A patient who contracts an infection while after 48 hours in hospital is said to have a hospital acquired infection. These infections can be caused by viral, bacterial and fungal pathogens. These are grouped into three categories :

1. Response to medical or surgical treatment
2. Organizational risk factors.
3. Patient risk factors.

It is estimated that about one in ten patients contract HAIs. Many different types of infectious diseases may arise with a hospital acquired, the most common of which are urinary tract infections, lung, wound and blood infections.

There are effective treatments for HAI but it depends on the nature and cause of the infection including antifungal, antibacterials and antivirals. Drug resistance is a challenging factor in HAI and it is generally accepted that this is caused by inappropriate use and over prescribing antibiotics. Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus( bacteria) is the highest rate of infection and it makes up 44% of all HAIS. To tackle this problem of HAI, the government is taking action to improve patient’s environment which includes entrances, ward, visitor toilets, cleanliness, decoration and quality of  hospital food.

There are some practical steps that can be adopted to minimize the patient from risk of contracting HAIS which includes the patient should be neatly bathed before coming to hostpital, the visitor should be asked to wear newly laundered dresses, visitor should also freshly bathed before coming to hospital, the number of visitors to be restricted strictly and they should not sit in the bed, the isolated patients should not have any visitor, the staff and visitor should wash their hands neatly before going inside the ward, the medical wipes should be used to clean the hands after using bedpans and the patient should be educated to replace the bed sheet then and there on their own and he should be taught to clean the bedside rubbish frequently.

In the infection a group of fungi attacks the toenail and start to change the color of nail. The healthy nail is transparent and its superficial look is pink due to high blood supply underneath. Nails, sometime which look useless to us are very important as they protect the skin at the terminal parts of the body and have a high aesthetic value.

As the toenail fungus start to grow, it turn the natural color of nails first into yellow patches and then, with progressive growth, black with thick, chalky and ugliest structure.

This fungus, when attacks start to consume the keratin protein that protects the nail from damaging. The function of keratin is to provide coating of the nail which is necessary for the structure and shape.

The fungal infection first starts from the top edge or the sides like cuticles of the toe and then with the passage of time grows inward and gets spread in the whole nail. This condition can get worse and painful if the in time treatment is not made. Some of the common symptoms of toenail fungal infection include:

Discoloration of the nails starts from the outermost end and move inward underneath the nail. The nails lose their firmness and become thick flaky and ugly.

The fungal infection appears as white or yellow patches that cannot be removed with simple rubbing any chemical solution. In some severe cases when infection deep rooted in the nail, it generates the pus and nasty odor. Though it hard to completely cure the infection yet, toenail fungus treatment concentrate on reducing the symptoms of the fungal infection.

In spite of of the cause of the toenail fungal infection, the condition should be treated as soon as possible because it is highly contagious and can affect the other parts of the body.

Though the drug has proved quite effective to treat acne, there are many potential side effects of taking this treatment. Some studies suggest that the drug can become the cause of severe forms of depression including suicidal tendencies.  Hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy become the cause of acne in many women, but accutane treatment can’t be used in pregnancy. If it is used during pregnancy, it may cause birth defects in infants.

There are also some benefits of using accutane acne treatment and these benefits definitely deserve some attention as well. This acne treatment is considered quite effective in regulating the sebaceous glands and makes them produce lesser amount of sebum and oil. It’s not only appear to treat acne properly, but it also helps to heal the appearance of scars and preventing the recurrence of acne, but the treatment is needed to use for a prolong time to achieve the desired results.

Aside from acne, it can also be used to treat many other chronic skin diseases.

These are some potential advantages and disadvantages of using Accutane, but before opting for this or any other skin treatment, it’s best to consult your dermatologist.

There are many contributing factors in these increasing number of acne sufferers that include unhealthy lifestyle, poor diet, environmental pollution etc. One can avoid acne if one opts for a healthy lifestyle and consume healthy diets rich in vitamins and minerals.

In China, the contaminated milk became the cause of four deaths and kidney problems in over 50,000 children, while in America; more than 1,400 people fell ill due to salmonella’s outbreak.

According to Jorgen Schlundt, who is director of food safety in WHO, “We need to make more research to find out how many deaths and how much sicknesses originate from tainted foods.”

