Pneumococcal can cause death

one of the diseases involving  lungs infection  is pneumonia.

Pneumococcal infection refers to an infection caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae.



USUALLY lung function for a person to decline gradually from the age of 20 years.

If there is no disruption of the lung such as chemicals from the environment or a healthy lifestyle, health organs can be maintained until old age without any problems.

Unhealthy lifestyle such as smoking or exposure to a foreign substance from the environment causing various infections of the lung resulting in serious damage.

Infection of human respiratory system can involve the respiratory tract, bronchitis infection and infection of the air sacs and pneumonia.

According to the Director of Respiratory Medicine Institution Kuala Lumpur, Datuk Dr. Abdul Razak Muttalif, one disease involving pneumonia is pneumonia that is a chronic disease caused by the bacterium streptococcus pneumoniae.

"Of the 90 percent of pneumococcal disease is only 10 percent of it can cause serious illness.

"The bacteria cause infection in other body parts of the body such as the lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis), blood infections (Bacteraemia), infection of the lungs (pneumonia) and ear infections (otitis media).

"Streptococcus pneumoniae can cause deadly disease that leads to death. Estimated 1.6 million deaths occur every year due to these bacteria," he said during an event to introduce the vaccine PREVENAR 13 for adults in Kuala Lumpur recently.

Based on the report of the World Health Organization (WHO), pneumococcal disease has been detected to be the killer of the adult when in 2002 of 896,000 deaths worldwide.


 Risk groups

In addition to adults, the disease is also attacking the children, aged five years and below.

"The children, aged two years and below are some of those who are susceptible to the disease, especially those who do not receive exclusive breastfeeding during the infant, too exposed to cigarette smoke and do not get immunized disease.

"For the adults, those aged 55 to 65 are at the risk of contracting pneumococcal disease," he said.

Dr. Abdul Razak said the pneumonia can cause serious diseases such as meningitis, ear infections, pneumonia and blood.

He said, headache, vomiting, sudden fever, swollen eardrum, shortness of breath or rapid, faint and so is a sign of infection.

More dangerous, the disease is capable of infecting others through bacteria spread by patients.

"These bacteria can be spread when a patient or person in this bacterium cough or sneeze.

"A person can also get this infection when touched something with pneumococcal bacteria that can pass through the human body cavities such as the mouth and nose," he added.

Said Dr. Abdul Razak, who has been infected with this disease are also at risk of getting infected again.

The best step to prevent the disease is to get the vaccine and immunization which not only can reduce the disease but also reduce the mortality rate.

reference Utusan article

Vertigo effects stability




DIZZINESS are feeling may be difficult explained. It's like the head or around rotating or twisting or the condition in which a person is not stable and feels like fall or faint.

Dizziness can also cause a person to feel as if the light head and dizziness that made it hard to walk straight.


Many people who feel dizzy actually have a type of dizziness vertigo symptoms cause drowsiness spinning, body sway or unbalanced.

You may feel that you are moving or twisting or moving room was also turned around you. Vertigo can be caused a number of different problems involving the ear or brain.


Some of these problems are not serious, while others can be life threatening. Today's column will describe the symptoms of vertigo and help you to know when the appropriate time to get help.


The most common symptom of vertigo symptoms include feeling: l spin (you or the space around) l l Feeling shaky feeling off balance these feelings can arise and fade can occur a few seconds, hours, or days. You may feel worse when moving the head. Changes in body position (standing, lying down) and when coughing or sneezing. In addition, other symptoms are: Vomiting or nausea l l Have a headache or be sensitive to light and sound l overlapping vision (double vision) l Have trouble speaking or swallowing, or feel weak l Difficulty in breathing, sweating and heart movement If you see a doctor quick ear, nose, throat (ENT) for the treatment of vertigo, you should explain how long the symptoms last, what triggers the symptoms, and related problems. These indicators can help find the cause of vertigo.

The cause of the most common causes of vertigo include: l ear problems - calcium deposition or formation (otolith) in semisirkular vessels, inflammation and certain infections can cause problems in the vestibular system. Vestibular system includes the ears and nervous system, which controls balance.


Benign paroxysmal postional vertigo (BPPV), Meniere's disease and vestibular neuritis (neuronitis or labyrinthitis vestbular) are three of the most common causes of vertigo due to inner ear problems.

BPPV is due to the formation of calcium in the ear called the otolith deposited in the channel should not be in semisirkular.


