Monday, June 22, 2009

Swine Flu

Swine Flu Scare in Ahmedabad :
The pandemic spread of swine flu cases have been in the media lime light across the globe. Though, so far Gujarat had remained untouched with no reported cases of swine flu. However, the recent swine flu scare in Ahmedabad, caused major panic as airports authorities, already on alert, swung into action for quarantining suspected patients and health departments geared up for eventualities. A 30-year-old woman, was admitted to VS hospital where she has been kept in the isolation ward.
Let us take a close look at what exactly is swine flu and other elated information.


What is Swine Flu(H1N1) :
The new virus referred as H1N1 in medical parlance and commonly as Swine flu, is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. It was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009 and soon after patients reported sick with the new virus in Mexico and Canada. The virus spreads from person to person just as is the case with regular cases of influenza. The origin of the disease, though, is till under investigation.


Why the Name Swine Flu :
This disease is commonly called “swine flu” because laboratory tests showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs in North America. However, it is now emerged that it has genes from flu viruses that infect pigs in Europe and Asia , avian genes and human genes as well. Scientists call this a "quadruple reassortant" virus.
Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, there has been sporadic cases where H1N1 originated from pigs and then at some point was transmitted to humans.


The origin of then Virus :
Pigs can be infected by avian, human and swine influenza viruses. When influenza viruses from different species infect pigs, the viruses can rearrange their genes through mutation and new ones emerge that are a mixture of swine, human and/or avian influenza viruses. Therefore, pigs act as a “mixing pot” of different viruses and human influenza viruses, which may lead to the emergence of potential new human influenza viruses.


Can You Catch it from Pigs :
No. This Swine flu strain is one that is communicable through human-to-human contact. It is a mutated form of a swine virus.


Signs and Symptoms of Swine Flu :
The symptoms of Swine flu similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and include high temperatures, coughing, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, chills and tiredness. Also, diarrhea and vomiting are other reported symptoms in people infected with swine flu. The virus spreads mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing and people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it.


Medicines :
The drugs oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza) for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with novel H1N1 flu virus is commonly used under a doctor's prescription. During the current outbreak, the priority use for influenza antiviral drugs is to treat severe influenza illness.


Vaccination :
At present there are no vaccines that can contain the novel swine flu virus. It is not known whether current human seasonal influenza vaccines can provide any protection. Influenza viruses change very quickly.


Precautions :
1. Use a tissue when you cough or sneeze and dispose it off properly in the trash
2. informed through articles like this/news/alerts on TV, Internet, Newspaper
3. Wash your hands with Alcohol-based hand cleaners after a coughing sneezing bout.
4. Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
5. Confine yourself to your home if you are sick for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours and avoid contact with people as far -as possible
6. Public health departments of countries across the globe have been issuing alerts and and advices on the pandemic such as on air travel, school closure etc. Pay attention to them and act accordingly.


Conclusion :
According to World Health Organization, WHO, the overall intensity of the influenza pandemics moderate and is based on scientific evidence available to WHO, as well as reports from its Member States on the pandemic's impact on their health systems, and their social and economic functioning. Thus WHO concludes that most people recover from infection without the need for hospitalization or medical care and overall, national levels of severe illness from influenza A(H1N1) appear similar to levels seen during local seasonal influenza periods. Also, large outbreaks of disease have not yet been reported in many countries, and the full clinical spectrum of disease is not yet known.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Blood Donation Day

The Importance of World Blood Donation Day
The world Blood donation day falls on June 14th The World Health Assembly honors Karl Landsteiner, the Nobel laureate who discovered the ABO blood group system, by declaring and celebrating his birthday as World Blood donation day. The importance of this day can never be underestimated because there are millions of people whose life has been saved due to the noble act of faceless blood donors. However, there is still a huge need to donate blood as many do not have access to safe blood in the times of their need.

How Blood Saves Life
Red Blood Cells are a prerequisite for surgery or after an accident to replace the blood volume and maintain the oxygen flow in the body. Similarly victims of burns, hemophilia and other patients of blood disorders require blood transfusion. Also, cancer stricken patients require blood donation to replace platelets lost in the process of chemotherapy which is a routine treatment for most types of cancer.

Donor Eligibility
The standard protocol for donor eligibility define the donor as being healthy adult at least 17 yrs old and at least weighing 110 pounds. Also, he or she should not have donated blood in the last eight weeks.The donation process itself ensures other aspects of the donor's health as each donor undergoes certain examination during which temperature, pulse, blood pressure and blood count (hemoglobin or hematocrit) are measured.

The Need for Regular Blood Donation
The donated blood is preserved and refrigerated in bags however its shelf life is not for long. That is why blood has to be collected on an ongoing basis and the supply has to be maintained. The Food and Drug Administration allows refrigerated blood to be stored up to 42 days for transfusion.

Blood Donation Theme for 2009
The global theme for 2009 aims at achieving cent percent voluntary donation of blood and blood components while laying stress on improving the safety and sufficiency of blood supply. As more and more nations achieve the goal of 100 per cent voluntary and non-remunerated blood donation, there is increasing understanding about the essential role of voluntary and regular donors. Not only are they the safest blood donors, they are also agents of of uninterrupted national blood supplies that can meet the needs of patients requiring blood and blood components.


Conclusion
This June make a pledge to be a regular donor. The process is simple and safe. Always remember that your act of blood donation can help save your friend, loved ones, relatives and at deeper levels is a also a self serving gesture in which all eligible should participate.