Malaria,
typhoid biggest threat for travellers
If you're a Western traveller, malaria and typhoid fever should be at the top of the
list of diseases to discuss with your doctor when you return, especially
following travel to Western Africa or India.
In a study of more than 80,000 returned travelers who sought medical care for illnesses, around 3,000 (4 percent) were affected by malaria, typhoid fever and other potentially life-threatening tropical diseases.
In a study of more than 80,000 returned travelers who sought medical care for illnesses, around 3,000 (4 percent) were affected by malaria, typhoid fever and other potentially life-threatening tropical diseases.
Many would be surprised to know that not a single traveller contracted the highly contagious and lethal Ebola virus, which is typically one of the tropical diseases most feared by travellers.
"While diagnosis and treatment of malaria and typhoid fever and many other tropical diseases have improved greatly over the years, people still can die from them if they are not treated quickly after their symptoms begin," University of Oslo researcher Mogens Jensenius, MD, PhD, who with his colleagues analyzed 15 years of data entered into the GeoSentinel surveillance network database, said.
"Doctors and nurses in Western countries need to be vigilant in considering these potentially life-threatening tropical infections in recently-returned travelers with fevers, and identify and treat them quickly," Jensenius said.
Jensenius and fellow researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and several other universities throughout Europe, Israel, Australia and the United States looked at data from 82,825 ill travellers from Europe, North America, Israel, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
The travelers sought care at clinics associated with GeoSentinel from June 1996 through August 2011 with illnesses contracted during travel to the tropics.
They found that 3,655 patients—4.4 percent of the total—had one of 13 life-threatening diseases. There were a total of 13 deaths, 10 of which occurred in patients with malaria.
Malaria was mostly seen in travelers to West Africa, while most cases of typhoid fever were contracted by visitors to the Indian subcontinent.
There were no cases of Ebola, Lassa fever or yellow fever among the more than 82,000 ill Western travelers included in the study, according to Jensenius and his fellow researchers.
The findings are published online in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
Source: www.timesofindia.com
18.01.2013
Ways to
boost your fertility naturally
Try to keep your cool
Sperm develops best in cool surroundings. Men who sit with computers on their laps can have reduced fertility levels. Men should also avoid long, hot baths.
Sperm develops best in cool surroundings. Men who sit with computers on their laps can have reduced fertility levels. Men should also avoid long, hot baths.
Soak up the sunshine
Sunlight boosts fertility in both men and women by increasing levels of Vitamin D.
Sunlight boosts fertility in both men and women by increasing levels of Vitamin D.
Take time to relax
Stress can have a huge impact on female fertility. It can also slow male sperm production and lower libido.
Eat more dairy
Women, who eat one serving of full-fat dairy a day, reduce their risk of infertility by more than a quarter, a study found. Dairy fat helps the ovaries work well.
Think before drinking
If you're trying to get pregnant, it's a good idea for you and your partner to drink less alcohol. Drinking too much has been found to impair ovulation and sperm production.
Lose weight
Body fat produces oestrogen, which confuses the body's ovulation cycle. Overweight women often have less regular periods than women who weigh less. Losing just 5% of your body weight can boost conception chances by about a fifth.
Stress can have a huge impact on female fertility. It can also slow male sperm production and lower libido.
Eat more dairy
Women, who eat one serving of full-fat dairy a day, reduce their risk of infertility by more than a quarter, a study found. Dairy fat helps the ovaries work well.
Think before drinking
If you're trying to get pregnant, it's a good idea for you and your partner to drink less alcohol. Drinking too much has been found to impair ovulation and sperm production.
Lose weight
Body fat produces oestrogen, which confuses the body's ovulation cycle. Overweight women often have less regular periods than women who weigh less. Losing just 5% of your body weight can boost conception chances by about a fifth.
But don't get skinny
Being underweight can switch off your body's ability to reproduce eggs, as it senses there isn't enough fat to sustain a healthy pregnancy.
Say no to drugs
Recreational drugs, such as cocaine and marijuana, have been found to lower sperm counts and increase abnormal sperm, while female drug users can face ovulation problems.
Eat more oily fish
Some studies show omega-3s, which are found in oily fish, such as salmon and in linseed, may reduce risk of miscarriage and improve sperm quality.
Being underweight can switch off your body's ability to reproduce eggs, as it senses there isn't enough fat to sustain a healthy pregnancy.
Say no to drugs
Recreational drugs, such as cocaine and marijuana, have been found to lower sperm counts and increase abnormal sperm, while female drug users can face ovulation problems.
Eat more oily fish
Some studies show omega-3s, which are found in oily fish, such as salmon and in linseed, may reduce risk of miscarriage and improve sperm quality.
Kick the caffeine
Research has shown that just one cup of coffee per day could halve your chances of conception.
Research has shown that just one cup of coffee per day could halve your chances of conception.
Cut out painkillers
Some over-the-counter pills, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, can affect conception if taken
around the time of ovulation. They may suppress hormones called prostaglandins,
which help release eggs into the Fallopian tube.
Source: www.timesofindia.com
18.01.2013
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