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URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/whatsnew/

What's New on MedlinePlus

October 16, 2024

Two New Medical Tests Added to MedlinePlus

Two new medical tests are now available on MedlinePlus:

Calprotectin Stool Test

This test measures a protein, calprotectin, in your stool (poop). High levels are a sign of inflammation in your intestines that may cause severe diarrhea.

Pneumococcal Disease Tests

These tests check for the bacteria that cause pneumococcal disease. The tests may be done on blood, urine, sputum, or cerebrospinal fluid samples.

August 30, 2024

Revised and updated MedlinePlus tutorial Evaluating Internet Health Information now available in Spanish

To support Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy’s priority to address health misinformation, MedlinePlus completely revised and updated its tutorial Evaluating Internet Health Information. The new Spanish translation Tutorial de evaluación de información de salud en internet is now also available.

July 16, 2024

Test Your Knowledge Quizzes Added to MedlinePlus

60 Test Your Knowledge quizzes from the A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia have been added to MedlinePlus. The quizzes focus on health, wellness, disorders, and conditions, and link with relevant MedlinePlus Health Topic pages and Medical Encyclopedia articles, where more information about the topic can be found. Each quiz is comprised of multiple choice and true or false questions. Quiz pages are fully accessible.

January 13, 2023

My MedlinePlus Newsletter Discontinued

The My MedlinePlus newsletter was discontinued as of December 31, 2022. Find trusted, reliable health information written for consumers from the NIH News in Health newsletter and the NIH MedlinePlus Magazine. Follow MedlinePlus on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Here are other ways you can learn of new content added to MedlinePlus: 

  1. Check this What's New page
  2. MedlinePlus offers several general interest RSS feeds as well as RSS feeds for every health topic page on the site. Subscribe to any of these feeds in your favorite RSS reader.

January 4, 2023

MedlinePlus and MedlinePlus En Español Homepages Refreshed

The MedlinePlus and MedlinePlus en español homepages will be refreshed in early January and we encourage you to visit. Changes include:

  • Addition of a "Welcome to MedlinePlus" feature in order to follow U.S. Health and Human Services recommendations for homepages to "clearly and prominently communicate the purpose and value of the web site on the homepage"
  • Removal of discontinued links and outdated features
  • Rearrangement of icons linking to content to improve navigation and reduce clutter

October 26, 2022

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections (RSV)

Information on Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections (RSV) has been updated. For the latest information, check out the health topic.

September 24, 2022

New Medical Test Added to MedlinePlus

A new medical test is available on MedlinePlus: 

Parainfluenza Tests

Parainfluenza tests diagnose four common viruses that cause respiratory illnesses, including croup and bronchitis.

September 22, 2022

New Health Topic Added to MedlinePlus

A new health topic was added to MedlinePlus: 

Post-COVID Conditions (Long COVID)

Anyone who had COVID-19, whether is was severe or mild, can have long-lasting symptoms. Learn more about Post-COVID conditions (long COVID), including symptoms, diagnosis, treatments, and prevention.

August 11, 2022

Help Me Understand Genetics Pages Available in Spanish

Help Me Understand Genetics is now available in Spanish: Cómo entender la genética

These pages are an introduction to fundamental topics related to human genetics, including illustrations and basic explanations of genetics concepts.

August 4, 2022

Genetic Pages Available in Spanish

Four new chapters of Help Me Understand Genetics are now available in Spanish:

May 11, 2022

Genetic Pages Available in Spanish

The Gene Therapy and Other Medical Advances chapter of Help Me Understand Genetics is now available in Spanish: Terapia genética y otros avances médicos

This chapter covers topics including what is gene therapy and how it works. Also discusses the ethical issues surrounding gene therapy and available treatments.

February 23, 2022

Genetic Pages Available in Spanish

The Genetic Consultation and Genetic Testing chapters of Help Me Understand Genetics are now available in Spanish: Consulta genética and Pruebas genéticas

These chapters cover topics including why might someone have a genetic consultation and what happens during a genetic consultation. Also, the different types of genetic testing, and how is genetic testing done.

October 20, 2021

Genetic Page Available in Spanish

The Inheriting Genetic Conditions chapter of Help Me Understand Genetics is now available in Spanish: Herencia de condiciones genéticas

This 10 page chapter covers topics including different types of genetic inheritance, family health history, and heritability.

September 29, 2021

MedlinePlus is now on Instagram!

Instagram

Follow us at: Mplusgov  

September 21, 2021

New Genetic Pages

Two new pages have been added to MedlinePlus Genetics: 

Cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes

Cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS) are a group of conditions that have overlapping signs and symptoms and the same genetic cause. Generally, CAPS are characterized by periodic episodes of skin rash, fever, and joint pain.

Familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome type 2

Familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome type 2 is a condition that causes episodes of fever, skin rash, and joint pain. These episodes can be triggered by exposure to cold temperatures, or they may arise without warning, and they can last a few hours to several days.

August 24, 2021

Genetic Page Available in Spanish

A MedlinePlus Genetic page is now available in Spanish:  How Genes Work (Cómo funcionan los genes)

Curious about genes and how they work? Learn all about genes, proteins, cell division, and more.

July 20, 2021

Genetic Page Available in Spanish

A MedlinePlus Genetic page is now available in Spanish: Variants and Health (variantes y la salud)

Curious about gene mutations and how they impact health? Learn how different mutations affect health and development.

July 14, 2021

New Genetic Page

A new page has been added to MedlinePlus Genetics: What are the different types of genetic tests

Many types of genetic tests are available to analyze changes in genes, chromosomes, or proteins. A health care provider will consider several factors when selecting the appropriate test.

