2006
By Syed Akbar
Hyderabad, Oct 16: The Central government has put 11 drugs under watch for their reported side-effects as part of its pharmacovigilance programme.
According to Rajesh Bhushan, director, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the government will take a decision on banning or otherwise of these drugs after gathering feedback from stake-holders. He said these drugs include pain-killers, cardio-muscular and anti-pyretic.
"We have already banned Rofecoxib and Valdecoxib after it was established that the are not good for the health of our people," he said.
Rajesh Bhushan told reporters at the National Institute of Nutrition here that the MHFW had sought the cooperation of healthcare professionals
in collecting data of adverse events related to drugs marketed in India. The submitted data will be collated and evaluated by the National Pharmacovigilance Centre operating at the department of pharmacology,
All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
Referring to the drug sector scenario in the country, Rajesh Bhushan said laboratories required urgent upgradation for increasing capacity and competency. He regretted that all imported drug batches were not tested. A large number of vacancies in Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation and Central and State laboratories were coming in the way of effective implementation.
He agreed that there were constraints in existing testing capabilities and capacities especially for contaminants and microbiological parameters.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Friday, October 13, 2006
Ultra violet radiation: Hyderabad fast turning into a radiation city
Syed Akbar
Hyderabad, Oct 13: Hyderabad is fast turning into a "radiation city"
with harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays hitting the city at "extreme" levels.
UV forecasts for Hyderabad show that the radiation falling down on the
city from the sun for most part of the year is on the higher side, which
is an indication that all is not well with the ozone layer above and the
city's atmosphere.
Hyderabad is bracketed with concrete jungles like Mumbai, Kolkata,
Bangalore and Chennai as these cities record "extreme" UV radiation
for more than three days a week. However, Delhi appears to be slightly
better as the UV radiation levels there are generally "high" to "very
high" but rarely "extreme".
Ultraviolet rays falling on the earth are classified into various
categories based on the intensity of the radiation and the harm they
cause to human beings and animals. The World Meteorological
Organisation, a WHO body, has standardised the UV radiation levels
with its "UV Index" which is a simple measure of the UV radiation
level at the earth's surface. Hyderabad's UV Index shows a measure of
11, the highest point in the UV scale.
No wonder then that there has been a spurt in skin diseases in
Hyderabad may be because of extreme levels of UV radiation. "Most of
the cases relate to photo-ageing and skin cancer due to penetration of
the rays into the skin. Even if one is in a car the rays can penetrate the
glass and impact the skin. The most common skin allergy cases that
come to us are related to UV radiation called polymorphic light
eruption," senior dermatologist Dr Anup Lahari pointed out.
The values of the UV Index range from zero to 11 and the higher the
Index value, the greater the potential for damage to the human body
and the less time it takes for harm to occur. On the higher side is the
"extreme" and on the lower side is the "very low". In between UV
Index is categorised as "low", "medium", "high" and "very high".
The WMO and the World Climate Research Programme as also the
India Meteorological Department regularly issue UV forecasts for
different cities around the world and in India respectively. The IMD
monitors UV levels at its 45 radiation observatories spread across the
country.
The UV Index up to October 18 is 11 i.e. "extreme" for Hyderabad,
Chennai and Mumbai, while it is 8 (very high) for Delhi, 7 (high) for
Chandigarh and 10 (very high) for Kolkata. The Index last week was
also "extreme" for most part of the week for Hyderabad and other cities
except Delhi.
The main reason given for the high intensity of UV radiation in
Hyderabad is rapid urbanisation and high levels of pollution.
"As UV radiation can neither be seen nor felt, the UV Index is an
important tool to raise awareness of the problem and alert people on a
daily basis to take prompt, appropriate and protective action. That
Hyderabad has high UV Index is an indication that the ozone layer is
not properly filtering the sunlight. If the ozone does its job properly,
the harmful radiation are filtered out. The high UV Index shows that
the ozone layer has become thin," says Prof OSRU Bhanu Kumar, head
of the department of environmental sciences, Andhra University.
Health experts and environmentalists warn that damage from the
exposure to the UV rays is cumulative and over a period of time it will
lead to serious diseases of the eye, including cataract and macular
degeneration.
Consultant radiologist of Care Hospital Dr B Murali suggested that one
should go in for massive tree plantation and keep off the sun to the
extent possible to avoid UV radiation. "UV radiation exposures are
largely preventable. The best protection is achieved by practising a
combination of recommended safe behaviours. Limit exposures to sun
rays when they are the strongest i.e. between 10 am and 4 pm. Seek
shades such as trees or umbrella whenever possible. Use a broad-
spectrum sunscreen with sun protection factor of at least 15. Sunglasses
can provide 100 per cent protection," he said.
Children are at high risk as on an average they get three times more sun
exposure and thus are subject to damaging cumulative effects of UV. It
is estimated that 80 per cent of lifetime sun exposure occurs before 18
years of age.
