Daily treatment: key to managing asthma, according to new study

In the Philippines, the National and Health Nutrition Survey states that the overall prevalence of asthma was estimated at 8.7% based on wheezing for the past 12 months. And according to the 2017 WHO data, asthma deaths in the country reached over 13,000.4

According to this research, “New Versus Old: The Impact of Changing Patterns of Inhaled Corticosteroid Prescribing and Dosing Regimens in Asthma Management” by Professor Dave Singh, daily usage of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) or maintenance inhalers, addresses both the evident and underlying asthma symptoms that patients experience, decreasing the number and severity of their asthma attacks. This also solves the tendency of patients' over-reliance or under-reliance on their needed medication. 

An additional study shows that nearly 50% of asthma patients in Asia have uncontrolled asthma, despite the same research stating that over 80% of patients consider their asthma to be controlled.  

Consistency over complacency

“When it comes to asthma, poor patient perception is a serious risk. The belief that patients usually have is that their condition is not as serious as it is. When in reality, they are already experiencing underlying complications, such as airway inflammation, airway remodeling, decreased lung function, and bronchial hyperreactivity,” says Dr. Gyneth Bibera, Country Medical Director of GlaxoSmithKline Philippines Inc. “The underestimation of their disease's severity often leads to complacency, assuming that they only need treatment to react to symptoms when experienced. What this does is heightens the risk of asthma attacks, emergency hospital visits, a decreased quality of life, or even death.” 

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that requires maintenance medication. An effective way to manage it is through a preventive daily treatment using ICS therapies, alongside other prescribed medication that a patient might have. It helps to address the underlying source of the asthma attacks,  as opposed to only using ICS as a reliever once symptoms are already present. By committing to early and consistent treatment, patients can avoid experiencing asthma symptoms and exacerbations.

“Patients must view their asthma treatments as preventive rather than a reactive measure to control their condition. In partnership with their physicians, it's about maintaining consistency of treatment to provide them the best outcome in managing a chronic condition like asthma.” Dr. Bibera ends.

LEPTOSPIROSIS

It’s the rainy season again. 

The Department of Health (DOH) urges the public to be careful with diseases common during rainy season known as WILD - an acronym that stands for Water-borne diseases, Influenza, Leptospirosis, and Dengue. 

Here are some information about Leptospirosis.

LEPTOSPIROSIS is a bacterial disease that affects humans and animals. It is caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira. In humans it causes a wide range of symptoms, and some infected persons may have no symptoms at all. Symptoms of leptospirosis include high fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches, and vomiting, and may include jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or a rash. If the disease is not treated, the patient could develop kidney damage, meningitis (inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord), liver failure, and respiratory distress.

How do people get leptospirosis?

Outbreaks of leptospirosis are usually caused by exposure to water contaminated with the urine of infected animals. Many different kinds of animals carry the bacterium; they may become sick but sometimes have no symptoms. Leptospira organisms have been found in cattle, pigs, horses, dogs, rodents, and wild animals. Humans become infected through contact with water, food, or soil containing urine from these infected animals. This may happen by swallowing contaminated food or water or through skin contact, especially with mucosal surfaces, such as the eyes or nose, or with broken skin. The disease is not known to be spread from person to person.

How long is it between the time of exposure and when people become sick?

The time between a person's exposure to a contaminated source and becoming sick is 2 days to 4 weeks. Illness usually begins abruptly with fever and other symptoms.

Leptospirosis may occur in two phases; after the first phase, with fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, or diarrhea, the patient may recover for a time but become ill again. If a second phase occurs, it is more severe; the person may have kidney or liver failure or meningitis. This phase is also called Weil's disease.

The illness lasts from a few days to three weeks or longer. Without treatment, recovery may take several months.

Where is leptospirosis found?

Leptospirosis occurs worldwide but is most common in temperate or tropical climates. It is an occupational hazard for many people who work outdoors or with animals, for example, farmers, sewer workers, veterinarians, fish workers, dairy farmers, or military personnel. It is a recreational hazard for campers or those who participate in outdoor sports in contaminated areas and has been associated with swimming, wading, and whitewater rafting in contaminated lakes and rivers. The incidence is also increasing among urban children.

How is leptospirosis treated?

Leptospirosis is treated with antibiotics, such as doxycycline or penicillin, which should be given early in the course of the disease. Intravenous antibiotics may be required for persons with more severe symptoms. Persons with symptoms suggestive of leptospirosis should contact a health care provider.

Can leptospirosis be prevented?

The risk of acquiring leptospirosis can be greatly reduced by not swimming or wading in water that might be contaminated with animal urine.

Protective clothing or footwear should be worn by those exposed to contaminated water or soil because of their job or recreational activities.

Source:  Gabay sa Kalusugan - Health Page.

Kwentong Kuto: Sanhi at Paano Maiiwasan Ito

Horror story in 3 words : Mama! Ang kati! (Mom, it's itchy!) 

Head lice. Photo not mine. Please. Hehe. CTTO

Awww... poor little ones. I remember when my kids were still small, we had a yaya with lice or kuto! Horrible.

Ang suyod. Kilala nyo ba siya?

And the only way I know to get rid of them (lice) was with the use of suyod (lice comb) but have not been proven to be fully effective in completely eradicating head lice.

