Infections – Hello Doctor

Preventing the flu naturally this winter

April 7th, 2021 by The Hello Doctor Team

The flu is not anything to sneeze at. It kills about 10,000 people of five years and older each year in South Africa. While that’s a relatively small number compared with the past year’s COVID-19 deaths, it’s still a heavy toll.

Comparing COVID-19 and the flu

Influenza (Flu) and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. COVID-19 is caused by infection with a new coronavirus (called SARS-CoV-2), and flu is caused by infection with influenza viruses. Like SARS-CoV-2, flu is transmitted by hitching a lift on droplets from the upper respiratory tract, and by people transferring virus-carrying droplets by hand from surfaces to their nose, mouth and eyes. COVID-19 seems to spread more easily than flu and causes more serious illnesses in some people. It can also take longer before people show symptoms and people can be contagious for longer.

The impact of COVID-19 on the flu

Just like COVID-19, the flu virus transmission is prevented through masking, physical distancing, avoiding poorly ventilated indoor areas, good hand hygiene and isolating. Therefore, unsurprisingly, much fewer cases of the flu were reported in 2020 – both during lockdown, and afterwards (due to the COVID-19 hygiene practises in place). You may have even noticed that you haven’t had the same number of colds over the past year?

What this tells us is that basic principles are effective in preventing the transmission of germs that cause the common cold, the flu and even COVID-19. This is important because, as winter approaches, we don’t want to be faced with the prospect of a “double disease whammy”, COVID-19 plus the flu.

Preventing a “double whammy”

While waiting for the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccine to gather some pace, here are 3 other ways you can improve your overall health and lower the risk of catching COVID-19 or the flu this winter.

Follow basic COVID-19 regulations

- Wash your hands
- Santitise
- Wear a mask
- Social distance
- Don’t attend large gatherings

Maintain a healthy immune system

- Eat well
- Move more
- Make sleep a priority
- Manage your stress
- Expose yourself to some daily sunshine

Get vaccinated: have an annual flu jab and accept a COVID-19 jab when it becomes available

Both the flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine are safe and effective. By having the flu jab, your risk of developing any severe complications, if you do happen to get flu, is reduced. This means you won’t be putting any strain on the health system. It also means that if you DO present with severe complications, your doctor can more easily exclude flu as a possible factor. Second, it lowers your risk of getting flu which automatically lowers your immunity. With a lower immunity, you’re more likely to pick up other infections… and in this case, COVID-19. Little information is available on the severity of COVID-19 and other viral co-infections. But a recent report suggests that influenza and COVID-19 co-infections may result in more severe disease in high-risk patients and complicate the diagnoses.

How does cold medication work?

March 19th, 2020 by Content Editor

A cold is a viral infection that affects the nose, ears and throat. It has symptoms that generally resolve within ten days.

Cold medications don’t “cure” or shorten your cold, but they can ease some symptoms. In most cases, getting plenty of rest and keeping fluids up can do the trick on their own.

Let’s look at commonly used cold remedies. There are a number of over-the-counter medicines that might help relieve symptoms, they include:

Decongestants and saline nasal sprays

Nasal decongestants and saline (salt water) nasal sprays can help relieve a blocked nose. When it comes to decongestants, you can use drops or sprays for up to five days. Prolonged use can cause rebound symptoms. Before using a decongestant, check with your doctor or pharmacist if it’s safe for you.

Expectorants: Help loosen mucus so you can cough it up.

Pain relievers: Ease fever, headaches, and minor aches and pains.

Combination ‘cough and cold’ medicines: These are a combination of the above. Cough and cold medicines often contain paracetamol. Be sure to check the label to avoid overdosing and taking other medicines that may contain paracetamol too.

Complementary medicines: Some may find vitamins (like vitamin C), mineral supplements (like zinc) or herbal medicines (like echinacea) helpful. However, there isn’t enough evidence to show they’re effective in helping to treat or prevent colds.

