The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

HEALTH

BODY & MIND
WHO advises against panic on SARS
Tripti Nath

While striking India off the list of countries reporting the much dreaded Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), the World Health Organisation has warned that SARS is a threat to the entire world but there is no need for panic.

Dr N. Kumara Rai, Director, Department of Communicable Diseases, WHO South East Asia region, has clarified prevailing perceptions and doubts about SARS.

Regarding transmission of SARS, Dr Rai has clarified that contrary to popular belief, SARS is not easily transmitted. “It requires close person-to-person or face-to-face contact because it is transmitted through droplets. This type of transmission is similar to other diseases as measles, mumps and smallpox (smallpox was globally eradicated in 1982). This means that if we are sharing a big room where there are 50 people and one of them is suffering from SARS, the persons at the highest risk will be only those sitting next to the case or talking face to face with the case.

This is because the droplets containing SARS virus cannot travel far. Once these are exhaled through coughing and sneezing, it has to be inhaled by another person. The corona-virus cannot live for more than six hours (average three hours) outside the human body. It is not airborne like influenza. Evidence of this is the case of five passengers and crewmembers so far reported to have been infected during flights. All those who were infected were either people sitting next to or maximum two rows from a SARS case, or crewmembers who had attended the case. There is no evidence over the past few months that a SARS patient travelling in a plane has infected many people on the plane. Of course, other modes of transmission may occur. The droplets may taint our hands and we may get the infection if we rub our nose, mouth and eyes. Or the droplets may get attached to a doorknob, table and other utensils, which may be touched by someone. But this mode of transmission is rare,” Dr Rai says.

Regarding use of masks, the WHO expert has said that unnecessary use of mask by people going to a mall or to a school where there is no local transmission may create panic.

"WHO recommendation for use of mask, in order of priority, includes the following: health care workers attending SARS patient, household caregivers of a patient, air crew attending SARS cases and officials at air/seaport screening passengers.”

Dr Rai’s advice to the community is to report immediately to the nearest health care facility if there are symptoms of SARS, wash hands as frequently as possible and postpone travel to SARS affected areas unless it is really important.

He has also explained the distinction between a suspect case and probable case. A case can be termed suspect if the person in question has sudden fever (100.4 F), headache, muscle or joint pain, diarrhoea (in 10 per cent

cases) and difficulty in breathing besides history of contact with SARS cases or travel to affected areas. The criteria for probable cases are similar to criteria for suspect case plus chest X-ray showing pneumonia of both lungs.

Doctors for peace

Doctors and medical students from Bangladesh, India and Nepal, who participated in the recently concluded South Asian regional conference of the International Physicians for Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) at Kathmandu were united in their stand on peace. The participants called for complete elimination of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, end to military build up in South Asia, resolution of conflicts between countries of the region and provision of healthcare. The theme of the conference was `People’s initiative for peace, development and health in South Asia. The Indian delegation comprising 29 doctors and 24 medical students from different states, was led by Dr L.S. Chawla, president of Indian Doctors for Peace and Development and Dr Arun Mitra, general-secretary.

Participants also stressed the need to increase coordination among doctors in South Asia.

World-class skin care available in the Capital

Marico Industries, makers of well-known brands as Parachute, Saffola and Revive, have promised residents of Delhi world-class skin care at its newly opened Kaya Skin clinic in Greater Kailash II. It was inaugurated by model and brand ambassador Aditi Govitrikar and CEO of the clinic, Rakesh Pandey on Tuesday. The advance skin care services being offered at the clinic are US FDA approved and said to be suited for Indian skin (type IV and V).

The range of services at the clinic include laser hair reduction, Kaya glow, skin polishing and brightening, glycolic and salicylic peels, pigmentation and acne scar reduction, photofacila, face lift, Botox and Restylane. Mr Rakesh Pandey says, “The skin treatments offered are highly advanced. Safe cosmetic dermatology treatments customised for Indian skin are offered under the guidance of eminent dermatologists. Kaya’s Skin Clinic is Marico’s unique offering to the Indian consumer to provide them the skin they want.”

