Thursday, August 27, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Teaching Flu
"Can you please give me your mask for some time, I forgot to bring mine and the teacher would scold me since I'm coughing", or "Let us exchange our masks, Green is my favourite colour and you are wearing a green one but my mom has given me a blue mask", these are the sorts of conversations going on in my 9 year old daughters class. I don't think things would be too different in other schools...
Giving blanket instructions to children and their parents about the need of wearing face masks is not enough. The children and the parents need to be educated about this disease and its more familiar 'analogues' - seasonal cold and flu. But the teachers are also parents- perhaps it would be best to start with them.
Every school should organize a seminar or workshop for teachers to give them the right knowledge instead of half baked 'truth' or remedies of unknown significance which are abundant in the media. The teachers can thus impart proper knowledge to pupils and help prevent outbreaks in schools and other closed communities.
It is high time that the government came up with specific guidelines and a structured approach to this. Medical care offcourse is important, and doctors if given the adequate means are efficient enough to take care of the patients, But prevention is more important an aspect today. As time has already proven, effective communication, screening and isolation are the best measures and have drastically decreased the casualities from this disease as compared to earlier epidemics.
Giving blanket instructions to children and their parents about the need of wearing face masks is not enough. The children and the parents need to be educated about this disease and its more familiar 'analogues' - seasonal cold and flu. But the teachers are also parents- perhaps it would be best to start with them.
Every school should organize a seminar or workshop for teachers to give them the right knowledge instead of half baked 'truth' or remedies of unknown significance which are abundant in the media. The teachers can thus impart proper knowledge to pupils and help prevent outbreaks in schools and other closed communities.
It is high time that the government came up with specific guidelines and a structured approach to this. Medical care offcourse is important, and doctors if given the adequate means are efficient enough to take care of the patients, But prevention is more important an aspect today. As time has already proven, effective communication, screening and isolation are the best measures and have drastically decreased the casualities from this disease as compared to earlier epidemics.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Swine Flu - Bubble yet to Burst
This is just the starting, Even today on 11th Aug with more than 900 infections and seven deaths... this may just be the begining.
Most of the victims till yet are the middle class and the upper middle class. Most of the middle class indian households have one or more Bai's or kamwalis which come and go. These domestic workers, including drivers, cooks, cleaners, maids generally live in very congested areas often sharing one small room with number of their relatives, friends or family member. THIS IS the place where the buuble may burst. even if they work during the day and just sleep in these closed quarters overnight- infection of all the inhabitants of such slums, housings is gauranteed if one of them gets infected......
We are not ready to tackle such a situation in any way.
Government action lacks strategy and analysis of future spread and impact of this disease.
Most of the victims till yet are the middle class and the upper middle class. Most of the middle class indian households have one or more Bai's or kamwalis which come and go. These domestic workers, including drivers, cooks, cleaners, maids generally live in very congested areas often sharing one small room with number of their relatives, friends or family member. THIS IS the place where the buuble may burst. even if they work during the day and just sleep in these closed quarters overnight- infection of all the inhabitants of such slums, housings is gauranteed if one of them gets infected......
We are not ready to tackle such a situation in any way.
Government action lacks strategy and analysis of future spread and impact of this disease.
This is just the starting, Even today on 11th Aug with more than 900 infections and seven deaths... this may just be the begining.
Most of the victims till yet are the middle class and the upper middle class. Most of the middle class indian households have one or more Bai's or kamwalis which come and go. These domestic workers, including drivers, cooks, cleaners, maids generally live in very congested areas often sharing one small room with number of their relatives, friends or family member. THIS IS the place where the buuble may burst. even if they work during the day and just sleep in these closed quarters overnight- infection of all the inhabitants of such slums, housings is gauranteed if one of them gets infected......
We are not ready to tackle such a situation in any way.
