Coronavirus: Brief Summary
Definition
Coronavirus disease COVID-19 as it is now known as by WHO (World Health Organization) has been defined as a potential severe acute respiratory infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2)
Clinical presentation is of respiratory infection with a symptom severity ranging from the mild common cold like illness to severe viral pneumonia leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome which is potentially fatal.
Nearly 80000 cases with 2800 death and mounting, have been reported in china (as of 1 March 2020). The outbreak has escalated rapidly across the globe with more and more number of a person becoming infected. Due to migration of population and overcrowded atmosphere, the spread has become easy and helped in the spread.
SARS-COV-2 belong to serbecovirus subgenus of the coronavirus family and its the seventh coronavirus known to infect humans.
A majority of patients in the initial stage of outbreak reported a link to the human south china seafood market, a live animal or wet market, suggesting the zoonotic origin of the virus, however, it's yet to be confirmed. Person to person spread has been confirmed in the community among close contact, in both family and hospital settings.
Transmission is through droplets produced when a person sneeze or cough. The contribution to transmission by the presence of the virus in other body fluids is unknown, but studies are going on to find out any relation. There is growing evidence that transmission from an infected but asymptotic person can occur in an endemic area. It's still unknown whether perinatal or through breastfeeding is possible.
As per current studies, incubation period is from 1-14 days. Median incubation period has been 5 days and transmission is possible during the incubation period. The high viral load has been detected in nasal and throat swab soon after the onset of symptoms. Even asymptotic patient has a similar viral load.
Primary Prevention
The only way to prevent infection is to avoid exposure to the virus and maintain a high level of personal hygiene.
WHO does not recommend that people to wear a medical mask in a community setting if they do not have any symptoms as there is no evidence available on its usefulness to protect people who are not ill. Instead, it creates more panic and confusion in an otherwise healthy person.
Screening and Quarantine
People travelling from high endemic or epidemic areas will be subjected to screening procedures. Upon receiving any positive information or symptoms by any such person will be quarantined to a period of 14 days,
Such cases to be reported to local health authorities. All new cases need to be isolated to prevent transmission and confirmed cases to be subjected to treatment guidelines as issued by who and local health authorities.
Infection prevention and control
Triage all patients on admission and isolate suspected cases from confirmed cases.
Following basic principles of infection prevention and control as per who guideline to be implemented:-
Clinical Presentation
Clinical presentation resembles viral pneumonia and severity of illness range from mild to severe. Approximately 80% are mild, 14% severe and 5% critical.
The most common symptoms are:- fever, cough, dyspnoea, myalgia, fatigue
Less common are:- anorexia, sore throats, headache, confusion, dizziness, rhinorrhoea, chest pain, haemoptysis, abdominal pain, nausea vomiting and diarrhoea.
Laboratory Findings
The most common laboratory abnormalities inpatient hospitalised with pneumonia include leukopenia, lymphopenia, leucocytosis, and elevated liver transaminases. Neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anaemia decreased albumin and renal impairment.
Oxygen saturation of less than 90% will be shown by pulse oximetry.
Blood and Sputum Culture
Chest x-ray and CT. Unilateral lung infiltrates found in 75% cases and bilateral in 25% cases.
Multiple mottling and ground glass appearance found in 14% cases.
Risk factors
Strong: - residence in or travel to the affected area prior to the onset of symptoms. And the history of close contact with an infected person.
Introduction to the ZIKA VIRUS:
After the deadly Yellow Fever and Ebola pandemics, Zika Virus is yet another disease borne out of the African soil and spreading across the world right now. Named after the Zika forest in Uganda, where it originated, this virus spreads through a mosquito bite - that of ‘aedes aegypti’ mosquito. It can also be passed on from mother to child, blood transfusion and sex.
What’s so deadly about ‘Aedes Aegypti’ Mosquito?
Zika Virus spreads via ‘aedes aegypti’ mosquito, same mosquito that also spreads Dengue and Chikungunya.These mosquitoes typically lay eggs in and near still water found in buckets, bowls, animal dishes, flower pots and vases. They are aggressive daytime biters, prefer to bite people, and live indoors and outdoors near people.
These mosquitoes become infected when they feed on a person already infected with the virus. Infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to other people through bites.