Because my kids are clingy, there's really a big chance for them to get afflicted and me too. So, the nightmare happened. My kids experienced sleepless nights, they became restless because of itcy scalp and bugnutin every morning due to lack of sleep. Kung hindi lang namin kailangang -kailan ng Yaya noon coz MITD and I were both working, pinaalis na namin siya. Agad agad. Kasi kawawa ang mga anak ko. Ang iba pang ginawa namin, lahat ng gamit niya, pinakuluan para mamatay pati nits (itlog) . Nangangati na naman ako kapag naalala ko yun, feeling ko may gumagapang sa ulo ko! Pero hindi din siya nagtagal kasi kailangan nya umuwi sa kanila kasi namatay daw ang father-in-law niya (common excuse ng mga yaya namin na minsan iisipin mo kung double dead na ba ang mga FIL at gasgas na rason nila para lang makalipat sa iba - this is a different story. lol ) Ang sumunod na nag alaga sa mga bata namin salamat naman at malinis sa katawan at walang kuto! 

Recently I was invited to a bloggers' event where head louse is the topic. Bida na naman ang mga kuto, mga nanay! Pero ngayon mas marami akong nalaman na is-share ko sa inyo para puksain o maiwasan na mahawa ang ating mga anak at tayo mismo kasi wala siyang pinipiling age at gender. 

Ano nga ba ang head lice?

What are head lice? Lice is plural for louse. Head lice or kuto are parasites that are found on human heads. They are spread by personal contact of sharing of combs, brushes, caps, towels and other clothing. Head lice are a common problem with pre-school and school children. Ayan, ayan, iwasan ang hiraman ng mga gamit. Lagi nating ipaalala sa ating mga anak ito.

Sino ang pwedeng magkaroon nito?

Who is at risk for getting lice?

Anyone who comes in close contact with someone who already has head lice, or even their contaminated clothing and other belongings, is at risk for acquiring head lice. So it is easy to transmit head lice from one person to another. Preschool and elementary-school children (7-12 years of age) and their families are infected most often. Girls contract head lice more often than boys. Bakit common sa bata at mostly babae? Kasi sila ang mga clingy na kahit kakakilala pa lang na bagong classmate naka yakap agad at akala mo close na sila. Nakakatuwa na malambing ang ating mga anak pero nakakatakot na mahawa sa ibang bata na may kuto di ba? Kaya distancia amiga muna. Kasi hindi naman natin titignan isa-isa ang ulo ng mga kaklase nila kaya paalalahanan na lang natin ang ating mga anak.

I-share ko na lang din ang naikwento sa amin sa event. Meron isang batang babae ,nasa Grade 2 na siya nang kalbuhin siya ng nanay niya because of kuto. Kasi yun lang ang alam ng nanay niya na way para mawala ang kuto niya. Dahil nahihiya na siya pumasok kasi tampulan siya ng tukso na kalbo! Kalbo! Kalbo!, tumigil siya sa school at next school year na pumasok nung medyo mahaba haba na ang hair niya. Nung nasa Grade 5 siya, g-graduate na ang mga dapat ka-batch niya, nalungkot siya. Mas lalo nung College na siya, yung mga ka batch niya working na siya nag aaral pa. Malaki ang epekto sa kanya ng pagkakaroon ng kuto nung bata siya at isang taon na pag tigil sa pag-aaral. Tignan nyo mga nanay/tatay ang liit ng kuto pero ang laki ng pwedeng maging epekto sa ating mga anak. 

Paano nga ba mapupuksa at maiiwasan magkaroon ng kuto?

For effective elimination of head lice, the infested individual, family members that are also infested, and the home must all be treated. It is important to remember that treatment should only be started if there are clearly live lice identified. The ideal treatment of lice should be safe, free of toxic chemicals, readily available without a prescription, easy to use, effective and inexpensive. Good thing Aspen Philippines, a subsidiary of Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited, Africa's largest pharmaceutical manufacturer and the biggest listed pharmaceutical group in the healthcare sector of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange aims to make high-quality branded medicines available to Filipino patients at affordable cost. Permethrin (Kwell) for head lice is one of their products and "Kwella sa Es-Kwella at Komunidad" ang isa sa kanilang mga healthcare programs as a response to the Dept. of Education's (DepEd) need for information campaign on proper hygiene and treatment for pediculosis (head lice). Kwell is the number one head lice treatment certified by IMS Health. The said program was insitutionalized by Aspen Philippines as a result of the 2012 DepEd and University of the Philippines (UP) statistics which revealed that pediculosis (head lice) is ranked as the 2nd most common ailment among public school children aged 7-12 years old. Based on DepEd data, almost 9M or 84% of students are afflicted with head lice. Oh my gulay! Nakakatakot! At pwede na naman magkaroon ang anak ko kase grade school siya sa public school. Huhu. Pero huwag naman sana kasi malaki talaga ang magiging epekto ng pagkakatoon nito sa mga bata. While it seems like a small problem, pediculosis presents a negative impact on children's self-confidence. It is one of the causes of absenteeism, loss of concentration, attentiveness and poor academic performance. That is why it is imperative that we treat them right away and make our kids enjoy school without the worry of lice. 

Humanda ka Kuto! Dahil handa na kami 😂

Buti na lang naka ready na kami if ever! Mayroon na kaming Kwell shampoo for the treatment of head lice and their eggs (kuto at lisa) and prevention for those at risk.

Permethrin (Kwell) is more economical. Use it once to get rid of lice then repeat after 7 days to make sure that no nits have been left and that's it. Hindi kailangan araw-arawin. Kaya naman ang kanilang tagline ay , Sa Permethrin (Kwell), Isang Hugas. Kuto Todas! 😊

Malapit na naman ang pasukan... kailangan maging vigilant sa mga kuto na yan para sa mga anak natin at sa buong pamilya na rin. Kami handa na! Kayo ba? Ingat-ingat.

Have a happy and itchy-free day! 😘