Receiving the shingles vaccine is associated with lowering the risk of getting the disease

receiving the shingles vaccine is associated with lowering the risk of getting the disease

Alternative Medicine: preventing and treating the common cold by natual home remedies

Preventing colds or relieving cold symptoms by alternative medicine may be beneficial. Scientific evidence to date does not support recommending any of these therapies for general use against colds. People should check with their health care provider before using any therapy.Here are some other examples:

• Andrographis (Andrographis paniculata)
• Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus)
• Bee propolis
• Chinese herbal medicine
• Elderberry (Sambucus nigra)
• Garlic (Allium sativum)
• Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)
• Green tea
• Guided imagery
• Honey
• Homeopathic remedies
• Hydrotherapy
• Nasal irrigation
• North American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius)
• Peppermint (Mentha x piperita)
• Probiotics
• Selenium
• South African geranium or Umckaloabo (Pelargonium sidoides)
• Stress management
• Vitamin E
  

 

 

References

1. Arroll B. Non-antibiotic treatments for upper-respiratory tract infections (common cold). Respiratory Medicine. 2005;99:1477–1484.
2. Barrett BP, Brown RL, Locken K, et al. Treatment of the common cold with unrefined echinacea: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2002;137(12):939–946.
3. Bukutu C, Le C, Vohra S. Complementary, holistic, and integrative medicine: the common cold. Pediatrics in Review. 2008;29(12):e66–e71.
4. Caruso TJ, Prober CG, Gwaltney JM Jr. Treatment of naturally acquired common colds with zinc: a structured review. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2007;45:569–574.
5. Eisenberg D, Davis RB, Ettner SL, et al. Trends in alternative medicine use in the United States, 1990-1997: results of a follow-up national survey. JAMA 1998 Nov 11;280(18):1569-75.
6. Tindle HA, Davis RB, Phillips RS, Eisenberg DM. Trends in use of complementary and alternative medicine by US adults: 1997-2002. Altern Ther Health Med. 2005 Jan-Feb;11(1):42-9.
7. D’Arcy PF. Mechanisms of drug interactions. Drug interactions with herbal and other non-orthodox remedies. Berlin: Springer-Verlag; 1996. p 327-52.

How patients, diseases and healthcare treatment is changing to prevent bacterial pneumonia

How patients, diseases and healthcare is changing to reduce bacterial pneumonia

Facts about Herpes simplex viruses (HSV)

Herpes simplex viruses (HSV) are widespread in the human population (seroprevalence up to 100%, depending on geographic area and subpopulation), and are divided into herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2).

While HSV-1 predominantly causes oral lesions (cold sores), HSV-2 manifests in the genital region and is mainly being transmitted sexually. However, the past decade has seen an increase in HSV-1 genital infections, which now account for at least half of first episodes of genital herpes in some countries. Both labial and genital herpes are generally self-limiting and can recur frequently.

HSV infections have also been associated with a three-fold increase in the risk of sexually acquired HIV. In immune compromised individuals large and painful ulcerations may result, and newborns infected with HSV are at risk of developing herpes encephalitis.

Most of the current herpes drugs inhibit a specific viral enzyme, the DNA polymerase. They share the same mode of action and are therefore very similar in their efficacy. Also, cross-resistance can occur.

C. difficile infection increasing

The number of cases of C. difficile infection has increased about 15 percent each year, from 3,565 in 1997 to 7,779 in 2006. A more virulent strain is causing higher rates of infection in children and symptoms of diarrhea, toxic megacolon (extreme inflammation and distention of the large intestine), perforated bowels is common. Children have a higher risk of developing C. difficile infection than adults according to a new research report.

Reference:

Cade M. Nylund; Anthony Goudie; Jose M. Garza; Gerry Fairbrother; Mitchell B. Cohen. Clostridium difficile Infection in Hospitalized Children in the United States. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine,

The 4 Most Common Causes of Healthcare-associated infections

Four categories of infections account for approximately three quarters of HAIs in the acute care hospital setting:

1. Surgical site infections;
2. Central line-associated bloodstream infections;
3. Ventilator-associated pneumonia, and;
4. Catheter-associated urinary tract infections.

Reference:

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

2010 STD Treatment Guidelines Updates

The CDC has released updated guidelines on STD screening and prevention. Evaluation for cervicitis and trichomoniasis; new treatment recommendations for bacterial vaginosis and genital warts; efficacy of azithromycin for chlamydial infections in pregnancy; Mycoplasma genitalium and trichomoniasis in urethritis/cervicitis, emergence of azithromycin-resistant Treponema pallidum, antimicrobial-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae and STD prevention guide.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/731790

Updated Guidelines:

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5912a1.htm?s_cid=rr5912a1_w