"With the UV rays being equally extreme even in a "garden city" like
Bangalore, there has been an increase in eye related problems there. Dr
NM Sudha, senior ophthalmologist from Bangalore, pointed out that
ultra violet light is as a causative factor in several eye problems such as
cataract, retinal degeneration and surface problems such as pterigyum.
Hyderabad, Oct 13: Hyderabad is fast turning into a "radiation city"
with harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays hitting the city at "extreme" levels.
UV forecasts for Hyderabad show that the radiation falling down on the
city from the sun for most part of the year is on the higher side, which
is an indication that all is not well with the ozone layer above and the
city's atmosphere.
Hyderabad is bracketed with concrete jungles like Mumbai, Kolkata,
Bangalore and Chennai as these cities record "extreme" UV radiation
for more than three days a week. However, Delhi appears to be slightly
better as the UV radiation levels there are generally "high" to "very
high" but rarely "extreme".
Ultraviolet rays falling on the earth are classified into various
categories based on the intensity of the radiation and the harm they
cause to human beings and animals. The World Meteorological
Organisation, a WHO body, has standardised the UV radiation levels
with its "UV Index" which is a simple measure of the UV radiation
level at the earth's surface. Hyderabad's UV Index shows a measure of
11, the highest point in the UV scale.
No wonder then that there has been a spurt in skin diseases in
Hyderabad may be because of extreme levels of UV radiation. "Most of
the cases relate to photo-ageing and skin cancer due to penetration of
the rays into the skin. Even if one is in a car the rays can penetrate the
glass and impact the skin. The most common skin allergy cases that
come to us are related to UV radiation called polymorphic light
eruption," senior dermatologist Dr Anup Lahari pointed out.
The values of the UV Index range from zero to 11 and the higher the
Index value, the greater the potential for damage to the human body
and the less time it takes for harm to occur. On the higher side is the
"extreme" and on the lower side is the "very low". In between UV
Index is categorised as "low", "medium", "high" and "very high".
The WMO and the World Climate Research Programme as also the
India Meteorological Department regularly issue UV forecasts for
different cities around the world and in India respectively. The IMD
monitors UV levels at its 45 radiation observatories spread across the
country.
The UV Index up to October 18 is 11 i.e. "extreme" for Hyderabad,
Chennai and Mumbai, while it is 8 (very high) for Delhi, 7 (high) for
Chandigarh and 10 (very high) for Kolkata. The Index last week was
also "extreme" for most part of the week for Hyderabad and other cities
except Delhi.
The main reason given for the high intensity of UV radiation in
Hyderabad is rapid urbanisation and high levels of pollution.
"As UV radiation can neither be seen nor felt, the UV Index is an
important tool to raise awareness of the problem and alert people on a
daily basis to take prompt, appropriate and protective action. That
Hyderabad has high UV Index is an indication that the ozone layer is
not properly filtering the sunlight. If the ozone does its job properly,
the harmful radiation are filtered out. The high UV Index shows that
the ozone layer has become thin," says Prof OSRU Bhanu Kumar, head
of the department of environmental sciences, Andhra University.
Health experts and environmentalists warn that damage from the
exposure to the UV rays is cumulative and over a period of time it will
lead to serious diseases of the eye, including cataract and macular
degeneration.
Consultant radiologist of Care Hospital Dr B Murali suggested that one
should go in for massive tree plantation and keep off the sun to the
extent possible to avoid UV radiation. "UV radiation exposures are
largely preventable. The best protection is achieved by practising a
combination of recommended safe behaviours. Limit exposures to sun
rays when they are the strongest i.e. between 10 am and 4 pm. Seek
shades such as trees or umbrella whenever possible. Use a broad-
spectrum sunscreen with sun protection factor of at least 15. Sunglasses
can provide 100 per cent protection," he said.
Children are at high risk as on an average they get three times more sun
exposure and thus are subject to damaging cumulative effects of UV. It
is estimated that 80 per cent of lifetime sun exposure occurs before 18
years of age.
"With the UV rays being equally extreme even in a "garden city" like
Bangalore, there has been an increase in eye related problems there. Dr
NM Sudha, senior ophthalmologist from Bangalore, pointed out that
ultra violet light is as a causative factor in several eye problems such as
cataract, retinal degeneration and surface problems such as pterigyum.
Friday, October 6, 2006
Andhra Pradesh government new initiative: Screening for children with heart ailments
2006
By Syed Akbar
Andhra Pradesh is going to add yet another feather in its cap. This time for taking up the gigantic task of providing medicare and conducting heart surgeries free of cost to around 5000 children, mostly from the lower strata of society.
The second phase screening of heart diseases in children, under an innovative scheme launched by the State government in August 2004, is currently on in the State. Already 3,200 children have been identified for surgery in medical camps held in September. Another round of medical camps is scheduled for October 8 at 44 centres across the State. Once the screening process is completed, heart surgeries will be performed on these children in about 50 corporate, private and government hospitals.
In the first phase screening held in 2004, over 5500 children were identified for surgeries and of them 4700 underwent heart operations. The remaining 700 children could not make their way to the operation theatre for want of infrastructure. These children will now be included in the list of fresh beneficiaries in the second phase.
