LET'S TALK ABOUT MEN HEALTH - PART 1

June is national men’s health month. 

This week is Men’s Health Week 2021, a time to not only raise awareness of health conditions but also focus on treatment side effects, mental wellbeing and tackling the taboo.

It isn’t always a top priority, but health officials say a yearly checkup should be on everyone’s to do list.

“A lot of individuals, men included, have the idea well if it’s not broke, don’t fix it, or I feel fine, I don’t have any time. Probably one of the best ways to think about it is if you’ve bought a new car, you’re gonna change the oil. If you don’t change the oil for a year, five years, ten years the car still gonna run but when it comes right down to it, bad things are gonna happen.”

The main topics in men’s health include prostate cancer. Prostate cancer affects men and we have about 30 to 35,000 new cases per year.  Prostate cancer is slow growing and it actually accounts for 10% of the cancer related deaths in men. Another topic in men’s health is testicular cancer.  Testicular cancer is relatively rare, about 9,000 cases per year reported.  Unfortunately, it affects men in the younger age group of 20 to 35.

A research in United Kingdom surveyed over 350 men with prostate cancer and found the following

• 86% of men receiving treatment for prostate cancer experienced erectile dysfunction, and 79% suffered a loss of libido. However, only 1% of men surveyed felt most comfortable talking about side effects and mental health with their friends.
• Erectile dysfunction is one of the most common side effects, affecting 86% of men, followed by loss of libido (79%). Of those who experienced a loss of libido, almost half (42%) said their sex drive had “completely diminished” as a result.
• Almost three quarters (73%) of those surveyed suffer with incontinence, with 61% saying it affected their quality of life.
• These side effects can lead to a loss of confidence and feeling emasculated, and over a quarter of men (26%) said changes associated with their physicality have directly affected their mental health.
• Despite this, men feel uncomfortable talking about their side effects and mental health to the people they have the closest personal relationships to, with only 2% feeling most comfortable discussing the topic with family and even fewer (1%) with friends.

Treatment options for prostate cancer include surgery, radiotherapy, hormone therapy and chemotherapy. These can have temporary or sometimes permanent side effects such as incontinence or erectile dysfunction.

Living for many years with cancer and potential treatment side effects can take a toll on men’s mental wellbeing and managing the side effects can be difficult to cope with.

As we celebrate 2021 International Men Health Week, we advise all men to follow a heart healthy, calorie controlled. Current recommendation is for men to get exercise 30 minutes up to 5 times a week. Even in addition to if they have an active or vigorous work schedule. We encourage them to keep up with their immunizations and we get them to try to pay attention to their life, their lifestyle and their activities.”

If you’re in need of a checkup, you’re encouraged to contact your primary care provider.

Trust You are Blessed!

Stay Connected For the Part 2

UNDERSTANDING ASTHMA AND HOW THE AIRWAYS WORK

May 6th of every year is celebrated as World Asthma Day, Myhealth Mywellbeing Blog will not be left behind in explaining to you, all you need to know about Asthma.

To understand asthma, a chronic disease that causes your airways to become inflamed, it helps to first know how your airways work.

How Do Normal Airways Work?

When we breathe in, air moves through our airways – from our nose or mouth, down a large hollow tube in the front of the neck called a windpipe or trachea – and into our lungs.

The trachea divides into two tubes called bronchial tubes in the lungs. They look like upside-down trees. As the bronchial tubes pass through the lungs, they divide into smaller air passages called bronchioles. At the end of each bronchiole are tiny air sacs that fill up with air, like tiny balloons, each time we breathe in. These are called alveoli.

Air comes into our lungs each time we breathe in. This air has oxygen in it. Oxygen has a special job. It helps feed, or give energy to, all parts of our body so we can walk, talk, eat and exercise.

How Do Airways Work When You Have Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic, long-term disease of the airways, the tubes that carry air into our lungs. 

When you have asthma, your airways aren't able to function as well as they should.

Asthma causes inflammation, or swelling, in the lungs. It can also cause squeezing, called bronchoconstriction, and extra sensitive or twitchy airways. It causes inflammation and narrowing of the bronchial tubes that leads to airflow limitation.

When something bothers your airways, you have trouble breathing. This is called an asthma attack or episode. It gets harder to breathe because the tiny muscles around your airways squeeze tightly and they have swelling inside.

Your airways will make more mucus inside your airways, which makes it even harder to breathe. These changes in your airways can cause coughing and wheezing.

Symptoms of Asthma

Asthma can be different for everyone. Asthma symptoms can also vary over time, with few or no symptoms when asthma is well-controlled. The most common symptoms include:

These symptoms can occur slowly over hours or days, or they can come on as sudden, recurring attacks after which the symptoms can persist for some time before disappearing. If left untreated, asthma can cause permanent structural changes in your airways called – “airway remodelling,” – which is why it is important to get asthma under control and keep treating it over the long term.

