GET 6 OUTPATIENT CONSULTATIONS FOR JUST 500!

Being an amazing daughter, wife, or mother means nurturing everyone in the family. The Zoi Family OPD
Card has been tailored exactly to match your family’s needs.

Whether it is a Paediatrician for your child,
an Orthopedician for your aged parents, an Internal Medicine expert for your husband, or a Gynaecologist for your own needs, you can consult them all by just using this one card!

The Family OPD Card offers six outpatient Doctor consultations at a nominal fee of Rs 500. These six physical consultations can be availed by an individual or a family of six with specialists from Internal Medicine, Gynaecology / Obstetrics, Paediatrics, General Surgery, Orthopaedics and Physiotherapy at Zoi Hospitals, Ameerpet. The Family OPD card will be valid for 120 days from the date of purchase.

We often find patients reporting their ailments to doctors after they exhaust self-medication options. This delay leads to disease complication. Patient feedback attributed the delay to unaffordable consultation fee. Early diagnosis and treatment nip the disease in bud stage. For patients to overcome the unaffordability barrier and seek early care, we introduced the Family OPD card at a very nominal fee, says Dr Sanjay Tapadia, CEO, Zoi Hospitals. 

At Zoi Hospitals’ the foremost priority has always been patient well-being. Family OPD card is one more initiative in this pursuit. This card enables access to the best of the specialists without being hassled about the cost of consultation. It’s especially a boon for individuals and families needing frequent doctor consultation. Those with lifestyle diseases like diabetes, hypertension and similar ailments visiting doctors regularly will immensely benefit from this card, says Mr Priyadarshi Sahgal, CMO, Zoi Hospitals.

1. Water borne diseases:

Diseases like cholera, typhoid, and gastroenteritis are common during the monsoon. Contaminated water sources become breeding grounds for harmful bacteria and viruses, leading to severe gastrointestinal infections.

2. Vector-borne Diseases:

The proliferation of mosquitoes during the monsoon contributes to the spread of diseases such as dengue, malaria, and chikungunya. These mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, which accumulates after heavy rains.

3. Respiratory Infections:

Monsoon can trigger respiratory illnesses, such as colds, flu, and pneumonia, due to the high moisture content in the air. The damp environment also promotes the growth of mold and mildew, which can exacerbate allergies and asthma.

4. Fungal Infections:

Fungi thrive in moist environments, leading to skin infections like ringworm, athlete’s foot, and fungal nail infections during the monsoon.

5. Leptospirosis:

This bacterial infection spreads through contact with contaminated water or soil. People wading through flooded areas or engaging in water-related activities are at risk.

6. Viral Hepatitis:

Hepatitis A and E are water borne diseases commonly seen during the monsoon, transmitted through the consumption of contaminated food and water.

To protect you and your families from various health concerns that arise during the monsoon season, here are the Do’s and Don’ts:

Do’s in Monsoon Season

1. Prevention through Hygiene:

Practicing good personal hygiene, like washing hands frequently, helps prevent the transmission of monsoon-borne diseases.

2. Drink Safe Water:

Boiling, filtering, or using water purification methods ensures safe drinking water and reduces the risk of waterborne infections.

3. Prevent Water Stagnation

Eliminating stagnant water around homes, gardens, and construction sites helps in reducing mosquito breeding sites.

4. Vitamin C rich diet

Vitamin C strengthens immunity and well-being. Increasing your vitamin C intake helps you fight against diseases and infections. Jamun is a popular monsoon fruit loaded with Vitamin C. In addition to consuming Jamun, add leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale to your meal to fight against monsoon illnesses

5. Immunizations:

Ensuring vaccinations are up-to-date, particularly for diseases like typhoid, hepatitis, and flu, can provide added protection during the monsoon.

6. Get medical assistance right away

If any symptoms of infection or illness appear such as flu, high fever, vomiting, body pains and alike, seeking prompt medical attention can lead to early diagnosis and effective treatment.

Don’ts in Monsoon in Season

1. Don’t consume street food and untreated water:

During the monsoon, there is an increased risk of food and water contamination. Avoid eating street food and drinking untreated water to prevent gastrointestinal illnesses.

2. Don’t ignore water leakage and dampness in your home:

Water leakage and dampness can promote the growth of mold and fungi, leading to respiratory issues and allergies. Fix any leaks and keep your home dry.