Andhra Pradesh is the first and so far the only State in the country where children under 12 years of age are provided free heart treatment in the state-of-the-art corporate hospitals. They are also provided with free follow up treatment. Only the neighbouring Karnataka State has a health insurance scheme for children belonging to below the poverty families. Unlike the cardiac programme in Andhra Pradesh, the scheme in Karnataka provides for general health problems. A CM’s Children Relief Fund was exclusively set up for the purpose.
------------
How the Scheme Began:
------------
It was August 7, 2004. The new Congress government was just settling down. Hundreds of children suffering from heart diseases gathered in Hyderabad to press for their demand for free medical treatment. The Mahajana Sangarshna Samithi had organised the demonstration by mobilising poor children and their parents from all most all the rural areas of the State.
Tragedy struck the demonstration. One of the children, T Sobhan (12), of Shanigaram of Karimnagar district, collapsed on the Lower Tank Bund road apparently unable to bear the stress of walking and standing for long under the hot sun. A couple of days later, two more children, Rajasekhar from Prakasam district and Konda Saidulu from Nalgonda district succumbed to heart ailments. Incidentally, these two children too had participated in the demonstration.
This moved the new Congress government and Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy announced a special package for children suffering from cardiac ailments which includes free heart surgery. Andhra Pradesh thus became the first State in the country to introduce free heart treatment for children below 12 years of age.
In the first year the government conducted screening tests for 5500 children and of them about 2000 children underwent surgeries. Another 2700 children were operated upon in 2005. The government has initially allocated Rs 8 crore for the project and announced that it would be a continuous programme. Keeping its assurance, the government has now called for the second phase of screening tests in all the 23 districts to identify new patients.
The government has also taken up an ambitious programme to strengthen facilities in government hospitals so that state-of-the-art medicare is provided to poor children. The government has also roped in children specialists to perform surgeries.
Now buoyed by the success of the cardiac programme, the government has decided to introduce a universal health insurance scheme to take care of the health needs of children suffering from various ailments. Children below 12 years and belonging to below poverty line families will be covered under the proposed scheme. According to a rough estimate, two lakh children under 12 years are suffering from heart problems in the State and about 20,000 children add to this number every year.
--------
How It Works:
--------
Unlike in other States where free treatment is provided to the poor only in government hospitals, the Andhra Pradesh government has made a provision for treatment of poor children even in corporate and top class hospitals. The provides financial aid to corporate hospitals towards these surgeries and other follow up treatment if any.
These private hospitals charge 20 per cent less than the rates fixed by the State-controlled Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences. The payment is made by the Director of Medical Education to the hospital concerned after getting scrutiny of bills by a committee constituted for the purpose.
The State government has divided heart diseases into various categories for purpose of treatment. The category I covers PDA interruption pericardiectomy, closed mitral valvotomy and PA banding, while category II covers BT shunt coarctaion of aorta repair. Under category II, surgeries like ASD closure, VSD closure and AP window repair.
The other categories are: category IV: Intracardiac repair of TOF, intracardiac repair of TAPVC; Category V: Intracardiac repair of TGA, DORV, tricuspid atresia, trunkus arteriosus etc., and other surgeries needing special conduits like pulmonary atresia; Category VI: Valve repair, mitrial valve repair, tricuspid valve repair; Category VII: Mitral valve replacements,
aortic valve replacements, tricuspid valve replacements; Category VIII: double valve replacements (mitral valve replacement and aotric valve replacement); Category IX: Interventional procedures like percutaneous
balloon valvuloplasties, balloon septostomy including cardiac catheterization and cine angiograms.
Initially there was no provision for permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) but now the government has included this category also. A new category - Category X - has been included to provide for permanent pacemaker implantation. Other cardiac problems not included in the above categories, whenever they come up would be examined and put in appropriate category on a case to case basis by the central cell at Gandhi Hospital in consultation with the Director of Medical Education.
--------
Special Cardiac Cells
--------
Moreover, special cardiac cells have been created in seven government teaching hospitals, which will treat, operate or refer patients to other hospitals. These cells are located at Osmania General Hospital, Hyderabad, King George Hospital, Visakhapatnam, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Warangal, Gandhi Hospital, Secunderabad, Government General Hospital, Kurnool, Government General Hospital, Guntur and Government General Hospital, Kakinada.
On being approached by a child cardiac patient, the cardiac cell in the Teaching Hospital will conduct necessary screening and render advice to the child patients and his/her parents/attendants. The cardiac cell will undertake treatment of the paediatric cardiac ailments at the same teaching hospital including surgeries.
If the surgeries for which facilities are not available or the required expert cardiac surgeon personnel are not available in the teaching hospital, then the cardiac cell of the teaching hospital will first enquire with the other government teaching hospitals as to whether they can handle the required type of surgeries.
If any of the other teaching hospitals in the State have such spare capacity, the case will be referred to there. If not, it will be referred to the nearest private hospital that can perform such surgery. An identification card is issued to the patient for this purpose, by the government cardiac cell of the teaching hospital.