Causes and triggers

Asthma is caused by swelling (inflammation) of the breathing tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. This makes the tubes highly sensitive, so they temporarily narrow.

It may occur randomly or after exposure to a trigger.

Common asthma triggers include:

✓Allergies (to house dust mites, animal fur or pollen, for example)

✓Smoke and pollution

✓Infections like colds or flu

Identifying and avoiding your asthma triggers can help you keep your symptoms under control.

How long does it last?

Asthma is a long-term condition for many people, particularly if it first develops when you're an adult.

In children, it sometimes goes away or improves during the teenage years, but can come back later in life.

The symptoms can usually be controlled with treatment. Most people will have normal, active lives, although some with more severe asthma may have ongoing problems.

Complications

Although asthma can normally be kept under control, it's still a serious condition that can cause a number of problems.

This is why it's important to follow your treatment plan and not ignore your symptoms if they're getting worse.

Badly controlled asthma can cause problems such as:

✓feeling tired all the time

✓underperformance at, or absence from, work or school

stress, anxiety or depression

✓disruption of your work and leisure because of unplanned visits to a General Practitioner or hospital

✓lung infections (pneumonia)

✓delays in growth or puberty in children

There's also a risk of severe asthma attacks, which can be life threatening.

Treatments for asthma

Asthma is usually treated by using an inhaler, a small device that lets you breathe in medicines.

The main types are:

1). Reliever inhalers – used when needed to quickly relieve asthma symptoms for a short time.

2). Preventer inhalers – used every day to prevent asthma symptoms occurring. It's use to manage and control asthma.

Some people also need to take tablets.

When to see Medical Doctor or Pharmacist

See a Medical Doctor or a Pharmacist if you think you or your child may have asthma.

Several conditions can cause similar symptoms, so it's important to get a proper diagnosis and correct treatment.

The Medical Doctor or Pharmacist will usually be able to diagnose asthma by asking about symptoms and carrying out some simple tests.

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CORONAVIRUS: HERE ARE ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

In recent news, at least 17 people have died from a new coronavirus in China, all in Hubei Province, following an outbreak in the central city of Wuhan, and more than 550 cases have been reported globally. Most cases are in China, where more infections have been confirmed in recent days.

Beyond China, Thailand has reported four cases, while South Korea, Taiwan, Japan and the United States have each confirmed one.

All the cases involve people who had either come from Wuhan or been there recently.

A novel coronavirus, identified by Chinese authorities on January 7 and currently named 2019-nCoV, is a new strain that had not been previously identified in humans. The World Health Organization (WHO) named the new coronavirus 2019-nCoV. The pathogen responsible for this pandemic is a new coronavirus. It's in the same family of viruses as the well-known severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), which have killed hundreds of people in the past 17 years.

Unfortunately, there is no approved vaccine or antiviral treatment available for coronavirus infection. A better understanding of the life cycle of 2019-nCoV, including the source of the virus, how it is transmitted and how it replicates are needed to both prevent and treat the disease.

Here are All You Need to Know

What is a Coronavirus?

The name of coronavirus comes from its shape, which resembles a crown or solar corona when imaged using an electron microscope.

According to the World Health Organization, coronaviruses are a family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Mode of Transmission

These viruses are transmitted between animals and people. SARS, for instance, was believed to have been transmitted from civet cats to humans while MERS travelled from a type of camel to humans.

Several known coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans, human-to-human transmission has been confirmed.

Field studies have revealed that the original source of SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV is the bat, and that the masked palm civets (a mammal native to Asia and Africa) and camels, respectively, served as intermediate hosts between bats and humans.

In the case of this 2019 coronavirus outbreak, reports state that most of the first group of patients hospitalized were workers or customers at a local seafood wholesale market which also sold processed meats and live consumable animals including poultry, donkeys, sheep, pigs, camels, foxes, badgers, bamboo rats, hedgehogs and reptiles. However, since no one has ever reported finding a coronavirus infecting aquatic animals, it is plausible that the coronavirus may have originated from other animals sold in that market.

What are the symptoms?

According to the WHO, signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

In more severe cases, it can lead to pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.

How deadly is it?

Some experts say it may not be as deadly as other types of coronavirus such as SARS, which killed nearly 800 people worldwide during a 2002-2003 break that also originated from China.

MERS, which did not spread as widely, was more deadly, killing a third of those it infected.

What is being done to stop it spreading?


There is no vaccine for the new virus.

Chinese authorities effectively sealed off Wuhan on Thursday, suspending flights and trains out of the city and telling residents they could not leave without a special reason, state media said.

The move, effective at 10am (02:00 GMT), 23rd January, is meant to "resolutely contain the momentum of the epidemic spreading" and protect lives, the central city's special command centre against the virus said, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

Chinese authorities have stepped up monitoring and disinfection efforts ahead of the Lunar New Year break, which formally starts on Friday and is when many of the country's 1.4 billion people will travel domestically and overseas.

Airport authorities across Asia, including Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea and Malaysia quickly stepped up screening of passengers from Wuhan.

