Ludhiana, May 2
A South African delegation consisting of Prof Demetre Labadarios, head of department, Human Nutrition, and Debbi Marais, senior lecturer at the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, will visit Christian Medical College (CMC), here, from May 3 to 8.

Professor Demetre has been involved with clinical nutrition for the past 30 years. He has been involved with the management of clinical nutrition in HIV patients.

The South African group developed a self-learning module on nutrition for HIV patients, meant for health professionals. It was extensively tested in South Africa and was found to be useful.

According to a press release, the South African duo will be here to finalise the Indian adaptation of this module, so that it could be used in the Indian setting. The module has used a simple software to provide information as well as inter-activity to the learner. It could be used by anybody with a minimal level of computer literacy.

Dr Tejinder Singh, professor and head of Pediatrics and coordinator of the CMCL-FAIMER Institute, and Dr Monika Sharma, fellow of the regional institute, are collaborating on this project. They will review the progress made in South Africa regarding the use of breast-feeding module developed by Dr Tejinder Singh and later adapted in South Africa by another researcher, Lissane Du Plessis.

Professor Demetre will also address medical students and faculty on significance of nutrition in inflammatory response and other topics of clinical importance.

Ludhiana, May 2
Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) has planned various events to mark asthma week, which began yesterday when World Asthma Day was observed.

One of the major initiatives undertaken in this direction today was the release of the asthma diary by the department of pulmonary medicine for asthma patients. The diary was released by the Dr John Pramod, director, and Dr Rajeev Kapoor, deputy medical superintendent, of the hospital. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Akashdeep Singh, pulmonologist and intensivist, used the opportunity to highlight this disease which, he said, had reached alarming proportions, especially in Ludhiana, affecting not just adults, but children also.

He said asthma was a very common obstructive respiratory disease with 300 million sufferers worldwide. The statistics showed its incidence in 5 per cent of the population. Asthma, he added, was characterised by wheeze, cough, breathlessness which was episodic. The treatment generally comprised of medicines which were inhaled directly into the lungs through inhalers.

“The main triggers which precipitate an attack include allergens such as air pollutants, dust mites, poultry and grain dust (very common due to the ongoing harvesting season). Other asthma-causing agents include certain perfumes, animal dander, old wood, some metals like nickel and platinum.”

About the diary, Dr Akashdeep said the main objective was to equip the patient with asthma self-control skills. This diary would aid in awareness generation, education and treatment. The patient had all necessary records and medication advice in this diary and he could also maintain a record of the frequency and severity of asthma attacks, to be correlated clinically by the physician later.

“The aim of the entire practice is to motivate the patient to adhere to his medicine routine, achieve no or minimal symptoms, remove night symptoms and minimise reliever medicine. All this can help a patient undertake all physical activities and exercise and achieve normal lung function.

Later, a CMCH team organised an asthma awareness talk at Graham Staines Memorial Public School, Giaspura, here.

Ludhiana, May 2
As the temperature keeps soaring and heat wave conditions are in the offing, the incidence of characteristic skin diseases of summers season also rises.

Says Dr Alka Dogra, professor and head, department of skin and VD in Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, "Infections are very common during summer season which include boils, furuncles and carbuncles. In boils, there is pus formation around hair follicle, which is quite painful, dome shaped nodule, usually present at scalp, legs, or any other body site. Number of boils occurring together, especially in diabetics, is known as carbuncle. It usually presents itself on the nape of neck."

On fungal infection, she said, these are also very common, specially in between folds like armpits, groins, in between fingers and toes and behind ears. These are wet, reddish lesions with whitish maceration on the top with lots of burning sensation. Dhobi's itch and athlete's foot are common names given to fungal infection in groin and foot respectively.

According to Dr Dogra, photosensitive disorders are also very common because of strong sunlight on the face, V area of neck and exposed sites of forearm, hands. These problems present with symptoms like itching, redness and dry flaky lesions, followed by pigmentation and tanning at the affected sites. Pimples also come up in greater intensity because of hydration of sebaceous gland and are usually of pustular type.

She attributed the increased cases of prickly heat to the fashion of wearing synthetic clothing, particularly where the clothing is tight. Minute reddish lesions are seen with lots of burning sensation.

Dr Dogra advised that in the prevailing weather conditions, loose fitting cotton clothes should be worn, a sunscreen with good sun protection factor should be used half an hour before going out, calamine should be used for prickly heat which provided immediate relief.