Antiviral medications

If you’re likely to suffer complications, your doctor may prescribe antiviral medication. These medicines won’t cure your cold, but if they are taken within 48 hours of symptoms they can help:

Reduce the length of time you are ill by around 1 day
Relieve some of the symptoms
Reduce the potential for serious complications
Stop the virus from multiplying in your body.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics won’t help the symptoms of a cold or stop them from spreading to other people. This is because they are viral infections. Antibiotics are only effective against bacterial infections.

Read and follow the directions on medication labels carefully. If you’re not sure about something check with your doctor or pharmacist.

References:

Coronavirus – how to stay calm and clean

March 12th, 2020 by The Hello Doctor Team

Where and when did it all begin?

On the 31^st of December 2019, China alerted the World Health Organisation to several patients with flu-like symptoms in a city called Wuhan, the capital of Central China’s Hubei province. Initial assessments of these patients ruled out “known” flu-like viruses including bird flu, seasonal flu, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).

Once these initial patients were assessed, they were placed into quarantine. The suspected source of the outbreak was identified as a busy seafood market in the city the following day. Days later Chinese authorities identified the virus, called Coronavirus, a family of viruses including the common cold, SARS and MERS. The new virus was named 2019-nCoV.

What is a coronavirus?

Coronaviruses were first discovered in the 1960s and their name comes from their crown or halo-like shape. Their danger lies in their ability to adapt. This means they can easily spread between and infect different species. While some coronaviruses can cause the common cold, others can develop into more serious illnesses that lead to difficulty breathing, pneumonia and death.

Where did it come from?

Scientists have confirmed that the Coronavirus, like around 70% of new human pathogens, was transmitted from an animal. Genetic analyses have come up short of pinpointing the culprit so far, but among the prime suspects is the pangolin, a long-snouted, ant-eating mammal virtually unknown in the West but widely prized in China as a delicacy and for its purported medicinal virtues. In February 2020, China placed a ban on trading and eating several different types of wildlife, including pangolin.

Spreading like wildfire

As a respiratory virus, Coronavirus is spread primarily through droplets generated when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or through droplets of saliva or discharge from the infected person’s nose.

By mid-March, 2020, the virus had touched every continent, with more than 126,000 confirmed cases, and a total of 4,600 deaths. On 5^th March, the first South African case was confirmed in a resident of Kwa Zulu Natal who had recently travelled to Italy. (For live updates and virus tracking, visit https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6)

Who is at risk?

Those most at risk of contracting the Coronavirus include those who have existing heart or lung diseases, people with weakened immune systems (e.g. HIV, TB, diabetes or cancer), infants, and older adults.

What are the symptoms?

Patients who have contracted the virus have experienced fever, shortness of breath and coughing. The virus can also cause bronchitis and pneumonia, an infection that inflames the air sacs in the lungs and can cause them to fill with fluid.

The incubation period for a virus is the time between catching the virus and showing symptoms of the disease. For Coronavirus, health officials estimate an incubation period of between one and 14 days. Most people start showing symptoms about five days after becoming infected.

What you can do to protect yourself

Most importantly: DON’T PANIC. Your best defence in preventing Coronavirus is a strong immune system. One of the biggest factors impacting immunity is stress, so the less time you spend worrying about contracting the virus and the more time you spend proactively staying healthy, the better your immunity becomes.

The media is abuzz with reporting new cases as they appear around the world. One aspect of Coronavirus seldom reported is the recovery rate. Of the 96,000 plus people who have contracted the virus, more than 55,000 have recovered.

To protect yourself and your family, follow these rules:

Wash your hands often, using the proper technique. If you only do 1 thing, make it this. Always use soap and rub your hands together for at least 20 seconds. Make sure you wash and rub the entire hand surface, including the back of your hands.
Keep your distance. Aim to keep at least 1 metre between yourself and someone who is coughing or sneezing.
Fist pump don’t shake. Fist bumps transfer only about 10% of the number of germs that handshakes do (out of interest, high 5’s transfer around 50%)
Avoid touching your face. The average person touches their face around 23 times per hour. Germs on your hands are easily transferred into your body via the mucus membranes of the eyes, nose and mouth. Keep your hands busy by holding a pencil, or a stress ball
Practise respiratory hygiene. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or elbow when coughing or sneezing
Seek medical care early. Stay at home if you feel unwell, even if your symptoms are mild. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, reach out to Hello Doctor immediately and speak to our doctors anytime (24/7) about your own personal concerns, what you should do and where you can be tested if need be.

