With scarlet fever currently circulating in England, the UK Health Security Agency (UKSHA) has urged parents to remain vigilant for potential symptoms in
children.
Also known as scarlatina, it is an infectious disease triggered by group A strep bacteria that can lead to symptoms such as fever, a sandpapery rash, sore throat
and swollen tonsils.
The latest data published by the UKHSA showed that a total of 19,528 cases of scarlet fever were reported in the 2023/24 season, of which 12,176 cases occurring
between 1 January and 24 March 2024.
While the number of cases recorded this year is lower than those recorded during the same period in 2023, which totaled 15,933 cases, it exceeds the average for
the previous five years.
"Scarlet fever is a common childhood illness, although it can affect anyone of any age," said Dr Theresa Lamagni at UKHSA.
Parents are advised to contact their GP practice or NHS111 when their GP is unavailable, if they suspect they or their child are experiencing symptoms of scarlet
fever.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Committees of Advertising Practice (CAP) have issued a joint enforcement notice about
the 'illegal' advertising of Kenalog injections on digital platforms.
The notice warns all organisations offering Kenalog as a 'hay fever treatment' to stop advertising it in any of their social media or website advertising.
"Kenalog is a prescription-only medicine (POM), which must not be directly or indirectly advertised to the public. Kenalog is not licensed for the treatment of hay
fever in the UK, although it is offered by some beauty and aesthetics clinics, under the personal responsibility of an individual prescriber, and advertised widely
on social media," said MHRA.
"Now, advertisers must ensure that all references to Kenalog in the text, images or emojis on social media are removed, as well as commonly-used descriptive phrases
for the jab such as 'hay fever injection' or hay fever jab' or any account names, testimonials or memes by 29 August 2022."
After this date, the CAP's compliance team will remove non-compliant ads using targeted software and those who continue to promote it may be referred to the MHRA for
further enforcement action.
Between 10-15% of us suffer from hay fever symptoms. For many people it causes significant fatigue and problems with concentration and alertness. Of those 10-15% of people with hay-fever, about 10% do not respond to conventional, easily available treatments like anti-histamine tablets, nasal sprays and eye drops.
A bout 15 to 30 per cent of the UK population suffers from hay fever and there has been a definite increase in the number of moderate to severe hay fever
sufferers, with sufferers experiencing more frequent and longer seasons.
And now that the government has announced its plans for the easing of lockdown, community pharmacists can expect to see many more of their patients presenting
with more severe symptoms than usual, as there will be more opportunities to spend time outside and be exposed to higher levels of pollen.
Symptoms
Common symptoms include sneezing, a runny stuffed up nose, itchy, watery eyes, nasal congestion and a general stuffed up feeling in the nose and throat.
Some experience itching around the face and mouth, with an itchy palette, and burning sensation in the throat. Headaches and wheezing can also occur, as well
as an overall achy feeling, or build-up of pressure in the facial area. The sinus area can become painful and constant nose blowing can leave sufferers with skin
irritation. This can lead to tiredness and affect sleep, which in turn reduces energy.
People are advised to be mindful of medications that may cause sun reactions, and to watch out for dodgy hay fever treatments and fake weight loss pens.
For those traveling abroad, the MHRA advises considering the suitability of medicines available to reduce the risk of contracting tropical diseases.
Dr Alison Cave, Chief Safety Officer at the MHRA, said: "The summer is an exciting time for many of us, as we take time off to travel and enjoy the warmer weather.
"But it is important to understand what this time of year means for our medicines and medical devices, and take the precautions necessary to use products safely
and protect ourselves."
Watch out for dodgy hay fever treatments
Millions of Britons suffer from hay fever symptoms in the summer. The MHRA advises consulting a healthcare professional to find the best treatment for your symptoms.
People are also warned to be cautious of medicines advertised as hay fever treatments but not approved for use in the UK, such as Kenalog. This is a
prescription-only steroid injection licensed as a medicine for other conditions, but not for the treatment of hay fever.
