What is Monkey Fever? What are its symptoms? All you need to know

Coronavirus is still a concern across India and with the emergence of different Covid-19 strains in the past 2 years, the virus doesn’t seem to fade away anytime soon. In a midst of the Covid-19 threat, the new virus known as monkey fever has attacked South India.

District Medical Officer Dr Sakeena told the news agency that that being a seasonal fever, the health authorities have already given an alert and urged local people to remain cautious.

Recently, a case of monkey fever has been reported in a 24-year man in Kerala’s Wayanad district. He has been admitted to Mananthavady medical College and is under medical observation. According to the medical officer, his condition is stable and another case of monkey fever has been reported so far.

But the main question is what exactly is monkey fever? What are the signs and symptoms of monkey fever?

What is Monkey Fever?

Monkey fever is a viral hemorrhagic fever spread by ticks that is endemic to the southern part of the country. It is medically known as Kyasanur forest disease because it was originally discovered in Kyasanur’s forests. Monkey fever disease belongs to the Flaviviridae family that also causes yellow fever and dengue fever. Insects and ticks are the most common carriers of this virus and are transmitted to humans via insect bites.

Monkey fever is also a vector-borne disease that mostly affects monkeys and humans. People who handle infected dead monkeys might also contract the virus.

What are the symptoms of Monkey Fever?

The initial symptom of monkey fever is usually a severe headache and cold. The patient can also experience bleeding from the nose, mouth, gums, and sometimes the gut four days following the onset of symptoms. This type of fever usually lasts 3 to 8 days. This disease has a mortality rate of between 3 percent and 5 percent.

Vomiting
Muscle Stiffness
Poor Reflexes
Severe Headache
Nausea
Poor vision
Mental Disorder

When was Monkey Fever first discovered?

The Kyasanur forest disease was first discovered in an infected monkey in Karnataka’s Kyasanur forest in 1957. After this, cases of this disease were registered in 400-500 humans every year.

There is no specific treatment for monkey fever yet. However, it is recommended to seek immediate medical help if you notice any symptoms.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement

Doctor Debunks 8 Common Health Myths

Eat your carrots if you want sharp vision.’

Surely you’ve been told this by elders while growing up. I have, and now, I repeat it to my sons as well. But how true is it?

In this article, we speak to Dr Raghuram Mallaiah, Head, Neonatology, Fortis Le Femme, New Delhi, about health facts and myths

1. Rinsing your teeth after brushing is a must

Dr Mallaiah says, “This is something that even as doctors we are often asked, and my answer is – NO.”

He explains, “If you rinse as soon as you brush, the concentrated fluoride in the toothpaste is also washed away, diluting the effect of the toothpaste.”

It is important that you spit out any excess toothpaste after you have brushed, however, do not necessarily rinse, as this is counterproductive. Doing so will reduce the preventive measures of the fluoride.

2. Reading in the dark can lead to a decline in vision and strain the eyes

While part of this is true, the other part is a myth. Reading in the dark can lead to headaches and put an undue strain on the eyes. However, it has nothing to do with your vision.

Your vision tends to weaken over time for most people, and the reasons for this could be family history and your own biology.

Dr Mallaiah says, “Reading in the dark does not lead to any lasting impact on the eyes. If you do end up reading in the dark, see that the light is shining straight on to the page and that it does not come from over your shoulders as that will cause a glare.”

3. One must brush after every major meal

If you, like many others, believe that brushing after every major meal is important, you are in for a surprise.

Dr Mallaiah says, “You should brush every day! That is important – however, brushing immediately after every meal might end up damaging the enamel of the teeth.”

The body uses saliva to correct the acid levels in the mouth post a meal and it is advisable to let the body do its job. Dr Mallaiah’s suggestion to those who feel the need to brush after a meal is to wait for at least an hour before doing so.

4. Eating carrots will enable you to see in the dark

Carrots contain high levels of Vitamin A, which contribute to strengthening your eyesight, but it most certainly does not equip you with any extra powers to see in the dark.