Social media is flooded with stories and images about the virus, many of which are not true. In the case of Coronavirus, knowledge is power. Limit your worry and anxiety by limiting your, and your family’s exposure to media coverage that you perceive to be upsetting. Stay informed about developments using reliable and reputable sites and channels only.

Busting a few myths about Coronavirus

Coronavirus cannot be transmitted through goods manufactured in China or any other country reporting cases
Having a hot bath will not prevent you from catching Coronavirus. Your normal body temperature remains around 36.5°C to 37°C, regardless of the temperature of your bath or shower.
To date, there has been no evidence to suggest that the new coronavirus could be transmitted by mosquitoes.
Hand dryers are not effective in killing the virus
Spraying alcohol all over your body will not kill viruses that have already entered your body. There is also no evidence that regularly rinsing the nose with saline can offer protection from coronavirus
Existing vaccines against pneumonia do not provide protection against the new coronavirus. Since the virus is so new and different, it needs its own vaccine
While garlic is a healthy food that may have some antimicrobial properties, there is no evidence it can prevent infection from Coronavirus
Antibiotics are powerless against Coronavirus since they are effective only against bacteria.

What exactly is a virus?

June 17th, 2019 by Content Editor

Viruses are tiny living organisms that can cause illnesses in humans, animals and even plants. They’re considered the largest biological species on the planet.

Viruses are made up of a protein coat and genetic material but exist only to reproduce. By doing this, they spread to new cells and hosts.

Unlike bacteria, viruses can’t survive without having a host. They can only reproduce if they attach themselves to cells.

Viruses enter the body from the environment or other people; from soil to water to the air through the nose, mouth or even breaks in the skin. Once inside, they look for cells to infect.

After making contact with a host cell, a virus inserts its genetic material into the host to take over its functions. It also reprograms cells to make new viruses until they burst and die. Once a virus takes over a host, it can spread from one organism to another.

Viruses can spread through:

Touch.
Exchanging of saliva, coughing, or sneezing.
Sexual contact.
Contaminated food or water.
Insects that carry them from one person to another.

Common viral diseases include:

Measles.
Smallpox.
The common cold and different kinds of flu.
Hepatitis.
Rabies.
Ebola.
HIV and AIDS.
Zika and Epstein-Barr.

What happens during a viral infection? 

When your body’s immune system finds a virus, it tries to protect your cells against the attack. It makes special antibodies that attach to the viruses so they can’t infect you. T-cells are released to destroy the virus. Most viral infections trigger this response, but with deadly viruses like HIV, it isn’t possible.

Prevention and treatment 

Treating viral infections can be challenging.

While bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics, viruses need other medication like antiviral drugs which kill or prevent the growth of viruses.

Antiviral drugs are often used to help with AIDS. Although they can’t destroy the AIDS virus, they can slow down the progress of the disease. Antivirals are also able to treat infections related to herpes, chicken pox, shingles, the flu and Hepatitis B and C.

Vaccines are the cheapest and most effective way to protect yourself against viruses. Some vaccines have even been able to completely remove viruses over time, like smallpox.

Treatment for viral infections also focuses on relief of symptoms while your body works to clear the infection.

This can include things like:

Getting rest.
Drinking enough fluids to prevent dehydration.
Using over-the-counter pain medication to relieve pain and fever and decongestants to help with a runny or stuffy nose.
Throat lozenges to help ease a sore throat.

Keep viral infections at bay:

Always wash your hands.
Get vaccinated.
Don’t go out if you’re sick.
Practise safe sex.
Make sure that food is cooked thoroughly, and all raw fruits or vegetables are washed before eating.
Protect yourself against bug bites and use insect repellent if you’ll be in contact with mosquitoes and ticks.