In Europe, the United Kingdom and Italy have said they will introduce enhanced monitoring of flights from Wuhan, while Romania and Russia are also strengthening checks.

Some airports in the United States have also begun checks.

Where did the virus originate?

Chinese health authorities are still trying to determine the origin of the virus, which they say came from a seafood market in Wuhan where wildlife was also traded illegally. The WHO also says an animal source appears most likely to be the primary source of the outbreak.

There is evidence of respiratory transmission of the virus from patient to patient and Chinese authorities have also said 15 medical staff in the country have been infected.

Experts particularly worry when health workers get sick during new outbreaks because this can suggest the disease is becoming more transmissible and because spread in hospitals can often amplify the epidemic.

Nigeria’s preparedness and response

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is currently coordinating a multisectoral technical group that is assessing and managing the risk of importation to Nigeria. NCDC is in close communication with the World Health Organization (WHO) who is closely monitoring the situation globally. WHO is in direct communication with the Government of China and other affected countries, and has released technical and travel guidance.

The Port Health Services unit of the Federal Ministry of Health in Nigeria has been placed on alert and has heightened screening measures at the points of entry. Nigerians are advised to remain calm. Travelers from Nigeria to Wuhan, China, are advised to avoid contact with sick people, animals (alive or dead), and animal markets. Travelers from Wuhan to Nigeria, may be asked questions upon arrival by the Port Health Services unit at points of entry about symptoms of illness and travel history, and are advised to report immediately to NCDC if they feel ill after a trip to Wuhan.

The Federal Ministry of Health through NCDC and its partners are fully committed to strengthening our preparedness and response to infectious disease outbreaks. Information will be shared with the public as it becomes available.

What next?

On Thursday, 24th January, the WHO is expected to announce its decision on whether to declare a global public health emergency in relation to the new coronavirus.

How to protect yourself?

To reduce the risk of spread of coronavirus, members of the public are advised to adhere to the following measures:

•        Wash your hands regularly with soap under running water.

•        Cover your mouth and nose properly with handkerchief or tissue paper when sneezing and/or coughing. You may also cough into your elbow if a handkerchief is not available.

•        Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing.

•        Avoid self-medication, report to the nearest health facility when you experience any of the above-mentioned symptoms.

•        Healthcare workers are always advised to observe standard infection prevention and control measures when attending to patients and take a travel history.

The 2019-nCoV outbreak is another reminder that people should limit the consumption of wild animals to prevent zoonotic infections. Meaning they are normally transmitted between animals and people.

Sources: CNN, Aljazera, NCDC

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STILL ON PNEUMONIA - TYPES, COMPLICATION, PREVENTION AND TREATMENT

In our previous write up on Pneumonia, we have talked about what pneumonia is, causes of pneumonia, signs and symptoms of pneumonia and how pneumonia is transmitted.

In this concluding part, we will be focussing on Types & Classification of Pneumonia, Prevention and Treatment of Pneumonia.

This is going to be a long, informative and interesting write up, make sure you read patiently to the end.

Types And Classifications of Pneumonia

Pneumonia can be classified in several ways, most commonly by where it was acquired (hospital versus community), but may also by the area of lung affected or by the causative organism. There is also a combined clinical classification, which combines factors such as age, risk factors for certain microorganisms, the presence of underlying lung disease or systemic disease and whether the person has recently been hospitalized.

Doctors classify different types of pneumonia into various groups. This allows them to describe the disease more exactly, and more importantly, to start off with the correct treatment.

Experts also classify pneumonia according to factors other than where the patient was infected and the severity. But that typically doesn't affect how the pneumonia is treated. Instead, it's useful for getting a better description of the illness.

The various types of pneumonia are classified according to a number of characteristics. To treat these types, it's essential to know whether somebody caught pneumonia at home, in a hospital, or in a nursing home.

Community - Aquired and Nosocomial Pneumonia

If you develop pneumonia at home, it's referred to as community-acquired pneumonia (or CAP for short), even if you are admitted to the hospital during the course of the illness.

If you develop pneumonia while in the hospital, it is called hospital-acquired (HAP for short) or nocosomial pneumonia. Pneumonia is considered to be nocosomial if it starts at least two days after you are admitted to the hospital, or within three months of a hospital stay.

Doctors can also classify pneumonia even more exactly, giving consideration to whether somebody became infected in a retirement or a nursing home, at a medical facility such as a dialysis center, or while receiving artificial respiration.

Mild, moderate or severe pneumonia

To be able to provide the right treatment, doctors also classify community-acquired pneumonia as mild, moderate or severe. They take the risk of complications into account as well.

Pneumonia is considered to be mild with no increased risk if the patient

√ Is younger than 65 years old,
√ Is conscious and lucid,
√ has normal blood pressure and pulse,
√ is not breathing too fast (fewer than 30 breaths per minute),
√ has enough oxygen in their blood,
√ has not been given any antibiotics in the past three months,
√ has not been in the hospital in the past three months, and
√ does not have any other severe medical conditions.