Symptoms of Zika Virus Attack
A person bit by an infected mosquito takes about 2-7 days to show symptoms like:
- Mild fever
- Skin Rash
- Conjunctivitis
- Muscle and joint pain
- Weakness and Fatigue
However, it lasts no more than a week and is usually milder than its cousins Dengue or Chikungunya. Although it is not a fatal disease, the real reason behind the panic is for the women who are pregnant. Zika is found to be a major cause of microcephaly – a birth defect due to which children are born with visibly smaller heads, severely limiting their mental and physical abilities.
In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!
Zika virus causes a deadly disease called Zika fever or Zika virus disease that spreads by the bite of the Aedes mosquito. The Zika virus is a member of the virus family FLAVIVIRIDAE and is closely related to the dengue, yellow fever, Japanese Encephalitis, and West Nile viruses. It was isolated in the Zika forest of Uganda in 1947 and is known to be prevalent in continents like Africa and Asia primarily, though it’s slowly making headway in the developed world and has spawned the deadly 2015-2016 Zika virus epidemic.
What are symptoms of Zika fever?
People with Zika virus disease can have symptoms which are similar to Dengue, like-
These symptoms usually last for 2-7 days.
Complications of Zika virus disease
According to WHO, Zika virus infection during pregnancy causes congenital brain abnormalities like microcephaly. And the infection can also trigger the Guillain-Barré syndrome. Microcephaly is a condition where a child is born with a small head or the head stops growing after birth and the Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rare condition in which a person’s immune system attacks the peripheral nerves which control muscle movement and sensation.
Even as we read this, intense efforts are being expended to investigate the link between Zika virus and a number of other neurological disorders.
How does Zika spread?
The causes of Zika are:
How can you prevent Zika infection?
Protection against mosquito bites is the most foolproof ways to prevent a Zika virus infection. Other ways to prevent Zika infection via mosquito bites are:
For stemming sexual transmission of Zika, the WHO recommends that sexually active men and women be counselled to practice safe sex using condoms. WHO also recommends that people who have come back after travelling from Zika virus zones should be extremely careful in practising safe sex or abstinence for the first 6 months at least, for preventing a pregnancy.
If affected, what is the treatment?
Zika virus disease is usually mild and requires no specific treatment as such.
Infected people are advised plenty of rest, asked to drink enough fluids, and treat pain and fever with common medicines like Ibuprofen. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a General Physician.
Hepatitis C is a Viral Infection That is Little Talked About, But Can Be As Dangerous As Hepatitis B
Most people have head or what became in the 1980s and '90s the dreaded AIDS virus. With time and the availability of medicines, it ceased to be a killer. However, the knowledge of it helped stem its spread. Most people, unfortunately, don't realize that hepatitis C is also a killer, simply because not much has been said about it. In fact, it is also a virus, but is 10 times more infectious than HIV.
Hepatitis C is transmitted through the blood, and is usually passed on to women through infected needles and sex. At-home glucometers are often shared, or sometimes a woman's own lifestyle or her partner's lifestyle before marriage may put her at risk, because the virus can stay in the blood for years. It is also transmitted through blood products, like in the case of a transfusion, though in the case of pregnant women, this is not so common.
The dangers
The virus affects 1 in every 100 people in India, while globally 180 million are infected with it. Sometimes, it may just pass through the body, like many other viruses do, but sometimes, it can remain. If detected quickly, within six months or so, cure rates are high. the problem is that it is often not easy to detect, as symptoms resemble those of a regular seasonal viral infection: fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite. If it remains in the body, becoming chronic, then it may progress to liver disease. But the hepatitis C virus (HCV) doesn't have to be a killer. You can conquer it with these moves.
What you should do before
A number of couples who come to me have planned pregnancies-they opt for a baby, rather than the baby just 'happening' to them. This not only helps family planning, but it also helps us rule out infections or treat them if present. Usually, in the first trimester, your gynecologist will ask you to do a simple blood test for HIV, hepatitis B and C. In the case of a planned pregnancy, visit your doctor beforehand and ask if you need to take these tests before you conceive. However, there is no vaccine for HCV yet.
What you should do after
If a woman find out in the first trimester that she is hepatitis C positive, there's nothing much that can be done, as anti-viral medications cause birth defects, so a mother can only be put on them after delivery. She is advised to continue the pregnancy. A baby's chance of acquiring the infection in utero is between 5 and 7%. While this is not high, parents may like to avoid the risk. However, co-infection with HIV (if the mother is HIV positive) pushes the risk up to 19.4%. The pregnancy itself will not be hampered by the HCV infection. Nor does the risk of transmission to the child have anything to do with the mode of delivery-either vaginal or C-section. In India, there is little data on HCV transmission from mother to child. However, once the baby is born, the pediatrician may not do an immediate test to check for the virus, as it generally clears out from the baby's system in a year or so. Testing may only be done at 18 months.