References:

Winning the war against polio

May 3rd, 2019 by The Hello Doctor Team

Poliomyelitis, commonly known as polio, is a highly infectious condition caused by the Poliovirus. Children under the age of five are most often affected.

The Poliovirus is mainly spread by person-to-person contact, but can also be transferred via eating raw or undercooked food or water that’s been contaminated with the faeces of an infected person.

Most people with polio don’t experience noticeable signs. The most common indication of polio is a sudden weakness or lameness in the limbs. People who have symptoms may have minor issues like fever, fatigue, nausea, headache, a sore throat, coughing, congestion and stiffness and pain in the arms, legs, back and neck.

The majority of those who contract polio recover completely, but in extreme cases, it causes the permanent loss of muscle function, which may result in paralysis, usually in the arms or legs. It may also cause death if it decreases muscle function used for breathing or if the virus infects your brain.

Polio today

Thankfully, due to routine immunisations, South Africa has been free from polio since 1989. There are, however still cases of polio in other countries. Globally, most countries are polio-free, except for Afghanistan, Nigeria, Pakistan and certain areas in Asia. In recent years, the number of people affected by polio has decreased, but unfortunately, even a small number of infected people can put many others at risk.

What’s worrying is that the poliovirus can easily spread from an infected country to a polio-free one.

What can you do to fight polio?

Unfortunately, there’s no cure for polio, so the only way to fight it is with prevention. To fight polio you should:

Keep up with vaccinations

Ensure you have had a polio vaccination. An additional one-time polio vaccine booster is recommended for those travelling to high-risk countries. To be safe, ask your doctor or nurse if your polio vaccine is up-to-date before travelling. It’s also important to ensure your children are vaccinated. Kids should be immunised with polio drops at birth, six weeks, 10 weeks, 14 weeks, 18 months and when they’re five years old.

Watch your food

Make sure your food is always cooked properly before eating it and avoid raw food. Street vendors in some developing countries may not be safe, so always be cautious. Bushmeat is especially risky, so avoid eating it and don’t drink tap water when travelling, unless it’s been boiled or filtered. Bottled or canned factory drinks are usually safe, but watch out for bottled water that could just be regular tap water.

Practise good hygiene

Wash your hands often with warm water and soap. Use hand sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol if there’s no water or soap available.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve if you cough or sneeze.
Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth. If you do, make sure your hands are clean.
Avoid sharing utensils with sick people and avoid close contact (like hugging, holding hands and kissing).

Good to know

Ask your doctor or a nurse at your local clinic or hospital about immunisation and follow the schedule.
Immediately report any child under the age of 15 who develops sudden weakness of either an arm and/or leg (without any injury).

References:

Do you have a viral rash?

April 8th, 2019 by The Hello Doctor Team

A viral rash is, as its name suggests, caused by a virus. Like viral infections, viral rashes mostly affect toddlers and children. They generally look like splotches, red spots or raised bumps, but this can change, depending on the type of rash.

These spots can come on suddenly or develop over a few days. They form in many areas on the body or cluster together in a small section. Viral rashes often feel painful and itchy. Other common symptoms include:

Chills
Fever
Fatigue
Body aches

What causes a viral rash?

Viral rashes come from your immune system’s response to a virus or damage to your skin cells. For example, measles is a viral rash. It develops when your immune cells react to the virus when it moves through your bloodstream.

Immune cells release chemicals to kill the virus. These chemicals also inflame your skin, which causes a rash. Some viruses can bring on viral rashes. These are contagious and are spread through the air when you inhale saliva droplets through your nose or throat.

A few common ones include:

Chickenpox

Although there’s a lower risk for this viral rash due to available vaccines, some kids are still vulnerable to it. Symptoms include a fever, a sore throat and itchy spots all over the body. The chickenpox virus is contagious.