In case, the patient comes back to the hospital concerned at a later date, where surgery is performed, the hospital should have to take proper care of the patient. It should not insist reference from the cardiac cell.
Congress MP V Hanumantha Rao demands that the Central government bear the cost of operations. "Thousands of children are in a critical condition for lack of medical facilities. The State government does not have the resources to fund the critical heart operations of children who are waiting for months for heart operations. Many children are also dying while they wait for heart operations in Andhra Pradesh. The Central government should pay attention to this critical problem," he pointed out.
By Syed Akbar
Andhra Pradesh is going to add yet another feather in its cap. This time for taking up the gigantic task of providing medicare and conducting heart surgeries free of cost to around 5000 children, mostly from the lower strata of society.
The second phase screening of heart diseases in children, under an innovative scheme launched by the State government in August 2004, is currently on in the State. Already 3,200 children have been identified for surgery in medical camps held in September. Another round of medical camps is scheduled for October 8 at 44 centres across the State. Once the screening process is completed, heart surgeries will be performed on these children in about 50 corporate, private and government hospitals.
In the first phase screening held in 2004, over 5500 children were identified for surgeries and of them 4700 underwent heart operations. The remaining 700 children could not make their way to the operation theatre for want of infrastructure. These children will now be included in the list of fresh beneficiaries in the second phase.
Andhra Pradesh is the first and so far the only State in the country where children under 12 years of age are provided free heart treatment in the state-of-the-art corporate hospitals. They are also provided with free follow up treatment. Only the neighbouring Karnataka State has a health insurance scheme for children belonging to below the poverty families. Unlike the cardiac programme in Andhra Pradesh, the scheme in Karnataka provides for general health problems. A CM’s Children Relief Fund was exclusively set up for the purpose.
------------
How the Scheme Began:
------------
It was August 7, 2004. The new Congress government was just settling down. Hundreds of children suffering from heart diseases gathered in Hyderabad to press for their demand for free medical treatment. The Mahajana Sangarshna Samithi had organised the demonstration by mobilising poor children and their parents from all most all the rural areas of the State.
Tragedy struck the demonstration. One of the children, T Sobhan (12), of Shanigaram of Karimnagar district, collapsed on the Lower Tank Bund road apparently unable to bear the stress of walking and standing for long under the hot sun. A couple of days later, two more children, Rajasekhar from Prakasam district and Konda Saidulu from Nalgonda district succumbed to heart ailments. Incidentally, these two children too had participated in the demonstration.
This moved the new Congress government and Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy announced a special package for children suffering from cardiac ailments which includes free heart surgery. Andhra Pradesh thus became the first State in the country to introduce free heart treatment for children below 12 years of age.
In the first year the government conducted screening tests for 5500 children and of them about 2000 children underwent surgeries. Another 2700 children were operated upon in 2005. The government has initially allocated Rs 8 crore for the project and announced that it would be a continuous programme. Keeping its assurance, the government has now called for the second phase of screening tests in all the 23 districts to identify new patients.
The government has also taken up an ambitious programme to strengthen facilities in government hospitals so that state-of-the-art medicare is provided to poor children. The government has also roped in children specialists to perform surgeries.
Now buoyed by the success of the cardiac programme, the government has decided to introduce a universal health insurance scheme to take care of the health needs of children suffering from various ailments. Children below 12 years and belonging to below poverty line families will be covered under the proposed scheme. According to a rough estimate, two lakh children under 12 years are suffering from heart problems in the State and about 20,000 children add to this number every year.
--------
How It Works:
--------
Unlike in other States where free treatment is provided to the poor only in government hospitals, the Andhra Pradesh government has made a provision for treatment of poor children even in corporate and top class hospitals. The provides financial aid to corporate hospitals towards these surgeries and other follow up treatment if any.
These private hospitals charge 20 per cent less than the rates fixed by the State-controlled Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences. The payment is made by the Director of Medical Education to the hospital concerned after getting scrutiny of bills by a committee constituted for the purpose.
The State government has divided heart diseases into various categories for purpose of treatment. The category I covers PDA interruption pericardiectomy, closed mitral valvotomy and PA banding, while category II covers BT shunt coarctaion of aorta repair. Under category II, surgeries like ASD closure, VSD closure and AP window repair.
The other categories are: category IV: Intracardiac repair of TOF, intracardiac repair of TAPVC; Category V: Intracardiac repair of TGA, DORV, tricuspid atresia, trunkus arteriosus etc., and other surgeries needing special conduits like pulmonary atresia; Category VI: Valve repair, mitrial valve repair, tricuspid valve repair; Category VII: Mitral valve replacements,
aortic valve replacements, tricuspid valve replacements; Category VIII: double valve replacements (mitral valve replacement and aotric valve replacement); Category IX: Interventional procedures like percutaneous
balloon valvuloplasties, balloon septostomy including cardiac catheterization and cine angiograms.