According to some estimates, viruses, parasites, bacteria and chemicals that are introduced along food chains originate almost 30% of new infectious diseases.

“Some reports show that the foodborne diseases are on increase worldwide, but we don’t have a sufficient data and it is somewhat difficult to point out what is really happening,” Schulundt said

The United Nation Agency says that nearly 2.2 million children die every year from different diarrhoeal illnesses like cholera and it mostly occurs due poor sanitation, dirty water and the tainted food.

“It is needed to monitor food products at every stage of their handling and we can easily observe that in many countries, regulatory authorities have failed to work together,” he added.

Just like your skin, you need to take proper care of your nails to keep them healthy and in good condition. When it’s about nail’s health and condition, most of us (especially men) have a casual attitude and do nothing good for them except cutting them. To keep your nails healthy and in good condition, here are some suggestions offered by the U.S. National library of Medicine.

1. It’s not a right thing to bite, pick or tear at your nail. If you have some difficulty in stopping these behaviors, you must consult with your doctor.
2. You must clip your hangnails regularly.
3. Try cutting your toenails in a straight line.
4. Always use comfortable shoes that don’t pinch the toes.
5. Keep your fingernail clean and short
6. To help strengthen brittle nails, you can take vitamin biotin
7. You can also apply a coat of clear nail polish to protect your nails and make them look beautiful and shiny.

Your skin as well as your fingernails reflects your personality and that’s why it is quite important for you keep them healthy and glowing. These tips can prove quite handy to do so.

The two reports presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology’s annual meeting, in Seattle, show that almost 3 million children (under 18) had a food allergy in 2007 and it was an 18% percent increase since 1997.

“The problem is something more than numbers, as the severity of food allergies is going up,” said Dr. Sami L. Bahna, who is a professor of pediatrics and medicine at Louisiana State University Health Science Center.

“We can see a considerable increase in severe attacks of airway obstruction, intestinal problems and severe rashes,” Bahna said.

“The thing that is noteworthy is the method exposure is also changing, as people used to react by eating the food in the past, but now a lot of people react by smelling or even touching the food,”

“Only food allergies are not on the rise, as many other allergies like asthma, eczema and hay fever are also increasing,” he added.

According to expert, there are many factors that contributing to the increase in allergies. The so-called ‘hygiene hypothesis’ is the first one that says people in industrial countries living in an increasingly sterile environments. And because of this, their immune systems don’t have to fight a lot of infections.

A potent bacterial toxin known as Subtilase cytotoxin is produced by some kinds of E. coli bacteria that targets on human cells with a non-human cellular molecule on their surface. It seems that N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) is one of its favorite targets. N-glycolylneuraminic acid is a type of glycan or sugar molecule and its high levels are found in red meat and dairy products.

Subtilase cytotxin leads to bloody diarrhea and can become the cause of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) that is a potentially fatal disease.

The study has been published online in the journal Nature Oct. 29 issue.

Dr. Ajit Varki, who is a professor of the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, says in a university news release: “Humans may set themselves up for a higher risk of disease from that sort of E. coli bacteria found in contaminated red meat or dairy, as these products have high-levels of Neu5Gc.”

According to the researchers, people must consume only well-cook meat or pasteurized dairy products, as most of contaminating bacteria can be destroyed by these two processes.

Scalp diseases are conditions, which affect the skin of the head. Scalp conditions can be simple, such as a minor infection that are easily treated or a scalp disease may becomes serious life-threatening condition, such as cancer.

Causes and risks:

Problems on the scalp can be caused by a lot of factors, including: acne, eczema, and itchy swelling due to skin allergic reactions. Sometime pregnancy generates autoimmune disorders, in which, immune system attacks her body. For example, systemic lupus erythematosus, a type of autoimmune disorder which causes hair loss. Medications, including vitamin A, contraceptives pills, or chemotherapy may also initiate scalp problems.Preventions:

A person should not use other person’s brush or hat to prevent lice and ringworm of the scalp. Most of the scalp conditions cannot be prevented. Some scalp diseases may cause permanent damage or scarring to the skin. If a person is suffering from cancer or certain other underlying conditions may need lifelong treatment. Scalp problems are usually non-contagious. However, if these occur due to any infection, the infection could be contagious.

