Symptoms, Causes and Treatment of Chikungunya: Things You Must Know

While the capital city, along with many parts of the country, grapples with the rising instance of dengue, experts signal the outbreak of another mosquito-transmitted disease – chikungunya. The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines it as, “A mosquito-borne viral disease first described during an outbreak in southern Tanzania in 1952. The name ‘chikungunya’ derives from a word in the Kimakonde language, meaning “to become contorted”, and describes the stooped appearance of sufferers with joint pain (arthralgia).” According to the WHO and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA, a person…

Chronic Kidney Disease May Lead to Diabetes

Establishing a novel link between chronic kidney disease and diabetes, a team of researchers have identified molecular mechanisms that may be responsible for the increased blood glucose levels in such patients. Previous studies have found that type 2 diabetes is one of the causes of chronic kidney disease – that is characterised by the progressive and irreversible loss of kidney function in filtering and eliminating toxins from the blood. “However, our observations in mice and in human samples show that chronic kidney disease can cause secondary diabetes,” said lead researcher…

Pain drugs in pregnancy tied to behavior issues in kids

When the kids were 5 years old, more than 80 percent of the women and their partners used acetaminophen. Women who take the common pain reliever acetaminophen during pregnancy may be more likely to have children with behavior problems than those who don’t use the drug, a British study suggests. Researchers analyzed survey data from about 7,800 mothers and found more than half of them took acetaminophen at some point during pregnancy. Overall, about 5 percent of their children had behavior problems by age 7. The odds of hyperactivity, conduct…

WhatsApp doc! Specialist advice for remote patient care

Earlier, a heart patient in remote rural areas of Himachal Pradesh used to get specialist treatment or advice after travelling for 11 to 24 hours, as heart specialists were available only at either Shimla or Kangra. But now, a physician sitting at a remote location can get special advice in 10-15 minutes, and this has been made possible with the innovative idea of Dr Vivek Chauhan of Internal Medicine at Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College and Hospital in Kangra (RPGMCH). He has developed an IT-based gateway using WhatsApp to…

Parents Who Insist on Vegan Diet for Children May Risk Jail in Italy

If parliamentarian Elvira Savino has her way, Italian parents who insist on a vegan diet for their children will risk up to four years in jail. Savino, from the conservative Forza Italia party, has put forward a law that would hold parents legally responsible for feeding their children on “a diet devoid of elements essential for healthy and balanced growth”, according to its text. “I have nothing against vegans or veganism as long as it is a free choice by adults,” she told Reuters in a telephone interview on Wednesday, days…

7 Superb Home Remedies to Get Rid of Mouth Ulcers

Mouth ulcers are sores or lesions that often appear on the inside of the cheeks, lips or on the floor of the mouth. They are uncomfortable, sometimes painful but harmless. Mouth ulcers can be caused due to a number of reasons like constipation, hormonal changes, acidity and deficiencies of vitamin B or C, iron and other nutrients. Interestingly, it has been found that women (more than men), adolescents, and those with a family history of mouth ulcers are at higher risk of developing mouth ulcers. The good news is that…