Facts about 'Epilepsy' that you must know

Epilepsy is a central neurological disorder in which nerve cell activity in the brain disintegrate, causing seizures or periods of unusual behavior, sensations and sometimes loss of consciousness. Epilepsy has many possible causes, including illness, brain injury, and abnormal brain development. In many cases, the cause is unknown. Doctors use brain

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2016 World TB Day: Unite to end TB

World Tuberculosis Day remembered on March 24 annually, is held to build public awareness about the global epidemic of tuberculosis(TB) and efforts to curb the disease. In 1982, on the one-hundredth anniversary of Robert Koch's presentation, the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IUATLD) proposed that March 24 be proclaimed an official World TB Day. This was part of a year-long centennial effort by the IUATLD and the World Health Organization under the theme “Defeat TB: Now and Forever.” World TB Day was not officially recognized as an annual occurrence by WHO's World Health Assembly and the United Nations until over a decade later. In the fall of 1995, WHO and the Royal Netherlands Tuberculosis Foundation (KNCV) hosted the first World TB Day advocacy planning meeting in Den Haag, Netherlands; an event they would continue co-sponsor over the next few years. In 1996, WHO, KNCV, the IUATLD and other concerned organizations joined to conduct a wide range of World TB Day activities.
For World TB Day 1997, WHO held a news conference in Berlin during which WHO Director-General Hiroshi Nakajima declared that “DOTS is the biggest health breakthrough of this decade, according to lives we will be able to save.” WHO's Global TB Programme Director, Dr. Arata Kochi, promised that, "Today the situation of the global TB epidemic is about to change, because we have made a breakthrough. It is the breakthrough of health management systems that makes it possible to control TB not only in wealthy countries, but in all parts of the developing world, where 95 percent of all TB cases now exist." By 1998, nearly 200 organizations conducted public outreach activities on World TB Day. During its World TB Day 1998 news conference in London, WHO for the first time identified the top twenty-two countries with the world’s highest TB burden. The next year, over 60 key TB advocates from 18 countries attended the three-day WHO/KNCV planning meeting for World TB Day 1999. U.S. President Bill Clinton marked World TB Day 2000 by administering the WHO-recommended DOTS treatment to patients at the Mahavir Hospital in Hyderabad, India. According to Clinton, “These are human tragedies, economic calamities, and far more than crises for you, they are crises for the world.
The spread of disease is the one global problem for which . . . no nation is immune.” In Canada, the National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health noted on World TB Day 2014 that 64% of TB cases reported nationally were among foreign-born individuals and 23% among Aboriginal people, highlighting TB as a key area of concern about health equity. Today the Stop TB Partnership, a network of organizations and countries fighting TB (the IUATLD is a member and WHO houses the Stop TB Partnership secretariat in Geneva), organizes the Day to highlight the scope of the disease and how to prevent and cure it. TB ranks alongside HIV/AIDS the world’s top infectious disease killer. In 2014, 9.6 million people fell ill with TB and 1.5 million died from the disease, including 380 000 among people living with HIV. More than 95% of TB deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, and TB is among the top 5 causes of death for women aged 15 to 44. In 2014, an estimated 1 million children became ill with TB and 140 000 children died.
TB is a leading killer of HIV-positive people: in 2014, 1 in 3 HIV deaths was due to TB. Globally, in 2014, an estimated 480 000 people developed MDR-TB. The TB death rate dropped by 47% between 1990 and 2015. An estimated 43 million lives were saved through TB diagnosis and treatment between 2000 and 2014. The WHO End TB Strategy aims to reduce TB deaths by 90% and to cut new cases by 80% between 2015 and 2030, and to ensure that no TB-affected family faces catastrophic costs. Each World TB Day addresses a different theme. The theme for 2016 World TB Day is Unite to End TB
.

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Water and Jobs: 2016 World Water Day

World Water Day is held internationally on the 22nd of March every year as an opportunity to focus attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. An international day to celebrate freshwater was recommended at the 1992

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Uganda: Some unaware of the Zika infection

Mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus buzz arround local people near the shores of Lake Victoria in Uganda who are unaware of the emergency the virus have caused.
Some residents spoke with our reporter stating that they haven't heard of 'Zika' before. Many also said that 'This forest

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What you don't know about the 'Zika Virus'

Zika fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease caused by Zika virus (ZIKV), consisting of mild fever, rash (mostly maculo-papular), headaches, arthralgia, myalgia, asthenia, and non-purulent conjunctivitis, occurring about two to seven days after the mosquito vector bite.
One out of four people may develop symptoms, but in those who are affected the disease is usually mild with symptoms that can last between two and seven days. Its clinical manifestation is often similar to dengue, also a mosquito-borne illness.

