There's an increase in hosptal admissions due to ongoing viral fever.This viral fever has caused 4 deaths in kegalle district.

The symptoms are fever,loss of appetite,vomiting,myalgia and joint pain.On examination patients are flushed and have low blood pressure.Sometimes patient may complain of chest pain and shortness of breath.This could be serious,because some patients can develop viral myocarditis,which could be fatal if not diagnosed properly.

ECG is helpful to diagnose the state of myocarditis.

If you have got above symptoms,consult the nearest doctor.

Apparently there is again going to be a resurgence of Chikungunya Fever. Following is a fact sheet released by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention USA on this topic.

Chikungunya Fact Sheet

Chikungunya fever is a viral disease transmitted to humans by the bite of infected mosquitoes. Chikungunya virus was first isolated from the blood of a febrile patient in Tanzania in 1953, and has since been cited as the cause of numerous human epidemics in many areas of Africa and Asia, and most recently in a limited area of Europe.

What causes chikungunya fever?

Migraine headaches are recurrent headaches often accompanied by nausea ( feeling vomittish). Patients dislike bright light and noise as well. The episodes are separated by symptom-free intervals.

The headaches typically have a throbbing quality, are relieved after sleep, and may be accompanied by visual symptoms(abnormal things that you see), dizziness, or vertigo (spinning).

Migraine headaches may occur with or without a prodrome. Prodrome means awareness of impending attack.

Symptoms of Dengue Fever Include :
• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle and joint pains
• Nausea / vomiting
• Rash
• Hemorrhagic manifestations - Bleeding in to the skin, blood stained vomitting, nose bleeding etc

If you have these symptoms, ask your physician to order a test for dengue fever.

If you have dengue:

• Avoid mosquito bites while you have a fever.
• Don't let mosquitoes bite you. They can infect other members of your family with dengue after biting you.
• Use mosquito barriers until the fever subsides, to prevent day-biting mosquitoes from biting a sick person, becoming infected, and then biting someone else.
• Rest in a screened room or under a bed net.
• Use insect repellents and spray insecticide indoors if there are mosquitoes.

Sri Lanka on Saturday banned imports of live birds and chicken from India following an outbreak of bird flu in the neighbouring country, an official said.

POISONING

Alkali, acid, korosine oil(hydrocarbons)- DONT induce vomiting(Can cause inhalation to lungs.)

Paracetamol, kaneru, weedicide and pesticide, niyangala, other tablet poisoning-induce vomiting.

As soon as possible bring to nearest hospital.

If reduced conciousness, keep patient to a side.

If possible bring the poison taken.

Highly Venomous snakes
1.cobra
2.russels viper
3.saw scaled viper
4.common krait
5.sri lankan krait
6.Sea snakes
Bites from snakes 1 to 4,are treated with anti venom serum)
Moderately venomous snakes
1.Green pit viper
2.Hump nose viper(kunakatuwa,polon thelissa)

FIRST AID

Reassure the patient.

Immobilize the bitten part.

Give only paracetamol for pain relief.

Don’t cut the bitten site.

Bring the patient to nearest hospital.

If possible,bring the offending snake to hospital

Bronchial Asthma is due to consriction of airways causing reduced oxygen supply to lungs.

Symptoms
Shotness of breath
Wheezing
Cough

Rate of respiration increased
Cant speak a sentence completely

First aid

If the patient a known bronchial asthma patient,give the drugs/inhalers with patient
INHALER-Salbutamol inhalers –to reduce symptoms
Steroid inhalers-to reduce disease recurrence

Bring the patient to nearest medical centre with nebulization facility

Give a good oxygen supply

Delmon Hospital
No.58, Galle Rd., Wellawatte.
Tel : 503295

Apollo Hospital
Colombo 05 Sri Lanka
Tel : 554154 / 074 930000