Vertigo in BPPV usually occur lasting several seconds to several minutes. Vertigo is usually triggered by head movement in a certain direction.


Meniere's disease is a condition that causes repeated injuries synonym three symptoms of vertigo, hearing loss and noise in the ears (tinnitus).


Vertigo that occurs may last several minutes to several hours. It may be due to the formation of fluid in the cochlea ear.


Vestibular neuritis, also known as labyrinthitis, probably due to the virus that causes swelling or inflammation around the nerve.


Those who experience this inflammation will experience severe vertigo, nausea, vomiting, and difficulty walking or standing. These problems may last several days. Some people also have difficulty hearing in one ear.


l accidental head injury, trauma or after surgery of the head can affect the vestibular system in various ways, and lead to vertigo.


l Medications - Medications can occur but rarely affecting the ear or brain function and lead to vertigo.


l Migraine - in a condition called vestibular migraine, vertigo can be caused by migraines. Vertigo usually occurs together with headaches, although sometimes symptoms do not occur simultaneously.


Brain problems such as a stroke or TIA (transient ischemic attack), bleeding in the brain or multiple sclerosis can also cause vertigo.


When to seek help? You need to seek help immediately if you experience dizziness or vertigo along with any of the following: l Dizziness or severe headaches l body temperature above 38 Celsius l overlapping or troubled vision clearly see Trouble speaking or listening l l Weakness in arms or leg l Inability to walk without assistance Blackouts l l l Numbness in body parts l Vomiting Chest pain without stopping In addition, you should seek help immediately if you experience vertigo that lasts a few minutes or more if: l It Ever suffered a stroke aged l l have risk factors for stroke (hypertension, diabetes, smoking) If you experience dizziness or vertigo that comes and goes but does not have the above problem, please make an appointment with an ENT doctor or neurologist.


They will do a physical examination and may conduct further testing, depending on the examination and medical history.


For most people vertigo treatment, vertigo is disturbing but it is not due to serious problems. Treatment for vertigo aimed at treating the underlying cause (if the cause is known), relieve symptoms caused vertigo and help with the recovery of vestibular rehabilitation.


Treatment for symptoms If you have severe vertigo and ended for a few hours or days, the doctor may recommend medications to relieve severe vertigo symptoms such as vomiting. Treatment with medication is usually not necessary if the vertigo lasts only a few seconds or minutes.


Treatment medications may include antihistamines, anti-vomiting medication or sedative drugs may be used depending on the patient's condition.


Most of these drugs make you drowsy, so do not take it before work or drive.


You just need to take prescription drugs to treat the symptoms of severe vertigo and should stop when the symptoms decrease.


Restructuring canalith repositioning (otolith) is a treatment that can be recommended for people who suffer from vertigo due to BPPV.


Treatment will be performed by a nurse or therapist in the office by moving your head in a certain position with the head hanging down at the head of the bed, sometimes called the Epley maneuver.


You may be given instructions on how to do the same movement at home, if needed. This movement promotes calcium salt deposited to move to the inner ear should be, where it will be reabsorbed.


You may start to feel better after this treatment or within one or two days. Your doctor or physiotherapist will teach certain movements that can help to restore the vertigo.


Restoration work way to help your brain adjust in response to changes in the vestibular system. This therapy can also help train your eyes and other senses 'learn' how to juggle.


This therapy is most useful when it is initiated as soon as possible after experiencing vertigo. When restoring, you are taught to do exercises at home.


For example, you might start by focusing on a blank background objects and move your head slowly to the right and left and head movements in looking up and down. You will perform this exercise for a few minutes two to three times a day.


If you have difficulty standing or walking because of vertigo and risk to fall, you should talk with your doctor, nurse, or physiotherapist about the concern.


To reduce the risk of falling, harmful factors at home such as telephone lines or electricity loose and slippery carpet should be avoided.  reference

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)


Daxas in tablet for COPD patient - credit


MANY ads are made, various campaigns here and there, the millions of dollars invested but smokers still can not leave this dangerous habit.

In fact there is a saying, 'if you want to die, die'. Maybe they do not feel any effect now, but 10 or 20 years, they may be traded between Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).


Author visit to Seoul, recently, at the invitation of famous Japanese pharmaceutical company, Takeda, to attend a conference entitled The Epic Asia Survey epidemiology and effects of COPD in Asia, provide new knowledge of the disease.