3. Avoid staying in damp clothes:

Wet clothes can lead to skin infections and other health issues. Change into dry clothes as soon as possible after getting wet in the rain.Do not let water stagnate in places in and around your house- breeding ground for mosquitoes

4. Avoid going to crowded places if you are unwell:

During the monsoon, there is an increased risk of infections spreading in crowded areas. If you are feeling unwell, it’s best to avoid crowded places to prevent the spread of illnesses.

5. Don’t self-medicate for monsoon-related illnesses:

If you experience any health issues during the monsoon season, consult a healthcare professional for proper diagnosis and treatment instead of relying on self-medication.

Zoi Multispeciality Hospital

Zoi’s experienced general physicians are here to help you fight against monsoon illnesses with our utmost care and expert treatment. Although flu, cold, fever etc are common during monsoon season, do not ignore the symptoms. For early diagnosis and effective treatment, visit Zoi Multispeciality Hospital, conveniently located in Ameerpet and Attapur without any delay.

Common Eye Problems

There are several eye conditions that can affect kids. Most are detected by a vision screening using an Acuity chart during the preschool years.

• Amblyopia otherwise known as lazy eye, is a poor vision in an eye that may appear to be normal. Two common causes are crossed eyes and a difference in the refractive error between the two eyes. If untreated, amblyopia can cause irreversible visual loss in the affected eye. (By then, the brain’s “programming” will ignore signals from that eye) Amblyopia is best treated as early as possible, ideally before a child is 8 years old.

• Strabismus is a misalignment of the eyes; they may turn in, out, up, or down. If the same eye is chronically misaligned, amblyopia may also develop in that eye. With early detection, vision can be restored by patching the properly aligned eye, which forces the misaligned one to work. Surgery or specially designed glasses also may help the eyes to align.

• Refractive errors mean that the shape of the eye doesn’t refract (bend) light properly, so images appear blurred. Refractive errors can also cause amblyopia. Nearsightedness is the most common refractive error in school-age children; others include farsightedness and astigmatism:
  • Near-sightedness is poor distance vision (also called myopia), which is usually treated with glasses or contact lenses.
  • Far-sightedness (also called hyperopia), which is usually treated with glasses or contact lenses.
  • Astigmatism is imperfect curvature of the front surface of the eye, which is usually treated with glasses if it causes blurred vision or discomfort. Contact lenses may be used in some cases now a days.

Warning Signs Of Vision Problems In Kids

Refractive errors are the most common cause of vision problems among school-going children. Parents, as well as teachers should be aware of these 10 signs that affect a child’s vision:

1. Consistently sitting too close to the TV or holding a book too close
2. Losing his place while reading or using a finger to guide his eyes when reading
3. Squinting or tilting the head to see better
4. Frequent eye rubbing
5. Sensitivity to light and/or excessive tearing
6. Closing one eye to read, watch TV or to see better
7. Avoiding activities which require near vision, such as reading or homework, or distance vision, such as participating in sports or other recreational activities
8. Complaining of headaches or tired eyes
9. Avoiding using a computer, because it “hurts his eyes”
10. Receiving lower grades than usual

Sometimes there can be no symptoms too.

How to protect their eyesight

• Eat right both during pregnancy and after. Your baby will be healthier and you will set a good example
• Provide nutritious meals with fruits, vegetables, nuts, and up to 12 ounces a week of fish. These foods contain key antioxidants and nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, and lutein, which are linked to eye health
• Provide your child with age-appropriate toys that are free from sharp edges to prevent injury to the eyes
• Give your child toys that encourage visual development
• Watch your baby for signs where the eyes are crossed or turned out
• Look at your baby for any haziness or clouding in the pupil
• Provide sun protection when outdoors by means of shelter or UV coated lenses, especially if your child’s eyes are light in colour
• Be an example to your child by wearing the proper protective athletic gear when playing sports, especially while swimming, playing cricket, etc.
• Have your child’s eyes examined regularly, particularly during infancy and childhood

When to get your child’s eyes checked

• Children should have an eye exam by no later than 6 months old, then again by age 3, and just before starting school

• School-going children need an exam every two years if they have no visual problems
• But if your child requires eyeglasses or contact lenses, schedule visits every 12 months

The only method for improving your vision is the use of corrective measures like laser surgery or prescription eyewear if you suffer from astigmatism or myopia. The shape of your eyes is what determines your level of refractive error and that cannot change with exercises or eye training.

