HOW PREGNANT WOMEN CAN SAFEGUARD THEMSELVES AGAINST VIRAL AILMENTS

Pregnancy is a beautiful, but delicate time in a woman’s life. There are a multitude of changes being carried out in the woman’s body, affecting hormone levels and basic body functions. One of the side effects of pregnancy is the weakening of the immune system in the body, which makes the expecting mothers and their unborn children susceptible to a host of illnesses.

Viral infections are one of the issues pregnant women are prone to during this season. While they may not affect the body to a great extent, pregnancy may make them severe and affect the mother, and her unborn child to a large extent. They can lead to miscarriage, preterm labor, or even birth defects in the fetus. It is extremely important to identify these infections early, and begin treatment to minimize risks to both, mother and child. Some of these infections include:

Yeast Infections:

This type of fungal infection is fairly common in women of all ages. Studies have shown that it affects three out of four women at least once in their life and around 45% of women experience it twice. It causes intense irritation, discharge, and itchiness of the vagina and vulva. The infection is easily treatable with medication

but can become complicated when pregnant as it can be passed on to the baby during delivery. Its treatment includes antifungal creams or vaginal suppository, but oral antifungal drugs are not recommended, as they have been linked to causing miscarriages.

Bacterial vaginosis:

The vagina contains two kinds of bacteria – lactobacilli and anaerobes. There usually exists a careful balance between the two, but an imbalance can lead to an infection known as Bacterial Vaginosis, which is one of the most common infections in pregnant women. This is usually a mild infection and is easily treatable with medicine, but if left untreated, can cause complications in pregnancy like early delivery, low birth weight of the baby, and increased chances of contracting other infections. It can be treated with antibiotics, and usually clears up within two or three days.

Asymptomatic Bacteria:

Also known as a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), it is caused when bacteria is present in a voided urine sample. This infection does not cause any noticeable symptoms, and only refers to the detection of a high level of bacteria in the urine sample. According to medical experts, this infection affects 1.9 to 9.5% of pregnant women. Early detection and treatment is important, as the infection can lead to a number of serious issues like acute urethritis, acute cystitis, acute pyelonephritis, low birth weight in the baby, and preterm labour.

Cytomegalovirus Infection (CMV):

Cytomegalovirus infection (CMV) is a fairly common infection that can be contracted by anyone, at any time in life. Once contracted, the virus remains in the host body throughout, and rarely causes any problems in those who are healthy. However, for pregnant women with a weak immune system, CMV is a major cause of concern as it gets passed on to the unborn baby, and can result in hearing loss, vision problems and developmental delays.

Taking small, everyday precautions are the best way to prevent these viral infections. These include:

• Maintaining general hygiene, and regularly washing hands with soap
• Being wary of meats – cooking them thoroughly, and avoiding undercooked meats like deli meat
• Avoiding unpasteurised or raw dairy products – soft cheeses like Brie, Camembert and Blue cheese
• Staying away from cat litter boxes that are a hotbed of diseases, along with rodents and other wild animals.
• Getting regular check-ups done and being up-to-date with all vaccinations. ‘

The Health Ministry of India understands the need of regular check-ups of pregnant women in rural and urban parts of the country, and has thus undertaken an initiative under NHM — Janani Service, which provides ambulances to pregnant women for scheduled check-ups , delivery and post-delivery check-ups, cost-free. The service can be availed by dialling 108 in any state of the country, which Ziqitza Healthcare Limited continues to provide in collaboration with NHM in multiple states through a network of 3000 ambulances.

FIVE UNEXPECTED CRISES DURING PEAK MONSOON

Monsoons in India are a contradictory force of nature. While the rains are extremely critical for the agriculture industry, to ensure a steady and sufficient harvest, extreme rains bring with them a vast range of calamities and disasters. The Assam and Bihar floods are one of the most blaring examples of the incredibly destructive power of the rains, and the unimaginable damage it causes to property and life. As of Thursday, July 26, the collective death toll had risen to 198, with countless more people remaining stuck or incapacitated, awaiting rescue. As a result, it is extremely important to be aware of the many unexpected disasters that can occur during the monsoons, and how best to deal with them.

1. A volley of diseases

A whole host of diseases occur and spread during the monsoons, due to unhygienic conditions, and the widespread breeding of germs and bacteria, as well as disease carriers like mosquitoes, rats, flies, and more. Open containers filled with rainwater, such as large barrels, craters, and coconut shells, make for the perfect conditions for mosquitoes to breed, which spread diseases like Malaria, Dengue, and Chikungunya, among others. Consuming contaminated food or water can also lead to a volley of diseases like Typhoid, Cholera, Jaundice, Leptospirosis, Hepatitis A, Gastroenteritis, and more. In order to prevent such diseases, one must ensure that there are no exposed containers with stagnant water accumulating near the house, prevent consuming outside food and water as much as possible, and use disinfectants and anti-bacterial and anti-fungal solutions diligently, if one comes in contact with floodwater or disease carriers.