Government action lacks strategy and analysis of future spread and impact of this disease.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Most likely & Unlikely places to catch Swine Flu
Most Likely places to catch Flu ( not only Swine Flu)
- Schools (children sit in close proximity to each other)
- Airport, Taxis ferrying international passengers, and passenger lounges at Airports
- Packed public Transport (Delhi, Kolkata Buses, Mumbai Locals)
- Bed - during love making!!!!
- Popular concerts and public functions, stadiums, malls, packed theatres
- Internet
- TV
- Radio
- News Papers & Magazines
- SMS
- Mobile Gossips
Centres for treatment and Diagnosis of Swine Flu
List of centres for treatment and Diagnosis of Swine Flu or novel H1N1 influenza ( This list is not exhaustive since more centres have been added by the local Govts)
Mumbai
Kasturba Gandhi Hospital
Arthur Road, N M Joshi Marg, Jacob Circle, Mumbai - 11
(022) 23083901, 23092458, 23004512
Haffkine Institute
Acharya Donde Marg, Parel, Mumbai - 12
(022) 24160947, 24160961, 24160962
Sir J J Hospital
J J Marg, Byculla, Mumbai - 08
(022) 23735555, 23739031, 23760943, 23768400
23731144 / 5555 / 23701393 / 1366
Chennai
King Institute of Preventive Medicine (24/7 Service)
Guindy, Chennai – 32
(044) 22501520, 22501521 & 22501522
Communicable Diseases Hospital
Thondiarpet, Chennai
(044) 25912686/87/88, 9444459543
Government General Hospital
Opp. Central Railway Station, Chennai – 03
(044) 25305000, 25305723, 25305721, 25330300
Pune
Naidu Hospital
Nr Le'Meridian, Raja Bahadur Mill, GPO, Pune - 01
(020) 26058243
National Institute of Virology
20A Ambedkar Road, Pune – 11
(020) 26006290
Kolkata
ID Hospital
57,Beliaghata, Beliaghata Road, Kolkata - 10
(033) 23701252
Coimbatore
Government General Hospital
Near Railway Station,
Trichy Road, Coimbatore - 18
(0422) 2301393, 2301394, 2301395, 2301396
Hyderabad
Govt. General and Chest Diseases Hospital,
Erragadda, Hyderabad
(040) 23814939
Kochi
Government Medical College
Gandhi Nagar P O, Kottayam - 08
(0481) 2597311,2597312
Government Medical College
Vandanam P O, Allapuzha - 05
(0477) 2282015
Taluk Hospital
Railway Station Road, Alwaye, Ernakulam
(0484) 2624040 Sathyajit - 09847840051
Taluk Hospital
Perumbavoor PO, Ernakulam 542
(0484) 2523138 Vipin - 09447305200
Gurgaon & Delhi
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)
Ansari Nagar, Aurobindo Marg Ring Road, New Delhi - 29
(011) 26594404, 26861698 Prof. R C Deka - 9868397464
National Institute for Communicable Diseases
22, Sham Nath Marg,
New Delhi - 54
(011) 23971272/060/344/524/449/326
Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital
Kharak Singh Marg,
New Delhi - 01
(011) 23741640, 23741649, 23741639
Dr. N K Chaturvedi – 9811101704
Vallabhai Patel Chest Institute
University Enclave, New Delhi- 07
(011) 27667102, 27667441, 27667667, 27666182
Bangalore
Victoria Hospital
K R Market, Kalasipalayam,
Bangalore - 02
(080) 26703294 Dr. Gangadhar - 94480-49863
SDS Tuberculosis & Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases
Hosur Road, Hombegowda Nagar,
Bangalore - 29
(080) 26631923 Dr. Shivaraj - 99801-4878
Caution: These are the places where Swine Flu is spreading Fastest
Mumbai
Kasturba Gandhi Hospital
Arthur Road, N M Joshi Marg, Jacob Circle, Mumbai - 11
(022) 23083901, 23092458, 23004512
Haffkine Institute
Acharya Donde Marg, Parel, Mumbai - 12
(022) 24160947, 24160961, 24160962
Sir J J Hospital
J J Marg, Byculla, Mumbai - 08
(022) 23735555, 23739031, 23760943, 23768400
23731144 / 5555 / 23701393 / 1366
Chennai
King Institute of Preventive Medicine (24/7 Service)
