Over the past decade, a number of viral diseases, both vector-borne and zoonotic, have emerged in South-East Asian countries and Western Pacific region. While vector-borne diseases primarily infect human beings although they are transmitted by other organisms, zoonotic diseases occur primarily in the lower animals but sometimes infect human beings too. The locus of the outbreak of killer pneumonia – Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) – an atypical or unusual form of disease that progresses rapidly to cause severe respiratory distress and consequent death, also seems to lie in this region.

What is SARS?

SARS is an epidemic that has been characterized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a global threat to health and as the first severe and easily transmitted new disease to emerge in the 21^st century. It belongs to the coronavirus family which usually causes the common cold besides diarrhea and other intestinal illness. As the name suggests it is an affliction of the respiratory system, which is similar to pneumonia.

However, the scientists in the united States have identified the virus responsible for the epidemic. If their claim proves right, it is as was suspected, a variant of one of the viruses that causes the common cold, but one that is new to humans. To be prepared, and not to panic, is the prescription till surer remedy is found for the new, lethal pneumonia that has 18 countries in its vicious grip.

The chief symptoms of SARS include the rapid onset of flu-like high fever above 38 degrees C 100.4 degrees F) coupled with one or more symptoms of respiratory illness, including cough, shortness of breadth, difficulty in breathing or hypoxia or chest X-ray (CXR) findings of pneumonia or acute respiratory distress requiring assisted breathing on a respirator. Early laboratory findings may include low platelet count (thrombocytopenial) and low white cell count (leucopenial).

SARS may be associated with other symptoms, including headache, muscular stiffness, loss of appetite, malaise, confusion, rashes and diarrhoea. CXR is, at present, they key tool to distinguish between suspected and probable cases. The incubation period is short, estimated to range from two or seven days, with a period of three to five days being more common. The person should have either had close contact with a person suspected of suffering from SARS or should have traveled to an area reporting cases of SARS within 10 days of the onset of symptoms. Some patients respond to treatment but others remain critically ill. Broad-spectrum antibiotics have not proved to be effective in halting the progressions of the disease but the intravenous administration of antiviral drugs such as Ribarvirin seems to have some effect.

The first case of the disease, which has been called SARS by the WHO, was reported in Hanoi, Vietnam, on February 26 and within a month hundreds of people were infected.

While the “affected areas’ include the Canadian city of Toronto, China’s Guangdong province, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Taiwan, Singapore and Hanoi. Hong Kong accounts for the largest number of cases. Cases have been reported in Ireland, Italy, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States, but they have not been classified as ‘affected areas’ as there has been no evidence of local transmission in these regions. Cases have been reported in Australia – in New South Wales and Western Australia – too but the WHO figures do not reflect these.

Facts About SARS

Cause: SARS is caused by viruses from the corona and paramyxo virus family. Corona usually causes common cold. Incubation period (from time taken for infection to cause symptoms) is two to seven days, starting with fever and cough, after which patients might suffer from severe difficulty in breathing, chest pain.

Origin: Geographically, the outbreak seems to centre around China’s Guangdong province near Hong Kong. From an epidemiological standpoint, no one knows where SARS comes from, where it began or how it infected its first victim.

Symptoms: initially fever, headache, sore throat and cough, leading to beathlessness due to pneumonia that may be fatal.

Treatment: No definitive treatment yet, antibiotics ineffective, anti-virals. Steroids, medicines for high fever being used.

Article Source: Competition Refresher, June - 2003 Issue

Medicinal plants are widely used world over as a reliable cure of a large number of diseases. In India, people have been using medicinal plants since very old age for treating a variety of ailment. Medicinal plants were listed in the ancient Indian literature like Rigveda (2000 B.C.), Atharvaveda (2000 – 100 B.C.) and Ayurveda (2000 B.C.). Here we are going to talk about some common medicinal plants that are very widely used and found allover the country very easily.

These are Neem, Turmeric, Quinine- producing cinchona plants, Tulsi and Amla.

Neem
Neem- it’s scientific name is Azadirachta Indica. In English it is known as Margosa, ‘Nimba’ in Sanskrit, ‘Vepa’ in Tamil and Telugu and simply ‘Neem’ in Hindi and Bengali and most other Indian languages.
Neem leaves contains a bitter principal. It is consists of ‘Nimbia’, ‘Nimbidin’, etc and also some sulphar. Neem is acommon tree growing almost every state of India. But especially in U.P. and Bihar, a large number of Neem trees are planted near village and along roads. Neem is an evergreen tree with a dark rough bark. Neem leaves are very distinctive and these are feather- like compound leaves with 9-15 leaflets. Neem has some small pale yellowish coloured flower which are honey- scented. The fruits are called ‘Nimbolis’ and they are usually yellow or purple in color.

Medicinal use of Neem
All most every part of the Neem tree is used for medicine and non-medicine purpose.
The green leaves of Neem are crushed and finished into paste or poultice for healing skin wounds, eczemas, scabies etc. leaf infusion is used for curing skin infection and it is effective in burn’s treatment. Cooked leaves are eaten to get rid of intestinal infection. Neem twigs are widely used as tooth stick in almost every house in rural India. It is well-known as ‘Datoon’. The twig sap has bactericidal effect and keeps gums and teeth healthy and free from infections.
Margosa oil obtained from Neem seds is used in treatment of Leprosy & skin diseases. It is widely used in skin care product like bathing soap for infection free skin.
The cake of seeds after extraction of Margosa oil is used as manure in the agricultural fields. The bark and gum of Neem also yield many valuable medicines

Turmeric
It is well known as ‘Haldi’ and its scientific name is ‘Curcuma Langa’. Turmeric is most common spice of almost every Indian kitchen. Rhizome- a modified underground stem of herbaceous perennial plant is dried and processed for extensive used in drugs and cosmetic industries.