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What you have to know about the 'Lassa Fever' (cont.)

PREVENTION Control of the Mastomys rodent population is impractical, so measures are limited to keeping rodents out of homes and food supplies, as well as maintaining effective personal hygiene. Gloves, masks, laboratory coats, and goggles are advised while in contact with an infected person. These issues in many countries are monitored by a department of public health. In less developed countries, these types of organizations may not have the necessary means to effectively control outbreaks.
Researchers at the USAMRIID facility, where military biologists study infectious diseases, have a promising vaccine candidate. They have developed a replication-competent vaccine against Lassa virus based on recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus vectors expressing the Lassa virus glycoprotein. After a single intramuscular injection, test primates have survived lethal challenge, while showing no clinical symptoms.

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What you have to know about the 'Lassa Fever' (cont.)

CAUSES Lassa virus is zoonotic (transmitted from animals), in that it spreads to humans from rodents, specifically multimammate mice (Mastomys natalensis). This is probably the most common mouse in equatorial Africa, ubiquitous in human households and eaten as a delicacy in some areas.In these rodents, infection is in a persistent asymptomatic state.
The virus is shed in their excreta (urine and feces), which can be aerosolized. In fatal cases, Lassa fever is characterized by impaired or delayed cellular immunity leading to fulminant viremia. Infection in humans typically occurs by exposure to animal excrement through the respiratory or gastrointestinal tracts.Inhalation of tiny particles of infectious material (aerosol) is believed to be the most significant means of exposure. It is possible to acquire the infection through broken skinor mucous membranes that are directly exposed to infectious material. Transmission from person to person has also been established, presenting a disease risk for healthcare workers. Frequency of transmission by sexual contact has not been established.

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What you have to know about the 'Lassa Fever' (cont.)

PROGNOSIS About 15-20% of hospitalized Lassa fever patients will die from the illness. The overall mortality rate is estimated to be 1%, but during epidemics, mortality can climb as high as 50%.
The mortality rate is greater than 80% when it occurs in pregnant women during their third trimester; fetal death also occurs in nearly all those cases. Abortion decreases the risk of death to the mother. Some survivors experience lasting effects of the disease. Because of treatment with ribavirin, fatality rates are continuing to decline.

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Cosmetics and Effects on the Skin

The mammalian skin is the outer covering of humans or other mammals. It is an organ of the integumentary system made up of multiple layers of ectodermal tissue and guards the underlying muscles, bones, ligaments and internal organs. The skin plays a key role in protecting the body against pathogens and excessive water loss.

Other functions of the skin include:
*. Insulation
*. Temperature regulation
*. Sensation
*. Production of vitamin D folates.
Cosmetics are powders, creams, etc that you use on your face and body in order to look more attractive.
Thickness of the skin
*. Under eyes and around eyelids - 0.5mm
*. Palms and soles of the feet - 4mm
*. Back - 14mm.
Cosmetics causes some effects on the skin which include: *. Damages to your skin.

These cosmetics soften the thickness of the skin stated above, thus, resulting in skin malfunction
. *. Some cheap brands can give you an allergic reaction
*. Different brands are used for different skin types, you may get the wrong skin type
*. Cosmetics can leave you with nasty make-up lines
*. Clog your eyelashes together
*. Dry your lips out
*. Can get into your eyes.

Cosmetics involves some chemicals that are also dangerous to humans health. Those chemicals include:
*.Lead [which is a proven neurotoxin, linked to learning, language and behavioural problems. It has also been linked to miscarriage, reduced fertility in men and women, and delays in puberty onset in girls]. Cosmetics associated with this chemical include: nail colours, lipsticks and whitening toothpaste.
*. Phthalates [which has been linked to early puberty in girls and also a risk factor for later-life breast cancer]. Cosmetics associated with this chemical include: nail polish, perfumes and fragrance ingredients.
*. Triclosan [which can affect the body's hormone systems especially thyroid hormones]. Cosmetics associated with this chemical include: deodorants and antibacterial soaps.
*. Parabens [which are absorbed through the skin and has been identified in biopsy samples from breast tumours]. Cosmetics associated with this chemical include: lotions, ointments and underarm deodorants.
*. Placenta Extract [which has been identified as an anticipated carcinogen by the National Toxicology Program (NTP)]. Cosmetics associated with this chemical include: hair conditioners and shampoos.
*. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) [which have been shown to increase risk for breast cancer]. Cosmetics associated with this chemical include: shampoos and some cosmetics.
*. Ethylene Oxide [which has been identified as mammary carcinogens in animals by National Toxicology Program (NTP)]. Cosmetics associated with this chemical include: shampoos and body washes.
Meanwhile, make up looks good but can ruin yournatural beauty.

