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| HEALTH TRIBUNE | Wednesday, June 19, 2002, Chandigarh, India |
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Allergy in
the eye: the solution Do you
have a troubling knee? AYURVEDA AND YOU
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Allergy in the eye: the solution WITH summer at its peak, allergic eye ailments become far more common and their symptoms far more manifest. The main symptoms are redness and itching in and around the eyes. This involves allergic inflammation on the surface of the lids, the margins conjunctiva, cornea, etc. It is one of the commonest eye disorders in the summer season. These are unpleasant symptoms, but generally do not threaten sight. There are three types of allergic diseases in the eye: vernal conjunctivitis (VKC), atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC) and severe allergic conjunctivitis, which can affect vision to a varying degree. It is estimated that 10 to 15 per cent of the population develops allergic symptoms of running nose, sneezing and red-itchy eyes every summer. The patients who have other allergic diseases like asthma or eczema or allergic dermato-conjunctivitis are more predisposed. Allergic conjunctivitis affects conjunctiva only, whereas vernal conjunctivitis and atopic dermatitis can affect cornea too. Allergic reactions always occur from such substances as are harmless to a majority of people: pollens from plants and trees, dust of any kind, especially house dust containing dust-mites or fur of your own pet. Conjunctiva being 10 times more sensitive than skin and readily accessible suffers from all types of allergic reactions often. Allergic conjunctivitis is a frequently occurring problem in children of all age groups as well as adults. Infants and neonates may also develop eye allergy. The tendency to rub eyes on the part of infants is clinically diagnostic. Papillary hypertrophy may be absent and only congestion is present. In summers allergy may be due to synthetic clothes and in winters due to woollen ones. Vernal conjunctivitis is a recurrent, bilateral inflammation of conjunctiva, with periodic seasonal variations, generally much worse during summer. Vernal conjunctivitis can be a severely disabling disease causing much distress to those affected. Vernal kerato conjunctivitis occurs in children of 3-12 years of age. Since it occurs in childhood and early adult life, it can lead to significant interference with education and employment, when these activities are often at their most critical. Itching is the hallmark of VKC. It is commonly believed that if there is no itching, there is no VKC. In addition to itching, other symptoms include tearing, photophobia and ropy discharge. Children suffering from a allergic eye disease for many years develop muddy and lusterless conjunctiva. Worm infestation has been recently described as a cause for very severe intractable conjunctiva allergy. Sometimes patients on local medication drops may develop allergic symptoms. However, these symptoms are short-lived and disappear as soon as topical medication is stopped. In contact allergy of the eye with a variety of cosmetics, contact lens solution and medication is not uncommon. Common compounds are neomycin, thiomersal, atropine, bacitaracin, polymyxinB, etc. The main treatment is removal and avoidance of offending agent. In cases of chronic irritation to the eyes — use of rigid lenses, besides removal of the foreign body — a energetic treatment is required. Allergic diseases are difficult to treat. Most of the times an allergic eye disease is self-limiting. Symptoms may subside itself over a period of time. The simple measure is to avoid the inciting allergen. Most of the time the offending agent may be difficult to detect or avoid. However, at times it is possible. Neonates may develop allergy to woollen clothes. In these cases erythema over face indicates contact dermatitis. The children who are prone to allergic eye diseases should always avoid playing in an warm and dusty environment. Staying indoors, using cool air or airconditioning with humidity control is helpful. Cold-sponging over closed eyelids using ice-cold water or ice cubes is soothing and takes care of acute symptoms. One should be careful not to use self-medication. Steroids in excess over prolonged periods may be damaging. Steroids may cause ocular infection, dry eyes, cataract, glaucoma, etc. Sodium cromoglycate, antihistaminic and non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs may be helpful. Some physicians are turning to cyclosporine A and leukotriens receptor antagonists. The writer, a Chandigarh-based eye consultant, is the author of “Guide to Allergies and Their Cure”.