In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!
Poliovirus is a deadly and highly contagious virus that spreads through direct or indirect human to human contact. However, what makes polio really fatal is the fact that it has no cure.
What causes polio?
The poliovirus is caused by small RNA based viruses of the enterovirus group of the Picornavirus family. With three different types, it can cause a wide range of health concerns in humans. The type 1 virus is the most severe and is responsible for about 85% of all paralysis resulting from the infection. These types are antigenically distinct virus strains and one form of infection or immunity does not protect against the other two types, but if immunity is developed for one or more of the three strains, immunity is permanent. The problem caused by these viruses is the killing of spinal cord cells.
What is the history of polio?
The first traces of poliovirus dates back six thousand-year-old Egyptian with malformed limbs but the first recorded evidence is from 1789. By 1951 the three types of poliovirus were identified and isolated a large-scale trial of the dead polio vaccine developed by Dr Jonas Salk. Later, in 1958, Dr Albert Sabin's live attenuated poliovirus oral vaccine came into effect.
How does the virus spread?
Polio viruses can only survive in humans and be transmitted through direct or indirect human contact. The indirect methods of transmission include any traces of faecal matter of an infected person finding its way into the food and water of a healthy individual. People working with polio patients and labs with poliovirus are susceptible to direct transmissions. Other modes of direct transmission are through cough or sneeze. War and lack of access to the vaccine are among the other major causes of polio spread in the world.
The virus enters the body through the nasal or oral cavity and keeps multiplying. As their numbers increase, the virus reaches the intestines and get absorbed into the blood and lymphatic system and ultimately take over the entire body. The incubation period between the virus entering the body and the symptoms becoming apparent is seven to fourteen days. Between this period a person can experience a number of symptoms that can ultimately lead to paralysis upon the destruction of the cells of the spinal cord. As the virus has three distinct strains, immunization against one strain does not guarantee protection against the two other types.
The World Health Organization has made the eradication of polio from the world a top priority. Although there has been a 99% decrease in polio infections around the world, Africa and the Middle Eastern countries have known polio infections. However, just like smallpox, eradication of the poliovirus seems extremely likely in the near future.
The coronavirus is a family of viruses that causes illnesses like cold to more severe diseases such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (sars) and middle east respiratory syndrome (MERS)
A new coronavirus has broken out in the Chinese city of Wuhan, named as novel coronavirus. (2019-Nov). A seafood market is assumed to be the source of the outbreak.
At least 106 people have died in China and more than 4500 people are affected worldwide.
Most coronaviruses spread the same way other cold-causing viruses do. Through infected people, coughing and sneezing by touching an infected personâs hands or face or by touching things according to who, signs and symptoms are
Diagnosis:- it can be done from respiratory fluids such as mucus from the nose or blood
Complications:- pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure or even death
Treatment:- There is no vaccine for coronavirus. So treatment includes taking care of yourself like the way you would treat a common cold.
Prevention:- To avoid coronavirus infection, do the same things you would do to avoid a cold
Seek medical care if you have any such symptom. Remember, coronavirus can spread in the same way as common cold or flu.
Homeopathic approach of coronavirus
1) aconite:-
2) allium cepa [all-c]:-
3) belladonna [bell]:-
Zika virus causes a deadly disease called Zika fever or Zika virus disease that spreads by the bite of the Aedes mosquito. The Zika virus is a member of the virus family FLAVIVIRIDAE and is closely related to the dengue, yellow fever, Japanese Encephalitis, and West Nile viruses. It was isolated in the Zika forest of Uganda in 1947 and is known to be prevalent in continents like Africa and Asia primarily, though it’s slowly making headway in the developed world and has spawned the deadly 2015-2016 Zika virus epidemic.
What are symptoms of Zika fever?
People with Zika virus disease can have symptoms which are similar to Dengue, like-
These symptoms usually last for 2-7 days.
Complications of Zika virus disease
According to WHO, Zika virus infection during pregnancy causes congenital brain abnormalities like microcephaly. And the infection can also trigger the Guillain-Barré syndrome. Microcephaly is a condition where a child is born with a small head or the head stops growing after birth and the Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rare condition in which a person’s immune system attacks the peripheral nerves which control muscle movement and sensation.