Tynor Hot and Cold Pack is a convenient device to provide hot fomentation or cold compress. Tynor Hot and Cold Pack is of multipurpose advantage. It is a convenient and effective approach for both hot as well as a cold therapy. Hot pack can be used for body ache, joint pain, etc., whereas a cold pack can be used for fever, sprains, fever, bleeding, etc. It is easy to use and maintains the temperature for a long period of time. It is available in 11.22 x 7.67 inch universal sizes.
Hot fomentation of the injured or inflamed area enhances the threshold of pain and thus reduces the perception of pain. It has a synergistic effect along with pain relieving drugs. Raising temperature of the injured tissue also enhances the blood profusion and the healing process. Hot fomentation has a relaxing effect.
Cold compress helps in reduction of inflammation in injuries, protects by slowing the metabolic rate around the tissue, reduce oedema and bleeding. Cold compress helps in immediately lowering fever, in very high fever conditions. It can be used after an acute injury or surgical procedure.
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As the weather gets colder, we're all looking for ways to get through the winter months. One of the most popular natural remedies is ginger. It's been used for thousands of years and has been shown to relieve symptoms like sore throat and coughing as well as boost overall health. People often use ginger as a home remedy for treating colds and sore throats due to its antibacterial markers that can help handle pain and inflammation. The Ginger (Zingiber officinale) root is a perennial plant. Our forefathers have consumed ginger as a herbal therapy for decades after decades to cure many health conditions, from arthritis to abdominal pain. Today, we often use ginger when we have a cough or cold. The scientific database reveals that ginger has medicinal effects that could ease the symptoms of a cold or sore throat.
This article will examine how ginger may help colds and how you can use it in teas, juices, and other home remedies.
How is ginger good for treating Colds?
There is no definitive proof that ginger can cure or eliminate colds from roots, but research indicates that it may help control them. Ginger can also aid in improving cold symptoms.
One study review shows that there is evidence that ginger can help:
prevent colds
control or relieve a sore throat
ease congestion
decrease inflammation
However, researchers need to examine ginger's additional benefits to support this evidence.
Medicinal properties
Ginger has blends called gingerols and shogaols. Experimenters consider that these compounds give ginger its therapeutic properties. It is a potent anti-inflammatory. It's also a natural expectorant and decongestant, which helps to clear up congestion. Ginger is high in vitamin C and manganese, both essential nutrients for boosting your immune system during the cold season. While ginger may not be a cure-all for the common cold or flu (it's always best to consult your doctor if you're sick), it can help keep you feeling better while you recover.
Stu
Our clinic offers a number of health checks such as regular annual check-ups to ensure you are fit and healthy, pregnancy checks, yellow fever, discrete STI testing, etc.
Sometimes our body needs a little help but most of the time, due to it's innate intelligence, it knows exactly what to do to help itself get better. Unfortunately, we often try to fight against our body's natural defenses. For instance, a fever is usually meant to benefit us, not hurt us.
How does a person feel when he lost his eyes in an accident or when one of his legs amputated? Would he feel like to end his life to escape from the crises or try to face all the problems that come on his way?
According to the statistics more than one million people in the world commit suicide per year and over thirty thousand of these are said to be from the United States.
Why these people commit suicide? What demoralize them? The surveys says that people commit suicide for different reasons in which most common are financial problems, relationship problems, bullying and stress of work.
These people are trapped in depression and make up their mind that things will never get better, and none can improve the situation. G. B. Shaw said, "Sometimes, people get attached to their burdens more than the burdens are attached to them."
Life gets tough
We all just have to admit that life can sometimes get tough!
Our health may sometimes suffer, family demands demoralize, daily traumas build up and work strains speed up, but it doesn't mean to feel that the life isn't worth living. In such situation, we need a dose of inspiration that makes us feel good.Buy online wheelchair for handicapped and disabled at lowest Wheelchair price and cheap cost in india from wheelchair india online shopping.
Inspiration brings positive signs and heightens our creativity. In times of insecurity, remind yourself of those who overcame bodily limitations and various obstructions.