Carrots also have a low glycemic index (GI), meaning that they don’t cause a spike in blood sugar when you eat them and are a recommended vegetable for those who suffer from diabetes.

Adding to this, Dr Mallaiah says, “While Vitamin A deficiency can lead to night blindness, consuming carrots will not allow you to see in the dark. The nutrients and vitamins found in carrots are extremely helpful for boosting eye health and maintaining good eyesight. They are also high in fiber and prevent constipation.”

5. Feed a cold, starve a fever

This is a classic saying that you might have heard at some point. This stems from the belief that fasting is a great remedy to combat a fever.

Dr Mallaiah says, “To get better and have energy to fight the illness, it is important that fluids and food are consumed. One mustn’t restrict themselves as it doesn’t make them feel better, but only leads to the further weakening of the body.”

On the contrary, when you has a fever it is important to keep yourself hydrated since fevers generally leaves you completely dehydrated.

6. Stress can lead to stomach ulcers

“Stress is very harmful,” says Dr Mallaiah. However, can stress lead to stomach ulcers?

He answers, “While it can increase the quantity of stomach acid, it is not the main cause of stomach ulcers, which are mainly caused by bacteria which has accumulated in the stomach.”

 

If you are susceptible to stomach ulcers, it might help to reduce portion size of your meals, watch your weight, and avoid very oily and fatty foods. Also, stay well hydrated with water and fluids through the day.

7. Egg yolks are bad for you

“On the contrary, egg yolks are anything but bad for you,” says Dr Mallaiah. “Eggs are powerhouses of nutrients and are filled with HDL (good cholesterol), which allow them to help combat heart risk and disease. In fact, HDL cholesterol counteracts the effects of bad cholesterol on the body.”

Egg yolks are rich in vitamins A, D, E, B12 and K, and minerals such as folate, iron and riboflavin. These are often referred to as the perfect food given that they contain all he necessary minerals and vitamins. Do ensure that if you consume eggs, you eat the egg yolks too, but in moderation.

8. Coffee intake can stunt childhood development

This is something I was told very often when I was growing up. Keen on knowing whether it is true or not, I ask Dr Mallaiah to shed some light on it. He says, “When it comes to drinking coffee, the only thing you must worry about is excess caffeine leading to disrupted sleep or heightened anxiety.”

The basis of this myth stems from the idea that caffeine in coffee can be the cause of osteoporosis and Vitamin D deficiency that makes the bones fragile. However, no conclusive findings have been made for the same, says Dr Mallaiah.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     
https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement 

 

Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (also called chronic myeloid leukemia or CML) is a type of cancer that affects blood cells and bone marrow, the spongy tissue inside bones where blood cells are produced.

The name "myelogenous" comes from myelocyte, a kind of immature white blood cell. White blood cells are the immune system cells that help your body fight infection. CML has three phases: chronic, accelerated, and blastic.

When you have chronic phase CML, you're in the earliest phase of the disease. You might not even realize that you have CML until you're diagnosed. Many people in this phase of CML do not have any symptoms.

In the accelerated phase, the number of abnormal blood cells in your body increases. People in this phase usually have symptoms such as: 

• Fatigue
• Fever
• Bruising
• Night sweats
• Shortness of breath
• Unexplained weight loss
• Appetite loss
• Swelling or pain on your left side (which could be a sign of an enlarged spleen)
• Bone pain

Other side effects may include stroke, visual changes, ringing in the ears, stupor, and prolonged erections (priapism).

When CML reaches the blastic phase, the abnormal cells have multiplied to the point where they're crowding out healthy white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. People who are in the blastic phase experience more severe symptoms, including infections, bleeding, skin lesions, swollen glands, and bone pain. This is the most serious phase of CML.

Your doctor will use medication or other treatments to keep your CML in the chronic phase, when it's easiest to treat.

What Causes CML?

CML starts in your genes. Each human cell contains structures called chromosomes, which carry the genes (DNA). Genes are the codes that instruct cells to produce certain proteins.

For some reason (which researchers haven't yet pinpointed), in CML, a section of chromosome 9 switches places with a section of chromosome 22. The combination produces a new chromosome, called the Philadelphia chromosome (named after the city where it was discovered). 