Even as we read this, intense efforts are being expended to investigate the link between Zika virus and a number of other neurological disorders.
How does Zika spread?
The causes of Zika are:
How can you prevent Zika infection?
Protection against mosquito bites is the most foolproof ways to prevent a Zika virus infection. Other ways to prevent Zika infection via mosquito bites are:
For stemming sexual transmission of Zika, the WHO recommends that sexually active men and women be counselled to practice safe sex using condoms. WHO also recommends that people who have come back after travelling from Zika virus zones should be extremely careful in practising safe sex or abstinence for the first 6 months at least, for preventing a pregnancy.
If affected, what is the treatment?
Zika virus disease is usually mild and requires no specific treatment as such.
Infected people are advised plenty of rest, asked to drink enough fluids, and treat pain and fever with common medicines like Ibuprofen.
In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!
Are you aware of the number of people who suffer because of pneumonia? As the weather becomes cold and damp, chances of getting affected by pneumonia increases. Pneumonia can originate from virus, bacteria and a host of other factors. It is one of the most common ailment which affects the adults, all over the world. Hence, it is important for all of us to prevent ourselves from pneumonia and for that we can follow the below mentioned steps:
Severe cases of pneumonia are capable of making you suffer and you may be admitted to a hospital. According to studies, it has been estimated that more than 60% of people over the age of 65 need to be hospitalised because of pneumonia.
The Zika virus has been hogging the international limelight for some time. The virus and its effects on the human body are unique. It is known to cause microcephaly in infants born to infected mothers. Babies with microcephaly have small heads and abnormal eyes. This is the most highlighted features of Zika virus infection. However, it may also have a profound effect on the infected mother, though on rare occasions. It may precipitate Guillain-Barré syndrome. When people suffer from this syndrome, they may suffer from temporary muscle weakness, paralysis or other neurologic problems. The virus is spread by the Aedes mosquito that usually bites during the day. However, unlike many other mosquito-borne diseases it does not yet have a cure. This is why people living in or traveling to the Zika virus affected areas as well as those infected by the virus need to abide by some guidelines enunciated by the WHO.
An important consideration in Zika virus infection is the nutritional status of the patient. The effect of nutritional disorder on Zika infection adds another dimension to the treatment of Zika affected children and adults. It is argued that proper nutrition is an important part of other mosquito-borne diseases like dengue. In fact, studies have pointed out that vitamins D and Vitamin E supplementation have shown promising results in Dengue patients. Although similar studies on Zika patients have not been done, it is amply clear that breastfeeding for infants and lots of fluid for infected adults can bring down the severity of the disease appreciably.
Infants born to Zika infected mothers or mothers residing in or travelling to Zika infected areas should be given normal infant food. Breastfeeding is the obvious answer to infections and should start within an hour of birth. Such babies need to be exclusively breastfed for at least six months, followed by a gradual weaning of breast milk and a gradual introduction of safe, adequate and proper complementary food.
Breastfeeding is considered to be beneficial for both babies and their mothers in any country. Babies who breastfeed for longer periods face lower risk of infections. This is true for Zika infections as well. It is also beneficial for mothers since it can prevent breast cancer and improve contraception. It may also bring down the risk of ovarian cancer and diabetes in women. It is estimated that widespread breastfeeding can prevent the death of an estimated 823,000 children and that includes those affected by the Zika virus.
The safety potential of breastfeeding can be gauged from the fact that there are no reports of the Zika virus being transmitted through breast milk, although the presence of the virus has been confirmed in some lactating mothers. In fact, there are so many benefits of breastfeeding that they outweigh any potential risk of Zika virus infection and microcephaly through breast milk.
इबोला एक वायरस है. यह एक जानलेवा बिमारी है और लगभग 90% इबोला रोगियों की मृत्यु हो जाती है. इस रोग को सबसे पहले 1976 में इबोला नदी के समीप एक गाँव में देखा गया था. इसी कारण कागों की एक सहायक नदी इबोला के नाम पर इस वायरस का नाम भी इबोला रखा गया है. इस बीमारी के कारण बहुत ज्यादा ब्लीडिंग होता और है और शरीर के अंग काम करना छोड़ देते है. यह एक जानलेवा रोग है. यह रोग संक्रमित जानवरों के संपर्क में आने से होता है. यह रोगी के खून, पसीने या संक्रमित सुई के संपर्क में आने से होता है. यह बीमारी टाइफाइड, कॉलरा, बुखार और मांसपेशियों में दर्द का कारण बनता है. इसलिए है. इबोला के मरीजों की 50 से 80 फीसदी मौत रिकॉर्ड की गई है. आइए इस लेख के माध्यम से हम इबोला वायरस से संबन्धित विभिन्न पहलुओं को जानें.
