Month: August 2021

Third wave of covid-19

Third wave of Covid-19 – How deadly can it be?

Several prevalent studies have given health planners the confidence that India is better positioned to deal with COVID-19. It is also reported that most of the population in India has developed antibodies to fight against the deadly Coronavirus.

However we still need to tighten our seat belts as another wave of COVID aka Third Wave, is about to hit the regions of India anytime soon. If Covid-appropriate behaviour is not followed, a possible third wave of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) could peak between October and November of 2021. It is also said that if a new strain emerges, it can spread faster than expected during the third wave.

When is the third wave of Covid likely to hit India?

Several countries have already witnessed the fourth wave of COVID-19. India is still struggling to overcome the effects of the second wave, while the imminent third wave is projected to hit the country very soon.
Based on the forecast and theories of scientists and doctors the third wave is expected to occur somewhere in the winter months – October and November or early December of this year. The Government of India emphasizes vaccinating the population before Diwali to reduce the threats of the third wave.
Depending on the period from now till November, an aggressive vaccination is likely to reduce the impact of COVID. If the variant is detected early, it can prove to be an advantage.

What do studies say?

According to the latest studies and researches, it is assumed that this third wave might hit the public in the last months of this year i.e. October- November. However, there is no accurate way of confirming the prediction regarding the possible harmful effects of the third wave. The Delta variant and Delta plus variant suggest a possible imposed pressure on the healthcare resources. Moreover, experts also feel that if the COVID-appropriate behavior is followed strictly and people get vaccinated, then this third wave might not prove as deadly as the first two waves.

Symptoms:

Following are the symptoms you need to look out for:

  • Nasal congestion
  • Fever
  • Difficulty in breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Breathlessness
  • Chest pain
  • Tastelessness

These are the common symptoms and can be controlled with proper treatment. The doctors are also expecting neurological diseases. These symptoms were commonly visible during the second wave too. Apart from this, the asymptomatic cases may surface as well. Always consult a doctor and follow the necessary treatment for better health.

Scientists are still researching to understand the symptoms of the delta variant but as per records, no concrete information has been detected for the variant yet. Apart from that, the symptoms that are expected to follow during the third wave are quite the same as the third wave and are commonly known to people. By taking the necessary safety precautions, it can be avoided.

Who will it affect the most?

The third wave of COVID has not hit India yet. However several theories have been made to take necessary precautions beforehand. As per the studies, the next wave of COVID will affect mostly the younger age groups.
The studies concluded that a major percentage of the young population the kids have faced and got exposed to the virus in some way or the other. It leads to predicting that they may have produced antibodies and are less likely to experience serious illness. Still, there is no proof that the children will suffer severely in the third attack of this deadly virus.

The deadly effects of the Third Wave of COVID-19

The emergence of the mutants of the virus and the variants like Delta and Delta Plus have been responsible for the increase in the number of cases during the second wave too. If a new variant emerges during this third wave, the current treatment and vaccines might be useless as the new variant is adept to it. As a result, the substantial third wave could be disastrous. It might happen if adequate measures of prevention are not taken within a considerable time.

The lenient behavior of the public towards the pandemic may cause dangerous consequences too. However, if necessary measures are taken properly according to the government guidelines, then the chances of the severity might become less. Consulting a doctor is equally important in case any symptom of COVID-19 is noticed.

Preventive Measures

It is important to follow the government norms set for the welfare of the public. it is safer and wiser to adhere to the rules. Follow these rules for precaution from the third wave of COVID-19:

  • Wear a mask
  • Maintain social distancing
  • Practice proper sanitation
  • Get regular health check-ups and proper medications
  • Consult your nearest doctor if you experience any of the above-listed symptoms
  • Get vaccinated and encourage others too

These measures have been helpful previously too. It is advisable to stick to these measures to avoid the serious impacts of the third wave.

Conclusion

The experts, scientists, and medical professionals have stated that the third wave of coronavirus and its variants like Delta can be tackled successfully. The coverage of vaccination and the exposure rates are the most important elements.

The precautionary measures and arrangement may also provide greater assistance as compared to the second wave. It depends highly on the behavioral patterns of the public towards the dangerous virus and its mutants. Stay at home, follow doctor’s advice, maintain distance and help the nation to overcome the impact of the Third wave of COVID-19.