Keeping your youthful appearance intact

Persons longing to regain their youthful appearance can visit Delhi Aesthetic Clinic (DAC) in Greater Kailash_II. Set up recently by Dr Lokesh Kumar, Senior Consultant, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, the clinic offers aesthetic medicine and aesthetic surgery under one roof. Dr Kumar, Director and Chief Plastic Surgeon of DAC says that the objective of setting up the clinic was to offer personalised and confidential service to patient, which is not possible in a hospital.

The range of surgical and medical procedures offered at the clinic are rhinoplasty (nasal reshaping), Blepharoplasty-asurgical procedure to reduce puffiness and eye bags, Ostoplasty-a surgical procedure which corrects ears sticking out, endoscopic forehead lift for sagging eyebrows, breast augmentation, facelift, necklift, laser resurfacing to rejuvenate skin, correct acne and chicken pox scars, surgical procedure for torn ear, fat implants, breast reduction, breast lift(mastopexy), Gynecomastia and abdominoplasty (tummy tuck).

The medical and non-surgical procedures include Botox for treating facial lines and wrinkles, skin rejuvenation, microdermabrasion, laser hair removal, hair transplant, treatment of leukoderma and acne and pimples.

Dr Kumar is available for consultation between 3 pm to 6 pm from Monday to Friday. Dr Kumar has worked as senior registrar and honorary registrar (Plastic Surgery) in Canniesburn Hospital, Bearsden, Glasgow, UK, in the early 1990s.

After completing his super specialisation in plastic surgery from PGI, Chandigarh, Dr Kumar joined Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi.

Thrilling soccer action on Star Sports
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, May 3
The Spanish Primera Liga lines up for the big season kick-off and there are high expectations across Asia where ESPN Star Sports coverage of Europe’s most exciting league has earned the competition huge fan interest.

The Primera Liga may be winding down but there’s plenty of action left in store over the final few weeks. Real Madrid have been the team to beat for much of the season and they presently sit four points clear on the top of the table.

But after passing a tough examination from England’s Manchester United on their way to the European Champions League semi-finals they may feel the pinch. At least, that’s what Deportivo La Coruna and Real Sociedad are hoping for both clubs are on four points, behind Real Madrid, and will be looking to keep hot on their heels.

Sociedad play Sevilla Club who are on seventh position and are looking to make their way into a European competition for the first time in six years. Last weekend’s 1-3 loss to Real Madrid did nothing for Sevilla’s cause although the continued good form of Jose Reyes will have them feeling confident.

With Zoran Njegus, Javier Navarro and David Castedo back from suspension this week the Andalucian side will be hoping to have a full blow out against Sociedad. Real striker Darko Kovacevic and Niha Kahveci are the men they all have to watch.

They have scored 36 goals together and have almost single-handedly kept the San Sebastien side in the title race.

Najafgarh enter Rajdhani Cup final
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, May 3
An all-round display by Bharat Rishi (35 and 3 for 30) and a fine knock of 48 by Dhiraj Sharma helped Najafgarh Sports Club beat Lal Bahadur Shastri Club by seven runs and sailed into the final of the second Rajdhani Cup Cricket Tournament at the Najafgarh Sports Club ground.

Scores: Najafgarh Club: 170 for 9 in 35 overs (Dhiraj Sharma 48, Bharat Rishi 35, Sandeep Yadav 3 for 35, Rajan Gupta 3 for 36, Dileep TT 3 for 42).

Shastri Club: 163 all out in 34.1 overs (Rajan Gupta 70, Saleem Ansari 35, Ravinder Singh 3 for 33, Bharat Rishi 3 for 30, Naveen Gahlot 2 for 18).

Wrestling trials

Trials to select the Delhi team for the sub-junior, junior and senior National Wrestling Championships, for boys and girls, to be held in Chennai and Cochin, will be held at the Ganga School premises on May 6 between 3 and 5 p m.

Goswami Tourney bars CWC

The Goswami Ganesh Dutt Memorial Cricket Tournament Committee has imposed a three-year ban on the Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) cricket team from participating in the tournament after taking a “serious view of their inept act”.

The CWC team had asked for the postponement of their first match, after agreeing to play on the opening day on

May 4, which was rejected by the Organising Committee. Now hosts Goswami Ganesh Dutt Club team will replace CWC and take on Young Friends in the opening match on May 5. Delhi Blues will take on Rajdhani Sports in the opening match on Sunday at 7.30 am at the Khalsa College ground.