It's prevalence is 75% among teenagers and young adults(including some in their 20s and 30s). Acne is caused due to malfunction of your sebaceous gland (skin's oil gland) that leads to over production of sebum. Everyone gets it, you are not alone.Adolescent are distressed, breakdown and even cry with fear of 'ugly face'. Acne can be embarrassing it may even be hard to talk about.Acne is a treatable condition. It is the most common skin condition treated by health care providers. Acne is also called as zits or pimples. It occurs on the face, back and chest ranging from mild to severe. Acne is never your fault, it is influenced by many factors including genetics and hormonal changes or fluctuations.
CAUSATIVE ORGANISM: proprionibacterium acnes.
HOW DOES IT HAPPENS?
-The sex hormone(androgen) stimulates sebum production.
-Excessive sebum production causes blockage of sebaceous follicle outlet.
-Accumulation of keratin and sebum leads to formation of open and closed comedones.(k/a whiteheads and blackheads).
-Bacterial colonization occurs in the trapped sebum.
-Resulting in inflammatory reaction from this colonized sebum causes production of inflammatory papules, pustules, nodules and cysts.
TYPES: Two types of acne vulgaris, (a) Obstructive acne- closed comedones(k\a white heads) & open comedones(k/a black heads)
(b) Inflammatory acne-shows formation of lesions orderly,papules,pustules,nodules, cysts and scars.
TREATMENT:
a) without medicine: Prevention by a good skin care program.
1)Gentle face washing.
2)Avoidance of manipulating acne lesions( like temptation to squeeze or prick at pimples)
3)Use water-based cosmetics only.
4)use oil free moisturizers only.
(b) medical treatment:
*Step1- Begin with benzoyl peroxide gel. Apply it twice a day. Benzoyl peroxide should not be used by pregnant women.
*Step2- Topical tretinoin or adapelene is added.This is usually applied at bedtime. In the initial period, redness & irritation of the face might occur.
*Step3-Topical antibiotics like erythromycin or clindamycin is added. This is used in combination with step1 and 2.
*Step4- systemic antibiotics are added.
Allow 6-8 weeks for the treatment to work before deciding to try another regimen.
COMMON MYTH BELIEVED BY US,
a) Acne is caused by failure to wash dirt and oil is not true. Acne can be made worse by washing too vigorously and causing irritation. Gentle washing is sufficient.
b)'Acne is a normal adolescent problem of no consequences that should be allowed to run its course'. Not true, because the physical & psychological consequences of acne can be cataclysmic. Prompt treatment can prevent severe outbreaks thus avoid physical and emotional scarring.
c)'Unhealthy sexual habits,including masturbation, same sex play or even simple indulgence can cause acne'.This is not true, because sex with wrong person can cause rashes but will not be acne.
d)'Acne vulgaris always clears up after adolescence' is not true because more than 10% of the individuals continue to have this form of acne well into adulthood. Bad news is that acne might not go away even you are in your 20's or 30's.
Take a positive approach by not blaming yourself for your acne. Always remember it's a common and treatable condition. Follow a consistent treatment plan.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
Tuberculosis terror in eastern Nepal
Widespread poverty, lack of awareness and dearth of nutritious food seem to have been responsible for the recent outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) in Dharan district of eastern Nepal. Credible reports point out that over 200 people of 75 households at Devimarg village are infected with TB. Many of those infected are children. Prior to the latest instance, the disease has claimed at least 50 lives in the past 10 years. While the developed countries are battling fatal disease such as cancer and HIV/AIDS, it is shameful that we are still fighting a losing battle against a completely curable disease caused by bacterial infection.
TB is a highly infectious disease that begins with chest pain, persistent cough, gradual weight loss, and in the later phase, even death if left untreated. Worldwide, over two million people die from it each year. The rise in HIV infection, the neglect of TB control programs and the emergence of drug-resistant strains have raised fears of a full-blown worldwide TB epidemic. In this country, TB has always been a fatal disease. According to the National Tuberculosis Center, about 90,000 people in Nepal have one form of TB or another, although the introduction of DOTS--Directly Observed Therapy Short-course--has helped contain the disease to a large extent. The six-month long DOTS treatment has led to a significant decline in TB mortality. However, many hospitals and health posts in TB-affected pockets in the country are devoid of both manpower and medicines. Such districts where the affliction is endemic either lack adequate health workers to instruct people about the need of DOTS, or the people are completely unaware of the DOTS treatment that is available free of cost. Take Devimarg village, for instance. Many people lost their lives because they were unaware of the DOTS clinic that supplies TB medicines without charge, while a few died as they were too poor to afford a nutritious diet and their immune system was too weak to resist the strain of the disease. The recent outbreak of TB provides evidence to the insensitivity and apathy of the government towards public health. A TB outbreak has been recorded in Devimarg village for the past 10 years. However, the government has paid no heed to identifying the victims of the deadly disease and stocking the health posts and hospitals immediately with adequate medicines and health workers. TB is most often the result of poverty, illiteracy and lack of nutritious food. The inhabitants of Devimarg village are poverty-ridden, illiterate and unaware of health issues. Since they are already weakened by malnutrition, their immune system cannot fight back once affected by the disease. If they are not treated in time, they can actually die of the disease. It is the responsibility of the government to educate the uneducated villagers about the need for proper diet and regular medicine intake to combat TB. Taking medicines regularly under the DOTS system alone could reduce TB by more than half.
courtesy: http://www.ekantipur.com/
TB is a highly infectious disease that begins with chest pain, persistent cough, gradual weight loss, and in the later phase, even death if left untreated. Worldwide, over two million people die from it each year. The rise in HIV infection, the neglect of TB control programs and the emergence of drug-resistant strains have raised fears of a full-blown worldwide TB epidemic. In this country, TB has always been a fatal disease. According to the National Tuberculosis Center, about 90,000 people in Nepal have one form of TB or another, although the introduction of DOTS--Directly Observed Therapy Short-course--has helped contain the disease to a large extent. The six-month long DOTS treatment has led to a significant decline in TB mortality. However, many hospitals and health posts in TB-affected pockets in the country are devoid of both manpower and medicines. Such districts where the affliction is endemic either lack adequate health workers to instruct people about the need of DOTS, or the people are completely unaware of the DOTS treatment that is available free of cost. Take Devimarg village, for instance. Many people lost their lives because they were unaware of the DOTS clinic that supplies TB medicines without charge, while a few died as they were too poor to afford a nutritious diet and their immune system was too weak to resist the strain of the disease. The recent outbreak of TB provides evidence to the insensitivity and apathy of the government towards public health. A TB outbreak has been recorded in Devimarg village for the past 10 years. However, the government has paid no heed to identifying the victims of the deadly disease and stocking the health posts and hospitals immediately with adequate medicines and health workers. TB is most often the result of poverty, illiteracy and lack of nutritious food. The inhabitants of Devimarg village are poverty-ridden, illiterate and unaware of health issues. Since they are already weakened by malnutrition, their immune system cannot fight back once affected by the disease. If they are not treated in time, they can actually die of the disease. It is the responsibility of the government to educate the uneducated villagers about the need for proper diet and regular medicine intake to combat TB. Taking medicines regularly under the DOTS system alone could reduce TB by more than half.
courtesy: http://www.ekantipur.com/
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