This is the time of the year when reported cases of cold, flu and pneumonia are high. Infants, children and the elderly are at higher risk of acquiring one or more of these diseases and often have severe forms of the diseases with additional complications. Uninfected individuals are likely to acquire infectious virus particles that are shed from patients in their nasal and oral secretions such as saliva and sneeze droplets, making direct and close contact the major transmission routes for the viruses.

COMMON COLD

Common cold is an illness that can be found all year round but is most prevalent during the winter months. a number of different viruses can cause the common cold but infection by a single type of virus is more commonly the case. The human immune system has an amazing memory capable of remembering the virus after recovery therefore preventing the same virus from causing the disease again because the immune system can recognise and eliminate the virus before it can cause any illness.

Transmission

Viruses are found in oral and nasal secretions and are spread via cough, sneeze or direct contact with surfaces or objects that are contaminated with the virus.

Symptoms

The symptoms usually present themselves one to three days after acquiring the virus with the most common being fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, coughing, sore throat and increased nasal secretions or sometimes leading to nasal congestion. The lymph nodes around the neck may become inflamed. Infants can rapidly develop severe fever and may also suffer from diarrhea.

Secondary bacterial infections

If the patients do not recover within four days, secondary bacterial infections may cause additional complications such as tissue damage or toxins. Tonsillitis, sinusitis, otitis media (middle ear infection), pharyngitis and pneumonia are examples of diseases that may result from co-infection with the bacteria. Infants are at risk of suffering from deadly shock from high fever and rapid fluid loss thus professional medical care is very important. Common cold usually resolves itself within a week and the best cure is to take lots of rest, drink plenty of clean water and consume a well-balanced diet.

INFLUENZA

Influenza is an acute respiratory disease caused by the influenza virus. The virus has the potential to cause a global pandemic as already seen in 1918 when Spanish flu killed more than 50 million people worldwide. it has been estimated that each year about 15% of the global population is infected with the virus during the winter months. Last year Thailand confirmed 115,183 reported cases of the flu or 180.82 per 100,000 individuals with a mortality rate of 0.2 per 100,000 individuals. The country had seen a constant decline in the number of cases between 2002 and 2006, but then experienced a significant increase in the number in 2009 with the number of confirmed flu cases being 189 per 100,000 individuals. The group with the highest infection rate is children under the age of four and the group with the highest mortality rate is the elderly group above the age of 55. Therefore, these two groups should take extra preventative measures against the influenza virus.

Transmission

Influenza virus is found in oral and nasal secretions of infected patients and spread via close or direct contact.

Infectious period

Patients may begin to shed infectious virus particles one or more days before the appearance of any signs and symptoms and can continue to shed the virus three to five days after the signs and symptoms have disappeared making the disease very difficult to control. Children and infants may continue to shed the virus for more than a week.

Symptoms

Symptoms caused by influenza are usually more severe when compared with viruses that cause common cold. The patient will start to display symptoms one to four days after becoming infected. most common symptoms are rapid onset of fever, shivering, severe headache, nausea, headache, fatigue, sore throat, coughing and pharyngitis. The recovery period usually ranges from one to two weeks. Secondary bacterial infections can lead to complications that may result in death in some patients, particularly those that are immunocompromised or immunosuppressed.

PREVENTION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

- Avoid coming in close contact with patients infected with the virus.

- Wash hands with soaps and clean water regularly and before every meal.

- Avoid touching or rubbing the mucosal areas _ eyes, nose and mouth.

- Maintain good health by exercising regularly, getting enough sleep and consume a well-balanced diet.

- get vaccinated every year (It is recommended that those older than six months, especially the high risk groups be vaccinated every year).

HOW TO ACT ONCE YOU BECOME INFECTED

- get enough rest and sleep.

- Keep your body warm with sufficient clothes and avoid rain, cold weather and cold water when showering.

- Stay in a well-ventilated room.

- Drink lots of clean, warm water to keep the body well hydrated and avoid cold water.

- Consume foods that are easy to digest and fruit juices that are rich in vitamins.

- never share utensils with other people.

- Use a mouth cover to help minimise spreading of respiratory droplets that contain infectious viruses.

- Wash hands with soap and clean water regularly.

- Rinse your mouth often with clean water.

- Keep a distance from young children, the elderly, immunocompromised and immunosuppressed individuals.

