Two boys play in a pool of water near Jet Lines in Karachi where 20 mm of rain fell on Monday. PHOTO: EXPRESS

KARACHI: Contrary to a deeply entrenched belief, playing in the rain does not make your child sick, doctors say.

“The real issue is to convince people how diseases break out,” explains paediatrician Dr Sohail Thobani. “They happen because of an attack on the body by germs which are usually transmitted from one person to another.”

This does not mean that precautions should not be taken. the chair of paediatrics and child health at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Dr Anita Zaidi, says timing matters. “While there is no harm in children playing in the rain, they should not stay drenched for too long,” she says. “Especially children under two years of age should not play in the rain for longer than an hour, it puts them at risk for hypothermia.” Young children can lose too much body heat if they stay in the water too long.

Parents should instead be concerned if their child is playing in standing water. “There is a good chance of them contracting a number of diseases from playing in standing water,” says Zaidi. This water is not purely rain water but is mixed with sewage that has a high fecal content. Standing water also becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes, responsible for the spread of dengue. Children will also be at risk of diarrhoea and skin infections.

But as far as simply enjoying the monsoon rain and splashing around rain water is concerned, doctors say parents need not worry. “We have certain cultural perceptions and then we have scientific fact. the two are poles apart,” Dr Thobani says. “In medicine it will always be your grandmother who knows more than the doctor.”

When it comes to contact with water, parents need to understand the difference between two types of diseases: viral and bacterial. Viral diseases, such as the common cold, will treat themselves regardless of whether medication is used or not. Medication may help ease some of the symptoms but the illness is self-treating.

It is not that simple for bacterial diseases, whose treatment with antibiotics is debated by doctors. Typhoid, for example, which is transmitted from a germ spread through stool, needs to be treated with antibiotics. “That is why using an Indian toilet is more hygienic in some aspects as your body does not come in contact with the toilet seat,” Dr Thobani says.

On the other hand, Dr Zaidi says, “Antibiotics are not necessarily required for bacterial infections; however, it must be taken with diseases such as cholera and blood diarrhoea.” Pneumonia can have both bacterial and viral properties. but again this will not happen by just playing in the rain – you would have to come in contact with someone who is already infected.

Published in the Express Tribune, September 13th,  2011.

With the knowledge that people age 45 and older represent the fastest-growing STD population, new Mexico health experts are urging residents to take steps to prevent infection.

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“Sexual health is everyone’s responsibility,” said Tara Misra, health educator for the University of new Mexico (UNM). People need to educate themselves about STDs, become familiar with their bodies and use protection, she said. It also is recommended that “people get into a pretty regular habit of being tested,” particularly when starting new relationships, Misra said. Dr. Joel Teicher, an obstetrician/gynecologist at ABQ Health Partners, said late-life divorce and post-divorce dating are factors driving STDs in older people. Chlamydia, a bacterial infection that often shows no symptoms, is “far and away the most-common” STD he sees. “STDs are equal opportunity infectors,” said Dr. Peggy Spencer of UNM’s Student Health and Counseling. “The germs don’t know how old you are. anyone who has sex can get an STD. It’s more about your behavior than your age. if you have unprotected sex at any age you might catch something.”

Back to other news for July 2011

I know a 15 year old with Autism who recently does not like anything about his 12 year old sister. when she walks in the room, he blows the air to get rid of her germs and will not be close to her at all. He will not talk to her, will not use the same bathroom as she does, does not like the sound of her voice, etc. He pretty much does not like her at all. He is fine with his 10 year old brother and his parents and even anyone else that he may come into contact with. this, of course, is very upsetting to his sister. She wants to look up to her older brother so much but it is so hard for her right now. you can imagine how hard this is for her and the rest of the family. Does anyone have any ideas as to why this troubles him so much? it has only surfaced within the last 2 years or so.

most autistics have a social isolation problem, and tend to be isolated from the world. unfotunately, autistics do not know much difference between bullies and "good" people, so he might have accidentally mistaken his sister as a bully.

Autism or adolescence?
Only based on this fact, seems adolescence rather than autism.
Quite natural, take it easy.

it hurts when i swallow but i dont feel like i have a cold or a sore throat, could this be a medication side effect? im a 20yr old female from wisconsin, is this serious?

I am 99 percent sure you have strep throat. you will need a antibiotic to get rid of this.

be in the same room close space with people that cough and have cold .

Kissing some one with cold and not aware of

using utensil from restaurant that contaminate with germs from waiter / waitress

swollen glands, an infection, etc. see your dr. just to be safe.

Published: Saturday, January 01, 2011, 5:00 PM     Updated: Sunday, January 02, 2011, 7:35 AM

FLINT — The norovirus, which is blamed for making people severely ill with stomach flu-like symptoms, is spreading in Genesee County.

More cases of the diarrhea- and vomiting-inducing virus have been reported in the past few weeks, said Fatema Mamou, an epidemiologist at the Genesee County Health Department. Although the department doesn’t have statistics on hand for how many cases have been reported so far, it has received more reports of people becoming ill.

