What are Antibiotics and how to use them safely

Antibiotics explicitly treat bacterial infections like Staphylococcus and E. Coli. and either kill (bactericidal) bacteria or prevent them from reproducing and growing (bacteriostatic). Antibiotics do not work against any infection of viruses.  Antibiotics are unique to the type of bacteria being treated. Normally, with few side effects, antibiotics are effective when used correctly.

Like most medications, however, antibiotics can lead to side effects ranging from being a nuisance to being serious and life-threatening. It maybe appropriate to change antibiotic doses in infants and the elderly, in patients with renal or liver disease, in pregnant or breastfeeding women and in many other classes of patients.

There are some tips that are associated with the use of Antibiotics:

1. Always take an antibiotic for the condition for which it is prescribed.

2. Take Antibiotics as prescribed or directed by doctor or pharmacists.

3. Some antibiotics may interact with food or other drugs or may make you more sensitive to sunlight or cause dizziness. If you are unaware of such experiences, consult your pharmacist.

4. Take an antibiotic until it's all gone.

5. Never take expired antibiotics

6. Don’t give antibiotics to others unknowingly just by seeing similar symptoms.

ACNE: CAUSES AND SELF CARE TIPS

ACNE: CAUSES AND SELF CARE TIPS

What is Acne

Acne is one of the most common skin problems, affecting about 90% of people at some point during their lives. Acne typically occurs in adolescence and young adulthood.

Many people do not seek the advice of a physician because acne is common and "will probably go away on its own." If acne is controlled from the beginning, then much harm to the skin can be prevented.

How acne develops:

The sebaceous glands of the skin, attached to the hair follicles secrete an oily semi-fluid substance called sebum that softens and lubricates our hair and skin.

Pimples (or pustules) occur when the material is backed up, causing irritation to the surrounding tissue and causing swelling, redness, and perhaps discomfort.

In severe cases of acne, cysts (fluid-filled sacks) develop. Without proper treatment, the chances of developing ulcers are increased.

Causes:

Hormonal changes: At the age of puberty, the body starts producing more androgen-type hormones, causing the sebaceous glands to expand and produce more sebum. Because males produce more androgens than females, they are more susceptible to acne.

Heredity affects the size and activity of the sebaceous glands. The larger and more active the glands are, the greater the chance of developing acne.

Bacteria: Normal skin bacteria can act on the sebum to produce irritating substances, resulting in substances that are released into the surrounding skin.

Self-care:

1. Gently wash the face with mild soap 2-3 times a day may be enough. However, excessive cleansing can make acne worse.

2. Non-prescription products containing benzoyl peroxide have an antibacterial and drying effect and help remove pores to prevent the formation of wounds.

3. Do not remove or squeeze blackheads, whiteheads or pimples, as this can increase infection, inflammation, and cause scars.

4. Emotional stress can worsen acne - Avoid it

5. Excess moisture can make acne worse- stay away from moisture creating an environment.

Chickenpox: Causes, symptoms, and Treatment

Chickenpox, an infectious disease caused by the Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in which red blisters appear all over the body. In the blisters, itching occurs. It’s very rare to have the chickenpox infection more than once. This virus is contagious and can spread through coughing, sneezing and in contact with an infected person.

The most common symptom of chickenpox is the appearance of itchy rashes on the body that will appear after seven to 21 days after the infection occurs. The other symptoms that appear are fever, headache, and loss of appetite. The rashes undergo three stages until the recovery. Firstly, red or pink bumps occur all over your body, then bumps become blisters filled with fluid that leaks and at last the bumps become crusty, scab over, and fall off. Blisters take seven to fourteen days to heal.

The risk of infection reduces if a person is immunized and had a previous active infection. Exposure of infection increases when the immune system is weak due to illness or medications, children under the age of 12 year, contact with an infected person.

Chickenpox infected person is advised to stay at home and have rest. Keep children out of school and daycare to prevent spread of the virus. Antihistamine medications or topical ointments are prescribed to help relieve itching. These medicines can be buy over the counter also. Antiviral drugs are also prescribed to reduce virus activity.

Chikungunya: Causes, symptoms and prevention measures

Introduction

Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne viral disease describes the stunted form of people suffering from joint pain (arthralgia). Chikungunya is characterized by sudden onset of fever causing joint pain.

Causes

Chikungunya occurs in humans by the bite of infected female mosquitoes. Typically, the mosquitoes involved are Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, two species that can transmit other mosquito-borne viruses including dengue. These mosquitoes can be found biting during the daylight hours, although activity peaks may occur in the early morning and afternoon.