Treatments for Scalp condition

Scalp treatment could be as simple as using a scalp care shampoo. Other infections often require antibiotics, either in the form of creams for topical use or pills. Special medications for hair loss, or to promote hair growth may be advised for those who are losing hair.

Analgesics may be recommended, if the scalp problem is painful. Treatment for autoimmune disorders may include medications to reduce inflammation and immune response. Surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy may be needed for cancer.

After effects

In most of the cases, no further treatments are needed after the scalp problem is treated, because the person may be “cured.” In rare cases, the underlying cause cannot be cured and the person needs further treatment.

Any new or worsening symptoms, if appear should be informed to the healthcare professional. A patient of HIV may need repeated blood tests to monitor the immune system. Any medications used may also need monitoring with blood screenings to inhibit any complication.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition which affects 1 to 3 percent of the world’s population. Characteristics of psoriasis are episodic clear flare-ups, red patches covered by a silvery scale on the outermost surfaces and the scalp. The exact cause of psoriasis is still unknown, but it is believed that a collection of different factors give birth to this disease.

Pityriasis Rosea

Pityriasis rosea is a widespread, self-limited skin rash that occurs in healthy adolescents and young adults. The appearance of the rash is prominent and often causes concern to the family, but it does resolve on its own. Exact cause of pityriasis rosea is unknown but it typically occurs in cold weather.

Rash starts with a single, oval lesion on the trunk. Within a few days, smaller lesions starts to appear on the trunk but can spread to the arms, legs, and face. The lesions may be extremely itchy.

Scabies

Scabies occur due to a tiny mite that burrows under the skin. The rash is red, bumpy, and often located on wrists, in armpits, and around the waistline. Scabies rash causes a terrible itch especially during sleep. It is treated with a lotion to kill the mite, but rash removal may take a month.

Eczema

Eczema is an itchy skin rash that is intimately liked to allergies. It is also known as “the itch that rashes.” The cause of eczema is unknown, but it is related to abnormalities in the epidermis that drier the skin than normal and make it more sensitive to normal substances.

Hives

Hives (urticaria) is a rash that can develop and grow in hours or even minutes. Hives can be divided into acute and chronic hives. This division is important because chronic hives have some unique causes like pressure or water-contact.
Hives occur with numerous reasons, and it’s hard to isolate one, now medications have been discovered which treat hives effectively.

Baby Acne

Baby acne is a common problem that develops after a few weeks of birth. It is believed that maternal hormones trigger it. Although its appearance distress new parents, no treatment is usually required. It goes away on its own in a few weeks or months.

Heat Rash

Heat rash is triggered in babies, when they become overheated, either because they are overdressed or because of hot environment. As they get hot and sweat, their sweat ducts become blocked and rupture. The best example of this rash is prickly heat.

Chicken Pox

Chicken pox is a highly contagious infection caused by the varicella virus. Chicken pox is a disease of childhood – 90% of cases occur in children aged 14 years and younger. Chicken pox can occur at any time, but mostly occurs in March, April, and May in temperate climates.

The chicken pox rash appears on the trunk and radiate to the face and extremities. The chicken pox lesion starts as a red papule which grows in an irregular shape. A thin-walled, clear vesicle develops on top of the area of redness. After about 8-12 hours the fluid in the vesicle becomes cloudy and the vesicle bursts leaving a crust. The fluid is highly contagious, but once the lesion crusts over, it is not considered contagious.

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In these new vaccines Novartis AG’s Fluvirin; GlaxoSmithKline Plc’s Fluarix and FluLaval; CSL Ltd’s Afluria and Sanofi Aventis SA’s Fluzone have been included.

AstraZeneca Plc unit MedImmune‘s developed FluMist nasal spray has also been approved by the FDA.
There are the same three strains of the influenza virus in each vaccine as health specialist choose every year after considering which one is likely to break out.

According to CDC, influenza outbreaks can start in October and can last till the end of May.
This year, the FDA chose three new strains to update the vaccine instead of choosing one or two.

The CDC reported that in the previous flu season (2007-08) the vaccines proved quite ineffective in many parts and circulation of other strains than the expected one was the basic reason behind it.
MedImmune as well as Sanofi Aventis have already started to ship their products.

Earlier this week, MedImmune told that it was planning to develop more than 12 million doses of its new vaccine known as nasal mist and has been approved for 2 to 49 years old.