Initially there was no provision for permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) but now the government has included this category also. A new category - Category X - has been included to provide for permanent pacemaker implantation. Other cardiac problems not included in the above categories, whenever they come up would be examined and put in appropriate category on a case to case basis by the central cell at Gandhi Hospital in consultation with the Director of Medical Education.
--------
Special Cardiac Cells
--------
Moreover, special cardiac cells have been created in seven government teaching hospitals, which will treat, operate or refer patients to other hospitals. These cells are located at Osmania General Hospital, Hyderabad, King George Hospital, Visakhapatnam, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Warangal, Gandhi Hospital, Secunderabad, Government General Hospital, Kurnool, Government General Hospital, Guntur and Government General Hospital, Kakinada.
On being approached by a child cardiac patient, the cardiac cell in the Teaching Hospital will conduct necessary screening and render advice to the child patients and his/her parents/attendants. The cardiac cell will undertake treatment of the paediatric cardiac ailments at the same teaching hospital including surgeries.
If the surgeries for which facilities are not available or the required expert cardiac surgeon personnel are not available in the teaching hospital, then the cardiac cell of the teaching hospital will first enquire with the other government teaching hospitals as to whether they can handle the required type of surgeries.
If any of the other teaching hospitals in the State have such spare capacity, the case will be referred to there. If not, it will be referred to the nearest private hospital that can perform such surgery. An identification card is issued to the patient for this purpose, by the government cardiac cell of the teaching hospital.
In case, the patient comes back to the hospital concerned at a later date, where surgery is performed, the hospital should have to take proper care of the patient. It should not insist reference from the cardiac cell.
Congress MP V Hanumantha Rao demands that the Central government bear the cost of operations. "Thousands of children are in a critical condition for lack of medical facilities. The State government does not have the resources to fund the critical heart operations of children who are waiting for months for heart operations. Many children are also dying while they wait for heart operations in Andhra Pradesh. The Central government should pay attention to this critical problem," he pointed out.
Tuesday, October 3, 2006
Hepatitis C strike rate double that of HIV incidence in India
2006
By Syed Akbar
As scientists and health experts the world over rededicated themselves on the World Hepatitis Day on October 1 to the complex research on finding a vaccine for Hepatitis C, latest health reports reveal that this highly asymptomatic liver disease is fast spreading in India.
A World Health Organisation report points out that Hepatitis C virus, often described as a "viral time bomb", has recouped with strength to strike vigorously, two times more than that of the human immuno-deficiency virus or HIV. It has emerged as a silent killer in the country. The WHO lists India along with Egypt, Italy and Japan, where the HCV cases is rampant. The number of Hepatitis C patients in India equals if not exceeds the total number of HCV patients in Europe and the USA.
What worries health planners in developing countries, particularly India, is that there is no vaccine as yet to prevent Hepatitis C. Other Hepatitis virus like A and B have vaccines to prevent the spread of the disease. In the absence of a vaccine, the best way to keep off Hepatitis C virus, is by simply following certain "prevention and precaution" steps.
Another worrying factor that came to light during the World Hepatitis Day on October 1 was that the Hepatitis C virus could not be prevented totally through the use of condom. This virus can be spread by sex. But the efficacy of latex condoms in preventing infection with Hepatitis C virus is unknown. Doctors, however, feel that proper use of condoms may reduce the transmission risk, though it will not totally eliminate it.
Vaccination against Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B may help in prevention of Hepatitis C to a large extent.
"Did you receive a blood transfusion, hemodialysis, angiogram, tatooing, prolong injections or syringes? If yes, get tested for Hepatitis C. Remember the cure rate is high if the infection is detected early. Pegylated interferon can affect a cure in good number of patients," says senior gastroenterologist Dr Dharmesh Kapoor.
WHO health reports indicated that as against 5.1 million Indians suffering from HIV/AIDS, around 12 million Indians are suffering from Hepatitis C. That the disease is poised to spread fast in developing countries is evident from the fact that eight out of 10 people do not have access to safe blood. Moreover, about 30 per cent of HIV patients also simultaneously suffer from Hepatitis C.
The Indian Journal of Gastroenterology reports that about three per cent of people in Andhra Pradesh are infected by Hepatitis C. The number could actually be higher than reported as the data was collected based on medical screenings at laboratories. The undetected Hepatitis C population might be large for the simple reason that the disease is not manifested by any symptoms.
According to Dr Dinesh Kini, consultant gastroenterologist of Manipal Hospital, Bangalore, "Hepatitis C has a tendency to develop into long term liver disease and can cause liver cirrhosis and even cancer of the liver. The infection involves an initial phase of infection, which is often asymptomatic and lasts up to six months".
In a majority of patients (up to 85 per cent cases), the virus successfully fights the body immune system. The patients develop long term or chronic infection. They are now ready to transmit the disease to healthy people.
Like the HIV, the Hepatitis C virus remains in the infected patients for years together undetected. But unlike HIV, it does not invade the immune system but replicates successfully using the liver's resource cells.
