THE GLOW, JULY-OCTOBER 1998 The Glow, July-October 1998. Official Publication of CNCHS - Cabatuan National Comprehensive High School Cabatuan, Iloilo, Panay Island, Philippines NOVEMBER 1998 Tke Ram IV Arthrinils Deqque fever or "-Fever, 18 it w Watch 1put, t may stri e aain %,7 ;D One of the commonest cause of difficulties in moving is arthritis. The term itself means inflammation of a joint, but there are several different reasons why joints can become inflamed, swollen and stiff. Most people with arthritis suffer from osteoarthritis. This used to be considered to result from general wear and tear because it affects so many old people and people who have suffered an injury affecting joint surfaces. Now it is thought some other unidentified factor is also involved. In osteoarthritis the cartilage covering joint surfaces becomes thinner and bony outgrowths called osteophytes proliferate around the edges of the bone ends. Usually only one joint is affected such as a hip or knee. Rheumatoid arthritis is a more crippling disease, believed to be an autoimi-nune condition. It affects people earlier in life than osteoarthritis, and usually several If it feels like someone threw sand in your eyes, but you haven't been anywhere near a beach or sandbox lately, you may have conjunctivitis or sore eyes. Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, the mucus membrane that lines the inner surface of the eyelids and the front of the eyeball. Conjunctivitis usually involves both eyes and doesn't affect vision. Symptoms can include routine burning or itching, extreme sensitivity to light, and tearing. The eyes get red and the lids and surface of the eye can become swollen. There may also be a watery, mucus secretion or in the case of bacterial infection, a thick discharge coming from the eyes. The discharge may be so thick that you wake up in the morning with a crust over your eyes and the feeling that your eyes are "glued' shut. The causes of conjunctivitis are as numerous as the types. Infectious types of conjunctivitis - are highly contagious and can be caused by bacteria such as pneumococcus, streptococcus and staphylococcus. The eyes are continually joints are involved at any one time. The disease begins in the synovial membrane which lines the joint capsule arid provides lubrication that spreads over the bone ends destroying cartilage, bone and even affecting sorrounding muscles. This arthritis is extremely painful and causes sufferers a general illness during times when the condition flares up. Damage to the joints can lead to deformity, particularly noticeable in the hands, since the knuckles are often the first joints to be affected. Less common forms of arthritis can result from infections, including sexually transmitted diseases. Arthritis is usually treated with anti inflammatory drugs, painkillers, and antibiotics if an infection is present. Rest is important during attacks but otherwise exercise and physiotherapy is advised to keep the joints from stiffening. (Source., Guinness Encyclopedia) bombarded with genus all of the time. But the blink reflex and the tearing reflex are amazingly effective at fighting off most of these germs. If a particularly aggressive set of germs attacks the eyes, the backup defense mechanisms come into play. The blood vessels dilate to bring more bacteria-killing white blood cells to the area, and the eyes begin discharging the infection. These defense maneuvers by the body result in the symptoms of conjunctivitis. Noninfectious types of conjunctivitis-tend to be caused by foreign bodies getting under the lid, exposure to ultraviolet light, and allergies. Wind, smoke and other types of air pollution, as well as the chlorine in swimming pools can irritate the conjunctiva. The chronic condition of'dry eye' can also cause conjunctivitis. Allergic conjunctivitis - is most often associated with itching and swelling of the white part of the eye, which can sometimes be so severe that the white part of the eye looks like a balloon sticking out between the lids. Young children often get this when they play out in the grass and weeds in the summer time and get pollen on their hands and then into their Who would not be alarmed if one hears that from June to August 271 were hospitalized and 5 died of Dengue fever at Ramon Tabiana Memorial District Hospital and Cabatuan Rural Health Unit? National dailies screamed the news that Western Visayas ranked first in Dengue virus infection. Among the provinces in Western Visayas, Iloilo ranked first and among the municipalities in Iloilo, Cabatuan ranked first. All because of a common household insect -- daytime-biting, low-flying mosquitoes, scientifically called Aedes Aegypti. Tiny and ordinary-looking as they may seem, these mosquitoes have a single minded thirst for human blood. The female mosquito needs a blood meal so she can lay her eggs, ensuring the survival of the species. These mosquitoes search for their victims. They strike, bite and in the process transmit Dengue fever. Dengue fever is a viral illness that interfere in the blood clotting mechanism. Thus, it causes spontaneous bleeding of the skin, gums and gastrointestinal tract. Typically the disease is characterized by the onset of high fever (39 oC to 40 oC) that lasts for two to seven days. Tourniquet test is often positive maybe observed in pressure areas, headaches, muscle and joint pains, anorexia (loss of appetite) vomiting, abdominal pain, cough and runny nose, redness and burning sensation in the eyes are early symptoms of dengue fever. Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes which breed on stagnant water and moist areas are the carriers of dengue fever virus. Surging population, poor sanitation and lack of adequate resources for water storage and waste disposal contribute to the spread of this disease. However, dengue is rarely fatal. eyes. In this instance, the eye can swell up in a matter of minutes. There is no cure for conjunctivitis or most commonly known as sore eyes. But for some kind of relief, doctors recommend cold compress or eye drops. Persons infected with it should avoid staring at the sun. According to experts, the best way to counter sore eyes is by prevention. You can prevent it by not using the victim's things such as handkerchief, towel and other personal belongings. Here are seven soothing suggestions for sore eyes. Cool the itch of allergic conjunctivitis. If there is any itching in relation to the conjunctivitis, cool compresses will really help to reduce it. Simply wet a washcloth with cool water and hold it against the eyes. Ice the swelling. Applying an icepack to the eyes can help bring down any swelling from allergic conjunctivitis. Try to keep the ice on long enough to reduce the swelling to the point where the eyelid can close down over the cornea. Often, by the next Victims of this illness die because of their failure to detect the disease and to consult a doctor. Early detection and proper medical attention are advised. Worth mentioning is the fact that people cannot be immunized from dengue. Anyone can still acquire this illness and may suffer even more if they get other strains of this disease. At the national level, from January to August 1998, 202 have already died and 11,209 have been infected of H-fever. With the alarming spread of this dreaded disease, the DOH initiated dengue fever control campaigns. Such is the habit which aims to encourage people to take time out every 4:00 p.m. to eliminate all possible breeding places of the dengue-causing mosquitoes. It is all tip to us to either make our homes a haven for our families or let our domains remain a pest territory. Everyone is advised to take the following steps to prevent mosquitoes: clean and cover all morning, the swelling is almost completely gone. Apply heat to fight a bacterial infection. Hot compresses can help the infection quite a bit because the heat dilates the blood vessels, bringing fresh blood to the area, and raises the temperature up above what is optimum for the germ to survive. The heat also relaxes the muscles around the eye, which can be quite soothing. Applying a washcloth soaked in hot water (provided it is not hot enough to bum the skin) or using a hot water bottle works very well. Drop in some relief. For minor allergic conjunctivitis, over-the-counter eye drops may provide a soothing relief. Any of these eye drops are fine to use provided there is nothing seriously wrong with the eye and provided you use them on a short-term basis only. For safety's sake, ask you doctor. Be selfish. Conjunctivitis caused by bacteria or viruses is very contagious, so you'll need to keep from sharing towels, washcloths, pillows and handkerchiefs with others. The fluid draining from the eyes could water containers; clean the sorrounding esp. the canals; but), the trash and other wastes, esp. the ones that collect rainwater like tin cans, bottles and used tires; if containers need to be always filled with water, like plant bowls and aquariums, change water at least once a week. - it takes only 7 days for mosquito eggs to become adults; roof gutters should be constantly cleared of leaves that may block water flow that again can provide a breeding ground for mosquitoes; avoid hanging clothes in dark corners as these serve as hiding places for mosquitoes; put screen on your windows and doors; use insect control measures such as mosquito repellers, insect sprays and coils for sure protection from mosquitoes. Living in a safe and secure world is indispensable to everyone. Let us work together to get rid of Aedes Aegypti, KILL THEM ALL! Researched by: Maria Joy Baldeviso get on the towel or pillow and infect someone else. Keep your hands off. Because conjunctivitis can be quite contagious, it's good to keep the germs off your hands. If you have infectious conjunctivitis, try not to rub your eyes and be sure to wash your hands after wiping your eyes or applying eye medication. Shield your eyes. Conjunctivitis can make your eyes extremely sensitive to light arid other irritants. If you're going outdoors, put on a pair of sunglasses to help shield your eyes from wind and sunlight. Put off mowing the lawn or working in the garden until your conjunctivitis has cleared, or at least wear a pair of goggles to keep pollen and dust out of your eyes. Take time off from swimming, or wear a pair of well-fitting swimming goggles. When possible, close your eyes to give them a rest. Researched by Ma. Joy A. Baldeviso Sources: The Home Remedies Handbook and The New Encyclopedia Britanica Conjunct!V-N,35 0 (commonly known as sore eyes)