Next week, getting to know pneumonia and how to prevent it.

About the author Writer: Bangkok Hospital Research Centre Latest stories in this category:

My son had a stomach virus almost 48 hours ago; no one else in the home has shown symptoms since then; how much longer until we're in the clear?
Thanks.

I would say after 4 days you would be in the clear.

i haven't cheated or have unprotected sex in pass relationships, but now i have started to have unprotected sex with my partner who have unprotected sex several times,but resently i have seen symptoms that are related to genital herpes, d doctor said it could b herpes, my partner tested and it was negative. could it be possible that i have this virus and i have unprotected sex with him only, should i take this test too, and he is negative.

Perhaps your previous partner had it and passed it on to you and
you are not aware of it. Perhaps your current partner tested negative bc the virus has not multiplied extensively to be detected. maybe you should get checked. Remember condoms break and well now a days you can get STD's by oral sex. not to mention not everyone is honest.

yes go get the test also. cause i had the symptoms years ago and my partner never showed them. i no longer have had symptoms nor taken the meds. for years. even when got tested for it it was neg for me. so go get checked for your self. or peace of mind

go and have a test we you Dr, you can use protection, bur if you have oral sex and other person dint tell you if he have and he have a blister or breakout around he Mauser if possible do you have herpes

You could have had it for years and not known about it- it can lay dormant for a very long time, even life.

I don't fully understand your question but here goes. the only test that can determine herpes is a skin swab at the breakout site this virus uses your nervous system for travel not your blood stream. Many people have herpes of various forms and not all persons with herpes have outbreaks it can even be years after coming into contact with this form of the virus for it to emerge and is normally a sign of stress or a weakened system. It is not a good idea to engage in unprotected sex while the outbreak is occurring, and you should wait for several days after there is no inflammation of the tissues. there are medications that can help shorten the time it takes to heal, and lysine has showed study after study to be of a benefit in your diet to control the outbreaks.

Rapid differentiation of mixed influenza A/H1N1/infections with seasonal and pandemic variants by multi-temperature single-stranded conformational polymorphism.

J Clin Microbiol. 2011 Apr 6;

Authors: Pajak B, Stefanska I, Lepek K, Donevski S, Romanowska M, Szeliga M, Brydak LB, Szewczyk B, Kucharczyk K

Mixed infections of a single host with different variants of influenza a virus are the main source of reassortants which may have unpredictable properties when they establish themselves in the human population. In this report we describe a method for rapid detection of mixed influenza infections with seasonal A/H1N1/human strain and the pandemic A/H1N1/v strain which emerged in 2009 in Mexico and the United States. The influenza A/H1N1/variants were characterized by the multi-temperature single-stranded conformational polymorphism (MSSCP) method. The MSSCP gel patterns of hemagglutinin gene fragments of pandemic A/H1N1/v and different seasonal A/H1N1/strains were easily distinguishable two hours after completion of RT-PCR. Using the MSSCP based genotyping approach co-infections with seasonal and pandemic variants of the A/H1N1/subtype were identified in four out of 23 primary samples obtained from patients that were presented with influenza-like symptoms to hospitals across Poland during the epidemic season 2009/10. Pandemic influenza strain presence was confirmed in all these primary samples by real-time RT-PCR. The sensitivity level of the MSSCP based minor genetic variant detection was 0.1 % as determined on a mixture of DNA fragments obtained from amplification of the hemagglutinin gene of seasonal and pandemic strains. The high sensitivity of the method suggests its applicability for characterization of new viral variants long before they become dominant.

PMID: 21471335 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Tags: avian flu, h1n1, h1n5, porcine flu, pork flu, swine flu

this entry was posted on Friday, April 8th, 2011 at 7:23 pm and is filed under H1N1, H1N5. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

What could be causing my husbands scalp pain and shooting pains in his ear?

It started with sudden allergy or sinus then quickly developed into an earache and he can’t even brush his hair without it hurting. Can this all be connected to his sinus?

sounds like a sinus infection

Sinus symptoms are very common during a cold or the flu, but in most cases they are due to the effects of the infecting virus and resolve when the infection does. It is important to differentiate between inflamed sinuses associated with cold or flu virus and sinusitis caused by bacteria.