Guindy, Chennai – 32
(044) 22501520, 22501521 & 22501522
Communicable Diseases Hospital
Thondiarpet, Chennai
(044) 25912686/87/88, 9444459543
Government General Hospital
Opp. Central Railway Station, Chennai – 03
(044) 25305000, 25305723, 25305721, 25330300
Pune
Naidu Hospital
Nr Le'Meridian, Raja Bahadur Mill, GPO, Pune - 01
(020) 26058243
National Institute of Virology
20A Ambedkar Road, Pune – 11
(020) 26006290
Kolkata
ID Hospital
57,Beliaghata, Beliaghata Road, Kolkata - 10
(033) 23701252
Coimbatore
Government General Hospital
Near Railway Station,
Trichy Road, Coimbatore - 18
(0422) 2301393, 2301394, 2301395, 2301396
Hyderabad
Govt. General and Chest Diseases Hospital,
Erragadda, Hyderabad
(040) 23814939
Kochi
Government Medical College
Gandhi Nagar P O, Kottayam - 08
(0481) 2597311,2597312
Government Medical College
Vandanam P O, Allapuzha - 05
(0477) 2282015
Taluk Hospital
Railway Station Road, Alwaye, Ernakulam
(0484) 2624040 Sathyajit - 09847840051
Taluk Hospital
Perumbavoor PO, Ernakulam 542
(0484) 2523138 Vipin - 09447305200
Gurgaon & Delhi
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)
Ansari Nagar, Aurobindo Marg Ring Road, New Delhi - 29
(011) 26594404, 26861698 Prof. R C Deka - 9868397464
National Institute for Communicable Diseases
22, Sham Nath Marg,
New Delhi - 54
(011) 23971272/060/344/524/449/326
Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital
Kharak Singh Marg,
New Delhi - 01
(011) 23741640, 23741649, 23741639
Dr. N K Chaturvedi – 9811101704
Vallabhai Patel Chest Institute
University Enclave, New Delhi- 07
(011) 27667102, 27667441, 27667667, 27666182
Bangalore
Victoria Hospital
K R Market, Kalasipalayam,
Bangalore - 02
(080) 26703294 Dr. Gangadhar - 94480-49863
SDS Tuberculosis & Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases
Hosur Road, Hombegowda Nagar,
Bangalore - 29
(080) 26631923 Dr. Shivaraj - 99801-4878
Caution: These are the places where Swine Flu is spreading Fastest
Tests & Diagnosis of Swine H1N1 Flu
If you have any of the symptoms of a common cold or viral fever- and you have returned from foreign trip, or someone known to you or whom you have been in contact either while travelling, in office on train, etc... has been with Swine flu. Do not hesitate to approach your doctor.
The screening tests till yet are being only done in government hospitals- you would be tested only if you satisfy any of these criterias, this may change with the upcoming trend of secondary infections spreading locally (internally in India as we have seen in many places including a death in Pune).
The screening tests till yet are being only done in government hospitals- you would be tested only if you satisfy any of these criterias, this may change with the upcoming trend of secondary infections spreading locally (internally in India as we have seen in many places including a death in Pune).
If you do have to que up for the tests, do not forget to
Put on a mask or atleast keep a handkercheif on your nose
you may contract swine flu while waiting in line to check if you have!!!
Put on a mask or atleast keep a handkercheif on your nose
you may contract swine flu while waiting in line to check if you have!!!
Viral culture
Is the conclusive confirmatory test for diagnosis of Swine flu or H1N1 Virus, in this a sample of mucous secretions from throat or nose is taken from the person being tested (it is called a throat swab) and the collected sample are grown in a cell culture medium conducive to growth of the influenza virus- if it grows up- then swine flu or ifluenza infection is confirmed.