May 6, 2021

Genetic Page Available in Spanish

A MedlinePlus Genetic page is now available in Spanish: Cells and DNA (Células y ADN)

Discover the basics of cells, DNA, genes, chromosomes and how they work.

April 16, 2021

New Genetic Page

A new page has been added to MedlinePlus Genetics: What are mRNA vaccines and how do they work?

Scientists have developed a new type of vaccine that uses a molecule called messenger RNA (or mRNA for short) rather than part of an actual bacteria or virus. mRNA vaccines work by introducing a piece of mRNA that corresponds to a viral protein. Using this mRNA blueprint, cells produce the viral protein, which triggers an immune response.

December 10, 2020

New Genetic Page

A new page has been added to MedlinePlus Genetics: Terminal osseous dysplasia

Terminal osseous dysplasia is a disorder primarily involving skeletal abnormalities and certain skin changes. Explore symptoms, inheritance, genetics of this condition.

November 18, 2020

MedlinePlus Social Media Toolkit

MedlinePlus Social Media Toolkit is now available.

Share these MedlinePlus resources on your social media or other communication channels to connect your community to high-quality, relevant health and wellness information that is trusted and easy to understand, in both English and Spanish.

November 10, 2020

New Health Topics

Two new topics have been added to MedlinePlus: 

COVID-19 Testing

Learn about the different types of tests for COVID-19, who needs a test, and how and where you can get a test.

COVID-19 Vaccines 

Currently there is no approved vaccine for COVID-19 in the United States. Learn about the vaccines that are being developed and tested, and how you can enroll in a clinical trial.

October 27, 2020

New Genetic Pages

Two new pages have been added to MedlinePlus Genetics:

Learn about the signs and symptoms, causes, and inheritance of MN1 C-terminal truncation syndrome and learn how changes in the MN1 gene are related to this condition.

October 22, 2020

New Health Topic

A new topic has been added to MedlinePlus: Vaccine Safety

Vaccines protect you and your family from disease. Learn about vaccine safety in the United States. It includes a thorough process of testing and evaluating vaccines before they can be approved.

September 24, 2020

New Health Topic

A new topic has been added to MedlinePlus: Cleaning, Disinfecting, and Sanitizing

To avoid becoming infected by germs from surfaces and objects, it is important to wash your hands often. It’s also important to regularly clean and disinfect surfaces and objects. Learn the difference between cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing.

September 2, 2020

Genetics Home Reference has become part of MedlinePlus.

Information from Genetics Home Reference is now available in the “Genetics” section of MedlinePlus.

The Genetics Home Reference pages included in MedlinePlus cover more than 1,300 genetic conditions and 1,475 genes, all of the human chromosomes, and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Also included is a richly illustrated genetics primer, Help Me Understand Genetics, which offers basic explanations of how genes work and how mutations cause disorders, as well as current information about genetic testing, gene therapy, genetics research, and precision medicine.

May 27, 2020

New Health Topic Added

A new health topic has been added to MedlinePlus: 

May 5, 2020

New Health Topics Added

Two new health topics have been added to MedlinePlus: 

April 16, 2020

New Health Topic

A new topic has been added to MedlinePlus: How to Improve Mental Health

February 20, 2020

New Coronavirus Testing Page

Concerned about a coronavirus? Find out when you may need testing, what happens during a test, and what the results may mean with our new Coronavirus Testing page.

January 30, 2020

Coronavirus Information Updated

The health topic Coronavirus Infections has been updated and includes new CDC information about the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

December 10, 2019

New Health Topic

A new topic has been added to MedlinePlus:  HIV: PrEP and PEP

PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) are HIV prevention methods where medicines are prescribed before (pre) or post (after) there is exposure to HIV. Discover more about treatment as prevention.

December 4, 2019

PDF Fact Sheet Added

The new Learn about MedlinePlus page is now available in a printable PDF Fact Sheet.

November 19, 2019

Spanish Health Topic Added

The health topic, Hidradenitis Suppurativa, is now available in Spanish: Hidradenitis supurativa

November 13, 2019

MedlinePlus Has Retired the How to Write Easy-to-Read Health Materials page in English and Spanish.

Guides for creating health materials for a general audience are available from the National Institutes of Health, the HHS Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, and others. We encourage you to explore these resources via the MedlinePlus topic on Health Literacy.

November 8, 2019

About MedlinePlus: New and Updated Information

We have expanded and updated our information about MedlinePlus! Highlights include:

To streamline this area of MedlinePlus, we have discontinued the FAQs, awards and recognition page, milestones page, bibliography, and MedlinePlus tour. When applicable, these links have been redirected to related content on MedlinePlus.

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please use the “Customer Support” button at the top of any page to submit a comment or question.

October 3, 2019

New Medical Tests Added to MedlinePlus

Three new medical tests are now available on MedlinePlus

September 13, 2019

New Medical Tests Added to MedlinePlus

Five new medical tests are now available on MedlinePlus:

August 30, 2019

New Medical Tests Added to MedlinePlus

Five new medical tests are now available on MedlinePlus:

August 28, 2019

Health Topics Name Changes

The following health topics have new topic names:

August 15, 2019

New Page on MedlinePlus for All of Us Research Program Participants

Current and future participants of the NIH All of Us Research Program can now access trusted, understandable health information from MedlinePlus all in one place.

August 14, 2019

Welcome to the What's New page

This page will provide regular information about news, changes, and updates to MedlinePlus.