The signs and symptoms that are associated with the diagnosis of sinusitis include one to two of the following:

Nasal congestion and discharge that typically is thick and becomes yellowish to yellow-greenFacial pain, pressure, congestion, or fullness (that is also accompanied by other symptoms of sinusitis)Symptoms that continue for 10 days or more after the start of a cold or fluSymptoms worsen after 5 – 7 days, or return after initial improvement in a cold (called double sickening)Reduced or absent sense of smellFever, although should also be accompanied by other symptoms of sinusitisOther symptoms of sinusitis that usually occur in adults include one to two of the following:

Eyes may be red, bulging, or painful if the sinus infection occurs around the eyesA persistent cough (particularly during the day)Ear pain, pressure, or fullnessHalitosis (bad breath)Dental painFatigueHowever, many studies have shown that symptoms used to diagnose sinusitis often do not predict prognosis or response to antibiotic treatment.

Sneezing, sore throat, and muscle aches may be present, but they are rarely caused by sinusitis itself. Muscle aches may be caused by fever, sore throat by post-nasal drip, and sneezing from cold or allergies.

Rare complications of sinusitis can produce additional symptoms, which may be severe or even life threatening.

Symptoms Indicating Medical EmergencyIncreasing severity of symptomsSwelling and drooping eyelidLoss of eye movement (possible orbital infection, which is in the eye socket)Vision changesPupil fixed or dilatedSymptoms spreading to both sides of face (may indicate blood clot)Development of severe headache, altered visionMild personality or mental changes (may indicate spread of infection to brain)A soft swelling over the bone (may indicate bone infection)Persistent nasal discharge (of any type) and day time cough for more than 10 days, orSevere symptoms last for at least 3 – 4 days in a row and include thick, greenish nasal discharge plus a fever of at least 102° F

IrritabilityVomitingGagging on mucusCoughChronic SinusitisRecurrent acute and chronic sinusitis tend to take the following course:

Any of the sinusitis symptoms listed previously may be presentSymptoms are more vague and generalized than acute sinusitisFever may be absent or just low gradeSymptoms of sinusitis last 12 weeks or longerSymptoms occur throughout the year, even during nonallergy seasonsSite-Specific SymptomsSpecific symptoms may indicate which sinus is involved.

Frontal sinusitis causes:

Pain across the lower forehead.Symptoms are worse when lying on the backMaxillary sinusitis causes:

Pain over the cheeks that may travel to the teethHard palate in the mouth sometimes becomes swollenSymptoms are worse when head is uprightEthmoid sinusitis causes:

Pain behind the eyes and sometimes redness and tenderness in the area across the top of the noseSymptoms are worse when coughing, straining, or lying on the backSphenoid sinusitis:

Rarely occurs by itself; when it does, the pain may be felt behind the eyes, across the forehead, or in the faceSymptoms are worse when lying on the back or bending forwardOther Causes of Sinusitis SymptomsIt is often difficult to tell when a viral infection converts to a bacterial infection. Studies have found that 40 – 85% of patients with the common cold show signs of inflamed sinuses on x-rays or CT scans. a cold, however, unlike sinusitis, typically clears up without treatment within a week. (Only about 0.5 – 2% of adults with viral colds or flus actually develop bacterial infections.)

Allergies. Symptoms of both sinusitis and allergic rhinitis include nasal obstruction and congestion. the conditions often occur together. People with allergies and no sinus infection may have:

Thin, clear, and runny nasal dischargeItchy nose, eyes, or throat (do not occur with bacterial sinusitis)

The People’s Court- “Selling bad Perm Chemicals” part 2

Tags: allergy, diprosalic, itchy scalp allergy, itchy_scalp, link_list, scalp, scalp allergy, scalp allergy symptoms, scalp allergy to hair dye, scalp allergy treatment Related posts

OTTAWA — Canadians with asthma and other chronic lung diseases could see their symptoms worsen if they pick up the swine flu and should get their conditions under control before the expected second wave of the pandemic hits.

According to the Lung Association, people with asthma, bronchitis and emphysema are more likely to experience severe symptoms of the swine flu, also known as the H1N1 virus, and to need hospitalization.

In a conference call hosted Tuesday by the Lung Association, Dr. Darcy Marciniuk, head of the division of respirology at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, said now is the time for all Canadians, but especially those with a lung disease, to prepare.