People with mild pneumonia can be treated at home and are given antibiotics in tablet form.

The signs of moderate pneumonia include drowsiness and confusion, low blood pressure, worsening shortness of breath, and risk factors such as old age and underlying diseases. People with these symptoms need to have treatment at a hospital. Some will be given a combination of two different antibiotics, at least at the beginning of the treatment.

Pneumonia is classified as severe when the heart, the kidneys or the circulatory system are at risk of failing, or if the lungs can no longer take in enough oxygen. Treatment with an antibiotic infusion in intensive care is then usually needed, sometimes with artificial respiration or additional drugs such as corticosteroids.

Pneumonia in children is only classified as either “not severe” or “severe.”

Atypical or Walking Pneumonia

Typical pneumonia generally begins with a sudden high fever and chills, and then coughing with phlegm coming later.

Atypical pneumonia is caused by other germs, which are also referred to as "atypical." Older people in particular have fewer or slightly different symptoms if they have atypical pneumonia: It then starts off rather slowly with a mild fever and/or headache and aching limbs. Rather than coughing with phlegm, they have a dry, tickly cough.

Atypical symptoms don't mean that the lungs are less severely inflamed or that the disease will take a milder course though.
Atypical pneumonia is also called walking pneumonia. This non-medical term has become a popular description because you may feel well enough to be walking around, carrying out your daily tasks and not even realize you have pneumonia.

Upper, middle and lower lobe pneumonia

X-rays play an important role in distinguishing between these types: the term lobar pneumonia is used if an entire lung lobe is visibly inflamed. Depending on which lung lobe is affected, the pneumonia is referred to as upper, middle or lower lobe pneumonia.

If there are several multi-lobe focal inflammations in the lungs, the term focal pneumonia is used. Some people use the term bronchopneumonia if the focal inflammations started in inflamed airways (bronchi).

Sometimes, it's the air sacs that are more inflamed (alveolar pneumonia), and sometimes it's the tissue between the sacs (interstitial pneumonia).

Complications of Pneumonia

Even with treatment, some people with pneumonia, especially those in high-risk groups, may experience complications, including:

•Bacteria in the bloodstream (bacteremia). Bacteria that enter the bloodstream from your lungs can spread the infection to other organs, potentially causing organ failure.

•Difficulty breathing. If your pneumonia is severe or you have chronic underlying lung diseases, you may have trouble breathing in enough oxygen. You may need to be hospitalized and use a breathing machine (ventilator) while your lung heals.

•Fluid accumulation around the lungs (pleural effusion). Pneumonia may cause fluid to build up in the thin space between layers of tissue that line the lungs and chest cavity (pleura). If the fluid becomes infected, you may need to have it drained through a chest tube or removed with surgery.

•Lung abscess. An abscess occurs if pus forms in a cavity in the lung. An abscess is usually treated with antibiotics. Sometimes, surgery or drainage with a long needle or tube placed into the abscess is needed to remove the pus.


Prevention of Pneumonia

This is how to help prevent pneumonia:

(1). Get vaccinated
Vaccines are available to prevent some types of pneumonia and the flu. Talk with your doctor about getting these shots. The vaccination guidelines have changed over time so make sure to review your vaccination status with your doctor even if you recall previously receiving a pneumonia vaccine.

(2). Make sure children get vaccinated. Doctors recommend a different pneumonia vaccine for children younger than age 2 and for children ages 2 to 5 years who are at particular risk of pneumococcal disease. Children who attend a group child care center should also get the vaccine. Doctors also recommend flu shots for children older than 6 months.

(3). Practice good hygiene
To protect yourself against respiratory infections that sometimes lead to pneumonia, wash your hands regularly or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

(4). Don't smoke
Smoking damages your lungs' natural defenses against respiratory infections.

(5). Keep your immune system strong.
Get enough sleep, exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet.

Why is classification important for the treatment?

Community-acquired pneumonia is usually caused by pneumococci, whereas nocosomial pneumonia is often connected with staphylococci, various intestinal bacteria, and special germs such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Some of those bacteria can be multi-resistant, meaning they are resistant to several antibiotics. That is why different antibiotics are usually need than for treating community-acquired pneumonia.

Treatment

Treatment for pneumonia involves curing the infection and preventing complications. People who have community-acquired pneumonia usually can be treated at home with medication. Although most symptoms ease in a few days or weeks, the feeling of tiredness can persist for a month or more.

Specific treatments depend on the type and severity of your pneumonia, your age and your overall health. The options include:

Antibiotics. These medicines are used to treat bacterial pneumonia. It may take time to identify the type of bacteria causing your pneumonia and to choose the best antibiotic to treat it. If your symptoms don't improve, your doctor or pharmacist may recommend a different antibiotic.

