When a cough keeps patients awake at night
Coughing can be disruptive to sleep and affect a person’s overall quality of life.
Exploring the possibilities of bacteriophages for tuberculosis
Phages are different to antibiotics Bacteriophages differ from antibiotics in several important ways. Firstly, where antibiotics are small, highly active chemicals often with associated toxicities, phages are biological entities with the capacity to replicate and evolve and are not toxic. Phages are larger than typical antibiotics, and this influences how and where they can travel […]
How to use potassium
Adverse effects from normal use of KCl are typically related to the administration route. The FDA notes particular adverse effects for each administration route. In general, oral formulations most commonly correlate with GI irritation, including vomiting and diarrhoea. Tablet and capsule forms may cause ulcerative/stenotic lesions with prolonged exposure to GI surfaces. Injectable KCl formulations […]
Uncovering impetigo: Latest insights
Diagnosis The diagnosis of impetigo is usually based on clinical features, but laboratory tests may be performed to confirm the diagnosis or rule out other conditions. A culture of the fluid from the blisters or crusts can identify the bacteria causing the infection. Treatment The treatment of impetigo depends on the severity of the infection. […]
Unlocking the power of topical therapy for actinic keratosis
Efficacy Several clinical trials have evaluated the efficacy of imiquimod for the treatment of AK. A meta-analysis published in the Journal of Dermatological Treatment in 2020 evaluated the results of 27 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared imiquimod to other treatments or placebo. The study found that imiquimod was significantly more effective than placebo in […]
Asthma triggers
South Africa’s air quality is rated as moderately unsafe by the WHO, with the main contributors to poor air quality including the mining and agricultural industry and coal burning. Seasonal variations in air quality exist, with high levels of air pollution during the dry season (January and February) due to forest and veld fires. The […]
Why cloud-based software is critical
Storing data on a cloud server has several benefits: First, cloud storage allows convenient access to health information via an internet connection. This is particularly beneficial for practitioners that operate in multiple physical service centres. Cloud storage also makes sharing health information with other practitioners easier, allowing collaboration and teamwork. Cloud hardware is scalable, meaning […]
The link between magnesium, D3 and zinc in ADHD
After eight weeks of Vitamin D consumption as well as magnesium, the serum levels of 25-hydroxy-Vitamin D3 and magnesium increased significantly in the intervention group compared with placebo group. Supplementation with Vitamin D and magnesium caused a significant decrease in conduct problems, social problems, and anxiety/shy scores; but it had no significant effect on psychosomatic […]
Replay available: Understanding and managing bipolar depression and mixed mood states
Overview of main concepts related to bipolar disorder Bipolar disorder affects 2.8 % of the adult population. Bipolar I affect men and women equally while bipolar II affects more women than men. Age of onset is late adolescence or early adulthood. The average time to correct diagnosis is 10 years. It is a chronic illness […]
WHO report reveals shocking prevalence of preterm birth
Preterm birth rates have not changed in any region in the world over the past decade, with 152 million vulnerable babies born too soon from 2010 to 2020. Shockingly, preterm birth is now the leading cause of child deaths, accounting for more than 1 in 5 of all deaths of children occurring before their 5th […]
