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| Sunday, 4 May 2003 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Compiled by Carol Aloysius Homoeopathy and SARS by Dr. Ahamed Mansoor, President, Association for the advancement of natural medicine SARS as defined as a severe form of catarrhal disease most often respiratory characterized by prostration out of all proportion to its other symptoms. it has now taken epidemic proportions globally.
The period of incubation is not more than a day or two. The disease runs through the household passing from one member to another so rapidly that all are laid up at once. At the onset there is a general tired feeling or malaise. The patient may have a chill accompanied by a rise of temperature to 100 degrees F to 103 degrees or higher. He is completely prostrated, hot and feverish. Yet if he moves, it makes him chilly. The pulse usually ranges from 120 to 140 per minute. The tongue is coated. There may be nausea or even vomiting. There are three types of influenza. 1. In the respiratory type which is most commonly met with, there may be sneezing and some coryza. The throat is apt to feel sore and occasionally there is aphonia. After a day or two cough develops possibly accompanied by some expectoration. There is Bronchitis with a feeling of apprehension in the chest. However it reveals nothing more serious than a bronchial catarrh. In many cases this extends to a bronchial pneumonia. This type of case is like a severe catarrhal cold, more prostrated than symptoms would warrant. The patient is drowsy, but sleep is restless. He is blue and despondent, almost hypochondriac, nervous and apprehensive. Occasionally there is mild delirium. The temperature runs along from 100 degrees F to 103 degrees F. Sometimes in severe cases to 104 degrees F or 105 degrees F. The pulse rate increases with the height of the temperature. The patient aches all over, muscles are sore and this may be so severe as to lead to a diagnosis of Rheumatism. There may be neuralgic pain at different parts of the body and sometimes there will be stiffneck. 2. In gastro intestinal type the respiratory symptoms are not so severe, but there is always nausea and vomiting. The tongue is badly coated. The abdomen is painful and sensitive. There is diarrhoea. 3. In still some other cases, the nervous system is most profoundly affected. Melancholy is profound. The temperature may be normal, but the patient is apprehensive. He is tormented between fear of death at one moment and desire to end the mental torture by committing suicide the next. Associated with this are attacks of palpitation of the heart during which the patient is sure that he is going to die. The mental symptoms are always present in varying degrees in any type of influenza. Also in all of the cases urine may be increased or diminished. Frequently there is albuminuria. In very young and very old people influenza is a most serious disease. Complications The most frequent complication is various forms of Pneumonia. All epidemics of influenza show a marked increase in the pneumonic death rate. The very young and very old seem to be the great sufferers. There is also an increase in the incidents of pulmonary tuberculosis following influenza. Another serious effect of influenza is its action on the heart causing endocarditis. The other frequent complication or sequel of influenza is middle ear disease. When one studies the above account of influenza it is very much pertinent to note that however much there are many advances in medicine, newer and newer findings and the improvement in the research and development, the disease (influenza) remains same. The area of outbreak of the disease remains same. Only the virulence of the disease is increased. Treatment Isolation is necessary to stop the spread of the disease. As it is spread by droplet infection the soiled handkerchiefs and other clothes should be boiled. The patient should rest. Liberal amounts of liquids such as fruit juices, gruel, broth etc. can be taken as diets. If nausea or vomiting is not present and if the patient has an appetite, easily digestible solids can be taken. The homoeopathic treatment for influenza is as follows. In any treatment of a disease the mental aspect of the patient is very important. As in this case of SARS there is fear of death, fear of contracting pneumonia, and there is restlessness. Therefore to alleviate the fear and to make the patient at east ACONITE 200 can be given. This can be repeated every two or three hours till the initial stage comes under control. This is followed by a dose of Influenzinum 200. This will enhance the natural immunity. The treatment proper begins with Gelsemium 30 which is heading the list of drugs in the treatment of influenza. The flushed face, chilly sensation even with high temperature, aches and pains, dull and heavy headache, sneezing and watery nose are the symptoms of gelsemium. Also anxiety