Measures to keep your eyes safe

Keep in mind that healthy habits like eating well and being active can lower your risk for diseases and conditions that can lead to eye or vision problems, like diabetes or high blood pressure. Follow these tips for healthy vision:

1. Wear sunglasses with UV protection when you are out in the sun to keep the harmful rays from diminishing your eyesight.
2. Wear eye protection when doing any activity that could potentially lead to an eye injury.
3. Take breaks from screen time. If you spend a lot of time looking at the screen, such as a computer or smartphone, take a break and look 20 feet away every 20 minutes for 20 seconds at a time. This can help to prevent digital eye strain, which can cause eye fatigue, headaches, neck tension, and decreased vision.
4. Get regular eye check-ups done. An eye exam can help diagnose potential issues right away and aid in maintaining eye and vision health.
5. Don’t smoke. Smoking can increase the risk for many physical health issues, including optic nerve damage, macular degeneration related to age, and cataracts — all of which can negatively impact vision.
6. Practice good hygiene. Wash your hands and face thoroughly and regularly. Keep cosmetics and chemicals out of the eyes. If you wear contacts, clean and store them properly.

Superfoods to protect your eyes

Eyesight is the greatest gift of God but weak eyesight is very common. Nowadays, many people suffer from distorted vision, poor eyesight, or have difficulty seeing objects close up (also known as farsightedness or hypermetropia) or at a distance (also known as nearsightedness or myopia).

But taking good care of your eyes, including providing the vitamins and nutrients they need, plays a vital role in keeping them healthy. Certain nutrients, like carotenoids, bioflavonoids, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins A and C, minerals and antioxidants play a vital role and hence the overall health of your eyesight rely on them.

There are some certain superfoods if eaten regularly can keep your eyesight from getting weaker and keep functioning at their best for a longer period of time, they literally help to prevent various eye problems. Here are several powerful superfoods mentioned below which will help you maintain keen, clear eyesight.

1.Fish

Fish are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Oily fish are fish that have oil in their gut and body tissue, so eating them offers higher levels of omega-3-rich fish oil. The fish that contains the most beneficial levels of omega-3s include:

• Rohu
• Salmon
• Hilsa
• Karimeen

2.Nuts and legumes

Nuts are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Nuts also contain a high level of vitamin E, which can protect the eye from age-related damage. Nuts are available for purchase in most grocery stores. Nuts and legumes that are good for eye health include:

Walnuts

Brazil nuts

Cashews

Peanuts and

Lentils

3.Seeds

Like nuts and legumes, seeds are high in omega-3 fatty acids and are a rich source of vitamin E. Seeds are available for purchase in most grocery stores and online as well. Seeds high in omega-3 include:
Chia seeds

Flax seeds and

Hemp seeds

4.Citrus fruits

Citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C.

Lemons

Oranges

Grapefruits and

Sweet lime

5.Leafy vegetables

Leafy green vegetables are rich in both lutein and zeaxanthin. They are also a good source of vitamin C. Well-known leafy greens include:

Spinach (Palak)

Fenugreek (Methi)

6.Carrots

Carrots are rich in both Vitamin A and Beta carotene. Beta carotene gives carrots their orange colour.
Vitamin A plays an essential role in vision. It is a component of a protein called rhodopsin, which helps the retina absorb light.

7.Sweet potatoes

Like carrots, sweet potatoes are also rich in Beta carotene. They are also a good source of the antioxidant vitamin E.

8.Beef

Beef is rich in zinc, which is known for ages to better long-term eye health. Zinc can help delay age-related sight loss and macular degeneration. The eye itself contains high levels of zinc, particularly in the retina, and the vascular tissue surrounding the retina. Meats such as chicken breast and pork loin also contain zinc, but at lower levels than beef.

9.Eggs

Eggs are an excellent source of lutein and zeaxanthin, which can reduce the risk of age-related sight loss. Eggs are also good sources of vitamins C and E, and zinc.

10.Water

It may come as no surprise that a fluid essential to life is also vital to eye health. Drinking plenty of water can prevent dehydration, which may reduce the symptoms of dry eyes.

Myths related to vision improvement

1.Myth: Eat a lot of carrots.

While carrots do contain vitamin A that can aid in enhancing night vision, just eating carrots is not going to make you see better. A balanced diet full of vitamins and nutrients is good for eye health. Just eating a ton of carrots on their own may actually make you sick.

2.Myth: Do not remove your medically prescribed glasses because they can make your eyesight worse.

