numbers and 2.6 times more likely to have unresolved citizenship or immigration-status verification issues compared with brokers registered before 2026.

CMS has therefore imposed a temporary moratorium on new broker registrations for the 2027 plan year for agents and brokers without an active 2026 Exchange Agreement.

The move does not end the Affordable Care Act or eliminate Marketplace insurance. Instead, it represents a major tightening of how the federal government verifies who is enrolled and who qualifies for subsidies.