Is the conclusive confirmatory test for diagnosis of Swine flu or H1N1 Virus, in this a sample of mucous secretions from throat or nose is taken from the person being tested (it is called a throat swab) and the collected sample are grown in a cell culture medium conducive to growth of the influenza virus- if it grows up- then swine flu or ifluenza infection is confirmed.
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ( short- rRT-PCR) Specifically CDC rRT PCR is currently being used all over the world to identify and quantify this virus in the samples of the suspected / affected in dividuals. This is a complicated test which can not be done at all the Laboratories, even those who may be having requisite equipment. Inherently this test is also not 100 % accurate - it may give false negative and false positive results. This means that a person affected with Swine flu virus may be detected as virus free or a non affected person may also be detected as carrying this virus. Tests results may depend on:
- The expertise of the personnel conducting the test,
- Time ( duration ) of illness when person is tested- if tested too early , even infected persons may be shown as negative
- Nature and quantity of sample collected- wether properly collected or not.
Rapid Diagnostic tests popular in US to diagnose influenza infection may not be very helpful in detecting H1N1 infections ( this is the test which lead to false negative diagnosis in Indias first Influenza death).
SYMPTOMS- Should I be worried ?
Symptoms of Swine Flu - H1N1 Influenza are same as that of any other common cold.
FEVER
WITH
COUGH
SNEEZING
STUFFY & RUNNING NOSE
HEADACHE BODYACHE
VOMMITING
But are relevant
only if
the symptomatic person has
Travelled to a foreign country
or
Been in Contact with a Swine Flu Affected person
FEVER
WITH
COUGH
SNEEZING
STUFFY & RUNNING NOSE
HEADACHE BODYACHE
VOMMITING
But are relevant
only if
the symptomatic person has
Travelled to a foreign country
or
Been in Contact with a Swine Flu Affected person
SWINE FLU- H1N1 Influenza- Spreading tentacles in INDIA
H1N1 or popularly Swine flu is fast spreading its tentacles all over the world.
Now India is coming in its grip just as well.
The spread in India is still limited some factors may be
a) Unfavourable climatic conditions- influenza viruses generally do not survive above 32-36 deg Celsius, while the average temperatures have been more than this in India till yet. But this protective factor may soon dissapear with change of season.
b) Relatively limited travel by Indians to the worst affected countries, as Mexico, US and Canada. Even though Indias are travelling abroad to more and more, but still less as compared to western travellers, nearly 11 million Indians travelled abroad* in 2008 ( allover the world) which this is much less than Only Total European arrivals ( approx. 457 mn )** in 2007 or US arrivals ( approx. 59)*** mn. Mexico- the site of first outbreak is a very popular destination for Europeans and Americans ( US alone had more than approx 13 mn visitors from Mexico in 2008- more than total number of Indians travelling abroad!!! )**** . Indians rarely flock to Mexico for their summer vacations.
Now India is coming in its grip just as well.
The spread in India is still limited some factors may be
a) Unfavourable climatic conditions- influenza viruses generally do not survive above 32-36 deg Celsius, while the average temperatures have been more than this in India till yet. But this protective factor may soon dissapear with change of season.
b) Relatively limited travel by Indians to the worst affected countries, as Mexico, US and Canada. Even though Indias are travelling abroad to more and more, but still less as compared to western travellers, nearly 11 million Indians travelled abroad* in 2008 ( allover the world) which this is much less than Only Total European arrivals ( approx. 457 mn )** in 2007 or US arrivals ( approx. 59)*** mn. Mexico- the site of first outbreak is a very popular destination for Europeans and Americans ( US alone had more than approx 13 mn visitors from Mexico in 2008- more than total number of Indians travelling abroad!!! )**** . Indians rarely flock to Mexico for their summer vacations.
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