The Philadelphia chromosome creates a new gene, called BCR-ABL. This gene instructs blood cells to produce a protein called tyrosine kinase.

Tyrosine kinase causes your body to make too many white blood cells. These white blood cells are immature. They don't work as well as normal white blood cells. As a result, your body can't fight infection as well as it used to. The extra abnormal white blood cells leave less room for healthy white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.

Learning That You Have CML

You might have no idea you have CML until your doctor discovers it during a routine blood test. About half of people who are diagnosed with chronic phase CML don't have any symptoms. 

If your doctor suspects that you have chronic phase CML, tests can be done to confirm the diagnosis. These tests include: 

• A complete blood count (CBC) to determine how many white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets you have
• Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, in which a sample of bone marrow and blood are examined to determine how advanced the cancer is
• Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to measure the number of cells containing the Philadelphia chromosome
• CT scans to evaluate the size of your spleen
• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) looks for the BCR-ABL cancer gene in your cells.

What Happens Next?

Now that you’ve been diagnosed with CML, you may not know what to do next. To make sure you're getting the most expert care, you should see a hematologic oncologist, a doctor who specializes in treating CML. If you don’t already have a specialist, ask your primary care doctor for a referral or check with a cancer organization such as the Leukemia & Lymphoma society.

The first step is to learn as much as possible about your condition. CML will seem a lot less scary and a lot more manageable once you understand it better. Ask your treatment team for brochures or other printed materials. Or look for information on reputable web sites like the American Cancer Society or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Don't be afraid to ask questions. You need to understand your condition and how it will be treated, so that you can make important decisions about your own care and treatment.

Write down a list of questions to bring with you to your doctor’s appointments. Ask questions about your condition and treatment plan, such as:

• What are my treatment options?
• Which treatment is best for me?
• What kinds of results can I expect from CML treatment?
• What side effects might I experience from CML treatment?
• Do I need a second opinion?

Your goal is to stay in the chronic CML phase for as long as possible and remain symptom-free. You can help your doctors achieve that goal by:

• Keeping all of your medical appointments
• Following the treatment plan your doctor prescribed
• Keeping your doctor updated on any treatment-related side effects you’re experiencing
• Telling your doctor if any new symptoms develop
• Asking questions about your treatment plan if you are unclear about any aspects

CML Treatment

The goal of CML treatment is to destroy the abnormal blood cells in your body, and return the number of healthy blood cells to normal.

Typically, CML treatment starts with drugs known as tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), which work to block the action of tyrosine kinase. 

• The most common and oldest drug for initial therapy is imatinib (Gleevec). 
• The drugs dasatinib (Sprycel) and nilotinib (Tasigna) are FDA-approved for the initial treatment of CML. 
• Bosutinib (Bosulif) and ponatinib (Iclusig)  are other TKIs and can be used if a person is resistant to or cannot tolerate the side effects of other drugs. 
• Yet another drug, Synribo (omacetaxine mepesuccinate), is approved for those whose disease has progressed after using two or more TKIs.

Other CML treatment options include a stem cell transplant, chemotherapy, such as hydroxyurea or busulfan, or biologic therapy with interferon.

Stem cell transplantation is an option when other therapies have failed. Stem cell transplantation for CML requires a matching donor.

Chronic phase CML is very treatable, and once you have been treated, you should be able to go on with your normal life. It's important to treat CML at this phase, so that it doesn't progress to the more serious accelerated or blastic phases.

Your doctor will tell you which treatment is best for you based on your CML phase. Be an informed patient and talk to your doctor if you have any concerns or questions during the course of treatment.

ps- this is only for information, always consult you physician before having any particular food/ medication/exercise/other remedies.

ps- those interested in recipes are free to view my blog-

http://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/

for info about knee replacement, you can view my blog-

http://Knee replacement-stick club.blogspot.com/

for crochet designs

http://My Crochet Creations.blogspot.com/

I've not given details about designs, but those interested are free to mail me for the same.