Vital Malaria Tips

Malaria is a life-threatening disease. It is typically transmitted through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito. Infected mosquitoes carry the Plasmodium parasite. When this mosquito bites you, the parasite is released into your bloodstream.

Once the parasites are inside your body, they travel to the liver, where they mature. After several days, the mature parasites enter the bloodstream and begin to infect red blood cells. Within 48 to 72 hours, the parasites inside the red blood cells multiply, causing the infected cells to burst open. The parasites continue to infect red blood cells, resulting in symptoms that occur in two-to-three-day cycles.


Malaria is an infection caused by single-celled parasites that enter the blood through the bite of an Anopheles mosquito. These parasites, called plasmodia, belong to at least five species. Most human infections are caused by either Plasmodium falciparum or Plasmodium vivax.

Plasmodium parasites spend several parts of their life cycle inside humans and another part inside mosquitoes. During the human part of their life cycle, Plasmodium parasites infect and multiply inside liver cells and red blood cells.

Some infected blood cells burst because of the multiplying parasites inside. Many more infected red blood cells are broken down by your spleen or liver, which filter out and remove damaged or aging red blood cells from circulation. Both Plasmodium parasites in the bloodstream and irritants that are released from broken red blood cells cause malaria symptoms.

Most deaths from malaria are caused by P. falciparum, which causes severe disease. Before P. falciparum malaria causes a red blood cell to burst, it can make the surface of the cell stick to other cells like it. This causes the blood to clot within small blood vessels, which can severely damage organs.

Malaria FAQs


What are the symptoms of malaria?
Malaria symptoms typically appear 10 to 16 days after the infectious mosquito bite, when the infected red blood cells begin to burst. Victims experience flu-like symptoms, including chills, fever, sweating, nausea, headache and vomiting.

The most virulent form of the disease—the Plasmodium falciparum malaria (found predominately in Africa)—can be fatal within hours if not treated.

Who is most vulnerable to malaria?
Young children are most vulnerable because they have not built up any immunity to the disease, and without immunity, the infections tend to be more severe and life-threatening.

Pregnant women are at risk because their immune systems are compromised by pregnancy. People suffering from other diseases and conditions that affect the immune system, such as malnutrition, HIV/AIDS or anemia, also are vulnerable.

How does malaria affect children?
More than 40% of the world’s children live in places where malaria is a constant threat. Most children die from malaria because they do not get effective treatment.

The most severe form of malaria—cerebral malaria—will cause convulsions, coma and death in 93% of children affected. The 7% who survive are left with permanent neurological problems such as epilepsy, blindness, weakness, speech problems and significant cognitive issues.

The most common cause of death from malaria among young children is the severe anemia that results from repeated infections. Additionally, infants born to women who had malaria during their pregnancies tend to be of low birth weight or premature, both of which decrease their chances of survival during their first years.

How is malaria treated?
One of the most difficult aspects in treating malaria is the increase of drug-resistant parasites that have rendered traditional anti-malarial drugs, such as chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, ineffective. However, a very promising development in anti-malarial treatment is Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT).

Artemisinin is a compound derived from the sweet wormwood plant and has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine to treat fever. By combining artemisinin with two or more drugs that act differently and have different targets in the body, the potential for resistance is delayed.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends ACT as the front-line treatment for malaria, and major pharmaceutical companies and governments are working together to increase production and reduce the costs of these drugs.

(Contact us for such ACT which is purely Traditional Chinese Medicine)

Can malaria be cured?
Malaria can be cured with prompt diagnosis and correct drug treatment. But there is a double burden of increased drug resistance and limited access to health care in many of the most malaria-prone areas.

Prevention is the key to saving lives.

Do people become immune to malaria?
Yes, people who have survived malaria infections typically develop partial protective immunity. This reduces the severity of future outbreaks of the disease, but it does not protect against future infections. This is the case with most adults living in high-transmission areas such as sub-Saharan Africa.

How can malaria be prevented?
The front line of defense in preventing malaria is the use of long-lasting insecticide-treated Nets, which simultaneously provide a protective covering for the body while releasing chemicals to repel and kill the infection-carrying mosquitoes.