इबोला वायरस के फैलने का कारण
इबोला वायरस संक्रमित जानवर या मृत जानवरों के रक्त, मूत्र, मल या अंगों या तरल पदार्थ के संपर्क में आने से होता है. ऐसा माना जाता है की इबोला वायरस इंसानों में, जंगलों में रहने वाले चिम्पांजी, गोरिल्ला, फ्रूट बैट, और बंदरों से होता है. इसके अतिरिक्त, यौन संबंध और इबोला से संक्रमित शव को ठीक तरह से व्यवस्थित न करने से भी यह रोग हो सकता है. यह संक्रामक रोग है.
इबोला वायरस के फैलने का लक्षण
इसके लक्षण हैं- सिरदर्द, उल्टी-दस्त, बुखार, ब्लीडिंग, आँखें लाल होना, जोड़ों मांशपेशियों में दर्द और गले में कफ़. अक्सर इसके लक्षण का अनुभव होने में तीन सप्ताह तक का समय लग जाता है.
रोग में शरीर को क्षति
इस रोग में रोगी की त्वचा के साथ हाथ-पैर से लेकर पूरा शरीर तक गलने लग जाता है. ऐसे स्थिति में बचाव के लिए संक्रमित रोगी से दूर रहने के अलावा कोई विकल्प नहीं है रोगी से दूर रह कर ही इस रोग से बचा जा सकता है.
इबोला एक क़िस्म की वायरल बीमारी है. इसके लक्षण हैं अचानक बुख़ार, कमज़ोरी, मांसपेशियों में दर्द और गले में ख़राश.
ये लक्षण बीमारी की शुरुआत भर होते हैं. इसका अगला चरण है उल्टी होना, डायरिया और कुछ मामलों में अंदरूनी और बाहरी रक्तस्राव.
उपचार
यह एक बहुत ही जटिल और घातक बिमारी है. यह लाइलाज बीमारी है और इसके लिए कोई दवा या एंटी-वायरस उपलब्ध नहीं है. हालांकि, इसके लिए टीका विकसित करने के कोशिश जारी हैं.
संक्रमण
इबोला वायरस चिंपैंजी, चमगादड़ और हिरण आदि जैसे संक्रमित जानवरों के सीधे संपर्क में आने से होता है. यह संक्रमण संक्रमित रक्त, तरल या अंगों के माध्यम से होता है. इबोला के शिकार व्यक्ति का शव से भी संक्रमण से हो सकता है. यदि डॉक्टर प्रयाप्त सावधानी नहीं बरतते है तो वे भी संक्रमित हो सकते है. इस संक्रमण को गंभीर स्तर तक पहुंचने में लगभग दो दिन से लेकर तीन सप्ताह तक का समय लग सकता है. इसकी पहचान करना और भी जटिल है. इससे संक्रमित व्यक्ति के ठीक हो जाने के सात सप्ताह तक संक्रमण का ख़तरा बना रहता है. डब्ल्यूएचओ के मुताबिक़,ट्रॉपिकल बरसाती जंगलों वाले मध्य और पश्चिम अफ़्रीका के गावों में फैली थी. पूर्वी अफ़्रीका की ओर कांगो, युगांडा और सूडान में भी इसका संचार हो रहा है.
डब्ल्यूएचओ द्वारा जारी दिशा निर्देश के अनुसार, इबोला से पीड़ित रोगियों के शारीरिक द्रव और सीधे संपर्क से बचना चाहिए. इसके अलावा तौलिये साझा करने से बचना चाहिए क्योंकि इससे सार्वजनिक स्थलों पर संक्रमित हो सकता है. डब्ल्यूएचओ ने मुताबिक़ इलाज करने वालें डॉक्टर को दस्ताने और मास्क पहनने चाहिए और समय-समय पर हाथ धोते रहना चाहिए.
चेतावनी
चमगादड़, बंदर आदि जानवरों से दूर रहना चाहिए और जंगली जानवरों के मीट के मीट खाने से बचना चाहिए. अभी तक इस बीमारी का इलाज नहीं खोजा जा सका है लेकिन नई दवाओं का प्रयोग चल रहा है.
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