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Water and your Health

Water (H2O) is a transparent fluid which forms the world's streams, lakes, oceans and rain, and is the major constituent of the fluids of organisms. Water makes up more than two thirds of human body weight, and without water, we would die in a few days. The human brain is made up of 95% water, blood is 82% and lungs 90%. A mere 2% drop in our body's water supply can trigger signs of dehydration: fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on smaller print, such as a computer screen. Water(pure) is tasteless and odorless. Water can dissolve many different substances, giving it varying tastes and odors. Humans, and other animals, have developed senses that enable them to evaluate the potabilityof water by avoiding water that is too salty or putrid.
The taste of spring waterand mineral water, often advertised in marketing of consumer products, derives from the minerals dissolved in it. The advertised purity of spring and mineral water refers to absence of toxins, pollutants, and microbes, not to the absence of naturally occurring minerals. Safe drinking wateris essential to humans and other lifeforms even though it provides no caloriesor organic nutrients.
Access to safe drinking water has improved over the last decades in almost every part of the world, but approximately one billion people still lack access to safe water and over 2.5 billion lack access to adequate sanitation. However, some observers have estimated that by 2025 more than half of the world populationwill be facing water-based vulnerability. A report, issued in November 2009, suggests that by 2030, in some developing regions of the world, water demand will exceed supply by 50%. Water plays an important role in the world economy, as it functions as a solventfor a wide variety of chemical substances and facilitates industrial cooling and transportation.
Approximately 70% of the freshwater used by humans goes to agriculture. Water serves as a lubricant in digestion and almost all other body processes. The water in our saliva helps facilitate chewing and swallowing, ensuring that food will slide easily down the esophagus. Water also lubricates our joints and cartilages and allows them to (pardon the pun) move more fluidly. When dehydrated, the body rations water away from the joints. Less lubrication equals greater friction and that can cause joint, knee and back pain potentially leading to injuries and arthritis. Even our eyeballs need plenty of lubrication to work well and remain healthy.
Boiling, steaming, and simmering are popular cooking methods that often require immersing food in water or its gaseous state, steam. Water is also used for dish washing. Water also plays many critical roles within the field of food science. It is important for a food scientist to understand the roles that water plays within food processing to ensure the success of their products.
Our bodies can control over-heating through perspiration from sweat glands in the skin and from evaporation which produces a cooling effect. Blood is also routed into areas close to the surface of the skin where it can be cooled and then carried back to the interior of the body. Conversing in a cold environment, the skin maintains proper body temperature by shunting the blood away from the exterior surface thereby conserving heat within the body. The movement of water within our cellular systems also transports vital blood plasma which is 92% made of water. Blood plasma play a critical role in buffering the body’s pH, circulating antibodies from the immune system, and regulating osmotic balance which all helps to maintain proper body temperature

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Global Health Update: What you have to know about Down Syndrome (DS)

Down syndrome (DS or DNS), also known as trisomy 21, is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of chromosome 21. Our bodies are made up of millions of cells. In each cell there are 46 chromosomes.
The DNA in our chromosomes determines how we develop. People with Down syndrome have 47 chromosomes in their cells instead of 46. They have an extra chromosome 21, which is why Down syndrome is also sometimes known as trisomy 21. The physical features and medical problems associated with Down syndrome can vary widely from child to child. While some kids with DS need a lot of medical attention, others lead healthy lives.
The parents of the affected individual are typically genetically

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High Risk Of Tuberculosis (TB)

Tuberculosis (TB), is an infectious bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which most commonly affects the lungs. It is transmitted from person to person via droplets from the throat and lungs of people with the active respiratory disease. Tuberculosis is spread through the air when people who have active TB in their lungs cough, spit, speak, or sneeze. People with latent TB do not spread the disease. Active infection occurs more often in people with HIV/AIDS and in those who smoke. Diagnosis of active TB is based on chest X-rays, as well as microscopic examination and culture of body fluids. Prevention of TB involves screening those at high risk, early detection and treatment. Those at high risk include household, workplace, and social contacts of people with active TB. Treatment requires the use of multiple antibiotics over a long period of time.

Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem with increasing rates of multiple drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB).

