HEALTH WATCH

Rabies - 100 percent fatal! 100 percent preventable!

Nadira Gunatilleke

Do you like dogs ? May be you are a dog owner. May be you hate dogs...and all the other animals. But still you are at risk of getting infected with rabies. No matter who you are or what you do. At least few instances in your life you have to get down from your vehicle and walk in local streets. May be you have to walk at night. This is why you are at risk and need to be aware of rabies. It will save your life and the lives of your loved ones, especially your children.

Rabies is 100 percent fatal and 100 percent preventable. Annually 55 persons die from rabies in Sri Lanka and half of them are bellow the age of 15. That means many of the victims are children. This number was 377 in 1977. Around 109 persons died from rabies in 2000. The most affected districts are Colombo, Gampaha, Galle, Baticaloa, Anuradhapura and Jaffna. Not even a single rabies case reported from districts such as Hambantota and Polonnaruwa.

Rabies can spread mainly through dogs and the percentage is 82. It can spread through cats (5 percent). It can spread through other wild animals (2 percent).

Any warm-blooded animal (including humans) may become infected with the rabies virus and develop symptoms. Natural transmission has only been documented among mammals. Most animals can be infected by the virus and can transmit the disease to humans. Infected bats, monkeys, raccoons, foxes, skunks, cattle, wolves, coyotes, mongoose (normally yellow mongoose) or cats present the greatest risk to humans. Rabies may also spread through exposure to infected domestic farm animals, groundhogs, weasels, bears and other wild carnivores. Rodents (mice, squirrels etc) are seldom infected.

Treatment after exposure is highly successful in preventing the disease if administered promptly, generally within ten days of infection. But it is better to take action as soon as possible. Thoroughly washing the wound as soon as possible with soap and water for approximately ten minutes is very effective at reducing the number of viral particles.

Whenever a dog bites, the wound should be washed very well with soap for about ten minutes and medical treatment should seek as soon as possible and the details of the dog should be provided to the doctor at the same time.

Post-exposure treatment should start right away and only be stopped if the animal is a dog or cat and remains healthy after 10 days. Animals that are sacrificed or have died should be tested for the virus, with results sent to responsible veterinary services and public health officials.

The incubation period for rabies is three weeks to three months. The period between infection and the first flu like symptoms is normally two to twelve weeks, but can be as long as two years.

Soon after, the symptoms expand to slight or partial paralysis, cerebral dysfunction, anxiety, insomnia, confusion, agitation, abnormal behavior, paranoia, terror, hallucination, progressing to delirium.

The production of large quantities of saliva and tears coupled with an inability to speak or swallow are typical during the later stages of the disease; this can result in hydrophobia, in which the patient has difficulty swallowing because the throat and jaw become slowly paralyzed, shows panic when presented with liquids to drink, and cannot quench his or her thirst. Death almost invariably results two to ten days after the first symptoms.

According to Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry, the Sri Lankan Government compelled to spend Rs.35000 every time a dog bites a person. Annually over 50 persons dies in Sri Lanka by rabies. People die from rabies because of negligence.

The ministry spends Rs. 500 million to treat dog bites. Annually there are 400,000 dog bites reported from Sri Lanka.

The ministry runs 25 Rabies Control Units countrywide. Another 200 state hospitals of the country offer free care and treatment for the public and domestic doges including anti rabies injection. The ministry kindly request the public to be responsible dog owners and act promptly and in a responsible manner when a domestic or stray dog bites a human being.

Till 2005, dog population was controlled by destroying them but in 2005 the Government took a policy decision not to destroy dogs. But the main responsibility is with the community.

It is being a responsible dog owner and taking prompt action as soon as a dog bites a person.

Sri Lanka Dental Association:

Hosts 32nd APDC

The 32nd Asia Pacific Dental Congress (APDC) - the annual scientific meeting will be held in Sri Lanka from May 12th to 16th hosted by the Sri Lanka Dental Association.

Considered as one of the largest dental conferences in the world, the APDC, which will be held for the second time in Sri Lanka, has been recognized by the Government of Sri Lanka as a National event, is sponsored by Unilever Sri Lanka’s oral care brand Signal.

The theme for this year will be “Clinical Excellence in Dentistry through Evidence, Knowledge and Technology” - an attractive academic program, which has been organized targeting mainly the general dental practitioners and covering broader topics of dental implantology, ceramics, aesthetic dentistry, periodontology, endodontic, oral diseases and minor oral surgery.

More than 35 world renowned experts in the field of dentistry will be joining the local experts in conducting lectures, symposiums and hands-on workshops during these 5 conference days.

“The program is designed to have a direct clinical impact on the day to day clinical practice of the dental professionals in Sri Lanka and in the Asia Pacific Region”, Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Professor Prasad Amaratunga said. Prof. Prasad the current President Elect will also take on the office of President of the Asia Pacific Dental Federation at the APDC, thereby committing to lead the way for the Dental profession in the Asia Pacific region.

The Dental Trade Exhibition with participation of 100 Dental Manufacturers and dealers from various parts of the world would undoubtedly bring in the desired new technology to Sri Lanka.

Though only open for Dental Professionals, this trade exhibition would also provide an opportunity for Dental Surgeons to buy the latest dental machinery, equipment, hand instruments and dental materials etc. to enhance their professions.