August 24, 2021 / by Aamir Khan
Acne (Pimples)

How to Get Rid of Acne: Causes and Prevention

Teenage could be a very difficult time for some people. The teen period is the age where you go through changes, experience new things, face new problems and overcome them. But there are some problems that do not get better by age, and if not tackled properly, could worsen. Yes, you are not wrong, we’re talking about Acne or commonly known as pimples.

Those Red-bumps on your face, that you struggled with throughout your teenage, may come back to haunt you far beyond puberty. While adult acne is extremely irritating and bad, it’s pretty common for people in their 30’s, 40’s and 50’s, and especially for women.

There are a variety of acne treatments that can help you reduce the number of pimples you get as well as the likelihood of scarring.

What is Acne?

Our skin has tiny holes, called pores, that are sometimes blocked by oil, dirt, dead skill cells, and bacteria. These factors can lead to the development of pimples or zits on our skin. When skin is continuously affected by this condition, the situation is called Acne.

Dermatologists state that acne is the most common skin condition as it affects most people in their teenage years. Acne can be excruciatingly unpleasant, especially when it is severe. It can also induce mental distress.

Causes of Acne

When your skin’s oil glands become overactive and pores get inflamed, pimples, commonly known as acne, appear. Some bacteria on the skin might trigger pimples. Pimples can appear on any part of the body, although they are most common on the face.

Sebum (oil) is produced by the oil gland and travels up the hair, out of the pore, and onto your skin. It keeps your skin supple and moisturized.

A little problem can occur in this process, leading to the development of pimples, the reasons for which are as stated below.

  • Too much oil produced by glands
  • Accumulation of dead skin cells on these pores
  • Bacterial growth around pores

When hormones become active during puberty, oil glands are stimulated. Acne is more common in teenagers because of this. It is partly genetic, if other members of your family have (or had) acne, you may be more likely to get it as well.

There is no foolproof technique to prevent pimples because they are usually triggered by androgen hormones and, in some situations, genetics.

What are the symptoms of Acne?

Acne can appear on almost every part of your body. But it mostly develops on your face, back, neck, chest, and shoulders.

If you have acne, you’ll usually notice white or black pimples. These are called Comedones and they include both blackheads and whiteheads. These are the most common lesions that occur during this phase, but there are other inflammatory lesions that can cause scarring on your skin. It includes:

  • Papules – Small red tender bumps
  • Pustules – Pimples with pus at their tips
  • Nodules – Large solid painful lumps under the skin
  • Cysts – Painful pus-filled lumps under the skin

How can you prevent Acne?

Wash your Face:

Washing your face regularly is important to discard excess oil, dirt, and sweat from your skin daily. Wash your face at least twice a day, it can help you prevent pimples from growing on your skin. However, don’t use harsh cleansers if you have dry skin. Use alcohol-free products and steer away from using chemicals on your face.

How to wash:

  • Wet your face with warm, not hot, water
  • Apply a mild cleanser and rub it gently with your fingertips
  • Rinse thoroughly and pat dry using a soft cloth

Know your skin type:

Knowing your skin type is the most crucial step in treating pimples. It is important to note that not all products can be used on every skin type. Some people have oily skin, some have dry skin, etc. However, oily skin is the most pimple-prone.

Another type of skin that causes most pimples is combination skin. Combination skin has both dry and oily areas. The oily areas tend to be your forehead, nose, and chin, also called your T-zone. Choose the right skincare products, based on your skin type.

Use Moisturizer:

Moisturizers keep skin hydrated. But many moisturizers these days contain oil, synthetic fragrance, and other harmful materials that are not good for your skin. This may irritate the skin and worsen the pimples.
Use fragrance-free, non-comedogenic moisturizers after washing your face or whenever your skin feels dry to help avoid pimples.

When you’re low on water (dehydrated), your body secretes more oil. Dehydration also leads to dullness in the skin and promotes inflammation and redness.
Stay hydrated and drink lots and lots of water. Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day. Drink more after exercise, in summer, and in hot and humid environments.