Recent technology has dramatically improved nets by infusing the insecticide in the netting material, making the nets effective for up to five years. The traditional nets had to be treated every six months with insecticide, a practice that was hard to maintain and often neglected.

Long-lasting insecticide-treated nets mark a new era in fighting malaria.

How do insecticide-treated nets work?
The nets are hung over beds or mats. Most nets cover three children. The nets protect people from being bitten by mosquitoes at night. The insecticide will kill those mosquitoes that come in contact with it, as well as repel and reduce the number of mosquitoes that enter the house.

Research has shown that the actual mosquito population drops by as much as 90% when three-quarters of the community uses nets consistently.

The insecticide used in the nets distributed through NetsforLife® is deltamethrine. This insecticide is believed to be superior to the conventional permethrine used in re-treated nets.

Is spraying for vector (mosquito) control considered a safe practice?
Yes. In recent years, scientific evidence has validated the safety of Indoor Residual Spraying, the application of long-acting insecticides including DDT on the walls and roofs of houses, public buildings and domestic animal shelters to kill malaria-carrying mosquitoes that land on these surfaces. However, there are places where such spraying is ineffective and should not be used.

Integrated prevention, including training, insecticide-treated nets, symptom recognition and environmental management, are extremely effective in combating malaria.

Source- Good Deeds Inc

Why You Should Use a Postpartum Girdle After Delivery

With all of my postpartum girdle reviews going on, I've gotten frequent amounts of questions revolving around them so I thought I would clear them up!

What does a postpartum girdle do?
A postpartum girdle compresses the tummy and uterus in order to help shrink it back to its original size-sometimes even smaller! Some are also made to shrink your hips as well. For C-section mamas, they help hold the incision in well due to the fact that some incisions tend to come apart. They also give you the support you need when using your abdominal muscles postpartum when you are still weak.

Why should you wear a postpartum girdle?

Many reasons:
Faster bounceback rate
Tummy support
Flattens your tummy & hips
Prevents enlargement of fat cells
Straightens your spine
Helps compress your uterus to not only return the uterus to its original size, but to help swelling go down and extra fluid come out.
When do you start wearing a girdle?
Immediately after giving birth, at the hospital! I strapped mine on 2-3 hours after I delivered.

How long are you supposed to wear the girdle for?
For the first 8 weeks immediately upon giving birth. This is because the hormone Relaxin stays within your system for this long!

What brand girdle do I recommend?
My favorites are Bellefit & Belly Bandit. I liked the Bellefit a tad bit more because of the corset shape. By being shaped this way, the girdle did not roll up or down and stayed perfectly conformed to my torso. However, the BB was also great as well!

Is it worth the money ?
Simply put-YES?

Can I skip it?
Sure! Absolutely. Girdles just speeds up the process of getting back to your pre-pregnancy body and compress areas that your body normally cannot on its own.

Source: Diary of a fit mommy

S.T.D PREVENTION

Prevention
You can take measures to reduce your risk of becoming infected with a sexually transmitted infection (STI). You can also reduce the risk of transmitting an STI to your sex partner.

Delay sexual activity until you are prepared both physically and emotionally to have sex. Nearly two-thirds of all STIs occur in people younger than 25 years old. Sexually active teenagers are at high risk for STIs because they frequently have unprotected sex and have multiple partners. Biological changes during the teen years also may increase their risk for getting an STI.

Make sure your immunizations are up-to-date. You can get a hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and HPV vaccine to prevent these infections. The vaccines Cervarix and Gardasil protect against two types of human papillomavirus (HPV) that cause cervical cancer. Gardasil also protects against two types of HPV that cause genital warts. For more information, see the topic Immunizations.

STIs are a concern worldwide. It is important to practice safer sex with all partners, especially if you or they may have high-risk sexual behaviors.

It is especially important that pregnant women who are at risk for STIs practice safer sex because an STI can affect their baby (fetus). An STI may threaten the life of your baby or cause serious long-term problems or disabilities for your baby.

Practice safer sex
Preventing a sexually transmitted infection (STI) is easier than treating an infection after it occurs.