“It is indeed a challenge and a great responsibility to organize and manage, perhaps one of the largest dental congresses in the world”, President of the Sri Lanka Dental Association Dr. Farhim Jameel said.

“The 32nd APDC Congress will be a great opportunity for Dental professionals from around the world to share the most up-to-date information regarding the scientific advances in Dentistry. More than 1,000 participants are expected; and we invite all professionals in the field to join us in this unique scientific and cultural experience”, Dr. Jameel said

Ramani Samarasundera, Marketing Director - Personal Care of Unilever Sri Lanka said that, “Signal has always been committed to promoting good oral health through its product formats as well as its community programs.

The APDC 2010 will be a strong platform for the Dental fraternity of Sri Lanka to develop the Oral Health Industry in the country and we are indeed proud to be a part of this effort.”

The APDF is a dental professional organization, currently with 27 member associations from 27 countries and this annual academic congress is hosted by one of the member associations every year. Spanning over 5 days, the event will be held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Convention Hall in Colombo.

Emerging trends in paediatric nutrition

Ganga Illeperuma

Breastfeeding can be enjoyable for both the mother and baby. Proper nutrition in childhood can reinforce lifelong eating habits that contribute to your children’s overall well-being and help them to grow up to their full potential and a healthy life.

A healthy eating plan that you can use to help your kids reach the food pyramid goals and recommendations for breastfeeding, eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish and meats.

Most nutrition experts recommend against forcing kids to eat foods they don’t like or making them ‘clean’ their plates. So how do you give them breastfeeding and complementary food? How do you avoid mealtime battles in your home? How do you get your kids to eat healthy foods?

Nestle Nutrition Institute organized a seminar for doctors who work in Colombo, Kandy and Galle recently and the seminar was conducted by Prof. Berthold Koletzko and Prof. Sibylle Koletzko.

For more than 60 years, Nestle has contributed to the continuing nutrition education of health professionals. The formation of the Nestle Nutrition Institute formalizes this long-standing commitment at a global level.

For newborn baby breastfeeding is the best food specially till even six months. Breastfeed is effect for long term health and it has more power to resist allergies. But the problem is now a days mothers are very busy with their work places and they have to go their office after 4 months from delivery. “A mother can pump her milk to the milk bottle and keep it in the refrigerate but before three or four hours you have to give it to the baby. You do not give cow milk for your baby instead of breastfeeding. Sometimes cow milk is risky because it is a cause for some allergies, vomit, stomach ache or asthma,Professor of paediatrics Sibylle Koletzko said.

Because of the complicated life of mothers in their workplaces they can add some complementary food to their baby’s menu but too much sugar is not good for their dental health. When you give complementary food you have to give your attention specially for iron, vitamin A and D. Ocean fish and meat are good complementary food for babies. It helps to continue a good immunity system”, Prof. Berthold Koletzko said.

Does breast-feeding reduces the risk for allergy?

Very conflicting data whether any, prolonged or exclusive breast-feeding reduces the risk for allergic diseases. Evidence mostly from observational studies, (reverse causality is likely).

Breastfeeding

There are many good reasons to promote exclusive and partial breastfeeding during the first half year of life. The available knowlegde does not support the evidence that prolonged or exclusive breastfeeding reduces the risk for atopic dermatitis, asthma or allergic rhinitis.

Feeding recommendations in the intervention group

- Breastfeeding for at least 4, better 6 months. Feeding the randomised study formula as only supplement for breastfeeding during intervention period of 4 months. No solids within the first 4 months. Thereafter, only one new solid food per week. No potentially allergenic foods as whole cow’s milk and diary products, hen eggs, fish, nuts and citrus during the first year of life.

Formula feeding

Soy formula has no allergy preventive effect, not recommended. Certain hydrolysed formulae reduce the risk for atopic dermatitis and cow’s milk protein allergy in high risk patients.

Effect develops in 1st year and persists until 6 years. No effect on asthma. No effect on allergic rhinitis.

Solid food introduction

Very early solid food introduction (3 to 4 months of life) with a high variety of different foods may increase the risk of allergic diseases (eczema).

Delaying the introduction of solids food beyond the 6th months of life has no protective effect or may be even increase the risk for allergy. This also applies to allergenic foods like hen’s egg, cow’s milk, fish, wheat.

Burden of AIDS hits Zimbabwe’s women hardest

Since testing positive for HIV six years ago, Cecilia Chinhamo has endured a torrent of verbal abuse from her husband.

“My husband shouts at me and calls me a walking corpse,” said the 30-year-old Zimbabwean vegetable vendor. “I can only cry when he says that. What else can I do?”

Like many Zimbabwean women with HIV, Chinhamo battles to convince her husband to get tested himself or to use a condom, raising fears for the future of their four-year-old daughter.

“My husband’s problem is he thinks he is fit,” she said. “He refuses to get tested, insisting he is negative. At times he agrees to use condoms, but it’s not easy every time.”

AFP

Solve your health problems now!

Dear readers,

The Daily News is ready to answer all your health related problems. We will forward all your health problems to the qualified doctors in relevant fields who are attached to the Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition, Health Education Bureau and get answers for your problems. All you have to do is email your problems and queries on health in brief to [email protected]. Please make your queries short.