Many times the patient does not know that he is carrying the virus except for some troubles like fatigue and discomfort in the upper abdominal area. It remains undetected for as long as 10 years and this is the main reason why scientists have so far failed in their attempts to develop a vaccine for this virus.
The WHO report on Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response refers to Hepatitis C virus as "highly heterogeneous". Eleven Hepatitis C virus genotypes with several distinct subtypes have been identified throughout the world.
The only good thing about Hepatitis C is that the virus does not spread by air. Since the mode of transmission is through skin or mucous membrane, one has to be careful while using tooth brushes, nail cutters, razors, injections and drug and tattoo needles. Those who are sexually active with multiple partners are at high risk of contacting the disease.
"If untreated the liver will be damaged. The only treatment then remains is to replace the damaged liver by a new one. Early detection and prompt treatment can save life," observes Dr Samir R Shah, specialist in Hepatobiliary diseases, Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre and Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai.
Pegylated interferon alfa-2a (40KD) is a new generation Hepatitis C therapy and it offers sustained improvement in liver function and suppresses the virus in more than 50 per cent of patients. Ribavirin is the other drug found effective against this disease.
The pegylation of the interferon slows down the body’s ability to break down the interferon molecule. The interferon gets absorbed more slowly in the body and over a longer period of time. Thus constant amounts of the interferon are present in the body and because of this, the virus is under constant attack.
The WHO report, however, notes that "The diversities in the genotype of the virus have distinct consequences. Although different strains have not been shown to differ dramatically in their virulence or pathogenicity, different genotypes vary in their responsiveness to interferon/ribavirin combination therapy. Moreover, such heterogeneity hinders the development of vaccines, since vaccine antigens from multiple serotypes will probably be necessary for global protection".
About half of the Hepatitis C cases do not have any symptoms of the disease even though the virus is fairly active in the body. While 20 per cent of patients recover fully the remaining develop some form of chronicity. Five per cent of chronic patients develop liver cell cancer and an equal number suffer from decompensated cirrhosis.
By Syed Akbar
As scientists and health experts the world over rededicated themselves on the World Hepatitis Day on October 1 to the complex research on finding a vaccine for Hepatitis C, latest health reports reveal that this highly asymptomatic liver disease is fast spreading in India.
A World Health Organisation report points out that Hepatitis C virus, often described as a "viral time bomb", has recouped with strength to strike vigorously, two times more than that of the human immuno-deficiency virus or HIV. It has emerged as a silent killer in the country. The WHO lists India along with Egypt, Italy and Japan, where the HCV cases is rampant. The number of Hepatitis C patients in India equals if not exceeds the total number of HCV patients in Europe and the USA.
What worries health planners in developing countries, particularly India, is that there is no vaccine as yet to prevent Hepatitis C. Other Hepatitis virus like A and B have vaccines to prevent the spread of the disease. In the absence of a vaccine, the best way to keep off Hepatitis C virus, is by simply following certain "prevention and precaution" steps.
Another worrying factor that came to light during the World Hepatitis Day on October 1 was that the Hepatitis C virus could not be prevented totally through the use of condom. This virus can be spread by sex. But the efficacy of latex condoms in preventing infection with Hepatitis C virus is unknown. Doctors, however, feel that proper use of condoms may reduce the transmission risk, though it will not totally eliminate it.
Vaccination against Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B may help in prevention of Hepatitis C to a large extent.
"Did you receive a blood transfusion, hemodialysis, angiogram, tatooing, prolong injections or syringes? If yes, get tested for Hepatitis C. Remember the cure rate is high if the infection is detected early. Pegylated interferon can affect a cure in good number of patients," says senior gastroenterologist Dr Dharmesh Kapoor.
WHO health reports indicated that as against 5.1 million Indians suffering from HIV/AIDS, around 12 million Indians are suffering from Hepatitis C. That the disease is poised to spread fast in developing countries is evident from the fact that eight out of 10 people do not have access to safe blood. Moreover, about 30 per cent of HIV patients also simultaneously suffer from Hepatitis C.
The Indian Journal of Gastroenterology reports that about three per cent of people in Andhra Pradesh are infected by Hepatitis C. The number could actually be higher than reported as the data was collected based on medical screenings at laboratories. The undetected Hepatitis C population might be large for the simple reason that the disease is not manifested by any symptoms.
According to Dr Dinesh Kini, consultant gastroenterologist of Manipal Hospital, Bangalore, "Hepatitis C has a tendency to develop into long term liver disease and can cause liver cirrhosis and even cancer of the liver. The infection involves an initial phase of infection, which is often asymptomatic and lasts up to six months".
In a majority of patients (up to 85 per cent cases), the virus successfully fights the body immune system. The patients develop long term or chronic infection. They are now ready to transmit the disease to healthy people.
Like the HIV, the Hepatitis C virus remains in the infected patients for years together undetected. But unlike HIV, it does not invade the immune system but replicates successfully using the liver's resource cells.
