बुधवार, 19 मार्च 2014

MUMBAI IN SICK BAY

MUMBAI IN SICK BAY 

TYPHOID :Caused by the bacterium ,Salmonelaa typhi,which is present only in humans and transmitted through contaminated food or water .It can quickly multiply in the stomach ,liver or gallbladder before entering blood stream 

SYMPTOMS :High fever ,fatigue ,rashes ,loss of appetite ,nausea 

CONJUNCTIVITIS 

Inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva or the clear membrane that covers the outer most layer of the eye .Conjunctivitis cab be both viral and bacterial 

SYMPTOMS 

Reddening of the white of the eye or inner eyelid ,increased tears and thick yellow discharge 

CHICKEN POX 

A contagious viral infection ,it is caused by the varicella zoster virus 

SYMPTOMS 

It starts with high fever ,body ache and blisters all over body .A patient can transmit the virus one -two days before the blisters have crusted 

MALARIA 

Caused by a parasite Plasmodium , it is transmitted by bites of infected mosquitoes .The parasites multiply in the liver and then infect red blood cells 

SYMPTOMS 

Fever ,headache and vomiting and usually appear between 10 and 15 days after a mosquito bites 

SKIN ALLERGY 

Dry skin all over ,particularly back of arms and front of thighs 

SYMPTOMS 

Can start with rashes and progress to itching and eventually form blisters .Inflammation around blisters is uncommon .In kids under two ,allergies can cause lesions on face ,scalp ,hands and feet and swelling of affected areas such as face and eyes 

UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS 

They include rhinitis(inflammation of nose ),tonsillitis (Inflammation of tonsills ),Laryngitis (Inflammation of larynx ),sinusitis ,ear infection and bronchitis 

SYMPTOMS 

Cough ,sore throat ,sneezing ,running nose ,nasal congestion ,headache  and low grade fever

DOS & DON'TS 

Hydrate your body often 

Start your day with two glasses of water and keep drinking at every meal ,exercise session 

Carry a water bottle whenever you step out 

Cover yourself well ,particularly the head ,as the heat can trigger headaches 

Include plenty of green leafy vegetables in the diet 

Avoid outside food as it can cause stomach ailments 

Sudden increase in 

temperature

 triggers spike in 

summer ailments

A sudden rise in temperature has triggered the spread of summer diseases ranging from fever to stomach ailments to serious viral infections. Doctors have cautioned that youngsters taking their board and annual exams need to be on guard. 

Even as the maximum temperature jumped by four degrees to touch 38 degrees Celsius on Monday, clinics and outpatient departments of hospitals witnessed a rapid spike in the number of patients queueing up with viral infections including, fever, conjunctivitis and chicken pox.

BMC epidemiologist Dr Mangala Gomare said majority of chicken pox cases were reported from areas such as Byculla, Chinchpokli, Crawford Market and Marine Lines. Nearly 20 patients, mostly kids, are being treated at Kasturba Hospital for Infectious Diseases for chicken pox. "But the number is not unusually high. Certain wards are reporting more cases than the others," Gomare said. 

Fever, typhoid and even bronchitis are keeping the doctors busy. "The high temperature have been dehydrating people who have been drinking water or eating from unhygienic places," said Dr Pratit Samdani, who consults with Bhatia Hospital. He treated three typhoid cases on Tuesday. 

Viral conjunctivitis, too, has seen a spurt in the past one week with KEM Hospital's ophthalmology OPD treating more than 10 patients every day. Head of the department Dr Arjun Ahuja said, "Apart from traditional conjunctivitis, we are also treating eye infections caused by dryness. The heat can often make moisture from the tear filter evaporate and cause irritation of the conjunctiva (lines inside of eyelids). People are coming with complaints of itching and watering". He has advised people to protect their eyes from the harsh sun by wearing shades and by splashing cold water to soothe it. 

JJ Hospital at Byculla has also been treating seven to 12 cases of conjunctivitis every day. "We are treating more of bacterial conjunctivitis, which is responding only to one antibiotic, moxifloxacin. It is caused by heat. The allergy is causing dryness and if not treated for two weeks, it may recur," said eye surgeon and JJ Hospital dean Dr T P Lahane. He warned the cases might go up as the temperature was predicted to hover at 35 degrees and more. 

But according to experts, simple things can help keep the ailments at bay. "One should temper down response to the climatic change by not sleeping in ACs all night or drinking very chilled water," said Dr Hemant Thacker of Breach Candy Hospital.

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