2. Drowning due to flooding

Flooding is one of the most dangerous natural consequences of heavy monsoons, especially in areas with inefficient drainage systems. During such conditions, the possibility of loss of life due to drowning becomes especially high, as small water bodies like ponds overflow because of the excess water. The presence of countless open manholes further aggravates the potential for disaster, especially since the waterlogging makes it next to impossible to tell where the manholes are. Swimming during this season should be avoided as well, and in extreme conditions of flooding, one must try to stay indoors as much as possible, and avoid wading through heavily waterlogged areas on foot.

3. Electrocution from exposed wires

Faulty or exposed wires present yet another terrifying opportunity for disaster during this season, with 3 individuals having died from electrocution in Mumbai, in the month of June itself. Lightning strikes often damage electrical structures and cables, leading to the high-voltage lines coming in contact with the floodwater, while power theft through wires illegally connected to electrical mains is yet another leading cause of casualties through electrocution. Ensuring that all electrical lines and connections in the home are in good condition and contacting the concerned authorities in case of any exposed wires observed are the best ways to prevent such casualties.

4. Collapse of trees and structures

The monsoons pose yet another unexpected threat to human life in extreme cases, in the form of extensive damage to manmade structures as well as trees, causing them to collapse. Falling trees were the cause of three deaths in Malad, Andheri, and Govandi, in Mumbai, in a matter of just 24 hours, in the month of June, because of the heavy downpour. Furthermore, the torrential rains also cause damage to buildings, overbridges, transmission towers, and more, the collapse of which, leads to largescale death and destruction. Staying indoors continues to be the safest course of action, along with ensuring any structural weaknesses or damage to the building is addressed appropriately, beforehand.

5. Road accidents

The rains also force oil to come up to the surface of roads, which makes them slick and wet, posing a significant danger to vehicles. Rash driving during this season exponentially increases the chances of road accidents, since excessive water already weakens the suspension and braking systems, to begin with. Following traffic rules and driving under the speed limit, while staying vigilant of the road conditions, is the best way to prevent such mishaps and disasters.

Being aware of the aforementioned potential disasters and taking the recommended precautions is the best way to avoid injuries and casualties. However, in case of emergencies that still occur, call 108 for ALS and BLS ambulance services in every state, which take care of transport for any medical emergency. These ambulances are promptly operated and managed in Punjab, Jharkhand, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh by Ziqitza Healthcare Ltd. (ZHL).

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WHAT TO DO IN A MEDICAL EMERGENCY

Finding oneself in a medical emergency isn’t something anyone of us would wish. Life is, however, full of ups and downs. You may not want to but might end up witnessing an accident scene or sudden break down of your loved ones due to an illness. In any case, only your presence of mind and First Aid skills will matter in saving someone’s life or reducing the impact of the injuries. Now, the thought-provoking question that you should ask yourself is, “how well are you prepared for emergency medical care?” Asking this question is essential because we live in a country where 17% of accidental deaths occur only due to the lack of emergency care.

Since bystanders like us are often the first to respond to such situations, it is the need of the hour for each one of us to know the basics of handling a medical emergency.

Here are some tips that can be of great help to the accident victims/critically ill person in accessing timely care:

Keep a first-aid kit handy at home and work: 

Never mix medicines and first aid supplies with your travel kit or have drugs scattered around the house. Thus, having trained in first aid is the need of the hour. Be sure to tailor the contents of the kit for your family’s emergency needs. All supplies should be labeled and organized in a readily available container.

Place the kit out of reach of small children. Also, make sure to check it periodically and restock supplies as needed. If you need to dispose of any unused drugs or medications, be sure and dispose of them where children or pets cannot find them. Keep the first aid kit for your automobile in the trunk of the vehicle.

Check for signs of external bleeding immediately:

If an emergency occurs, then you must always check for the pulse of the victim/patient first. Once confirmed to be running, you must ideally check for signs of any external bleeding. If the injured person is bleeding profusely, then call for the emergency medical services immediately. 

In case of no signs of bleeding, you can check for ingestion of a poisonous substance, heaviness in breathing or acute pain in the heart. If the victim/patient complains or appears to have any of these symptoms, then call for emergency services.

Make sure the injured patient’s airway is unrestricted:

Check the patient’s mouth for any foreign objects that may be blocking the patient’s airway. If the breathing has stopped, you may need to administer artificial respiration. While you help the patient to breathe back to life, request someone to call for Advanced Life Support ambulance.

Stabilize the patient until an ambulance arrives:

Treat the victim/patient with basic trauma care within the first few hours of the incident. Remain calm and keep your patient relaxed in a sleeping position to reduce the chances of any further injury or damage.

Also, remember not to administer any fluid as it may enter the windpipe and restrict breathing or cause suffocation. Do not try and bring a person to consciousness by slapping or shaking.

Whether the critical situation refers to an accident, a stroke, or any other serious ailment, the significance of the first few minutes in saving a life is beyond compare. Having said that it becomes the responsibility of the bystanders/first responders to immediately call on emergency helpline numbers 108 & 1298 for emergency ambulance services. These numbers are operated PAN India to call for help during emergencies. Also, they are operated by Ziqitza Healthcare Limited (ZHL) to provide fully equipped ambulances with trained paramedics on board for all kinds of medical emergencies. These ambulances are promptly operated and managed in Punjab, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh by Ziqitza Healthcare Ltd. (ZHL). So, your one call to these emergency numbers at the right time can help them fill the gap in the emergency response system.

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