Finding inspiration
Here are six inspirational stories of people who, in spite of their physical limitations, participated fully in all aspects of the society. These differently-abled people (I don't like to say them disable) are not only inspirational to other people having physical problems; but equally inspirational to those of us who feel life is worthless and give up trying when the obstacles come on our way.
One of the world's best-known overachiever Stephen Hawking who suffers from Mot
HayMax, manufacturer of organic, drug-free allergen barrier balms for hay fever, dust, and pet allergies, has recently won the 2023 Global 100 awards. The
HayMax balm, applied around nostril rims and eye bones, is an innovative allergen blocker against pollen, dust, and pet allergens entering the body.
Independent university research confirms it traps over a third of pollen, along with dust mites and pet dander, before they enter the body, according to HayMax.
The drug-free balm is Soil Association-certified organic, comprising 100 per cent natural ingredients. Safe for children, pregnant, and breastfeeding women, it
holds the Vegetarian Society Approved trademark.
This award has come as a complete surprise to us at HayMax," said HayMax MD, Max Wiseberg. "Being held in such high regard through this global recognition is truly
delightful."
"The Global 100 aims to offer readers insight into firms that excel in their chosen specialties, and the award underscores hard work and innovation of various
companies," said its organisers.
Switzerland is experiencing medicine shortages due to supply chain issues linked to COVID lockdowns in China and war in Europe, the country's pharmacists
association said.
"We have the biggest problems with children's medications, especially fever-reducing syrup," Enea Martinelli from pharmaSuisse told Swiss broadcaster SRF.
"There are also shortages of blood pressure medications, psychiatric medications and Parkinson's medications," he said.
Digital transformation is sweeping across the healthcare landscape. Fuelled by ambitious government policy, exciting innovation and huge injections of funding,
it's hard for anyone in the sector not to catch a dose of digitisation fever.
But digitisation is not a universal tonic, and it certainly isn't always a 'good thing'. In fact, there's a real danger to digitising healthcare. Such a fundamental
change to the very nature of care delivery is an inevitably high-risk process: sometimes things or people get forgotten, vital processes stall, or new systems fail
to replicate the strengths of those they replace. Take, for instance, the digitisation of pharmacies.
Over recent years, the public's use of online-only pharmacies have boomed: in March it was reported that the number of items dispensed from distance-selling
pharmacies in England, UK quadrupled between 2016 and 2021.
These online providers offer an attractively convenient way for patients to receive their medicines; replacing a trip to a high street pharmacy with a package
delivered straight to their door. On the surface, this digital solution seems perfect not only for young patients with busy schedules, but also for older patients
or for those with restricted mobility who may struggle with in-person collection.
Winter is imminent and with dropping temperatures viruses are bound to be more prevalent, exacerbating health problems among the vulnerable and immunocompromised
patients. This can cause serious complications, and therefore, it's important to know the symptoms, methods to manage them and when to refer.
A healthy person can usually manage the illnesses with over-the counter medication. Colds, flu and Covid-19 are caused by different viruses. As some of their
symptoms
overlap, it may be hard to tell the difference. However, some key differences are shown in the following figure.
It is also possible to suffer from cold/flu and Covid-19 simultaneously, which can complicate matters. As per NHS guidelines, anyone with fever, cough, loss/change
in sense of taste and/or smell has to self-isolate and request a Covid test.
Pharmacy Advice
The pharmacy team should advise patients with symptoms to take rest, ensure adequate hydration and take balanced nutrition. Supplements such as Vitamin C, Vitamin
D and zinc can also help to boost the immune system and can be recommended.
Boots has partnered with Uber Eats to deliver beauty essentials and healthcare products to customers' doors in 30 minutes.
Medicines for minor ailments such as coughs, colds, hay fever, mild pain, rashes as well as COVID-19 test kits can be ordered through Uber Eats.
Boots is partnering with the doorstep delivery company with a pilot in 14 of its stores around the UK, with 13 of those stores giving customers within range
access to third-party doorstep delivery of Boots products for the very first time.
Uber Eats customers within range of participating Boots stores can choose from more than 900 products available for delivery straight to their homes or workplace,
including toiletries, medicines for minor ailments, food and drink options, and best-selling beauty and gifting options perfect for a last-minute gift or treat.