Symptoms

Common signs and symptoms include muscle aches, headaches, nausea, fatigue, and rash. Joint pain is often very weak, but usually lasts for a few days or maybe prolonged for weeks, but in some cases, joint pain may persist for several months or years.

Diagnostic techniques

Several methods can be used for diagnosis. Serological tests, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), can confirm the presence of IgM and IgG anti-chikungunya antibodies. The samples collected during the first week after the onset of symptoms should be tested by serological and virological methods (RT-PCR).

Treatment is primarily directed at relieving symptoms, including antipyretics, optimal analgesics, and joint pain using fluids. There is no commercial chikungunya vaccine.

Prevention techniques

Prevention methods include:

Reducing the number of container habitats filled with natural and artificial waters that support breeding of mosquitoes.

During an outbreak, insecticides can be sprayed to kill flying mosquitoes.

Clothing that reduces skin exposure. Repellents can be applied inside the skin or on clothing according to product label instructions.

Mosquito coils or other pesticide vaporizers can also reduce indoor bites.

Which vaccines are Mandatory and Optional for your Child?

We all know prevention is better than cure. That’s why it is recommended to have vaccination of your child to prevent deadly diseases to occur. Some vaccines are mandatory and some are optional but it doesn’t mean that we will dismiss them.

Here is a list of some mandatory and optional vaccines for infants in India are:

Mandatory vaccines include:

1. BCG (Bacillus Calmette Guerin) for Tuberculosis

2. PV (Oral Polio Vaccine) for Polio

3. Hepatitis B for Hepatitis B virus causing liver infections in the child

4. DPT for Diphtheria, Pertussis (Whooping Cough) and Tetanus

5. Rotavirus for Rotavirus infection which causes severe diarrhea and vomiting

6. MMR for Measles, Mumps and Rubella

7. TCV for Typhoid

8. Hepatitis A

These vaccines are given in several doses to prevent the diseases to occur. Every pediatrician gives an immunization schedule indicating which vaccines are compulsory, when they should be given and which vaccines are optional. The schedule eventually aims to eradicate these diseases completely.

Some of the optional vaccines are for the following diseases:

Pneumococcus

Chickenpox

Meningococcal meningitis

Influenza

Always consult your child's doctor before taking any decision.

 

Sunscreens: Why and How to use?

For a complete sun protection strategy, sunscreens play an important role. Sunscreens protect you and your family from sunburn, skin cancer, early skin aging and other risks of overexposure to the sun. However, applying sunscreen is not enough to save you from intense sun rays. It is recommended to follow some other tips like

Avoid going in sun during the time 11 AM to 3 PM when sun rays are at peak.

Wear long-sleeved shirts, pants clothes that cover skin exposed to the sun.

Use sunscreens with SPF 15 or higher.

Reapply sunscreen at least every two hours, and more often if you're sweating or jumping in and out of the water.

There is a procedure to apply sunscreen: Apply sunscreen 30minutes before going outside. This will help in better absorption of sunscreen into the skin. To cover the entire body and face use enough of sunscreen.

Everyone can use sunscreen except infants.

What does SPF stand in sunscreen?

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. This tells you how long the sun’s UVB rays would take to redden your skin if you apply the sunscreen exactly as directed compared with the amount of time without sunscreen. So, if you use an SPF 30 product properly, it would take you 30 times longer to burn than if you used no sunscreen.

The best practice is to apply 30 minutes before venturing outside to allow the sunscreen to bind to your skin. Reapply every two hours of exposure and immediately after swimming or excessive sweating.

Even when it’s cloudy, up to 80 percent of the sun’s UV radiation reaches the earth. Going unprotected on an overcast day can lead to skin damage.

Tips to stay healthy while taking immunosuppressant medications

The medicines that heal patients sometimes also increases their chance of becoming sick. Some of the medicines that weaken the immune system can increase the risk of infection. An immunosuppressant is those medicines that weaken the immune system of a person. There are some simple tips that help to stay healthy while using immunosuppressant medications.

STAY AWAY FROM SICK & INFECTIOUS PEOPLE

When you are on medicines weakening the immune system, keep yourself away from the ill people. These people should avoid places which are prone to germs like shopping centers and schools.

Maintain Hygiene

Always maintain a good hygiene regime. Wash hands with anti-bacterial soap after using the restroom, feeding pets, shopping and touching any infectious or ill person. Thoroughly wash your hands before and after taking care of the clean sores, cuts and other open wounds to reduce the risk of infection.