The virus is highly contagious, so people who feel like they’re coming down with the stomach flu should avoid contact with others, Mamou said.

“Prevention is key,” she said.

A person who becomes ill should no prepare food for others. Disinfecting areas with bleach will help the virus stop from spreading.

Lucky Strictland, 19, said she often disinfects the home she shares with a roommate because germs spread quickly. she hasn’t gotten sick even though her roommate has been ill twice this year, she said.

“I Lysol a lot in my house,” the University of Michigan-Flint student said.

Frequent, thorough (20 seconds or more) hand washing with warm water and soap can help prevent the virus’ spread, but alcohol-based hand sanitizer isn’t always effective, Mamou said. That’s where the virus differs from the flu — it is more resilient and can live on surfaces for days.

Contact with a contaminated person’s vomit or feces puts someone at a higher risk of getting sick, Mamou said. Soiled clothes and sheets are hotbeds for infection and should be washed on the hottest setting possible.

Dr. Dhiraj Bedi, of Genesys Regional Medical Center, said she’s been seeing two to three cases of the norovirus each week.

Although it occurs all year, it spreads more easily during the cold months because people come into contact with each other more often.

For those who do become sick, it’s important to stay hydrated, Bedi said. Drinking water, Gatorade or drinks infused with electrolytes will help you regain your strength.

Infections of one’s bladder are the second most typical types of infection within the body. Gals are usually more at an increased risk of getting bladder infection then men. Being infected starts when micro organisms, in most cases microbe from digestion tract, stick at the starting of your urethra and begin the process to grow.

Usually, microbes primarily proceed up to the urethra. when germs grow, infections would happens. Infection limited onto the urethra referred to as urethritis. in the instance that harmful bacteria move to the bladder on top of that increase in numbers, a bladder infection, known cystitis, results. Generally if the infections isn’t dealt with promptly, bacterias will then go further up the ureters in order to increase in numbers and thus infect each of our kidneys. Any kind of kidney infection with kidney infection symptoms such as this is called pyelonephritis.

Urinary tract infection symptoms or sometimes known as infections of bladder aren’t easy to fail to see also some strong impulse to urinate that can’t be postponed, that could be followed with a sharp pain or perhaps stinging sensation inside of the urethra once the urine is discharged. Often quite limited urine is usually released in addition to urine that’s released is often tinged with blood. The desire to urinate occur almost instantly and soreness might happen within lower abdomen, back, or simply simultaneously sides.

This specific cycle could quite possibly perform repeatedly itself frequently through the day or night–most individuals urinate nearly 6-8 time a day, in the event your need to urinate happens more reguarily an infection on the bladder can be suspected.

In the event harmful bacteria enter in the ureters and as a consequence propagate towards kidneys, bladder infection symptoms like back pain, cold snaps, feeling feverish, nausea, coupled with vomiting may perhaps well occur, as well as the previous urinary tract symptoms.

Complete medical diagnosis is very important because these signs can also be brought by similar medical problems for example , infections in the vagina or perhaps vulva. Infections in the bladder are often medicated with antibacterial drugs.

The option of treatment in addition to duration of treatment be based upon that person’s background and the urine lab tests which will ascertain the actual offending bacterium.

PEORIA–It’s that time of year when people are prone to illness.

One local doctor says he’s been busy treating sick patients since the holidays ended.

Dr. Agarwal says more people are prone to upper respiratory infections during this time of year.

This includes a cough, sore throat, runny nose, and sinus pressure.

During peak holiday shopping times, these are highly contagious because more people are in contact with germs.

He recommends treating viral infections immediately.

If untreated, they can lead to serious illnesses such as pneumonia.according to Dr. Naresh Agarwal, “Taking rest, drinking enough fluids to maintain hydration, and avoiding coming into contact with others who may not be sick so you don’t transmit it to other people,” are a few tips to getting and staying healthy.

The doctor says if patients take proper care, they should start to feel improvement in about two to three days.

If symptoms get worse, contact your local doctor for further treatment.

For the past 2 days i've had on and off flu symptoms. when i came home from school on Tuesday my back and thighs ached so bad all i did was lie on the couch for several hours with a heating pad, sleeping. i had a slight hallucination during that time period too, creepy iknow. i keep going up and down from a 101.1 fever, and i still feel aches in my back and very fatigued. ive missed 2 days of school already. when i wake up my throat is very sore. are these flu symptoms–my doctor said i probably only have a virus cuz peoplewith the flu usually are worse off then me. should i stay out of school again tommorow or suck it up?

You should stay home and stay in bed you need rest and keep taking tylenol or something like it if you are having a fever,of course drink all the fluids you can too.

You have a virus if you have the flu. It's caused by the influenza virus. if you are really that sick, stay home. It's not just a matter of how you feel, but of how many other people you may infect by going to school and spreading your germs around.

definetly got the flu
Take care

For example, if someone comes down with the stomach flu today, and you were in contact with them yesterday, before they were showing any symptoms, would you have been exposed to germs?

Also, can you catch the stomach flu from someone by simply sitting next to an infected person or breathing the same air?

Simply. no.

Stomach Flu is NOT contagious.
So don't worry!