COPD is a disease that raises the burden of harm in Asia. It is a kind of lung disease due to respiratory stuck rigidly caused damage and pneumonia.


According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is a major health problem involving an estimated 65 million people around the world.


COPD is also the fifth most important cause of death worldwide and the WHO predicts it will occupy the third place in 2030.

Epic Asia survey emphasizes the heavy socio-economic burden and difficulties facing people with COPD. More than three out of 10 respondents in Malaysia do not work full time due to illness.


Associate Professor Department of Medicine at Duke-Nus in Singapore, Professor Sam Lim, said COPD is a heavy burden, especially in Asia.

"Many people still do not realize the dangers of this disease due to lack of exposure and knowledge. COPD is synonymous with smokers, with 90 percent of this disease due to smoking but many take for granted about it.


"For heavy smokers, you are advised to stop immediately to prevent harm in the future. It should be noted, COPD attacks in silence.


"We would not be aware of its presence until I feel some discomfort and difficulty breathing, but most of that came to the doctor does not know they have COPD," he said.


Important new results of a survey entitled "Epidemiology and Impact of COPD in Asia '(Asia survey Epic) found that COPD affects quality of life and impact on work productivity.


In fact, results of a survey conducted Takeda Epic Asia in Asia covering 112,000 households in China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam involved more than 1,800 respondents had experienced a confirmed or suspected COPD throughout Asia, including 200 Malaysian respondents, provide information on the burden, perception and understanding of progressive disease fatal.


According to the survey Epic Asia, the spread of COPD among those aged over 40 years in this country cover about five percent of the population.


Chief Lung Care and Critical Heart Medical Center Philippines, Dr. Teresita de Guia had argued that, viewed as a burden of COPD in Asia.


"Awareness of the impact of COPD is still low and it is really disturbing. Many take lightly because of symptoms such as cough thought it was just normal things without knowing it can have negative consequences if not treated.


"Early treatment able to prevent COPD worse. Take a healthy lifestyle and do not smoke. See a doctor if feeling unwell because prevention is better than cure, "he said.


Deputy Director of the Institute of respiratory disease and the National Clinical Trial Basis Guangzhou Medical College, Professor Jin Ping Zheng said early detection can reduce the symptoms of COPD that does not tip over.


"Many of those who used to come to see the doctor at the last minute. So, not much can be done. In fact, not difficult to refrain from COPD.


"Above all, stay away from cigarettes as the main cause of it. COPD is not a common disease because it affects the patient. It also causes patients are unable to work full-time because often suffer from health disorders, "he said.


In the meantime, the Director of Respiratory Medicine Institute, Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) Datuk Dr Abdul Razak Abdul Mutallif, said recent survey revealed Epic Asia in the past 12 months, respondents in Malaysia remained in the home on average 67 days due to illness suffered.


"Depending on the extent of the disease, COPD can make it difficult to perform normal daily activities such as work and bath. Indirectly, it inhibits one's ability to work when the disease becomes severe.


"People with COPD usually make the decision to stay at home and do not want to go out because it is too difficult," he said at the launch of Daxas (roflumilast), recent treatment of COPD patients are able to reduce the risk of COPD lung attacks in the capital, recently.


Oral medication is now available in all private hospitals and in the planning of public hospitals distributed throughout the country in the form of tablets.


It is recommended as maintenance treatment severe COPD associated with chronic bronchitis in adult patients with a history of increasing progressive disease and act as an additional therapy addressing bronchodilator.


"COPD is a disease of growing concern in Asia and should be dealt through various approaches. The healthcare industry should strive to disseminate information about the disease in order to improve the diagnosis rate by educating those who experience these symptoms.


"The latest information from Epic Asia as well as the latest treatment options allows healthcare professionals confirm the diagnosis and management of COPD more effectively," he said.


Roflumilast has a unique method of action of the enzyme inhibition fosfodiesterase 4 (PDE4). It reduces inflammation activity Tues


When used in tandem with major maintenance therapy, it provides the added benefit of reducing the risk of disease from getting worse.


Recent data also show, roflumilast able to stabilize patients who often suffer from COPD from getting worse.


Also present, Chief Respiratory Unit, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (HUKM) and President of the Association of Thoracic Malaysia, Dr Roslina Abdul Manap, and Managing Director of Nycomed Malaysia, Kwa Kheng Hoe. reference
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