Shingles

This viral rash is a reactivation of chickenpox. It happens when the chickenpox virus travels down from your nerves into your skin. After this, the virus multiplies, causing a rash.

Fifth disease

This virus causes a splotchy red rash that forms on the face. It looks like a mark that would be left behind after a smack. Other symptoms include a fever and body aches. This virus normally spreads through saliva and is mainly found in children. A web-like rash may also spread on the arms, legs and other body parts.

Other viral infections like the Zika and West Nile virus are caused by mosquitos, ticks and fleas. These can also cause viral rashes.

How is it treated?

Viral infections are often not treated at all and are left to clear up on their own. Since antibiotics only treat bacterial infections, they can’t be used for a viral rash. Doctors may give you some medication to help relieve your symptoms.

Soothe the symptoms by applying a cool compress or calamine lotion to the affected areas. Do your best to avoid scratching your rash. Fever and aches can be soothed with over-the-counter medication like acetaminophen or an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen.

References:

What is the difference between viral and bacterial infections?

April 8th, 2019 by The Hello Doctor Team

It’s important to understand the difference between a bacterial and viral infection. Even though both infections can cause similar symptoms, they are treated very differently.

Bacteria create bacterial infections and viruses create viral infections. Many bacterial and viral infections are contagious, which means they can spread from person to person. They can result in mild, moderate, or severe diseases.

Bacterial infections

Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms that grow well in different types of environments. Not all bacteria are bad, and not all cause infections. Good bacteria live in your intestines and help to digest food. Disease-causing bacteria live outside of the body.

Infections caused by bacteria include:

Strep throat
Whooping cough
Some ear infections
Urinary tract infections (UTI)
Food poisoning
Skin infections

Viral infections

Viruses are small organisms that need living hosts like people, animals or plants to successfully multiply, or else they won’t survive. When a virus enters your body, it invades some of your cells and takes over the cell machinery. Viral infections can be minor, like the common cold, or could involve your nervous system, making you seriously ill.

Infections caused by a virus include:

Influenza
Common cold
Viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu)
Chickenpox
Measles
Viral meningitis (an infection of the membranes (linings) that cover the brain and spinal)
HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus)

Bacterial or viral?

Most times it’s difficult to figure out if it’s a bacterium or a virus causing your symptoms. Your doctor may be able to diagnose your condition based on your medical history and your symptoms.

For your doctor to diagnose the cause of your condition, a sample of blood, mucus, urine, stool or skin may be taken. This will help determine whether an antibiotic may be helpful in treating your condition. Antibiotics are only effective in treating bacterial infections, they are powerless against viruses.

Treatment

Antibiotics are usually the prescribed treatment for bacterial infections and there are many types available. They all work to keep bacteria from growing and dividing again.

Treatment for viral infections typically focuses on relief of symptoms while your body works to clear the infection on its own. This can include things like:

Getting rest
Drinking enough fluids to prevent dehydration
Using over-the-counter pain medications to relieve pain and fever and decongestants to help with a runny or stuffy nose
Throat lozenges to help ease a sore throat

In some cases, your doctor may give you antiviral drugs, which is medication for treating viral infections rather than bacterial ones. These act by killing or preventing the growth of viruses. Not all virus infections have antiviral drugs that can treat them, and most of the virus infections just need to be cleared by your body’s immune system.

Prevent infections

Infections can be caused by either bacteria or viruses and spread in many of the same ways. Keep yourself from getting sick and spreading both bacterial and viral infections by:

Always washing your hands.
Getting vaccinated.
Not going out if you’re sick.
Practising safe sex.
Making sure that food is cooked thoroughly and all raw fruits or vegetables are washed before eating.
Protecting yourself against bug bites and using insect repellent if you’ll be in contact with insects like mosquitoes and ticks.

References:

How to keep worms out of your stomach

March 20th, 2019 by The Hello Doctor Team

The thought of having a parasite crawling around in your body can be quite scary, but you’re not alone; parasites are more common than you think.