"the symptoms may differ and the severity may be different in people with underlying lung disease but moreover, it may also serve as a precipitant to exacerbate or worsen their underlying lung disease," he said.

Marciniuk explained the advice being offered by the Lung Association on its website, which includes telling people with asthma (about three million Canadians have asthma) and other lung diseases to get their symptoms under control so that their lungs are in good condition and able to fight off the flu.

The association recommends people get an "action plan" from their doctor so they know what to do if their condition worsens, and it has templates for a plan on its website.

The group also emphasized the importance of people taking their medications to prevent and control their symptoms and of having an extra supply of medicine on hand.

"A key message will be the vaccination when it becomes available, to get in line early, not only for any specific H1N1 vaccination that will become available, but also for the regular flu seasonal vaccination as it becomes available this fall," said Marciniuk.

The regular seasonal flu vaccine will be available in early fall, as usual. the new swine flu vaccine is currently being produced and won’t be ready until November. Canada has ordered 50.4 million doses of the new vaccine and is awaiting the results of clinical trials to determine if one or two shots will be needed to provide immunity.

Dr. Ken Scott, from the pandemic preparedness division at the Public Health Agency of Canada, said during the call that officials suspect two doses will be needed, probably 21 days apart.

Concerns have been raised about the scheduled delivery of the vaccine and whether it will come too late, especially if the second wave of the swine flu hits early in the fall instead of December when the flu season normally begins. Public health officials have said that if an early arrival is the case, antivirals and other measures will be used to "buy time" until the vaccine is ready. Scott said officials want to make sure the vaccine is safe and effective. By rolling it out in November, Canada has the benefit of viewing months worth of safety data from the clinical trials that are currently underway around the globe, said Scott.

"We don’t know what the attack rate will be this fall. so far this influenza has been a relatively mild illness. We’ll keep our fingers crossed and hopefully that’s the way its going to stay. But we are planning for the worst and I think that’s the appropriate thing to do," he said.

People who do contract the swine flu, or other influenza viruses, can be treated with antiviral medication if necessary. Tamiflu and Relenza are the two main drugs that are approved in Canada and so far, have been effective against the swine flu. there have been reports of complications with Relenza, however, in people with lung diseases.

Marciniuk said it’s not clear if the complications are only in people whose asthma is not well-controlled but it’s yet another reason why people with the condition should ensure they are in good shape.

© Copyright (c) Postmedia News

Getty ImagesBy Lynne Peeples

WEDNESDAY, February 2 (Health.com) — Boys and young men who receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine appear to be at reduced risk of contracting the virus and developing the genital warts associated with the common sexually transmitted disease, according to a large international study published this week in the new England Journal of Medicine.

In an effort to prevent cervical cancer, which can be caused by HPV, public health officials have been encouraging young women to get vaccinated since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first HPV vaccine, Gardasil, in 2006. The vaccine has been approved for boys and men since 2009, but health officials and doctors haven’t pushed it with the same urgency.

“Because the story started with cervical cancer, the studies started with females,” says the lead author of the study, Anna Giuliano, PhD, of the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa. “The study of HPV in men is a late bloomer.”

Gardasil is given in a series of three injections. In the study, which included more than 4,000 sexually active males between the ages of 16 and 26, roughly 0.5% of the boys and men who received all three shots developed genital warts during the subsequent 2 to 3 years. by contrast, about 2.8% of the study participants who received a placebo vaccine developed warts.

The vaccine also reduced the risk of contracting an HPV case that persists for at least six months, though not as dramatically.

HPV can cause certain cancers of the anus and penis in men, although those diseases are far less common than cervical cancer in women.

The study was designed and funded by Merck, the maker of Gardasil (also known as Silgard). The National Institutes of Health also provided funding.

An estimated 20 million Americans are currently infected with HPV. Symptoms are rare, however, so most people have the virus—and pass it on—without realizing it.

“Men are such a vital component of the whole prevention cycle when looking at HPV or any sexually transmitted infection,” says Demetrius Porche, a professor of nursing research and evaluation at the Louisiana State University School of Public Health in new Orleans.

Vaccinating men provides a “double benefit” in that fewer men with HPV will also mean that fewer women are exposed, adds Porche, who was not involved in the current study but has researched HPV in men.

Earlier this week, for the first time, the American Academy of Pediatrics included the HPV vaccine on its list of recommended vaccines for boys. Porche and Giuliano also urge boys and men to get vaccinated.