Talk with your partner about STIs before beginning a sexual relationship. Find out whether he or she is at risk for an STI. Remember that it is quite possible to be infected with an STI without knowing it. Some STIs, such as HIV, can take up to 6 months before they can be detected in the blood. Ask your partner the following questions.
How many sex partners has he or she had?
What high-risk behaviors does he or she have?
Has he or she ever had an STI?
Was it treated and cured?
If the STI is not curable, what is the best way to protect yourself?
Be responsible.
Avoid sexual contact or activity if you have symptoms of an STI or are being treated for an STI.
Avoid sexual contact or activity with anyone who has symptoms of an STI or who may have been exposed to an STI.
Don't have more than one sex partner at a time. Your risk of an STI increases if you have several sex partners at the same time.
Some STIs can also be spread through oral-to-genital or genital-to-anal sexual contact.
Abstain from sexual intercourse to prevent any exposure to STIs.


Condom use
Condoms can protect you against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Even if you are protected against pregnancy by birth control pills or another method, use a condom to prevent STIs.

Male condom use
Using condoms reduces the risk of becoming infected with most STIs, especially if the condoms are used correctly and consistently. Condoms must be put on before beginning any sexual contact or activity. Use condoms with a new partner until you are certain he or she does not have an STI.

Use a water-based lubricant such as K-Y Jelly to help prevent tearing of the skin if there is a lack of lubrication with condom use during sexual intercourse. Small tears in the vagina during vaginal sex or in the rectum during anal sex allow STIs to get into your blood.
Do not use petroleum jelly as a lubricant with condoms, because it dissolves the latex in condoms.
Use a male condom for vaginal or anal sex.
Female condom use
Even if you are using another birth control method to prevent pregnancy, you may wish to use condoms to reduce your risk of getting an STI. Female condoms are available for women whose partners do not have or will not use a male condom.

Condoms do not prevent skin-to-sore contact in the genital area, so it is possible to spread an STI with genital contact. It is important to have any symptoms in the genital area evaluated.

Mouth barriers, such as a dental dam, can be used to reduce the spread of infection through oral sexual activity. You can discuss this with your dentist or health professional.

Avoid douching if you are a woman, because it can change the normal balance of organisms in the vagina and increases the risk of getting an STI.

Spermicide use
Most spermicides contain a chemical called nonoxynol-9 (N9). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that N9 in vaginal contraceptives and spermicides may irritate the lining of the vagina or rectum. This may increase the risk of getting HIV from an infected partner.

So although using a spermicide with a condom is more effective for birth control, using a spermicide may increase your risk for getting HIV.

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Last Updated: January 30, 2014
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.

Circumcision Basics

Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin, the tissue covering the head(glans) of the penis. It is an ancient practice that has its origin in religious rites. Today, many parents have their sons circumcised for religious or other reasons.

When is circumcision done?
Circumcision is usually performed on the first or second day after birth. (Among the Jewish population, circumcision is performed on the eighth day.) The procedure becomes more complicated and riskier in older babies, children, and men.

How is circumcision done?
During a circumcision, the foreskin is freed from the head of the penis, and the excess foreskin is clipped off. If done in the newborn period, the procedure takes about five to 10 minutes. Adult circumcision takes about one hour. The circumcision generally heals in five to seven days.

Is circumcision necessary?
The use of circumcision for medical or health reasons is an issue that continues to be debated. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) found that the health benefits of newborn male circumcision outweigh the risks, but the benefits are not great enough to recommend universalnewborn circumcision. The procedure may be recommended in older boys and men to treat phimosis (the inability to retract the foreskin) or to treat an infection of the penis.

Parents should talk with their doctor about the benefits and risks of the procedure before making a decision regarding circumcision of a male child. Other factors, such as your culture, religion, and personal preference, will also be involved in your decision.

What are the benefits of circumcision?
There is some evidence that circumcision has health benefits, including:

A decreased risk of urinary tract infections.
A reduced risk of some sexually transmitted diseases in men.
Protection against penile cancer and a reduced risk of cervical cancer in female sex partners.
Prevention of balanitis (inflammation of the glans) and balanoposthitis (inflammation of the glans and foreskin).
Prevention of phimosis (the inability to retract the foreskin) and paraphimosis (the inability to return the foreskin to its original location).
Circumcision also makes it easier to keep the end of the penis clean.

Note: Some studies show that good hygiene can help prevent certain problems with the penis, including infections and swelling, even if the penis is not circumcised. In addition, using a condom during sex will help prevent STDs and other infections.

