HEALTH

Preventing sore throat

A mild sore throat is often caused by low humidity, air pollution and smoking. Generally, sore throat is caused by viruses and it sometimes accompanies a cold. A common cause of sore throat is stomach acid that fluxes into the throat. Another cause of persistent sore throat is mononucleosis, a viral infection. It is more common in older teenagers and young adults. In addition to a severe throat and fatigue, its symptoms often include weakness, aches, dizziness, enlarged spleen and swollen lymph nodes in the neck. Strep throat is a condition caused by strep bacteria. It is more common in children aged between four and 11 years and is rare among adolescents and adults. Symptoms of strep throat include sore throat with two of these three white or yellow coating on the tonsils, fevers touching 101 degree or higher and swollen glands in the neck. In children, other symptoms may include general body aches, stomach-ache, nausea, vomiting, runny nose and headache. Strep is treated with antibiotics.

Prevention and home remedies

- If you have mononucleosis, do not share utensils and avoid kissing to check the spread of virus.

- Avoid contact with people who have strep throat.

- Increase water intake to 10 to 12 glasses a day.

- Avoid irritants that cause sore throat (smoke, fumes, yelling etc.). Do not smoke.

- If you have postnasal drip, gargle frequently to prevent more throat irritation.

- Gargle three lines a day with warm water adding salt.

- Avoid alcohol.

- Sucking ayurvedic medicated lozenge with antibacterial ingredients is soothing.

- Avoid cold drinks, ice-creams and ice-candies.

- Inhaling steam can reduce nasal congestion.

- Take Vitamin-C and zinc, as it strengthens your immune system. Drink fruit juice and vegetable or chicken soup.

- Eat lots of whole grains, fresh vegetables and fruits. Cut out sugar and dairy products.

- Garlic and ginger are antibacterial and support the immune system.

- Drink ginger, lemon, tulsi, honey and tea thrice a day.

- Take 1 gram of mulathi (licorice) powder with 1/2 tsp honey twice daily.

- As soon as you recover from a strep infection, replace your toothbrush to avoid reinfecting yourself.

- Do not take aspirin during the last three months of pregnancy unless directed to do so by a physician.

Dr Anil Dheer

First autopsy was correct: doctors
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 23
Doubts cast over the post-mortem examination report of a Kailash Nagar resident by his relatives were cleared today following the submission of another report by a board of doctors which upheld the earlier report that the man had died due to tuberculosis.

Following this, family members and friends of the deceased, Mohan Lal, ended their dharna at the Civil Hospital premises late last evening. They had been staging the dharna since yesterday afternoon alleging that the post-mortem examination report was fudged and that Mohan Lal had died after he was allegedly assaulted by five persons, last Sunday.

The dharna had forced the hospital authorities to conduct a second post-mortem examination. This time a board of doctors was constituted which concluded that Mohan Lal had died due to tuberculosis.

The relatives were doubting the first report as it would have directly benefited the five accused who had allegedly assaulted Mohan Lal.

Fire services being strengthened
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 23
Keeping in view the safety of human life and property against hazards of fire, the Municipal Corporation (MC) has initiated several steps to strengthen fire services in the city.

Five new buildings for fire stations at Haibowal, Laxmi cinema ( near old l bus depot), Gill road, Transport Nagar and Sunder Nagar are near completion at an estimated cost of Rs 4 crore. With this, the city will have nine fire stations in almost all principle localities and the response time in case of a fire would be reduced to a great extent.

Giving details, the MC Commissioner, Mr S.K. Sharma, told ‘‘ Ludhiana Tribune’’ that to ensure adequate supply of water for the fire tenders, water lines had been provided in thickly populated areas and main commercial centres like Madhopuri, Gur Mandi, Purana Bazar and Dal Bazar. In addition, 26 hydrants and 25 filling points had also been installed in different parts of the city.

In order to strengthen the infrastructure, seven new fire tenders were purchased last month taking the total number to 19. The fleet also includes four water bowsers with a capacity of 15,000 litres each, a speciality tender to deal with fires caused by petroleum products, 8 small fire tenders and 10 small trailer pumps which have an easy access in congested and narrow lanes in the old city besides sufficient breathing apparatus sets for the personnel.

Mr Sharma said the MC would add a modern rescue and emergency tender at an estimated cost of Rs 11 lakh. It will have added features like flood lighting, gas cutting, power generating, breathing and rescue tools and equipment and would boost the fire fighting and rescue ability of the staff.

Working under the overall supervision of a Joint Commissioner, the MC fire service is technically headed by an Assistant Divisional Fire Officer with four fire station officers, six sub-fire officers, 18 leading firemen, 86 firemen and 22 drivers. The annual budget on establishment and maintenance of fire services is around Rs 3 crore.