Cough medicine. This medicine may be used to calm your cough so that you can rest. Because coughing helps loosen and move fluid from your lungs, it's a good idea not to eliminate your cough completely. In addition, you should know that very few studies have looked at whether over-the-counter cough medicines lessen coughing caused by pneumonia. If you want to try a cough suppressant, use the lowest dose that helps you rest.

Fever reducers/pain relievers. You may take these as needed for fever and discomfort. Consult your Doctor and Pharmacist for pain relievet.


Hospitalization

You may need to be hospitalized if:

You are older than age 65
You are confused about time, people or places
Your kidney function has declined
Your systolic blood pressure is below 90 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or your diastolic blood pressure is 60 mm Hg or below
Your breathing is rapid (30 breaths or more a minute)
You need breathing assistance
Your temperature is below normal
Your heart rate is below 50 or above 100
You may be admitted to the intensive care unit if you need to be placed on a breathing machine (ventilator) or if your symptoms are severe.

Children may be hospitalized if:

They are younger than age 2 months
They are lethargic or excessively sleepy
They have trouble breathing
They have low blood oxygen levels
They appear dehydrated

We have come to end of our awareness on Pneumonia, trust this help you..

You can also read our write up on Typhoid, its causes, signs and symptoms, prevention, complications, prevention and treatment.

Feel free to ask questions, comment and contribute...

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LET'S TALK ABOUT PNEUMONIA

In recent News, ESPN reporter Ed Aschoff, who covered the Southeastern Conference (SEC) college sports for the network, died Tuesday, 24th December 2019, after a battle of pneumonia. He was 34. That's sad right?

That is why we will like to educate everyone about Pneumonia.

What is Pneumonia?
Causes of Pneumonia
Signs and Symptoms of Pneumonia
How is Pneumonia Transmitted?
Types and Classification of Pneumonia
Complications and Risk Factors
Treatment and Prevention

What Is Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is a form of acute respiratory infection that affects the lungs. The lungs are made up of small sacs called alveoli, which fill with air when a healthy person breathes. When an individual has pneumonia, the alveoli are filled with pus and fluid, which makes breathing painful and limits oxygen intake.

Pneumonia is the single largest infectious cause of death in children worldwide. Pneumonia killed 808 694 children under the age of 5 in 2017, accounting for 15% of all deaths of children under five years old. More than 1.5 million cases are yearly in Nigeria. Pneumonia affects children and families everywhere, but is most prevalent in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Children can be protected from pneumonia, it can be prevented with simple interventions, and treated with low-cost, low-tech medication and care.

What Causes Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is caused by a number of germs or infectious agents, including viruses, bacteria and fungi. The most common are bacteria and viruses in the air we breathe. The body usually prevents these germs from infecting your lungs. But sometimes these germs can overpower your immune system, even if your health is generally good.


How is Pneumonia Transmitted?

Pneumonia can be spread in a number of ways. The viruses and bacteria that are commonly found in a child's nose or throat, can infect the lungs if they are inhaled. They may also spread via air-borne droplets from a cough or sneeze. In addition, pneumonia may spread through blood, especially during and shortly after birth. More research needs to be done on the different pathogens causing pneumonia and the ways they are transmitted, as this is of critical importance for treatment and prevention.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Pneumonia?

Pneumonia can range in seriousness from mild to life-threatening. It is most serious for infants and young children, people older than age 65, and people with health problems or weakened immune systems.

The signs and symptoms of pneumonia vary from mild to severe, depending on factors such as the type of germ causing the infection, and your age and overall health. Mild signs and symptoms often are similar to those of a cold or flu, but they last longer.

Signs and symptoms of pneumonia may include:

√ Chest pain when you breathe or cough
√ Confusion or changes in mental awareness (in adults age 65 and older)
√ Cough, which may produce phlegm
√ Fatigue
√ Fever, sweating and shaking chills
√ Lower than normal body temperature (in adults older than age 65 and people with weak immune systems)
√ Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
√ Shortness of breath

Newborns and infants may not show any sign of the infection. Or they may vomit, have a fever and cough, appear restless or tired and without energy, or have difficulty breathing and eating.

When to see a Doctor or Pharmacist

See your doctor or Pharmacist if you have difficulty breathing, chest pain, persistent fever of 102 F (39 C) or higher, or persistent cough, especially if you're coughing up pus.

It's especially important that people in these high-risk groups see a Doctor or Pharmacist

√ Adults older than age 65
√ Children younger than age 2 with signs and symptoms
√ People with an underlying health condition or weakened immune system
√ People receiving chemotherapy or taking medication that suppresses the immune system
√ For some older adults and people with heart failure or chronic lung problems, pneumonia can quickly become a life-threatening condition.

What Are The Risk Factors?

While most healthy children can fight the infection with their natural defences, children whose immune systems are compromised are at higher risk of developing pneumonia. A child's immune system may be weakened by malnutrition or undernourishment, especially in infants who are not exclusively breastfed.

Pre-existing illnesses, such as symptomatic HIV infections and measles, also increase a child's risk of contracting pneumonia.