Parasites are animals or plants that can only survive by living in another plant or animal. Parasites vary in size and type and feed off different things. There are several parasites that, if left unmanaged, can cause health problems.

How do you get parasites?

Some live off the food you eat and mainly exist in your digestive tract. Other parasites attach themselves anywhere on the body and feed on the nutrients and energy from your cells. Common parasites include roundworms, tapeworms, pinworms, whipworms and hookworms. Some eat your food, leaving you hungry after every meal. You may notice you’re losing weight without even trying! Others feed off your red blood cells which can cause anaemia. Some lay eggs that trigger irritation, and itching. You can also get parasites from:

Drinking contaminated water.
Eating foods from contaminated soil.
Being in contact with contaminated faeces.
Poor sanitation.
Poor hygiene.
A bug bite.
Sexual contact.

Prevention

Parasites and germs need three things:

An environment or source to live.
An animal or person to carry it around.
A host: which is the person or animal that gets infected with the germ or parasite and gets sick.

Lower your risk of contracting a parasitic infection:

Wash your hands regularly, especially after handling uncooked food or faeces.
Always use a condom during sex.
Cook food up to its recommended temperature.
Drink clean water.
Avoid swallowing water from lakes, streams, or ponds.
Avoid cat litter and faeces when you’re pregnant.

Change your diet

Both fibre and probiotics are important to keep your bowel movements regular and help empty out parasites from your intestines. Yoghurt is a good source of probiotics, while fresh vegetables, wholegrains and nuts are your best choice of fibre. In addition:

Go easy on sugar and fat.
Cook all meat thoroughly.
Wash fresh vegetables carefully.
Wash your hands before and after using the toilet.
Wear gloves when gardening or working with soil.
Deworm your pets regularly and handle kitty litter with gloves.

Treatment

Your doctor will prescribe medication depending on the type of parasitic infection They might also include :

A blood test.
An exam where a sample of your stool will be checked for parasites and their eggs.
X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or computerised axial tomography (CAT): These scans are used to check for signs of injury to your organs caused by parasites.

Your doctor may also do tests to check for bacteria or other things that cause infections.

References

https://www.healthline.com/health/trichinosis
https://medlineplus.gov/parasiticdiseases.html#cat_93
https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/references_resources/diagnosis.html
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324042.php
https://www.healthline.com/health/parasitic-infections#symptoms

Measles 101

October 8th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

Measles is an infectious illness caused by the rubeola virus. And although there is a vaccine for measles, it’s still one of the leading causes of death in children.

The measles virus is found in the mucus of your nose and throat. This means you can get the virus by breathing in when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. It’s so contagious that you can get it simply by being in the same room as an infected person.

If you haven’t been vaccinated and come into contact with someone who has measles, you are very much at risk of getting infected. You are also more at risk if your diet is generally unhealthy, and you have a weak immune system.

Once you have been infected by the virus, it takes about 10 days for you to start experiencing symptoms. A fever is usually the first sign and can last up to seven days. Watch for other signs like a runny nose, red eyes, a rash (usually starts near your hairline and spreads to the neck, limbs, feet, hands and torso), and tiny white bumps in your mouth (Koplik spots).

How is it treated?

There’s no cure or specific treatment for measles, but there are some ways to help ease its symptoms.

Medication

Talk to your doctor about medication to treat the symptoms. There are over-the-counter pills which can help with a fever. Don’t give these to your child though – unless your doctor approves.

Antibiotics aren’t usually prescribed, unless there’s a bacterial infection along with measles. As your doctor to check your vitamin A levels. People with low vitamin A are more likely to have severe measles symptoms.

Post-exposure vaccination

If you haven’t had the measles vaccination, you may be given the vaccination within 72 hours of being exposed to the virus. This will help protect you against the disease and make any symptoms easier to cope with.

Home remedies

To recover and boost your immune system, avoid tiring activities and get plenty of rest. This includes resting your eyes, as bright lights can cause strain. Drink plenty of water to replace water lost while you had a fever.