and apprehension are the mental symptoms. Bryonia is useful in cough, stiffneck, aches and pains allover the body. Ipecac is recommended for gastro intestinal type and also for catarrhal pneumonia. There are many more drugs which can be used by an eminent homoeopathic medical practitioner with the principle of tallying the disease symptoms with the drug picture. ***** What you should know about SARS What is SARS? SARS stands for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. The leading hypothesis is that the SARS virus belongs to the coronavirus, which is generally not harmful to humans. However, the Time magazine recently reported that the SARS virus is a mutated form of the coronavirus, which is what makes it fatal. The reasons for the mutation are not yet known, but are being investigated worldwide. How is SARS contracted? As of today the coronavirus is not believed to be airborne. Instead it can be passed only by direct contact with an infected person or with an object they have touched. What are the symptoms of SARS? The first symptom is very high fever. This results in the lung tissue swelling up to cause respiratory problems, which in the fatal stages causes the patient to suffocate. Protective measures: Frequent washing of hands and close attention to personal hygiene is crucial and has been recommended by the Centre for Disease Control (CDC). Sharing cutlery, drinking cups, glasses or mugs and towels is strongly discouraged. If SARS is not confirmed to be airborne is the use of respirators encouraged? While one function of respirators is to keep airborne viruses away from the user, another is to protect the user against bodily fluids that can carry viruses, which would otherwise enter the body through the mouth or the nose. At the present time the WHO and the CDC have officially made respiratory recommendations to health care workers. Are there any respirators that have been recommended for use against SARS? WHO and CDC have recommended National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) - certified N95 respirators for health-care workers. NIOSH R95, P95, R99, P99, N100, P100 all offer the same or higher filter efficiency. The Time magazine listed 3M's N95 mask as the most efficient mask to be used to combat SARS. Where can I get the N95 mask? The N95 masks can be got from leading pharmacies, and 3M Lanka is also attempting to make them available for purchase at a counter in the Katunayake International Airport. Would any other surgical mask or any other type of mask be as useful? Paper, gauze and cotton mask are not at all effective as none of them gives protection against fluids or particles that can still enter the body through the nose and the mouth. While surgical masks do offer protection, this can be compromised if they don't fit properly as particles can enter the nasal passage from around the mask due to gaps around the nose because of a bad fit. How do I clean and maintain a disposable respirator? Disposable respirators should never be cleaned. They must be disposed of immediately after use every time. What else can I do to reduce the risk of any further contamination? One's own health must be monitored closely as well, especially after travelling to SARS countries such as China, Singapore and Hong Kong. Such monitoring should be done for a period of ten days after travel. If signs of a temperature becomes evident it should be monitored and checked to see if it rises above 100 degrees, and also if a cough follows. If these symptoms arise the individual is advised to go immediately to hospital. Sent by Rowland PR. For more information on SARS visit the websites www.cdc.gov,www.who.int, www.3m.com/occsafety contact Mehraj Sally, Division Manager - Occupational Health and Environmental Safety Division, 3M Lanka on 785701. ###### Are you a victim of chest pain? Chest pain or cardiac neurosis is characterized by anxiety, which is severe enough to make most people fear they will die suddenly from a heart attack. They complain of pain in the left side of the chest, breathlessness, palpitations, tiredness, dizziness and rarely fainting attacks. 10-15 per cent of all patients referred to cardiac department for chest pain is due to cardiac neurosis. It occurs more often in women than in men (3:2). There is usually a family history of anxiety prone parents or children. Childhood neurotic characteristics, such as fears of the dark, animals, heights, nail biting, stammering, nightmares and sleepwalking are common in these people. They have shy, introspective and dependent personalities. They usually tend to be neat, tidy and highly conscientious as adults. Most of us are familiar with the uncomfortable thudding of our hearts during moments of fear, and have witnessed a fainting attack provoked by the sight of something causing extreme apprehension. The defence reaction, which happens during an emergency or with a traumatic event, has behavioural and cardiovascular