Most health insurance plans cover HPV vaccination for both males and females. if a child between the ages of 9 and 18 is underinsured, the federal program Vaccines for Children may be able to provide assistance.

Liver Disease Symptoms and Herbal Supplements for Liver

The abuse of alcohol and the continued use of drugs most often lead to irreversible damage to the liver. Liver with the kidney filters the blood and removes toxins like heavy metals and excessive cholesterol. Since the importance and fragility of the ‘organ are rarely happens, most people do not realize when they are damaging their livers.

Liver disease symptoms can be hard to detect initially. For example, you may not realize that a loss of energy is associated with liver diseases. little energy often is the first sign of liver problems and is readily confused with a myriad of other problems, including simple factors such as a reaction to a seasonal change or a lack of sleep.

Another liver disease symptom to look out for is a change in the color of bowel movements. Change in bile levels can give stools a lighter color. You may also find that your urination and thirst increase dramatically, although these can also be symptoms of diabetes as well.

Cause: The most common reasons for the liver diseases are due to unhealthy life style and faulty eating habits. Infections by the Hepatitis virus a, B and C can cause serious types of liver diseases. Prolonged intake of drugs, alcohol and other toxic substances damage the liver cells leading to liver diseases. low immune system of the body can trigger certain liver diseases.

There are many kinds of liver diseases. Viruses cause some of them, like hepatitis a, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Others reason can be the result of drugs, poisons or drinking too much alcohol, if the liver forms scar tissue for the reason that of an illness it is called cirrhosis. Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin, can be one symptom and sign of liver disease. Liver cancer is sometimes called silent disease because in an early period and stage it often does not cause symptoms.

Liver Failure Treatment and Preventions Tips

•    Low sodium is retained to assist in this condition.•    Be sure to use protection (condoms) when having sex.•    Avoiding illegal drug use, especially sharing injection equipment•    Avoiding drinking or using tap water when traveling internationally•    Alcohol is completely avoided because it can worsen the liver damage.•    Practicing good hygiene, such as washing hands well after using the restroom.

Herbal Remedies for Liver Disease: –  

Himalaya Liver Care is a unique, all-natural, complex multi-ingredient formula. It is safe and effective in protecting the liver against harmful toxins from drugs, alcohol, food and water. It helps regulate levels of enzymes and optimizes assimilation. Liver Care has also been found to be associated with an increase in serum albumin, which is another indication of the liver protection it provides. recent work shows that Liver Care has cholesterol-regulating action. Clinically, it helps maintain healthy levels of serum cholesterol, lipoproteins, phospholipids and triglycerides.

These supplements help the liver function and thus aid in keeping in shape for a long time. always remember that the liver herbal and natural supplements are very vital for our health. Now we are going to talk about some of the popular supplements the liver that is necessary for our body.

Also read more on Health Disease herbalcureindia.com/healthdisease.htm

More Liver Disease Articles

so i dont think ive ever had influenza virus (only the stomach bug and colds) so i was wondering what the symptoms are, how long do they last and do you VOMIT with it?

Im talking about influenza, not the stomach flu which technically isnt a flu.

i don't know i had never had a really bad case of it i just felt a little sick i don't know why i am taking flu shots i never got the flu that bad anyways

You cant really tell the difference from flu and stomach virus. they are pretty much the same. There is no cure for any virus and you may or may not throw up. You will have a fever most likely and you should drink plenty of water and juice. and get rest, lots of it. It can last a few days or weeks depending on your age. Eldery people and children can die from a Flu because their bodies cant handle the virus. Normal adults just need a few days to rest and drink fluids. if you are throwing up nonstop and cant keep any foods down then go to a hospital because you may need to be hooked up to an IV so you dont die.

If i got HPV, how long would i have to wait to see symptoms?

Sometimes you don't get any symptoms. They can show up years later, i.e., genital warts. HPV is so common they believe that about 85% of people that are sexually active will contract the virus and not even know it. there are so many strains of the virus also. See your doctor to get tested if you're worried.

some people can go their whole lives without symptoms but still have, and be carriers of HPV- it is never a bad idea to stretch your budget for a pay period to get a full STD screening every couple years to be certain- even if in a monogamous relationship- there is the chance that you have been cheated on, or that the last time you were tested was while a disease you did have was in remission