Medicinal use of Turmeric
Turmeric is used as anti- infection powder. Its paste in ghee and some other oil and natural fats cures skin infections, inflammations, blemishes, wounds and other skin disorders. It smoothes boils, pimples, acne and burns. It nourishes the skin and improves tonal values and makes it fair and beautiful.
This paste is also used for treating sprains. There is a widely held belief that if turmeric is boiled in milk and sugar added to it, helps in treatment of common cold. Turmeric – containing tooth paste are good for oral hygiene and healthy gums.
Several Indian communities used ‘haldi’ in almost every ceremonial tradition. The bride and bridegroom are given special ‘haldi bath’ prior to marriage. ‘Kumkum’ is also prepared from turmeric.

Quinine
It is an anti- malarial drug. It is obtained from the bark of cinchona plants which are about 40 different species as well as their own varieties and hybrids. The bark yields 30 chemically alkaloids of which quinine is the most important. There is a huge demand for quinine and cinchona bark allover the world. The cinchona tree is native of Peru in South America. In sixteenth century, the Cinchona tree has been named after the Countess of Cinchona who was a Spanish Vice-Roy’s wife. She was severally laid down with fever. The local people of Peru use the bark of this tree to cure such fever. She brought it in Spain at the advice of them. From Spain it spread allover Europe. In India, it was introduced by English in 1861 and was grown in Darjeeling, Nilgiris and Annamalai Hills. It also cures pneumonia, amoebic dysentery and it has been used even for eye lotions.

Tulsi
Its scientific name is Ocimum Sanctum. There are foure different types of Tulsi. Ocimum Sanctum is most widely used Variety. Other spesies are Ocimum conium, Ocimum basidium, Ocimum gratissimum.
In many Indian homes Tulsi is commonly grown. So for curing minor ailment Tulsi is readily available as a common household plant. Some people on a regular basis consume one or two leaves of Tulsi every day. Sometime it is taken directly or boiled in milk or tea. Its leaves are bright green or black green with toothed margins. Its flowers are borne in series around a long slender branch and seeds are mucilaginous.
Medicinal uses of Tulsi
The juice extracted from leaves is used in Catarrh. Catarrh is cause due to inflammation of mucous membrane of nose and air passages. It also cures bronchitis. The Tulsi juice dropped in ear removes the ear ache. Even the seeds are useful in treating genital and urinal diseases. The infusion of leaves is used in stomach disorder of children. In many skin care product the pate of Tulsi leaves is used.

Amla
Its scientific name is ‘Phyllanthus emblica’. In English it is known as ‘Indian gooseberry’. Amla is a deciduous wild tree found all part of the country. But it is also cultivated in large quantities as an excellent medicinal plant.
The fruit is first green in color and later it changes in to yellowish and brick red. After chewing a raw Amla, water tastes sweet. It is very rich in Vitamin C which hugely remains undestroyed even on heating.
An Amla fruit is in quantities even 20 times that in orange. It cures scurvy and removes constipation, anemia, jaundice, bronchitis etc. it is one of the main constituent of many Ayurvedic medicine like Chyawanprash. In many Indian recipes amla is used for making jams, pickles etc. In ‘Triphala’, (combination of three fruits) amla powder is mixed with two other ingredients -‘herr’ and ‘baheda’. ‘Triphala’ is used in several ailments such as enlarged liver.

Source : Ezinearticles.com

By Frederic Madore

Tired of this pain in your head? Read the following article to discover what causes headache.

Everyone at on point or another has suffered from a headache, after it is probably one of the most common illnesses. But what exactly are the causes of headache? There are multiple causes responsible for this condition. For example a simple irritation to the neck can be the start point of a headache or the simple sensation of pain transmitting through your body can release one.

Stress

There a many various causes of headaches and there is a wide range of headache types, and this is one of the most common reason why headaches occurs so frequently. Probably the most common cause of headache today is stress. Stress often generate a feeling of “fight or flight” and is accompanied by other symptoms such as:

- Shallow breathing
- Raised heart rate
- High blood pressure

In some cases even adrenaline can be the cause of headaches.

Nutrition

Another important cause of headache is your nutrition. Many people are unaware of that but your diet as well as your sensitivity to food is one major cause of headache, especially migraines. Headaches are related to nutrition in cases like:

- Variation of blood sugar levels
- Withdrawal of caffeine or too much caffeine
- Food additives

Dental Abscess

This is one kind of headache i really hope you never have. Dental abscess can trigger major headaches, especially if you suffer from an infection. Not only will you suffer from a severe headache but you will have to endure the pain associated to the infection. In this particular case you will need to consult your dentist for the proper treatment.

Hormones

Hormones are another factor that can cause headaches. Hormones are what allow an individual to fell pain. In this case sexual hormones can be associated with headaches especially for women. Whether it is before or after their menstrual period if the hormones level are to low, women may have some severe migraines.

Vision

People with impaired vision are probably very familiar with this condition as it is a very common cause of headache. The headache can be targeted when they strain their eyes muscle to try to focus or when they try to squint. Another condition related to the eyes is Glaucoma which is an eye disease that can cause headaches.

Other causes of headaches can be due to a disorder in the following area:

- The ear
- The nose
- The throat

The following are some of the most common causes of headache:

- sinus headache
- labyrinthitis
- infections
- traumas

Some research point to the fact that even damage to a person’s nerves can be a cause of headaches.

In conclusion I’d like to say thank you to you for reading this article about “what causes headache” I truly hope the information was helpful to you and good luck with any issues related to your condition.

If you liked this article about the causes of headache, visit my website at http://www.headache-solution.com. We offer quality information related to headache. Discover the best headache relief treatments available. Get rid of your headaches once and for all.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Frederic_Madore