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| HEALTH & FITNESS |
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Know about the moles on your skin Health Notes
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New bird flu virus infection: Threat of a pandemic We now have a new bird flu virus infection, fortunately limited to China for the present. The highly fatal strain (H7N9) was initially reported in three patients from Eastern China. Subsequently, more cases had appeared from four other provinces. The most worrisome was the case of a seven-year-old girl in Beijing, some 750 miles away from Shanghai, raising the possibility of a distant spread. Over 50 cases have been reported till date. Fortunately, there is no evidence so far to suggest the presence of human to human transmission and/or of spread to other countries. This, however, remains an area of great concern and active investigation. It is important to know for our readers that there are several strains or types of influenza virus which differ in their infectivity for humans, causing diseases of variable severity with different levels of fatality. Infection of poultry birds with influenza A, subtype H7, viruses is known worldwide. Unlike the highly pathogenic H5H1 infection, the H7N9 virus has low pathogenicity for birds. Therefore, the disease in the birds is mild, may remain undetected. This, however, is not true for humans. All the three patients cited in the first ever report had died of severe pneumonia, respiratory failure and septic shock. In humans, the infection with H7N9 virus had never been earlier reported before the first report in The New England Journal of Medicine this month. The Chinese scientists have identified the H7N9 virus and mapped its genome with a great speed, for which they had earned worldwide appreciation. The human H7N9 virus is believed to occur due to genomic re-assortment of three other viruses of avian-origin — H7N3 from ducks, H7N9 from wild birds and H9N2 from bramblings. The novel genome has proved to be highly fatal with a mortality of about 50 per cent in humans. The absence of a sustained human-to-human transmission should result in self-containment and disease arrest in the local community. This, however, cannot be guaranteed as yet. The global experience with the 2009 H1N1 pandemic had shown a rapid spread to unexpected locations through air travel. One cannot totally ignore the possibility of spread as had happened with some other influenza viruses. Limited human-to-human transmission was reported in an earlier H7N7 outbreak in 2003 in the Netherlands. That, however, was not an H7N9 epidemic which is detected now for the first time. The H7N7 episode had followed an outbreak of fowl-plague that involved 89 patients; the illness was rather mild with only one death attributed to the acute respiratory distress syndrome. The World Health Organization has already taken note of the problem and cautioned the neighbouring countries where poultry smuggling is common from China. Several hundred people in direct contact with the infected individuals are being watched and the poultry birds have been slaughtered. Quite likely, the disease will not spread. The disease presents like any other lower respiratory tract infection with fever, cough, breathlessness, generalised aches and pains, fatigue and malaise, etc. Severe pneumonia, developing in some cases is responsible for respiratory failure and death. The incubation period of 15 days is rather long making it difficult for an early diagnosis. It has been reported in all age groups. The presence of co-morbidities — the underlying systemic illnesses, old age, malnutrition and other conditions — is reportedly common. There is no good anti-viral drug available at present. The virus is reported to show resistance to the traditional drugs making the treatment even more difficult. Similarly, the commonly used vaccines against bird flu are not effective against this novel strain. Efforts are, however, on to develop potential H7N9 vaccines as quickly as possible. Similarly there are attempts to develop a rapid molecular assay for identification and sub-typing of H7N9 virus for diagnosis and assessment of the viral load. It is largely for the health administrators and international organizations to keep a close guard avoiding panic at all costs. Vaccination of poultry birds is another important consideration. Travellers to China, particularly to the eastern regions, may better avoid a close exposure to poultry farms and their products. Travel restrictions otherwise are unnecessary and uncalled for. The writer is Professor and Head, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, PGI, Chandigarh. |
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Know about the moles on your skin Moles on the skin are an incredibly common occurrence; nearly everyone has at least a few. Moles are flat or raised lesions on the skin that form due to collections of skin cells. They may be superficial or deep, depending upon the extent of their depth into the skin. Moles are often brownish in colour although some may be darker or skin-coloured. They can be flat or raised, smooth or rough, and some have hair growing from them. Moles are usually circular or oval with a smooth edge. They can change in number and appearance. Some increase and others fade away over time, often without one realizing it. They also sometimes respond to hormonal changes, for example, during pregnancy (when they may get slightly darker), teenage years (when they increase in number) and older age – when they may disappear from 40 to 50 years of age onwards.
When do moles develop?