components, appear to be triggered with relative ease in certain people. The person has an anxious facies and the pupils may be dilated. He often looks pale and sits on the edge of the chair and clearly cannot relax. He may grip the arms with his hands or fidget with a handkerchief or a ring. The voice may be tremulous and the person frequently clears the throat. He will have cold clammy hands and he looks frightened and may be near to tears. They often complain of sleep disturbance and do not feel refreshed in the morning. These people feel tired and listless and are worn out by minimal effort. Headache is common, usually vague or throbbing. During a typical 'attack' the blood pressure is usually increased and there might be palpitation and loud heart sounds. He may complain left sided chest pain, which might radiate along the left arm. Breathlessness may occur in circumstances that would not affect a normal person. Dizziness or momentary faintness accompanied by 'light headedness' may occur. Sweating of the palms and tremors of the fingers is very common. In these people there will be decreased sexual activity due to impotence and with the fear that sexual activity could precipitate a heart attack. Alcohol, which reduces anxiety and temporary restores confidence, tends to be abused. References to death or disease in newspapers or on television cause a further deterioration in confidence. The diagnosis of a cardiac neurosis is made on positive psychological grounds, and not merely by exclusion. A physical examination followed by investigations such as a chest x-ray, ECG, and blood tests are necessary to allay the patient's fears of heart disease and to give the doctor confidence that there is not an underlying physical disorder. It is not uncommon to have an anxiety state with thyroid disease, heart disease, or to find that following a heart attack the patient is preoccupied by his heart and may impose unnecessary physical restriction upon him. Unconditional reassurance will be possible if the examination and investigations have been through. Most patients need to be told that the mind controls the heart, breathing and sweating, and can produce chest pain, shaking of the body or even fainting. Medications, which will reduce anxiety and depression, are useful in acute conditions. Relaxation training, meditation and exercises are valuable non-pharmaceutical methods. Alcohol abuse and excessive use of caffeine (coffee) should be looked in to, in the management. Routine medical examination will help to reassure the patient that his symptoms are being taken seriously, and that his doctor thoroughly understands his case. The final outcome is good provided the condition is recognized early and the correct treatment is instituted. An expression of empathy, genuineness and warmth from the doctor and the family can be the most powerful tranquillizer. - Dr. R. A. R. Perera ###### Apollo's Emergency Medical Department on-call 24-hours a day Apollo's Emergency Medicine Department (EMD) has eliminated the need for waiting for a patient once admitted to Emergency, Patients are diagnosed, stabilised and the appropriate Consultant is called from Apollo's dedicated on-call specialist Doctors. The EMD is made up of 10 rooms equipped with bedside monitoring equipment. These room are centralised around a common nursing station to minimise the amount patients have to be moved once they are assigned a bed. All this planning is primarily to allow patients to initially be triaged and then be observed at all times following room assignments. The EMD also utilises the "Hospitals On Wheels" fleet, which has state of the art ambulance type vehicles linked by a wireless communication system. These ambulances are in fact so much more than just ambulances - having been uniquely designed to meet all a patient's pre hospital care needs by meeting the standards set forth by most intensive care units. Specific equipment like ventilators, defibrillators (a device utilising electric discharges to resuscitate the heart during cardiac arrest), heart vitals monitors, etc. and a qualified nurse specifically trained in Emergency situations monitors patients utilising this service in an effort to ensure that patients have the best chance possible to be stabilised before they are taken to Apollo for advanced treatment. Apollo's "Hospitals On Wheels" functions are capable of meeting the needs of any patient, anywhere in Sri Lanka - patients as far North as Jaffna and as far South as Galle have already experienced this service first hand. Another aspect of Apollo's rescue fleet is the helipad which affords Apollo a unique opportunity in being able to receive air evacuations. In the recent past air evacuations utilising Sri Lanka Air Force helicopters have been carried out with positive results. Patients from the North and from Kandy have been brought to Apollo via air evacuations. The EMD is conveniently accessible by