Many times the patient does not know that he is carrying the virus except for some troubles like fatigue and discomfort in the upper abdominal area. It remains undetected for as long as 10 years and this is the main reason why scientists have so far failed in their attempts to develop a vaccine for this virus.
The WHO report on Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response refers to Hepatitis C virus as "highly heterogeneous". Eleven Hepatitis C virus genotypes with several distinct subtypes have been identified throughout the world.
The only good thing about Hepatitis C is that the virus does not spread by air. Since the mode of transmission is through skin or mucous membrane, one has to be careful while using tooth brushes, nail cutters, razors, injections and drug and tattoo needles. Those who are sexually active with multiple partners are at high risk of contacting the disease.
"If untreated the liver will be damaged. The only treatment then remains is to replace the damaged liver by a new one. Early detection and prompt treatment can save life," observes Dr Samir R Shah, specialist in Hepatobiliary diseases, Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre and Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai.
Pegylated interferon alfa-2a (40KD) is a new generation Hepatitis C therapy and it offers sustained improvement in liver function and suppresses the virus in more than 50 per cent of patients. Ribavirin is the other drug found effective against this disease.
The pegylation of the interferon slows down the body’s ability to break down the interferon molecule. The interferon gets absorbed more slowly in the body and over a longer period of time. Thus constant amounts of the interferon are present in the body and because of this, the virus is under constant attack.
The WHO report, however, notes that "The diversities in the genotype of the virus have distinct consequences. Although different strains have not been shown to differ dramatically in their virulence or pathogenicity, different genotypes vary in their responsiveness to interferon/ribavirin combination therapy. Moreover, such heterogeneity hinders the development of vaccines, since vaccine antigens from multiple serotypes will probably be necessary for global protection".
About half of the Hepatitis C cases do not have any symptoms of the disease even though the virus is fairly active in the body. While 20 per cent of patients recover fully the remaining develop some form of chronicity. Five per cent of chronic patients develop liver cell cancer and an equal number suffer from decompensated cirrhosis.
Heart diseases are responsible for about one-third of all deaths in rural India
2006
By Syed Akbar
Hyderabad, Oct 3: Heart diseases are responsible for about one-third of all deaths in rural India while only 13 per cent of deaths are related to accidents including suicide.
An international research study conducted jointly by the George Institute for International Health and the University of Queensland revealed that heart related problems constituted the "major killer" of human beings in the countryside. The findings were published in the International Journal of Epidemiology and the research was carried out in East and West Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh. The study emphasised the need for India to improve its health services besides creating new health avenues to fight against chronic ailments.
While the incidence of diseases related to heart are on the rise in the country, interestingly enough cases of infectious diseases are on the decline. This, according to the study, is the result of change in social and economic scenario in villages.
The study pointed out that death from injury, both accidents and self-inflicted as in suicide, was the second most common cause of death in rural India contributing to 13 per cent of total deaths. Infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, intestinal infections and HIV/AIDS, are responsible for 12 per cent of deaths, while cancer is contributing to 7 per cent of deaths.
According to Dr Rohina Joshi, the data on the causes of death is an indicator of the health problems now facing the rural India. The spurt in heart related diseases is linked to high rate of smoking, diabetes and high blood pressure among villagers.
The study was conducted in 45 villages spread over East and West Godavari districts covering a total population of 1.80 lakh.
By Syed Akbar
Hyderabad, Oct 3: Heart diseases are responsible for about one-third of all deaths in rural India while only 13 per cent of deaths are related to accidents including suicide.
An international research study conducted jointly by the George Institute for International Health and the University of Queensland revealed that heart related problems constituted the "major killer" of human beings in the countryside. The findings were published in the International Journal of Epidemiology and the research was carried out in East and West Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh. The study emphasised the need for India to improve its health services besides creating new health avenues to fight against chronic ailments.
While the incidence of diseases related to heart are on the rise in the country, interestingly enough cases of infectious diseases are on the decline. This, according to the study, is the result of change in social and economic scenario in villages.
The study pointed out that death from injury, both accidents and self-inflicted as in suicide, was the second most common cause of death in rural India contributing to 13 per cent of total deaths. Infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, intestinal infections and HIV/AIDS, are responsible for 12 per cent of deaths, while cancer is contributing to 7 per cent of deaths.
According to Dr Rohina Joshi, the data on the causes of death is an indicator of the health problems now facing the rural India. The spurt in heart related diseases is linked to high rate of smoking, diabetes and high blood pressure among villagers.
The study was conducted in 45 villages spread over East and West Godavari districts covering a total population of 1.80 lakh.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Prophet's Medicine: Herbal And Spiritual Cure For All Problems
September 27, 2006
By Syed Akbar
Hyderabad, Sept 16: Young Rubina is on a diet regulation eating figs and dates to shed that extra fat in her body. Middle-aged Abdul Kareem takes black cumin seeds to keep his blood cholesterol under check. Septuagenarian Zaheeruddin gulps a syrup of pure honey to fight his abdominal trouble while his daughter-in-law Fathima gives vapours of incense to her son to beat throat infection.