What are the risks of circumcision?
Like any surgical procedure, there are risks associated with circumcision. However, this risk is low. Problems associated with circumcision include:

Pain

Risk of bleeding and infection at the site of the circumcision

Irritation of the glans

Increased risk of meatitis (inflammation of the opening of the penis)

Risk of injury to the penis

SOURCES:
American Academy of Pediatrics.
The American Urological Association.
Reviewed by Jennifer Robinson, MD on September 02, 2014

Vaginal Yeast Infection: Best Herbal Cure For Candida To Reduce Vaginal Itching

About 75% of women suffer from Candida infection in different stages of their lives. The infection, caused by yeast like fungus Candida albicans is most prominent as the vaginal yeast infection affecting women of all age. Moderate to severe vaginal itching followed by creamy white discharge resembling cottage cheese is the main symptom of vaginal yeast infection.

Incidence of this infection is higher among those suffering from HIV/AIDS. Pregnancy, poor body immunity system, prolonged intake of antibiotics and steroids, usage of birth control pills, diabetes and menopause are other factors behind candida infection.

Moderate growth of Candida albicans is normal as it is present in different parts of the body like mouth, vagina, stomach, skin and urinary tract. Overgrowth of this yeast gives rise to a condition called Candidiasis. Infants and aged people suffer from a common oral infection caused by Candida albicans, known as oral thrush.

Proven herbal cures for Candida have been widely practiced as these are the easiest means of treating this infection.

1. Aloe Vera juice

Aloe Vera is rich in Vitamin A, C and E and contains folate, amino acids and other essential minerals. Topical application of Aloe Vera gel helps in destroying the infected cells.
Drinking Aloe Vera juice regularly boosts your immunity system and also restricts the Candida infection. Topical application of the gel on the affected areas produces a soothing effect and reduces irritation and itching.

2. Garlic

Garlic contains a number of compounds namely alliin, allicin, alliinase and S-allylcysteine possessing anti bacterial and anti fungal properties. Taking raw garlic is best to fight the yeast infection. You can add chopped garlic in your food or swallow a garlic clove with water.
Wrap a garlic clove in thin gauze and twist it in the shape of a tampon and place it in the vaginal cavity. It is very effective in reducing vaginal yeast infection. Do not forget to change the tampon every 4-5 hours.

3. Oregano Oil

The herb Oregano, commonly used for culinary purpose also has anti-fungal properties and is
useful in treating Candida.
Add few drops of Oregano oil in a glass of water and have it. Be careful not to use excess
Oregano oil as it is very potent and may irritate the mucous membranes.

4. Super Green Foods to Treat Candida

Green algae like chlorella and spirulina are highly nutritious and are called super green foods. These foods help in detoxification of the colon reducing the population of Candida yeast.
Yeast thrives in a toxic environment, and detoxification of the colon is an important step in reducing the infection. These foods also maintain normal pH balance of the body, as yeast thrives in acidic conditions.

5. Herbal Tea to Treat Yeast Infection

Having tea prepared from the herbs like Cinnamon, Lemon Balm and dandelion is one of the effective herbal cures for Candida.

Important Points to Remember

Recurrence of Candida infection is not rare. Include highly nutritious food in your daily diet to boost your body immunity system.

Include sufficient amounts of Vitamin C and green veggies in your diet. Citrus fruits can be the best option. Reduce the intake of sugar and refined foods.

Culled from Women's hub

Introduction to cough and sneeze etiquette

                                                         Cough and sneeze etiquette image

Cough and sneeze etiquette refers to simple hygiene practices everybody can take to prevent passing on respiratory infections like cold and flu to other people.

It is especially important that people who are sick with cold or flu practise good cough and sneeze etiquette. However, infections like cold and flu can be transmitted even before symptoms like sore throat and cough let you know you’re sick. So even when you’re perfectly healthy, it’s important to practise proper cough and sneeze etiquette.


Why is cough and sneeze etiquette important?

When someone with a cold or flu infection coughs or sneezes, they release respiratory droplets. These droplets contain cold and flu virus particles that can cause infection if they enter another person’s respiratory tract (e.g. when they come into contact with their nose).