calling#074-53-1066 and/or Dialog GSM subscribers can call#911 for Apollo's EMD services. Apollo's EMD has linked up with Dialog GSM to provide an Emergency Hot Line number (911) for efficient and speedy access to EMD services. ###### You & Your Doctor By. Dr. Sampath Nanayakkara Tarry stools Q: I pass black coloured stools very often. I was treated by an aurvedic practitioner, who is of the opinion that it was due to my body heat. Is this a dangerous condition? A: This condition is called melena (Meleira). Black, tarry coloured stools may be a sign of somewhat dangerous illness. It is due to bleeding into the bowel. When blood gets on to the bowel, the blood gets digested and form a black colour. You should immediately see a Specialist Doctor (Surgeon) to find out the cause. The possible cause may be an ulcer or a cancer of the stomach. Darkening of stools, can also be due to a diet rich in meat or taking Iron tablets. What is stress? Stress is the body condition in which the physiology is geared for activity. Stress is usually considered useful if the amount of stimulation is suitable for the work to be done and that work is then done e.g. driving a car, giving a lecture. Stress has been described as the non-specific (that is common) result of any demand upon the body, be it mental or somatic demand for survival and accomplishments of our aims. Stress may be considered as a state of being threatened, either by a life shattering event or something absurdly small. It may be the death of a spouse with all the consequences of loneliness and poverty or the dislike of the person with whom you have to work. Indecision and the feeling of being trapped aggravate stress. Stress is a normal part of life without it we are barely alive. What is a threat to one person is a challenge to another. It is the response to the stressor that determines its results. Stressors 1. Physical e.g. heat, cold 2. Non physical - mental, emotional 3. Social and Psychological We depend upon our five senses - sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch to receive information from the environment and relay it to the conscious brain. As the result of all this information plus the memory of past experiences (good and bad) mental and emotional states (grief, pain, happiness) so the state of stress or lack of it will be determined in a particular person at any particular moment. Homeostasis - the most important function of the body is to remain in a state of homeostasis, which is the maintenance of constant conditions in the extra cellular fluid derived from the blood that bathes all cells and upon which they depend for life. In Acute Stress Homeostasis may be said to be endangered. How does one cope? Restructure one's life style; Relaxation; Exercise; Continue a balanced life; Personal Esteem. The best way of resisting stress is to have regular sleep and rest periods interposed with work and other activities (hobbies). Substitution of physical effort for mental effort or vice versa constitutes a rest or rest may mean a period of calm from all kinds of activity during which relaxation techniques can be practised. (half an hour during the middle of the day). Life Change Scale This scale, also known as the Holmes and Rahe Social Readjustment Rating Scale, measures stress in terms of life changes. (After Holmes and Rahe, 1967). Death of spouse 100, Divorce 73, Marital separation 65, Jail term 63, Death of close family member 63, Personal injury or illness 53, Marriage 50, Fired from job 47, Marital reconciliation 45, Retirement 45, Pregnancy 40, Sex difficulties 39, Gain of new family member 39, Business readjustment 39, Death of close friend 37, Change in responsibilities at work 29, Trouble with in-laws 29, Change in living conditions 25, Revision of personal habits 24, Trouble with boss 23, Change in residence 20, Change in school 20, Change in sleeping habits 16, Change in eating habits 15. ##### An appeal from a reader I am Nalliah Nagenderan of Batticaloa. I made an enquiry about Dr. Atukorale who wrote an article in the Sunday Observer Health Page about curing of heart disease some time back. I talked to Dr. Atukorale and got all the necessary informations. The treatment to be taken in Ratnam Hospital, Colombo, duration of treatment is three (3) hours a day but once a week. In the first instance 30 drips will be given in three months depending on the health condition of accepting the chelation treatment. Later it will be extended to 100 drips with due intervals. The doctor suggested that I should stay in Colombo during the course of treatment. The fee for a drip costs Rs. 3000. Hence 100 drips makes Rs. 300,000 further staying in Colombo lodging and food costs minimum of Rs. 500 a day. Full treatment of 100 weeks of 7 days comes to 700 days. i.e. Rs. 350,000. Total of both is Rs. 650,000. This is only for myself. And I need some one to assit me financially. |
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