All these Hyderabadis are on a prescription of Tibbe Nabawi or the Prophet's Medicine, which is fast taking its roots in the city as an alternative system of curative and preventive medical practice. People suffering from common ailments and patients with chronic diseases including those with obesity are increasingly turning to Tibbe Nabawi. Giving a modern touch to this 1500-year-old Islamic system of medicine, some pharmaceutical companies are marketing facial masks, beauty creams, hail oil, massage oil and ointments based on the Prophet's prescriptions. And they are in good demand.
At least a dozen Tibbe Nabawi clinics have been opened in Hyderabad and other parts of the State to cater to the vast clientele. As many as eight different books on the Prophet's Medicine are now available in city book shops.
Says eminent physician Dr Fakhruddin Muhammad, "the efficacy of the pharmacopoeia of the Prophet's Medicine is scientifically proved by dozens of research organisations including the Food and Drugs Administration. It is based on natural herbs and food products without any addition of chemicals. It is a lifestyle management system to prevent health problems and cure diseases".
Practitioners of the Prophet's Medicine prescribe commonly available herbs and fruits (raw or extracts) like grapes, pomegranates, citrus, honey, henna, dates (specially of the ajwa variety), olive, methi (fenugreek), aloe vera, rosewater, hibiscus, miswak, black cumin (kalonji), sweet basil (myrtle), ginger, Indian incense (Ud-al-Hind), truffles, watercress, squash, melons and figs.
The treatment ranges from cardiac problems to pleurisy, obesity to malnourishment, respiratory troubles to anaemia and renal obstructions, improvement of eyesight and mental agility to toning up skin texture and deworming to healing of wounds, both internal and external. As many as 30 products are available in the city market based on Kalonji combinations alone. People who have had a heart attack and have survived are prescribed the combination of honey, sana maki and ajwaa dates to speed up recovery.
Dr Fatemeh Mojtahedi, an MBBS doctor, has switched over to the Prophet's Medicine in her Avicenna Clinic to treat obesity. She has formulated "slim capsules" based on the herbs and fruits mentioned in ancient Islamic medical literature inspired by Tibbe Nabawi.
"The important thing we can learn from prophetic nutrition is moderation. Treatment of obesity is quite simple in the Prophet's medicine: eating simple and wholesome natural foods and herbs, and drinking plenty of water. Since the Prophet's Medicine normalises the metabolism and curbs the appetite, patients, who shed excess weight, continue to maintain their slim and trim figure even after the treatment is over," explains Dr Fatemeh. She has treated about 8000 patients and one of them has reportedly lost 58.5 kgs in nine months and 15 days. Dr Fatemeh is approaching the Guinness Book of World Records with a claim of reducing obesity in the shortest time.
The interest in Prophet's Medicine increased in the local populace after the International Institute of Islamic Medicine and the Islamic Medical Association of North America jointly held a conference a few years ago on the scientific validity of the medical prescriptions given by the Holy Prophet.
Following the conference, many have abandoned their toothpaste and toothbrushes in favour of Miswak stick, which the practitioners of the Prophet's Medicine point out strengthens the gums and prevents tooth decay, improves the sense of taste and assists in digestion.
Dr Qudratullah Hussami, whose Islamic Research Academy has done pioneering research in the Prophet's Medicine, points out that "Tibbe Nabawi is a nothing but a collection of Hadith that instruct Muslims on the subject of sickness or medical treatment. Most of the products used in this system of medicine are prescribed by the Prophet himself or utilised by him. Over 200 university research papers have proved the efficacy of the medicine, particularly the black cumin seeds".
Hakeem Muhammad Zaheer Ahmad prescribes black cumin (Kalonji or
Nigella sativa) to his patients to treat asthma, control of sugar in blood and urine, psoriasis, hypertension, hypotension and skin diseases. He is also working on the efficacy of black cumin seeds in the treatment of cancer.
Dr Syed Jaleel Hussain, former director of the Central Research Institute in Unani Medicine, says the Prophet has prescribed olive oil for treatment of haemorrhoids (piles). Kalonji extract removes obstructions in body, expels gases and strengthens the stomach.
"Kalonji oil has improved my hair growth. It has successfully controlled falling of hair due to alopecia. The drug has also improved my skin texture," says Rafique Ahmad, a resident of Charminar. According to inter student Zareena Almas, the facial mask and beauty cream prepared from Kalonji has been quite effective in controlling pimples and blackheads. "Unlike common creams which are heavily loaded with chemicals, the Tibbe Nabawi creams do not cause any skin rashes or irritants. There's no need for even a skin patch test," she observes.
Dr Ghousuddin, consultant pharmacologist, refers to medical reports in support of his claim that the Prophet's Medicine has been useful in paralysis, facial palsy, migraine, amnesia and palpitation.
Islamic scholar Moulana Hasanul Hashmi is of the view that Tibbe Nabawi is not only a curative and preventive system of medicine but it also gives a "rewarding experience". The Prophet's Medicine is based on Sunnah and it is a good thing (Nek Kaam) for Muslims to follow it, he says.
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