The following environmental factors also increase a child's susceptibility to pneumonia:

indoor air pollution caused by cooking and heating with biomass fuels (such as wood or dung)
living in crowded homes
parental smoking.

Trust this has helped you..

Feel free to ask questions, comment and contribute...

Watch out for our next write up, where we will talk about Types/Classification, Prevention and Treatment of Pneumonia.

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Compliment of the season and Happy New Year in Advance!!!

FEW WAYS TO AVOID SPENDING THE HOLIDAYS IN THE TOILET

FESTIVE SEASONS are great until you come down with stomach flu/gastroenteritis/diarrhea

Here are a few ways to avoid spending the holidays in the toilet:

(1). Hand Hygiene

Hand washing with soap has been proven to reduce the risk of stomach flu/gastroenteritis by 47%.
Be sure to wash your hands often especially after using the toilet and before handling food whether you're cooking or eating it. Also be sure that your little ones wash their hands.

Hand washing (or handwashing), also known as hand hygiene, is the act of cleaning hands for the purpose of removing soil, dirt, and microorganisms.

(2). Avoid Contaminated Food
If you have to eat out, eat only at trusted eateries.
Ensure to prepare foods properly and preferably eat them when they are still hot. Wash vegetables, fruits and salads properly before eating. If you'll be travelling, stick to food and water from reliable sources.

(3). Store Food Properly
If you need to keep them for more than a few hours then store them appropriately.

(4). Kitchen Hygiene

Keep your kitchen clean and disinfected.

Kitchen hygiene therefore, is the maintenance of high standards of cleanliness and sanitation in the kitchen to prevent food contamination. It also includes adequate care for cooking ranges i.e. shelves, cupboard, sink, floor and the ceiling. In other words, kitchen hygiene brings about a clean kitchen.

(5). Vaccinate Children

Ensure your little ones have received rotavirus vaccine if they haven't already. Rotavirus is the most common cause of gastroenteritis in children.

Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to prevent diseases. A vaccine helps the body’s immune system to recognize and fight pathogens like viruses or bacteria, which then keeps us safe from the diseases they cause. Vaccines protect against more than 25 debilitating or life-threatening diseases, including measles, polio, tetanus, diphtheria, meningitis, influenza, tetanus, typhoid and cervical cancer.

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Compliment of the season and Happy New Year in Advance!!!

STILL ON TYPHOID FEVER: SIGNS, SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT

In our First Write up on Typhoid Fever, we have established what Typhoid Fever is, Causes and Prevention. Now, lets talk about the signs, symptoms and Treatment of Thyphoid Fever.

What are the signs and symptoms of typhoid fever and paratyphoid fever?

Typhoid fever and paratyphoid fever have similar symptoms̵. People usually have a sustained fever (one that doesn’t come and go) that can be as high as 103–104°F (39–40°C).

Other symptoms of typhoid fever and paratyphoid fever include

Weakness
Stomach pain
Headache
Diarrhea or constipation
Cough
Loss of appetite

Rarely, symptoms might include confusion, diarrhea, and vomiting, but this is not normally severe.

In serious, untreated cases, the bowel can become perforated. This can lead to peritonitis, an infection of the tissue that lines the inside of the abdomen, which has been reported as fatal in between 5 and 62 percent of cases.

Some people with typhoid fever or paratyphoid fever develop a rash of flat, rose-colored spots.

What do you do if you think you have typhoid fever or paratyphoid fever?

The only way to know for sure if an illness is typhoid fever or paratyphoid fever is to have a sample of blood or stool (poop) tested for Salmonella Typhi or Salmonella Paratyphi.

If you have a fever and feel very ill, see a Doctor or Consult a Pharmacist immediately.

How are typhoid fever and paratyphoid fever treated?

Typhoid fever and paratyphoid fever are treated with antibiotics.

Resistance to antibiotics is increasing in the bacteria that cause these diseases. When bacteria are resistant to antibiotics, the bacteria are not killed and their growth is not stopped when antibiotics are taken. Your Doctor or Pharmacist may order special tests to see if the bacteria causing your infection are resistant. Results from those tests may affect what antibiotic treatment you receive.

People who do not get appropriate antibiotic treatment may have fever for weeks or months and may develop complications. People who do not get treatment can die from complications of the infection.

Other than antibiotics, it is important to rehydrate by drinking adequate water.
In more severe cases, where the bowel has become perforated, surgery may be required.

The danger from typhoid fever or paratyphoid fever doesn’t end when symptoms disappear

Even if your symptoms seem to go away, you may still be carrying Salmonella Typhi or Salmonella Paratyphi. If so, the illness could return, or you could pass the bacteria to other people. In fact, if you are a healthcare worker or work at a job where you handle food or care for small children, you may not be able to return to work until a doctor has determined you no longer carry the bacteria.

If you are being treated for typhoid fever or paratyphoid fever, it is important to do the following to lower the chance that you will pass the bacteria on to someone else.