The droplets released during coughing and sneezing may be inhaled, or they may land on a person’s hands or hard surfaces where the virus particles can survive for hours. If a person touches contaminated surfaces, the virus particles may be transferred to their hands. If a person touches their face with contaminated hands, it may cause infection.


How to practise good cough and sneeze etiquette

Good cough and sneeze etiquette involves taking steps to minimise the likelihood that someone else will catch your cold or flu when you cough or sneeze.  There are many simple measures you can take.


Cover coughs and sneezes

Cover your mouth and nose every time you cough or sneeze. Use a disposable tissue to cover your mouth or nose if possible.
If a cough or sneeze sneaks up on you and no tissue is available, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve. This prevents your hands becoming contaminated with cold or flu viruses.

Dispose of or clean contaminated products immediately

Dispose of single-use tissues immediately after you cough or sneeze. Try to ensure a waste bin is available so that tissues can be disposed of (e.g. if you’re in bed with the flu, put a bin beside your bed so you don’t have to get up to throw your contaminated tissues away). If there is no bin, use a plastic bag to store contaminated tissues until a bin is available.
If you cough or sneeze onto a hard surface like a desk or telephone, clean it immediately with a disposable disinfectant wipe to remove the cold and flu germs.

Ensure your hands are hygienically cleaned

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 15–20 seconds every time you cough or sneeze.
Wash your hands every time you touch a contaminated object like a tissue.
If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitising products containing = 60% alcohol. These products are also effective in removing cold and flu germs from contaminated hands.

Avoid touching the face

Avoid touching your face with your hands (especially if you know they’re contaminated, for example if you’ve just wiped your sick child’s nose). Touching the face allows cold and flu viruses to enter the mucous membranes of the nose and eyes and cause infection.
Avoid close contact with others

Stay away from work, school and other busy places as much as possible when you have an illness like cold or flu which causes coughing and sneezing.
If you need to go to work or other busy places, avoid close contact with others, for example by not shaking hands and standing at least one metre away.

Sources: Coughing and sneezing [online]. Atlanta, GA: Centres for Disease Control and Prevention; 28 December 2009 [cited 14 July 2013].

How influenza is spread [online]. Melbourne, VIC: Influenza Specialist Group; 2013 [cited 14 July 2013].

Prevention tips to limit the spread of colds and flu [online]. Melbourne, VIC: University of Melbourne; 11 April 2013 [cited 14 July 2013].

Respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette [online]. Canberra, ACT: National Health and Medical Research Council; 16 June 2011 [cited 14 July 2013].
Hand hygiene guideline [online]. Adelaide, SA: South Australian Infection Control Service; 18 November 2010 [cited 2011, Feb 22].
Dates
Posted On: 28 July, 2013
Modified On: 28 July, 2013

Did not bleed during my first intercourse

Dear doctor,
I have been bothered by the fact that I did not bleed during my first intercourse. Was it that I was born without hymen or may be I lost my virginity as a baby? Although am now a mother of four. I can’t help but think about it at times.

Worried Mother.


Dear Worried Mother,

Yes, bleeding signifies a woman’s broken seal, the passage of the girl status into womanhood. But not all women bleed the first time. This is due to a wide range of possible reasons.

If you were not abused as a child, then it could be that you were into rigorous exercises or sports before you slept with a man. Some strenuous sports like running, horse riding can break the hymen which as a matter of fact is a very delicate seal. It doesn’t take much energy to have it broken; so, it could be broken without a woman sleeping with a man. For the experienced man, only the tightness of the passage would tell him the condition of the woman; whereas, some need the physical evidence of blood to be convinced they are meeting her intact.

And in some cases, some women have been deflowered by tampons or the questing fingers of their lovers. Tampons can break the seal easily because it is inserted into the woman’s body to absorb her flow unlike the conventional pad that is placed at the entrance of her body to absorb her flow. There is no way she would know that her hymen has been broken because it will come out with her flow as blood.

Like the tampon, the fingers too can easily break the fine film covering of a woman’s body.

What is important is the level of trust the woman is able to command from her man. If you have had four children and not once given your husband reason to doubt you, he will always cherish and take pride in your honour as a woman any day.

That is what is most important at the end of the day. It doesn’t matter whether you knew how you were deflowered or not.

Source: Adam