Paula Bobbett, Chief Digital Officer at Boots said: "We are hugely excited to be launching our partnership with Uber Eats. As the first health and beauty retailer
on its platform, we can offer an extensive range of product options to customers for delivery straight to their door. Whether it's medicines for mild illnesses or
last-minute gifts, beauty items or top-ups of a favourite skincare brand, we can meet all our customers' needs both quickly and conveniently."
The British scientists behind one of the major therapeutic Covid-19 trials have turned their focus to treatments for monkeypox, a viral disease that has been
labelled a global health emergency by the World Health Organization.
The team from Oxford University behind the so-called RECOVERY trial - which honed in on four effective Covid treatments - on Tuesday unveiled a new trial, dubbed
PLATINUM, to confirm whether Siga Technologies' tecovirimat is an effective treatment for monkeypox.
Although there are vaccines developed for the closely related smallpox that can reduce the risk of catching monkeypox, there are currently no treatments that have
been proven to help hasten recovery in those who develop the disease.
The UK has over 3,000 confirmed cases of monkeypox.
The virus is transmitted chiefly through close contact with an infected person. It typically causes mild symptoms including fever, rash, swollen lymph nodes and
pus-filled skin lesions. Severe cases can occur, though people tend to recover within two to four weeks.
Siga's drug, branded Tpoxx, has been cleared to treat diseases caused by the family of orthopoxvirus that includes smallpox, monkeypox and cowpox by the European
Union and United Kingdom, but due to limited trial data it is generally only used in severe cases in Britain.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has raised alarm over rising cases of extensively antibiotic-resistant Shigella infections, mainly in gay, bisexual,
and other men who have physical relationship with men (GBMSM).
There has been a 53 per cent increase in cases since the beginning of 2023, mostly driven by a cluster of antibiotic resistant strain called Shigella sonnei,
with 97 cases reported this year until November, compared to just four cases last year.
According to UKHSA, Shigella sonnei infections are difficult to treat as the strain does not respond to the antibiotics typically used to treat the bacteria.
While it has been found across England, cases are concentrated in London (45), the North West (21) and South East (12).
Shigella is an infectious gut infection that can cause symptoms like diarrhoea (sometimes mixed with blood), stomach cramps and fever, which are commonly
mistaken for food poisoning.
A smattering of monkeypox cases in Britain has prompted authorities to offer a smallpox vaccine to some healthcare workers and others who may have been exposed,
as a handful more cases were confirmed in parts of Europe.
Monkeypox is a usually mild viral illness, characterised by symptoms of fever as well as a distinctive bumpy rash.
There are two main strains: the Congo strain, which is more severe - with up to 10 per cent mortality - and the West African strain, which has a fatality rate of
about one per cent
First identified in monkeys, the viral disease typically spreads through close contact and largely occurs in west and central Africa. It has rarely spread elsewhere,
so this fresh spate of cases outside the continent has triggered concern.
In the United Kingdom, nine cases of the West African strain have been reported so far.
There isn't a specific vaccine for monkeypox, but a smallpox vaccine does offer some protection, a UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) spokesperson said.
Data shows that vaccines that were used to eradicate smallpox are up to 85 per cent effective against monkeypox, according to the World Health Organisation.
The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) has released a handbook today (February 23) on guidance for pharmacists on supporting self-care.
The handbook, "Empowering self-care: A handbook for pharmacists", covers six areas of self-care - sore throat, gastrointestinal complaints, musculoskeletal pain, fever in children, sexual health and disinfection.
Commenting on the release, Rúben Viegas, co-author of the handbook, said: Community pharmacists already help people in self-care by giving advice on non-prescription
medicines, nutrition, physical activity and lifestyle choices, but this new resource from FIP offers added support for these professional services that demonstrate our profession's commitment to primary health care."
The publication, also intended as an advocacy resource for FIP's member organisations, discusses latest trends and strategies in self-care and explores innovations adopted across several practice areas.
It aims to provide pharmacists with concise guidance on coaching practices and person-centred approaches to promote self-care.