Causes
A number of factors make people more susceptible to TB infections. The most important risk factor globally is HIV (13% of all people with TB are infected by the virus). This is a particular problem in sub-Saharan Africa, where rates of HIV are high. Of people without HIV who are infected with tuberculosis, about 5–10% develop active disease during their lifetimes; in contrast, 30% of those coinfected with HIV develop the active disease. Tuberculosis is closely linked to both overcrowding and malnutrition, making it one of the principal diseases of poverty. Those at high risk thus include: people who inject illicit drugs, inhabitants and employees of locales where vulnerable people gather (e.g. prisons and homeless shelters), medically underprivileged and resource-poor communities, high-risk ethnic minorities, children in close contact with high-risk category patients, and health-care providers serving these patients.
Chronic lung disease is another significant risk factor. Silicosis increases the risk about 30-fold. Those who smoke cigarettes have nearly twice the risk of TB compared to nonsmokers. Other disease states can also increase the risk of developing tuberculosis. These include alcoholism and diabetes mellitus (three-fold increase).
The main cause of TB is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a small, aerobic, nonmotile bacillus. The high lipid content of this pathogen accounts for many of its unique clinical characteristics. It divides every 16 to 20 hours, which is an extremely slow rate compared with other bacteria, which usually divide in less than an hour.

Global tuberculosis report in 2015 provides data reported by over 200 countries that account for more than 99% of the world's TB cases. In 2015, particular attention was given to assessment of whether 2015 global TB targets set in the context of the MDGs were achieved worldwide and at regional and country levels. Tuberculosis may infect any part of the body, but most commonly occurs in the lungs (known as pulmonary tuberculosis). Extrapulmonary TB occurs when tuberculosis develops outside of the lungs, although extrapulmonary TB may coexist with pulmonary TB.

Symptoms
include: fever, chills, night sweats, loss of appetite, weight loss, and fatigue. Significant nail clubbing may also occur.

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Global Health Update: What you should know about 'Constipation'

Constipation is a condition where one go through difficulty in emptying the bowels. Constipation is generally described as having fewer bowel movements a week. Though occasional constipation is very common, some people experience chronic constipation that can interfere with their ability to go about their daily tasks. Chronic constipation may also cause excessive straining to have a bowel movement and other signs and symptoms.

Treatment for chronic constipation depends on the cause.
Causes
Constipation can be caused by many different l factors including:
*.Low-fibre diet – as fibre is indigestible, it adds bulk to the faeces, making it more easily pushed along the digestive tract. There are two broad types of fibre; soluble and insoluble. Soluble fibre helps to soften the faeces. Good sources of soluble fibre include legumes, fruits and vegetables. Insoluble fibre adds bulk to the faeces, helping it to move more quickly through the bowel. Good sources of insoluble fibre are in wheat bran, wholegrain breads and cereals.

*.Insufficient water – the fibre in faeces will only plump up with water. Constipation can occur from a high-fibre diet if insufficient water is consumed.

*.Lack of regular exercise

*.A tendency to ‘put off’ going to the toilet – ignoring the urge to go means that more water will be extracted from the stools, making them difficult to pass. Regularly ignoring this urge may make the body less sensitive to normal signals to go to the toilet.

*.Some medications – such as narcotics, antidepressants, iron supplements, calcium-channel blockers and non-magnesium antacids are known to slow bowel movements.

*.Pregnancy – the action of hormones, reduced activity and the pressure of the growing uterus against the intestines mean that constipation is common during pregnancy.

*.Advancing age – constipation is more common in the elderly. This is due to a number of factors, including reduced intestinal muscle contractions and reliance on regular medications.

*.Illness – a period of illness, particularly an illness resulting in hospitalisation and bed-rest, typically results in constipation. Factors include change in routine, shyness, reduced food intake, pain (especially after abdominal surgery), and pain-relief medication such as morphine. Short-term treatment with laxatives is often required, but may be overlooked.
Though, in some cases, a cause for chronic constipation is never found.
Symptoms
The symptoms include:
*.needing to open the bowels less often than usual

*.hard, dry stools that may be painful to pass

*.straining to pass the motion

*.having to sit on the toilet for much longer than usual

*.the sensation afterwards that the bowel hasn’t fully emptied

*.bloated abdomen

*.abdominal cramps.

In some cases, constipation is caused by more serious illnesses and events, including tumours and systemic diseases. Back

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Global Health Update: Do you know what the types of Cancer are?

Here is the Alphabetical List of Cancer Types

A
    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
    Acute myeloid leukemia
    Adrenocortical carcinoma
    AIDS-related cancers
    AIDS-related lymphoma
    Anal

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Climate Change: Experts says its Global Emergency

Medical professionals are now warning of the threat climate change poses to our ability to grow quality
food, access clean water and breath clean oxygen.

Natural disasters worldwide have long demonstrated the devastating effect climate change can have on local and sometimes entire populations, with developing countries usually suffering the most from extreme weather conditions

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