Limit Makeup:

It’s tempting to cover up pimples with cosmetics. However, this may block pores and cause breakouts. Don’t use makeup and go natural if you can. Avoid greasy, heavy foundation and use products that are non-comedogenic, sheer, and fragrance-free. Using greasy products on your skin can cause pimples.

Don’t touch your face unnecessarily:

Every day your hands encounter innumerable germs, dirt, and bacteria and continuously touching your face can transfer these impurities into your skin.
By all means, avoid using your hands to your face and if necessary use a clean cloth to rub your skin. Wash your hands regularly with a cleanser, and try to touch your face as little as possible.

Use Tea-tree oil:

Tea tree oil is a well-known home treatment for acne. It is helpful in mild and moderate acne breakouts. It helps in reducing the number of inflamed and non-inflamed lesions.
Apply a few drops of tea tree oil along with some ointment (as prescribed by your dermatologist) to the irritated region to treat pimples. A few drops can also be used for your every day with a cleanser or moisturizer.

Avoid Stress:

Stress and tension is not the cause of pimples but it can worsen them. Research reveals that when you feel anxious your body secretes more oil than usual leading to pimples.
Manage your stress and try to calm your body. Do yoga, meditation, engage in other casual activities, massage, etc.

Conclusion

Everyone gets acne, there’s nothing to worry about. Besides, many factors stimulate pimples and make them worse. Factors like hormones, stress, genetics have a huge effect on the cause of acne. We know that pimples are annoying, but they can be treated. Just follow preventive measures and stop the initial outbreak of acne.
Consult a dermatologist, and follow the prescription, at the same time be patient and consistent. Treatments take time to produce results, so wait for a little and do whatever you want and whatever you like. Just don’t let the acne on your face lower your self-esteem.

August 24, 2021 / by Aamir Khan
Mosquito-borne Diseases

Everything you need to know about Mosquito-borne Diseases

Mosquito-borne diseases are those that are spread when an infected mosquito bites a healthy person. The Zika Virus, West Nile Virus, Chikungunya Virus, Dengue Fever, Yellow Fever, and Malaria are some common diseases spread by mosquitoes. Although a person will not instantly become sick in most cases. Some people experience a mild and short-term fever or sometimes severe or long-term illness. In some severe cases, a mosquito-borne disease may also cause death.

What are Mosquito-Borne Diseases?

When a mosquito consumes blood, it also ingests any viruses or parasites present in the body of the person. Through its saliva, the mosquito can transmit these viruses and parasites to the next person it bites. The disease that is spread in this way from mosquito to human (when the mosquito feeds on a human) is known as Mosquito-borne disease.

Mosquito-borne diseases are commonly prevalent at this time of the year, i.e. monsoon. Hence, it is the need of the hour to stay healthy and take necessary precautions to prevent mosquito-borne diseases. Its symptoms may include – high fever and chills, joint pain, myalgia, and headaches.

Factors such as urbanization, travel, and population growth have increased the ability of mosquitos to develop and spread disease on a huge scale. People working outdoors, travelers, laboratory workers with mosquito disease samples are prone to mosquito-borne diseases. Even health care workers who take care of patients infected with such diseases are at higher risk of disease transmission. In such cases, a high vigilance should be maintained with good precautionary measures to ensure safety and encourage a healthy life.

Now let’s discuss the major mosquito-borne disease, their causes, symptoms, and prevention measures.

Dengue Fever

The cause of Dengue fever is the Dengue virus. The Dengue virus causes a flu-like condition known as break-bone fever. It is caused when an Aedes mosquito carrying the virus bites a healthy individual. One may exhibit symptoms three to fourteen days after infection. Dengue fever can also progress to dengue hemorrhagic fever, a more serious form of the disease characterized by symptoms such as bleeding under the skin and frequent vomiting. If the patient’s fever persists, he or she will need to be admitted to the hospital and get proper treatment.

Causes:

Dengue is caused due to four viruses, namely – DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4. The disease is transmitted when a healthy person is bitten by a mosquito and the virus enters the individual’s bloodstream, from where it spreads further in the body.
Once a person recovers, he/she is immune to that particular virus but not to the other three.