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Do you
have a troubling knee? EACH
year more than 6 million people see an orthopaedic surgeon for the treatment of a knee problem almost every section of society for one reason or more. The knee is the largest joint in the body. A healthy knee moves, easily allowing you to walk, run and squat without pain. There is a complex network of bones, cartilage, ligaments, muscles and tendons. They all work together to make a knee flexible. The knee also has a lining (synovium) that secretes a clear liquid called synovial fluid. This fluid lubricates the joint, further reducing friction and making movement easier. Arthritis is a general term used to describe painful joints. There are more than 100 types of arthritis-related diseases. Osteoarthritis is the most common cause for knee pain. Typically occurring as a result of aging, this disease causes cartilage to erode, eventually allowing bones to grind or rub together. Constantly straining the knee during sports or work-related activities may help bring in the problem. Excess weight can also be a factor. Total knee replacements are usually performed on people suffering from severe arthritic conditions. Most patients who have artificial knees are over 55, but the procedure is performed in younger people also. The circumstances vary somewhat, but generally you would be considered for a total knee replacement if there are the following problems: You have daily pain. Pain is severe enough to restrict not only work and recreation but also the ordinary activities of daily living. Significant stiffness instability (constant giving way) or deformity (lock-knees or bowlegs). An artificial knee is not a normal knee, nor is it as good as a normal knee. The operation will provide pain relief for at least 10 years. If replacement provides you with pain relief and if you do not have other health problems, you should be able to carry out many normal activities of daily living. Activities that overload the artificial knee must be avoided. About 90 per cent of patients with stiff knees before surgery will have better motion after a total knee replacement. Total knee replacement is a major operation. About one patient in four develops one or more complications. The most common complications are not directly related to the knee and usually do not affect the result of the operations. These complications include urinary tract infection, blood clots in a leg, or blood clots in a lung. Complications affecting the knee are less common, but in these cases the operation may not be as successful. These complications include some knee pain, loosening of the prosthesis, stiffness, and infection in the knee. A few complications such as infection, loosening of prosthesis, and stiffness may require reoperation. Total knee replacement surgery creates a new artificial joint that ultimately can be pain-free. The implant is designed to replicate the human anatomy the hinge structure of the knee joint. In total knee replacement, the arthritic articular cartilage surfaces of the knee joint are removed and replaced with the new bearing surface of metal and plastic. The bones no longer rub against each other, and angular deformity is corrected. Even the knee cap (patella) may receive new surface. This allows for a painless gliding motion once again. The goal of total knee replacement is to correctly size and match patient anatomy to the implant so that the patient can regain mobiliity and normal alignment. The operation is conducted under general or regional anaesthesia and generally takes about two hours to complete. The materials used in the implant are specially developed and sterilised for medical use. The implant integrates with the natural bone structure and functions just like a natural knee. The leg, can be flexed and extended as with your real knee. Implants come in wide range of sizes to fit, as closely as possible, the unique bone structure, weight and size of each patient. Total knee replacement is a routine surgery with very predictable results. Nearly 2,50,000 Americans receive knee implants each year. As the population ages, this number is expected to increase. While the mention of surgery may make you apprehensive at first, most patients quickly come to appreciate the relief from pain and improved mobility. More than 90 per cent of the people who have had total knee replacement experience dramatic improvement in knee pain and function. The writer is associated with Nandra Hospital, Ambala Cantt.