Some moles are present at birth; however, most moles can develop anytime during the first 30 years of life. People with fair skin often have more moles than people with darker skin. Most moles have a genetic cause and are inherited; this is often the case with people who have a lot of moles. If one has spent a lot of time in the sun, there are higher chances of having an increased number of small moles. Moles can occur anywhere on your body, but most happen on the back, legs, arms and face. If you notice any changes in your moles or are worried about them, see your dermatologist. Changes in a mole may be an early indication of a type of skin cancer called melanoma.
Cancerous moles
While most moles are benign (non-cancerous), in rare cases they can develop into melanoma. Melanoma is a serious and aggressive form of skin cancer. Melanomas usually appear as a dark, fast-growing spot where there was not one before, or a pre-existing mole that changes size, shape or colour and bleeds, itches or reddens. The main treatment for melanoma is surgery, although your treatment will depend on your circumstances. If melanoma is diagnosed and treated at an early stage then surgery is usually successful, although you may need follow-up care to prevent melanoma recurring.
Things to look for include:
A helpful way to remember what to look for is to use the ABCDE method.
Preventing cancerous moles
If you have a lot of moles, it’s important to take extra care in the sun. Although it’s not always possible to prevent melanoma, avoiding over-exposure to UV light can reduce your chances of developing it. You can help protect yourself from sun damage if you stay in the shade when the sun is at its strongest (between 11am and 3pm); cover up with clothes, full sleeve cottons, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses; and use a high-factor sunscreen (minimum SPF15) and reapply it regularly, particularly after swimming. Dermatologists may recommend that an atypical mole be removed for strict medical reasons, or you may decide to have a mole removed for cosmetic reasons. Either way, mole removal is a relatively low-risk procedure. The surgery itself may result in light scarring, depending on the type of mole that is removed. The two most widely used forms of mole removal are excision followed by stitches and excision with cauterization without stitches. The first method involves cutting off the mole and resealing the wound with stitches. In the second method, a tool burns away the mole, cauterising or sealing the wound as the mole is removed. Both methods are outpatient procedures. The writer is Chief Consultant Dermatologist & Dermato-Laser Surgeon, National Skin Hospital, Mansa Devi Complex,
Panchkula. E-mail: drvikas.nscindia@gmail.com |
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Under-the-tongue drops can give kids needle-free relief from asthma
Washington: Putting liquid drops under the tongue could be a safe and effective alternative to injections or other medications, for treating children with severe environmental allergies and asthma, according to a Johns Hopkins Children`s Center review of existing scientific evidence. The new review is an analysis of 34 previously published clinical trials and suggests that both drops and injections work well in alleviating the bothersome symptoms of allergic rhinitis and asthma, the research team said. In addition to being better tolerated by needle-averse children, the oral treatment can be given at home, sparing the family a visit to the doctor`s office. “Our findings suggest the needle-free approach is a reasonable way to provide much-needed relief to millions of children who suffer from asthma or seasonal allergies,” said lead author Julia Kim, a paediatric research fellow at Johns Hopkins Children`s Center. — ANI Nutrition plays key role
in oral health
Washington: There is a strong connection between the food people eat and their oral health, a recently updated position paper of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has stated. The Academy's position paper highlighted that nutrition is an integral component of oral health. The Academy supports integration of oral health with nutrition services, education and research. Collaboration between dietetics practitioners and oral health care professionals is recommended for oral health promotion and disease prevention and intervention. According to the Academy’s position paper, dental caries — also known as tooth decay — “is the most prevalent, chronic, common and transmissible infectious oral condition in humans.” In addition, a person's overall health can be affected by tooth loss, since “declining periodontal health” can lead to diminished dietary quality because of lack of essential nutrients in a person's diet. —
ANI
Magnesium may be as important as calcium for kids` bone health
Washington: Most parents make sure that their children drink milk and eat other calcium-rich foods, as it helps build strong bones. Now, a new study has suggested that it would be beneficial if they also give their kids salmon, almonds and other foods high in magnesium — another nutrient that may play an important role in bone health. “Lots of nutrients are a key for children to have healthy bones. One of these appears to be magnesium,” said lead author Steven A. Abrams, professor of paediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. “Calcium is important, but, except for those children and adolescents with very low intakes, may not be more important than magnesium,” he noted. While it is known that magnesium is important for bone health in adults, few studies have looked at whether magnesium intake and absorption are related to bone mineral content in young children. This study aimed to fill that gap. — ANI
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