Symptoms:

Normally the symptoms of this disease are not easily identifiable as it is a virus. But the symptoms include:

  • Fever of 104 F degrees
  • Headache
  • Muscle, bone, and joint pain
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Pain behind the eyes
  • Swollen glands
  • Rashes

Treatment:

Medication – Painkillers and drips in case of dehydration
Drink plenty of water and take proper liquid supplements to make sure the body does not easily dehydrate.
Maintain proper hygiene

Malaria

Malaria is a parasitic disease caused by the plasmodium parasite. This parasite is transmitted to the human body through an infected mosquito bite. Malaria can be treated by a medical professional and requires a proper medical diagnosis. If the illness is short-term and not severe, it can be treated easily within a few days. But under critical situations, the patient needs emergency care.

Causes:

Malaria is caused by the plasmodium parasite, which is a single-celled parasite. Mosquito bites are the most prevalent way for the parasite to infect humans. Malaria spreads through red blood cells, hence people can also catch an infection from exposed blood.

Symptoms:

  • Chills
  • Fever and sweating
  • Headache
  • Muscle, bone, and joint pain
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Fatigue
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Cough
  • Diarrhoea
  • Abdominal pain

Treatment:

Malaria treatment varies depending on the type of malaria and the severity of the condition. Malaria is a treatable disease and can be treated by medical professionals. It requires proper medical diagnosis, with proper lab tests. There are good medicines and vaccines available for its treatment but should be taken only on the doctor’s recommendation.

Chikungunya

Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted by an infected mosquito. This is not a severe disease and in most cases, it heals within a week. Chikungunya shows some similar signs as Zika and Dengue. However, do not ignore the symptoms and seek immediate medical treatment.

Causes:

Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted to humans by an infected mosquito. It is an RNA virus that belongs to the alphavirus genus of the family Togaviridae.

Symptoms:

  • Fever and sweating
  • Headache
  • Muscle, bone, and joint pain
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Fatigue
  • Nose bleeding
  • Bleeding Gums

Treatment:

Chikungunya is not a fatal disease. However, in some cases, the symptoms can become severe and disabling. There is no appropriate treatment for chikungunya, but joint pain still lingers on for some days or months.

Some common medicines to reduce symptoms and pain include:

  • Naproxen
  • Ibuprofen
  • Acetaminophen
  • Paracetamol

Besides, stay hydrated and drink plenty of water and take some rest.

Zika Virus

It is a disease caused by mosquito bites. In most cases, there is no major or critical symptom noticed. In some cases, Zika Virus can trigger paralysis.

Causes:

Zika virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus caused by a virus transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes, which bite during the day.

Symptoms:

  • Fever
  • Rash
  • Joint and muscle pain
  • Conjunctivitis
  • Headache

Treatment:

A diagnosis of the Zika virus can only be confirmed by lab tests and other fluid tests. However, there is no specific treatment for Zika virus infection. People experiencing the symptoms of the Zika virus should drink plenty of water and take necessary medication under the doctor’s guidance. If the situation becomes critical, the patient should seek medical care and advice.

Yellow Fever

The Yellow Fever virus is spread when an infected mosquito bites a healthy person. Yellow fever is a very rare cause of illness. It is diagnosed through laboratory testing, experienced symptoms, and traveling history. There is no such medicine or treatment available for curing Yellow Fever.

Causes:

Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. The large epidemic of Yellow fever occurs when the virus enters a heavily populated area with little or no immunity due to lack of vaccination.

Symptoms:

In most cases, patients don’t face any symptoms but when they do it includes:

  • Fever
  • Backaches
  • Headaches
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Liver disease with bleeding
  • Yellowing skin (jaundice)

Treatment:

There are no specific medicines or treatments for curing the infection. To prevent getting sick from yellow fever, use insect repellent, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and get vaccinated.

Conclusion

  • It is necessary to prevent mosquito-borne disease. To protect yourself, it is advisable to take proper precautions.
  • Use mosquito repellants and wear long sleeves clothes to prevent mosquito bites
  • Do not walk on dirty water or keep stagnant water around your house
  • Use mosquito nets on beds especially for children
  • Stick to a well-balanced diet and include healthy supplements in the diet
  • Get vaccinated for the prevention of mosquito-borne diseases

Note – Severe or critical cases of the mosquito-borne disease can cause death. Do not neglect symptoms and seek immediate treatment to prevent further infection.

August 24, 2021 / by Aamir Khan

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