Keep Healthy diet

Always eat washed fruits and vegetables. Avoid eating raw eggs, unpasteurized milk, raw milk cheeses, raw meat, and raw unwashed fruits and vegetables.

Take care of yourself

Taking care of your overall well-being is important to maintaining good health. Drink plenty of water every day and eat a balanced, nutritious diet. Get a good night’s sleep by turning off electronic devices and avoiding alcohol before bed. Reduce stress in your life.

Tips that will Make It Easier to take Your Medicine

For some people, medicines are hard to swallow or take and for some, it is even harder to remember the schedule of taking the medicines. It is very important to remember the right process of taking the medicines and proper time to take them as skipping a dose can be a challenge.

There are some tips that will help you to remember the medication on time and the right procedure to take them.

1. Always understand your prescribed medicines profile clearly from the pharmacist. It will help you to know which pills to take, when to take them and what to do if you miss a dose.

2. If you take multiple medicines in a day, consult your doctor or pharmacist regarding which medicines you can take in combination and if can’t be taken in combination then at what intervals they might be taken.

3. Most of the medicines are taken with water. It is recommended to drink sufficient water before and after taking the medicine to make the swallowing easier.

4. Do not try to crush or alter your pills without first checking with your pharmacist. Cutting, crushing or chewing your medication may change the way it reacts with your body.

5. Always ask your doctor and pharmacist before taking the medicines in any other medium. Some medicines are strictly designed to be taken with milk or water. Don’t alter the medium on your own.

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information.

Some safety tips while handling OTC medicines

OTC drugs or non-prescription medicines are those medicines that you can buy without a prescription. These include medications for fever, colds, headaches, cough, and etc. It is very easy to buy OTC medicine for these problems but there are some precautions that one should take care while using non-prescribed or Over the counter medicines.

Some safety tips while using OTC drugs:

1. Always read the direction label and don’t take an excess of any medicine or beyond the as directed.

2.Give OTC medicines to kids according to their age and weight. Do not attempt to guess the dose of a child from the amount that an adult can take, such as cutting a tablet in half.

3. Always check the expiry date on OTC medicines before taking them. Dispose off the unused medicines in a proper way.

4. Always store the medicines in a cool, dry place. They must be kept away from direct sunlight and heat.

5. Keep the OTC medicines out of the reach from children and Pets.

6. Try to take your all prescribed or non-prescribed medicines from one pharmacy. As it will make easy for a pharmacist to look and see which OTC medications are safe for you to use.

Thus, these are some of the steps one should take while handling OTC medicines.  

Allergy: Signs, Symptoms and cure

Some people are very sensitive to certain things like such as pollen, mold, dust, metal, latex, to certain foods such as eggs, peanuts, nuts, milk, soy, wheat and medicines. Any person comes in contact with one of the above substance; their body show reaction is termed as Allergy. Allergy symptoms can be mild to worse depending upon the intensity of contact with the allergic substance.

It is believed that allergy can’t be cured permanently; the best precaution is to avoid the encounter with allergic substance.

Some common signs and symptoms of allergy can be :

Rashes on the skin

Trouble in Breathing

Itchy Nose

Headache, Nausea, vomiting

Diarrhea

Itchy, red, swollen, burning or watery eyes 

Patches and redness on skin

Always visit for skin medicine specialist doctor for the treatment. He will guide you on your allergic symptoms and suggest over the counter or prescription medicines to treat your signs.

How to dispose off unused medicines

Do you have a cupboard full of unused medicines? Are you worried about how to dispose off these expired drugs and medicines? Here are some steps in which you will get to learn how to properly dispose of old, unused, unwanted, or expired medicine.

1. Keep a regular check on the medicines that you have at home. Collect all the unused, unwanted or expiry medicines of your home before the expiry date and drop off at the medical store near you.

2. If the medicos shop owner, refuse to take back the medicines, then you will go for the flushing the medicines down the toilet depending on the drug. Check the label or the patient information leaflet with your medicine before flushing.

3. Other medicines, those can’t be thrown or flush out can be disposed off in the household trash. While disposing off in household trash, follow some simple steps like Remove the drugs from their original containers and mix them with something undesirable, such as used coffee grounds, dirt.

Some people wonder if it’s okay to flush certain medicines when a take-back option is not readily available. There are concerns about the small levels of drugs that may be found in surface water, such as rivers and lakes, and in drinking water supplies.

For more information on what to do when you no longer need your medicines, always consult the pharmacist or medicos shop owner and doctor.