Lower your chances of getting measles and other illnesses:

Wash your hands often with soap and water. Use sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol if there isn’t soap and water available.
Don’t touch your nose, eyes, mouth, or face.
If you know someone is sick, stay away from them! This includes kissing, hugging and sharing utensils and cups.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve if you cough or sneeze.
Children are usually given two injections for measles. One injection is after they’re older than 12 months, and again between the ages of four to six. Talk to your doctor about having the measles vaccine if you or your children haven’t had it already.

References:

Can kissing make you sick?

September 18th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

Kissing is a love language. It’s a show of affection – but it does come with health risks! The good news is that with good oral hygiene, you can kiss up a storm with peace of mind…

Diseases can be spread from person to person in several ways and this includes:

Contact spreading: During kissing, or indirectly when you touch a contaminated surface or object.

Droplet spreading: Infected droplets from the nose and throat may travel around a metre before they drop onto a surface. At times, infected droplets can linger in the air. You can get an infection through an infected droplet if you inhale it or if you come into contact with a contaminated surface or object.

Airborne spreading: Some infected particles from the nose and throat can stay in the air for a long time because of their small size. These are droplet nuclei and can be inhaled directly into the lungs.

The dangers of kissing

Some conditions that you can get from smooching your new Tinder-date, include:

Colds: Different viruses can cause the common cold. You could catch a cold from airborne droplets or direct contact with fluids and mucus from an infected person’s nose and throat.

Glandular fever: Is the common term for a viral infection called infectious mononucleosis, caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. It’s also known as the kissing disease. It can pass through coughing, sneezing, sharing toothbrushes or glasses. EBV can live in your saliva for months after the infection. Avoid kissing people and sharing food or drinks until several days after the fever has subsided.

Herpes infection: Herpes simplex virus can be spread through direct contact with the virus when kissing. It spreads easily to others when the blisters are forming or have erupted. The virus can also be spread to others from the site of blisters even when they’ve healed.

Hepatitis B: Although blood has higher levels of this virus than saliva, kissing may also transmit this virus. A person is more likely to be infected with Hepatitis B when kissing, if they have open sores in or around the mouth. An infection would be the result of blood and saliva that comes into direct contact with someone else’s bloodstream or mucous membranes.

Warts: Warts in the mouth can spread through kissing, especially if there are areas of recent trauma.

Syphilis: Syphilis is a bacterial infection that’s usually caught by having sex with someone who’s infected. It’s a highly infectious condition, and one of its hallmarks is the development of sores in the mouth. The sores are usually round and open which might help bacteria spread through close contact. Any time there’s an open sore and/or blood present; an infection can be orally transmitted.

To kiss or not to kiss?

Avoid kissing when you or the other person is sick.
Avoid kissing anyone on the lips when you, or they, have an active cold sore, warts or ulcers around the lips or in the mouth.
Brush, floss and keep up a good oral hygiene routine! Cough and sneeze into a tissue, or your elbow if you have a cold.
Vaccines are available to prevent some infectious diseases, like chickenpox, Hepatitis B and group C meningococcal infection (a type of bacteria that causes serious infections.)

References:

How to get bed rest when you have the flu

August 3rd, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

Your head is pounding, your nose is stuffy and you have a terrible cough. Your doctor suggested “bed rest”, but how are you supposed to rest when you feel awful?

When you have the flu, your body takes a toll and must repair itself. This means rest. Staying in bed and resting helps speed up the healing process while attempting to soldier through your symptoms will only leave you sick for longer. A healthy person who rests and follows their doctor’s prescribed medication should recover from the flu within 10 days. On the other hand, without bed rest, a healthy person will take longer to recover, may infect others with their flu and become sicker as the flu can become viral if left untreated.

Although you may think that resting at home is a waste of time, when your doctor says you need bed rest, you shouldn’t take it lightly. Here’s how to get proper rest when you’re sick.

