Health Talk

Sep 06, 2005

<b>New drug comes</b><br>MALARIA – Malaria experts have recommended a drug, more effective than quinine, in treating severe malaria.

New drug comes
MALARIA – Malaria experts have recommended a drug, more effective than quinine, in treating severe malaria. The World Health Organisation said the issue was to ensure that artesunate, a drug derived from traditional Chinese medicine, was available to those who need it. This follows a Lancet study, which showed the drug cuts malaria deaths in adults by over a third. The death rate was lower among the adults who received artesunate (15%) vis avis those who received quinine (22%).

Early exposure deadly
CANCER – Prenatal or early postnatal exposure to combustion gases, particular engine exhaust, is a strong determinant of childhood cancers, according to a report in the September issue of the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. In the study, Dr. E. G. Knox of the University of Birmingham, UK, linked childhood cancer cases with emissions hotspots for specific chemicals.

Risk of pancreatic cancer
DIABETES – Middle-aged and older people who are newly diagnosed with diabetes, are more likely to have a higher risk of deadly pancreatic cancer. For three years after their diagnosis with diabetes, patients have eight times the risk of developing pancreatic cancer, the study at Mayo Clinic Cancer Centre found. Diabetes may be an early symptom of the hard-to-treat cancer, the researchers said. In the US, pancreatic cancer killed all people, who were diagnosed with the disease in 2004.

Vitamin pills fail
OLD AGE - Daily supplements of multivitamins and minerals do not prevent respiratory, stomach, skin and other types of infections in the elderly, as it was earlier thought, researchers said. A study by the University of Aberdeen in Scotland found that a typical vitamin and mineral supplement did not have an effect on the number of days of infection older people in their 70s had over the course of a year.

Infant deaths

PADER — The district has the highest infant mortality rate according to the July 2005 health and mortality survey among internally displaced persons. The survey was conducted by the World Health Organisation between January and July 2005. It shows that 111 children of below five years died in the district compared to 99 in Kitgum, 63 in Gulu municipality and 61 in Gulu district. Over 45% of the deaths were attributed to malaria followed by a non-clinically established disease locally called two Lango, which means originating from Lango. Other causes included diarrhoea, difficulty breathing, measles, and AIDS/HIV

Limited funds
NATIONAL — Under funding of the health sector is a threat to the success of the Prevention of Mother to Child HIV/AIDS Transmission, a senior medical officer at the AIDS control programme, Saul Onyango, said. Onyango said lack of money will hamper sensitisation of the masses and affect the morale of health workers forcing them to prefer side jobs to increase their incomes. He urged the Government to come to their rescue.


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