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AYURVEDA
AND YOU R. Vatsyayan INDIGESTION can be described as a feeling of heaviness in the abdomen, belching, anorexia and altered bowel conditions. This could be due to a shift in food habits, contamination of food items or a sudden change in the daily routine or the life-style. Ayurveda has described these conditions as Ajeerna. Ayurveda says that indigestion occurs due to the adoption of “mithya ahar vihar”, which denotes eating a wrong diet and following an improper daily routine. A wrong diet means to much fried foods, meats, sweets, a wrong combination of foods and of mixing to many foods in a meal. Over-eating and eating before the last meal is fully digested can also cause indigestion. Similarly, taking too much coffee and alcohol and excessive smoking also disturb normal digestive functioning. Staying up late in the night, emotional disturbances like stress, grief and anxiety and taking too much drugs like antibiotics, pain-killers and steroids are the other factors which contribute to the digestive upsets. In all types of indigestion, fasting for at least one meal-time is necessary. After this when patient feels hungry, he should be given lime water, boiled vegetables or their soup. There are many ayurvedic medicines to treat digestive upsets. But differentiation should be made between acute indigestion and a chronic condition. Classic ayurvedic medicines used in such conditions include lavanbhaskar churna, hingashtak churna and avipattikar churna. The famous shankh bhasma or the shankh vati, if given with lime water, has also very good results. There are many more effective medicines which are used in stubborn cases of indigestion, but only under the supervision of a physician. Usually mild cases of indigestion respond to certain home remedies. Here are few tips -
Precautions: In modern life-style digestive upsets are a very common problem. Ayurvedic classics in general advise a light and easily digestible diet. The most important rule to be followed is that one should not overeat and should also avoid meal until the previous meal is not digested. Sleeping immediately after dinner makes food stay in the stomach for a longer period, thus resulting in early morning digestive distress. Persons prone to frequent indigestion are advised to eat compatible food and should also do a regular morning or evening walk. The writer, an Ayurveda-charya, is based in Ludhiana. |
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INFO
CAPSULE NEW DELHI:
As the coronary heart disease emerges as the major killer in the 21st century, a great deal of research is being devoted to developing safer options to manage the ailment, its cost and methods to avoid bypass surgery. “While drug-coated stents (introduced last month in India) have given new dimensions to angioplasty, doctors are propagating more and more the use of yoga, dietary and lifestyle changes, and alternative therapies to manage the disease comprehensively,” says Dr Ashok Seth, Head of the Department of Invasive and Interventional Cardiology, Escorts Hospital. “There are an estimated 45 million patients suffering from coronary artery disease (CAD) alone in India and an increasing number of young Indians are falling prey to this disease,” he adds.
PTI Contraceptive pills ALLAHABAD:
The use of oral contraceptive (OC) pills, one of the most effective methods of family planning, is lowest in India. Even in some smaller developing countries like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka there is more awareness among women about its use. The use of OC pills in Germany is 59 per cent compared to 4 per cent in Sri Lanka, but in India it is still only 2 per cent. More than 100 million women the world over use these pills as it is the most reliable form of contraception with the documented risk confined to a very small and usually identifiable minority, according to eminent gynaecologist Prof Veena Mathur, who is also the coordinator of the “Goli ke Humjoli” movement.
UNI Rebuilding immune system SYDNEY:
Australian scientists have used stem cells to grow an organ in mice critical to the immune system, saying the technique could be used to restore the human immune system in AIDS-HIV and cancer patients. ‘’We are very confident that this work will be able to progress to humans within the next three to five years,’’ said Mr Jason Gill from Monash University Medical School in Melbourne. Mr Gill and fellow researcher Richard Boyd have discovered a ‘’small population of cells that can generate a complete and functional thymus’’.
Reuters For cancer patients LONDON:
A drink that raises levels of a compound that helps metabolise food into energy can give cancer patients a much needed boost, according to Italian
doctors. Patients taking chemotherapy drugs can suffer from extreme tiredness because the treatments can deplete levels of carnitine, a natural substance in the body. Scientists at the Urbino Hospital in Central Itlay found that a pineapple-flavoured drink containing a compound called levocarnitine, which is converted into carnitine in the body, helped most patients recover from their fatigue within a week.
Reuters Cystic fibrosis WASHINGTON:
A new test to detect antibodies in newborns with cystic fibrosis could allow for the treatment of a deadly infection six to 12 months earlier, according to a recently published study. The test, administered just after birth, could greatly facilitate diagnosis and treatment of bacterial infections in patients with cystix fibrosis, a genetic disease which leaves patients vulnerable to such infections, an article carried in the Journal of American Medical Association says.
AFP Killer hospital bug PARIS:
Gene researchers have ripped the mask off a strain of hospital superbug that is becoming resistant to all but the toughest antibiotics. They have indentified a cluster of genes in Enterococcus faecalis that enable the bacterium to develop into a colony and exude a potentially lethal toxin, cytolisin, the British weekly Nature reports. E. faecalis, part of the Enterococcus group of intestinal bacteria, plays a vital role in human health when it is confined to the gut, but is highly infectious if it enters a wound. Over the years, antibiotic-resistant strains of E. faecalis have built up, becoming one of the most
worrying problems for hospital doctors. AFP |