√ Keep taking antibiotics for as long as the Doctor or Pharmacist has recommended.
√ Wash your hands carefully with soap and water after using the bathroom.
√ Do not prepare or serve food for other people.

Five Facts About Thyphoid

√ Typhoid is a common bacterial infection in countries with low incomes.
√ Untreated, it is fatal in around 25 percent of cases.
√ Symptoms include a high fever and gastrointestinal problems.
√ Some people carry the bacteria without developing symptoms
√ Most cases reported in the United States are contracted overseas
√ The only treatment for typhoid is antibiotics


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Let's Talk About Typhoid Fever

In the last 5 years of practice as a Community Pharmacist, I've seen people coming for consultation with several misconception about Typhoid Fever. Many want to treat Typhoid with Malaria even when the widal test shows negative. As a result, I will like to enlighten our audience about Typhoid Fever.

Typhoid is a bacterial infection that can lead to a high fever, diarrhea, and vomiting. It can be fatal. It is caused by the bacteria Salmonella typhi.

The infection is often passed on through contaminated food and drinking water, and it is more prevalent in places where handwashing is less frequent. It can also be passed on by carriers who do not know they carry the bacteria.

What is typhoid?

Typhoid is an infection caused by Salmonella typhimurium bacteria that is spread from human to human.
Typhoid is an infection caused by the bacterium Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhi).

The bacterium lives in the intestines and bloodstream of humans. It spreads between individuals by direct contact with the feces of an infected person.

No animals carry this disease, so transmission is always human to human.

If untreated, around 1 in 5 cases of typhoid can be fatal. With treatment, fewer than 4 in 100 cases are fatal.

S. typhi enters through the mouth and spends 1 to 3 weeks in the intestine. After this, it makes its way through the intestinal wall and into the bloodstream. From the bloodstream, it spreads into other tissues and organs. The immune system of the host can do little to fight back because S. typhi can live within the host's cells, safe from the immune system.

Typhoid is diagnosed by detecting the presence of S. typhi via blood, stool, urine, or bone marrow sample.


How many people get typhoid fever and paratyphoid fever each year?



Worldwide, typhoid fever affects an estimated 11 to 21 million people and paratyphoid fever affects an estimated 5 million people each year.

In the United States each year, about 350 people are diagnosed with typhoid fever and 90 people are diagnosed with paratyphoid fever each year. These cases do not include people who do not seek medical care, who are not tested for either disease, or whose disease is not reported to CDC. CDC estimates typhoid fever affects 5,700 people in the United States each year. CDC has not made estimates for Salmonella Paratyphi.

Most people diagnosed in the United States have traveled to places where the diseases are most common.

If typhoid is caught early, it can be successfully treated with antibiotics; if it is not treated, typhoid can be fatal.

How are typhoid fever and paratyphoid fever spread?

These diseases are spread through sewage contamination of food or water and through person-to-person contact. People who are currently ill and people who have recovered but are still passing the bacteria in their poop (stools) can spread Salmonella Typhi or Salmonella Paratyphi.

You can get typhoid fever or paratyphoid fever if

√ You eat food or drink a beverage that has been touched by a person who is shedding (getting rid of) Salmonella Typhi or Salmonella Paratyphi in their poop and who has not washed their hands thoroughly after going to the bathroom.

√ Sewage contaminated with Salmonella Typhi or Salmonella Paratyphi gets into water you drink.

√ Sewage contaminated with Salmonella Typhi or Salmonella Paratyphi gets into water used to rinse food you eat raw.

What happens if you eat or drink something contaminated with Salmonella Typhi or Salmonella Paratyphi?

If you consume a food or drink contaminated with Salmonella Typhi or Salmonella Paratyphi, the bacteria can multiply and spread into the bloodstream, causing typhoid fever or paratyphoid fever.

How can I protect myself from typhoid fever?

Countries with less access to clean water and washing facilities typically have a higher number of typhoid cases.

If traveling to an area where typhoid is prevalent, vaccination is recommended. Before traveling to a high-risk area, getting vaccinated against typhoid fever is recommended.

Vacination: This can be achieved by oral medication or a one-off injection:

√ Oral: a live, attenuated vaccine. Consists of 4 tablets, one to be taken every second day, the last of which is taken 1 week before travel.

√ Shot, an inactivated vaccine, administered 2 weeks before travel.

Vaccines are not 100 percent effective and caution should still be exercised when eating and drinking.

Vaccination should not be started if the individual is currently ill or if they are under 6 years of age. Anyone with HIV should not take the live, oral dose.

The vaccine may have adverse effects. One in 100 people will experience a fever. After the oral vaccine, there may be gastrointestinal problems, nausea, and headache. However, severe side effects are rare with either vaccine.

There are two types of typhoid vaccine available, but a more powerful vaccine is still needed. The live, oral version of the vaccine is the strongest of the two. After 3 years, it still protects individuals from infection 73 percent of the time. However, this vaccine has more side effects.

