| |
HEALTH
In
the Doghouse
That's
where India is - the country accounts for 70 per cent of rabies deaths
in the world
Man's
best friend is in actuality, studies indicate, one of his most vicious
killers. If you haven't guessed yet-we're talking about the dog. Studies
conducted by Dr A.P. Galhotra, a professor in veterinary science at the
Punjab Agriculture University, show that roughly three million people
in India are bitten by dogs every year. Out of these 30,000 die a slow,
torturous death due to rabies. India has the dubious distinction of being
the country where 70 per cent of all rabies deaths in the world takes
place. In contrast China records 1,000 deaths due to rabies every year
and the United Kingdom none. Says Dr Sunit Roy, a consultant at Ganga
Ram Hospital, Delhi: "The high number of deaths shows the depth of
ignorance about rabies in our country."
|
HEP
HERBS
|
| Ancient
ayurvedic potions for coughs and colds could soon head the battle
against hepatitis B, which kills over two lakh Indians every year.
The Indian Council for Medical Research is about to launch a major
clinical trial for hepatitis B treatment using a combination of herbal
extracts and conventional drugs like interferon and riveberin. This
combination therapy is expected to be more effective. Grandma does
know best after all. |
The low incidence
of rabies worldwide is having a serious impact in India as far as availability
of vaccines is concerned. There are two rabies vaccines available. The
common one manufactured in India-called the nerve vaccine-costs Rs 600
for 6 shots. The trouble is, this vaccine is known to generate allergic
reactions and in rare cases even causes paralysis. The other one, called
the tissue-culture vaccine, is more expensive because it is imported.
It costs Rs 2,100 for a series of six shots and is generally held by doctors
to be safer. Doctors say the vaccine should be administered within 24
hours of a dog bite since rabies is known to have a gestation period that
stretches from two days to two years. The other recommended thing is to
wash the bite wound with water and soap. This simple act, doctors add,
can reduce the risk of rabies by 30 per cent.
Lastly,
never become complacent if you learn that the dog that has bitten you
has been inoculated. Studies show that inoculation of dogs only has a
success rate of about 50 per cent. Doctors advise that if a dog bite has
caused a flesh wound administering a rabies vaccine is mandatory. So next
time you bend down to pat an unknown dog, be very careful.
-Ninad
D. Sheth
IN
SMALL DOSES
 Betel
blasts the blues: The betel nut can dramatically improve
symptoms of schizophrenia, according to studies by scientists from the
US and New Zealand. Betel-chewing schizophrenics were compared with non-chewing
fellow-sufferers using various standard psychiatric measurements. Studies
showed that chewing just two betel nuts per day helped control symptoms
of schizophrenia. Besides, betel chewing did not have any adverse effects
on regular medication. The suspected altruistic agent here is arecoline,
the molecule that makes betel nut addictive. Good news for patients, bad
news for municipal cleaners.
Top
|
|
The
Government should encash at least a part of its stake in LIC and GIC before
its too late, suggests INDIA TODAY associate Editor V. Shankar Aiyar
in 