Rest up

Drink something warm
If you’re suffering from the sniffles, drinking something hot will help loosen mucus. This will make it easier for you to breathe. The steam from a hot drink like soup or tea is what does the trick, as well as from a shower or bath. If you’re having tea, add some honey to soothe your throat and help with your cough.
Sit up in bed
Bed rest doesn’t literally mean that you must lay down for the entire day! Prop yourself up in bed while reading or watching television. When you lie down, a postnasal drip can build up which makes your throat sore and may cause you to cough. Use a few pillows to prop yourself up in bed. This will help you sleep better, and ease sinus pressure which lets up when your head is higher than your body.
Sleep alone
You’re more likely to get enough rest if you don’t have to share a bed with someone. So, if possible, sleep alone while you’re recovering from the flu. You’re also less likely to infect your partner or children.
Try medication
Besides sipping on hot drinks, ask your doctor or pharmacist about medication to help ease your symptoms or speed up your recovery. Make sure you follow your prescription carefully and don’t stop taking medication if you feel better! Talk to your doctor first.
Use a humidifier
Moisturise the air in your home and room with a vaporiser or humidifier. This will help to prevent your cold symptoms from drying out your airways. Remember to clean your humidifier or vaporiser regularly so that it won’t trap bacteria or mould.
Avoid alcohol
If you struggle to sleep, don’t turn to alcohol as a crutch. Alcohol can dehydrate you which can swell up your sinuses and keep you up at night. It can also react badly to any flu medication you may need to take.

Good to know

It usually takes two to three days from when you’re exposed to the flu or cold virus before you start feeling any symptoms. You may feel fine, but when the symptoms come on, it’s important to contain your germs. Containing your germs is important because if you infect others and stay around each other, your flu can spread and boomerang back to you, making it feel like you’ll never recover.
Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, and wash your hands regularly to prevent spreading germs.

References

What is pancreatitis?

July 16th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

Your pancreas is the organ that sits just behind the lower part of your stomach. When it’s inflamed you have what is called pancreatitis.

The main function of the pancreas is to produce and discharge hormones and enzymes that help with digestion and regulate your blood sugar (glucose).

How does this happen?

Digestive enzymes are released through the pancreatic duct into the small intestine where they’re activated to help break down fats and proteins.

Digestive hormones produced by the pancreas are released into the blood stream where they help regulate blood sugar levels.

What is pancreatitis?

Pancreatitis can either be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term).

Acute pancreatitis usually lasts a few days to weeks and can be easily treated with medication.

Chronic pancreatitis typically develops after several episodes of acute pancreatitis. It’s a long-term condition that can last for months or even several years.

What are the causes?

Most cases of acute pancreatitis are brought on either by alcohol abuse or gallstones. Other causes may be from trauma or surgery on the stomach, prescribed medications, or having an abnormal pancreas or intestine. In rare cases, the disease may stem from infections like mumps.

Symptoms

Pancreatitis usually begins with severe pain in the upper stomach that may last for a few days. The pain reaches to the back and other areas. It could be sudden and intense, or a mild pain that’s triggered by eating, and slowly grows worse.

The stomach may be swollen and very tender. Other symptoms include:

Nausea and vomitting
Chills and fever
Fatigue and weakness
Raised blood pressure
Dehydration
Internal bleeding
Increased heart and breathing rate
Weight loss and loss of appetite

Pancreatic function tests can help your doctor decide if your pancreas can still make enough digestive enzymes. This can be done with different scans that will show the characteristics of the condition.

In more advanced stages of the disease, your doctor can use blood, urine, and stool tests to help with diagnosis.

Treatment

In the case of acute pancreatitis, treatment depends on whether the condition is mild and not likely to cause complications or be severe.

Prevention

While pancreatitis is still not fully understood, you can try to prevent it from developing:

If the condition is caused by gallstones and your gallbladder hasn’t been removed, avoid fatty and fried foods, butter, full-fat dairy products and animal fats. Include wholegrains and fresh fruit and vegetables in your diet. Eat smaller and more frequent meals to help prevent aggravating the pancreas.

If the cause is alcohol, stop drinking. Stick to your doctor’s orders and recommended diet. Take your medication to limit the attacks.