The current vaccines are not always effective, and because typhoid is so prevalent in poorer countries, more research needs to be done to find better ways of preventing its spread.

How Can I Avoid Typhoid Fever?

Typhoid is spread by contact and ingestion of infected human feces. This can happen through an infected water source or when handling food.

The following are some general rules to follow when traveling to help minimize the chance of typhoid infection:

√ Drink bottled water, preferably carbonated.
If bottled water cannot be sourced, ensure water is heated on a rolling boil for at least one minute before consuming. Be wary of eating anything that has been handled by someone else.

√ Avoid eating at street food stands, and only eat food that is still hot. Do not have ice in drinks.

√ Avoid raw fruit and vegetables, peel fruit yourself, and do not eat the peel.

Watch out for our next write up on The Symptoms and Treatment of Typhoid Fever.

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PHARMACISTS AND PHARMACY: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

After 5 years of practice as a Pharmacist, i will love to share some knowledge with you. What you need to know about Pharmacists and what to expect from Pharmacists.

Who Are Pharmacists?

Pharmacists are experts in medicines who can help you with minor health concerns. As qualified healthcare professionals, they can offer clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines for a range of minor illnesses, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, tummy trouble and aches and pains.
If symptoms suggest it's something more serious, pharmacists have the right training to make sure you get the help you need. For example they will tell you if you need to see a Medical Doctor or go for a medical Test.

All pharmacists train for 5 years in the use of medicines, that's Bachelor in Pharmacy (B. Pharm).  However some are trained for 6 years, that's Doctorate in Pharmacy (Pharm D). Pharmacists are also trained in managing minor illnesses and providing health and wellbeing advice. Many community pharmacies are open until late and at weekends. You don't need an appointment – you can just walk in. Most pharmacies have a private consultation room where you can discuss issues with pharmacy staff without being overheard.

Pharmacists can answer your questions on prescription and over-the-counter medicines.

Services That Pharmacists And Pharmacies Provide

√ Dispensing of Hospital prescriptions
√ Access to the repeat prescription service
√ An emergency supply of medicine (subject to the decision of the pharmacist)
√ Non-prescription medicines like paracetamol
√ Advice on treating minor health concerns and healthy living
√ Help you with Inhaler Technique
√ How to take a medicine safely
√ Helping you understand the correct dose of a new medicine and how often you need to take it.


Repeat Prescriptions

If you're regularly prescribed the same medicine, your Medical Doctor may offer a prescription that can be repeated several times. You choose which pharmacy you would prefer to collect your prescriptions from.

You'll then be able to collect your repeat medicines directly from the pharmacy you have chosen until your doctor needs to review your treatment. This means fewer trips to your Medical Doctor just to get another prescription.

If you are using this service, you will need to contact your chosen pharmacy a few days before you run out of medicine to ask for a new prescription and find out when it will be ready.

As part of this service, the pharmacist will ask if you're having any problems or side effects with your prescription medicines and, where appropriate, they can discuss this with you and your Doctor.


Minor Illnesses

Pharmacies can give treatment advice about a range of common conditions and minor injuries, such as:

√ Aches and pains
√ Sore throat
√ Coughs, colds and flu
√ Earache
√ Cystitis
√ Skin rashes
√ Teething
√ Red eye

If you want to buy an over-the-counter medicine, the pharmacist and their team can help you choose. Antibiotics will not be available over the counter to treat minor conditions.


New Medicine Service

New Medicine Service is available at pharmacies to give you extra help and advice if you're just starting on a new medicine for one of the following conditions:

√ Asthma
√ Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
√ Type 2 diabetes
√ High blood pressure
√ People who have been given a new blood-thinning medicine

Disposing of Old Medicines

If your medicine is out of date, unwanted, or some of it is left over after you have stopped taking it, don't put it in your household bin or flush it down the toilet. Instead, take it to your pharmacy to be disposed of safely.


Other Pharmacy Services

Other services that may be available at your local pharmacy:

√ Emergency contraception
√ Asthma inhaler use and advice
√ Blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar testing
√ Weight management service
√ Vaccination

 Out-of-hours service

Many pharmacies offer extended opening hours in the evenings and at weekends. Some are open until midnight or even later, even on public holidays.

Trust you are enlightened. Feel free to comment, ask questions and share with your friends. You can also check out our home page for different write ups on healthy living.

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EXERCISE WILL GIVE YOU MORE ENERGY EVEN WHEN YOU ARE TIRED

After a long day at work, going to the gym is probably the last thing on your list of priorities but research has found that exercising actually gives you more energy. A study published in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise found that levels of fatigue and depression improved after a 30-minute session of moderate intensity exercise.

This is because exercise improves your cardiovascular health which means that more blood and oxygen flow around the body, therefore giving you more energy.

If You’re Tired… Exercise

You can also check out our recent writeup on How Lack of Exercise and Inactivity is causing death like Smoking

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