I got an e-mail as a news alert from “Panda antivirus” about an USB vaccine. As a doctor, I understand what a vaccine means. So, I went ahead, downloaded it and configured. I know that one potential route of entry of viruses to a computer is through the USB applications like a pen drive. Recently, the laptop of my younger son contacted some folder making virus in this way; and for which the laptop has to be formatted. After configuring, when I put my pen drive to one USB socket, a pop up emerged and vanished away quickly informing me that the device has been vaccinated. I do not know whether actually that has been done, but I believe so. It available in free. Possibly one should give a trial to it.
My friend in PeerPower.com has sent this message to me requesting for wide circulation.I would like to add a few things a few here.As regards the mask and precautions he is right.But using a mask is better to no use.What I called something is better than nothing.Moreover it will obstruct other secondary bacterial invasion to cause a pneumonia in the already immune compromised patient.It may be helpful to the patient if not to the contacts.Tamiflu is a virostatic drug which will prevent rapid proliferation.I can conclude that confining the less sever cases to home with usual precautions is a good strategy.And sever cases be treated at hospital.
Message:
Dear All
A very logical and constructive solution to prevent you from getting infected with H1N1..Plz share it to all friends and relatives.
The hype in media about the utility of face masks and N95 respirators as a tool for general protection against H1N1 can’t be deplored enough. Please realize that this is not an official advice, especially the one about face masks or N95.
·Most N95 respirators are designed to filter 95% particulates of 0.3µ, while the size of H1N1 virus is about 0.1µ. Hence, dependence on N95 to protect against H1N1 is like protecting against rain with an umbrella made of mosquito net.
·Tamiflu does not kill but prevents H1N1 from further proliferation till the virus limits itself in about 1-2 weeks (its natural cycle).
about 1-2 weeks (its natural cycle).
H1N1, like other Influenza Aviruses, only infects the upper respiratory tract and proliferates (only) there. The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/ throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it’s almost impossible not coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.
While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps – can be practiced:
1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications)..
2. “Hands-off-the-face” approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).
3. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don’t trust salt). H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms.
Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don’t underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.
4. Similar to 3 above, clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.
5. Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.
6. Drink as much of warm liquids as you can. Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.
Happy breathing!
A patient having low grade fever ,headache,malaise and some amount of cough usually not given much importance thinking it to be common cold or some minor viral fever.But if has a history of exposure to the bite or saliva contact of an unimmunized domestic pet like dog,rabbit,monkey,cat or mongoose or an exposure to wolf ,monkey or jackel has to be viewed seriously.If these symptoms occur near about the 10th day of such exposure it adds weight to warrant a close observation for Rabies.If it is so the patient will go to the next phage of the disease i.e.forgetfulness,stiffness,loss /reduced sensation on some part of body,muscle twitching and hypersensitivity to cold ,even gentle breeze ,sound or even to gentle touch.
The classical symptom of hydrophobia is seen about more then 50% of cases and is diagnostic.Here the patient becomes afraid of even the sight of water leave aside the drinking of it.There after the patient goes to convulsions,coma and dies usually of respiratory arrest.
It is very much painful to watch the site and diagnose the disease as cure is a remote possibility. After about 10 days to 1 year of contact with rabid animal , depending the virus load,site of injury and immunization status the victim the disease may manifest.The mean time is around 2 months.This rabies virus travels along the nerve tissue to the Grey matter of brain to multiply there and come back to periphery to manifest.There occurs severe spasm of wind pipe making it difficult to take respiration.
First aid includes through washing, using soap water and if cetrimide solution is available it is good.Immunization for Tetanus and some antibiotics and dressing of the wound are required.Then specific treatment should be sought .It is in form of passive immunization by Rabies Immunoglobin(RIG) according to the assessment of the doctor.Active immunization by HDCV(Human Diploid Cell Culture Vaccine) is by far the best and lack many adverse effect of other available vaccines.Other vaccines include a Vera cell/Chick embryo cell culture vaccine.The sheep brain culture vaccine is no longer preferred.The vaccine is taken in intramuscular route on 0,3,7,14,21 to 30 and another on 90th day.Day 0 means the day of bite or when the person first reports.
A Rabies Patient
Those persons are at the risk of contact(occupational Hazard) such as veterinary people should get immunized with 3 doses and booster on 2nd year for their protection. Useful tips is to restraint the suspected animal after the bite ,if feasible.And keep under observation for 10 days in which period mostly they die or show symptoms of disease in them.They should not be killed in anger immediately after bite.If they show symptoms of disease or die their brain should be sent for recovery of virus to confirm the disease in them. It is also seen that some healthy carrier animals are also there.So I think it is better if one is immunized than to wait for other things.Immunization of pet is an important step for animal lovers and persons having occupational hazard.
Rabies spreads from the bite of rabid animals.The disease is seen in animals like monkey,dog,jackel,cat and mongoose etc..The cardinal sign of an animal becoming rabid is running amoke or melancholia .Once affected usually dies around tenth day.But sometimes healthy carriers are found.That is why it is suggested to immunise the pets for rabies and if not and bitten by them one should get rabies vaccine.This is because prevention is only satisfactory not the treatment. Apart from this as the mouth contains various types of bacterias and virusessepsis may occur at the site of bite.Immunization against tetanus is also recommended along with Antibiotics to prevent sepsis.The wound if not large enough is left open and if large needs repairing should be done with infiltration of anti-rabies immunoglobin. Previously when sheep brain culture vaccines were being used the dose schedule was basing on the classification of type of bite i.e.class one to class three.That vaccine had a lot of adverse reaction and no longer used. Now-a-days very good vaccines are available with minimal side effects if at all. The doses are almost same for any class of bite.Human diploidcell culture vaccine is by far the best. Immunization of pets and preventive treatment are the key to beat Rabies.
Herpes are two types, namely herpes simplex and herpes zoster.Zoster is more often associated with Chicken-pox.Simplex usually affects the peripheral sensory nerve endings .It appears first with severe burning type of pain on some part of body usually around the face, there after reddish patches with small blisters.All along it is very painful. It became hard for me to diagnose one patient when it was involving almost one thigh with many reddish patchy eruptions and pain without any blisters.I was confused.Whether it is herpes or urticaria because the patient had taken some sea foods last night.But sceptically I diagnosed it to be allergic urticaria because urticarial rashes usually occurs almost all over the body but local involvement also seen and preferred site being around the face.After probably two days the blisters appeared making the diagnosis clear.Not many effective are available.Patient has to suffer from discomfort for some time in spite of the available treatment.Most distressing aspect is what is called post-herpetic neuralgia.This is a sort of discomfort and some times severe pain patient experience following healed herpes eruptions. Again not much medical help can be rendered except some symptomatic relief.Herpes of uterine cervix is sometimes blamed for future cancer cervix. Having said this I propose that the computer viruses spread through internet.I think it is something like viruses in blood circulation in animals affecting target organs.As agents as drugs administered to fix them in the circulation ,will it not be possible to send some sort of anti virus agent to neutralize them in the circulation i.e. in the network itself .I hope this is possible.And this will help the end users to save on cost of anti virus products and ultimately national saving.
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