Corrective eyewear, such as contact lenses or glasses, is not going to decrease your natural eyesight any more than it is going to “cure” your refractive error. Prescription eyewear can help you to see better. Glasses and contacts will not change the shape of your eyes, so they can’t impact eyesight when you are not wearing them.

3. Myth: Relaxation or eye massage techniques can decrease the need for glasses.

Methods like rubbing your palms on your eyes, placing hot and/or cold compression on your eye and using mud packs over closed eyes are often touted as ways to improve vision naturally. These methods may help to reduce eye strain and be a good way to decrease tension, but there is no proof that they can actually improve your eyesight directly.

4. Myth: Eye exercises can correct refractive errors and help you see better.

There are many different eye exercises that claim to train your eyes and strengthen the muscles around them. Many are extremely tedious and require long periods of concentration every day. They may be helpful in some way, but it is not proven that they work. It is easier to wear prescription eyewear instead.

What is a UTI?

Let us first investigate UTIs before answering whether or not public seats are harmful to us. A Urinary Tract infection, or UTI, is an infection that affects the parts of the urinary system, which include the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Women are more likely than men to have UTIs because their urethra (the tube that connects the bladder to where the urine passes out of the body) is shorter. This facilitates the entry of germs into the bladder. Hence, women are more at risk of contracting a UTI.

UTIs are very common. They affect 1 in every 5 women at some point in their lives. Although women tend to be more affected by UTIs, they can also affect men. Around 8 million to 10 million people visit doctors every year for UTIs.

What Causes A UTI?

A UTI is caused by bacteria or yeast entering the urinary tract. Once the infection enters the tract, it tends to multiply, leading to inflammation and pain. UTIs can be prevented by wiping from front to back after using the washroom. The urinary system is designed to keep out bacteria, but the defenses sometimes tend to fail, leading to an infection in the urinary tract.

UTIs are most common in women and frequently affect the bladder and urethra.

Types of UTIs

The following are the types of UTI that can be contracted:

Bladder Infection:

The infection of the bladder is caused by Escherichia coli, or E. coli. It is a bacteria that is often found in the gastrointestinal tract.

Sex might also lead to a bladder infection, but one need not be sexually active to get infected. Because the urethra is so close to the anus in women, there is a high risk of bacteria traveling from the anus to the urethra and causing a UTI.

Urethra Infection:

Infection of the urethra can occur when bacteria from the gastrointestinal tract spread from the anus to the urethra. Such infections can also be sexually transmitted and include herpes, chlamydia, and mycoplasma. Women are at a higher risk of getting such infections because their urethra is close to the vagina.

UTI Symptoms

If you have a UTI, you may have the following symptoms:

1. Burning or pain when urinating
2. Pressure in the lower part of the abdomen
3. Having the urge to pee but not being able to urinate as much
4. Urine that either smells bad or looks milky or cloudy
5. Blood in the urine
6. Feeling fatigued, shaky, and weak. These symptoms can be often found in older women
7. Fever. A fever may also indicate that the infection has spread to the kidneys.

How is a UTI diagnosed?

To diagnose an UTI, the doctor or nurse will take a clean sample of urine. Then the sample of urine will be tested for bacteria to check if you have a UTI. The entire process can take a couple of days

If you have already had a UTI, the doctor may run a few more tests to rule out other problems. The tests include a cystogram and a cystoscopic exam. Cystography, or cystogram, is an imaging test that helps detect problems in the urinary tract. Cystoscopy is a procedure in which a small tube is inserted into the urethra and bladder to examine them.

How is a UTI treated?

Antibiotics are the most commonly used treatment for UTI. It is essential to take the antibiotics for the number of days they have been prescribed, and you might get better within a day or two. It is essential to get an UTI treated. If not, the infection can spread to the kidneys. Even then, antibiotics can treat the infections in the kidney, but if the infection gets into the bloodstream, it can be life threatening.

Can a public Toilet Seat give you A UTI?

We cannot get a UTI from a toilet, as the urethra does not touch the seat. As long as the urethra does not come into contact with the seat, we are safe from certain infections. The toilet seat is not a common way for bacteria to enter our bodies. The only way one can get infected is by wiping themselves from back to front instead of the other way around or from allowing the surface of the toilet seat to come in contact with the urethral opening.

Conclusion

Now you know not only that it is nearly impossible to contract a UTI from a public seat but also about UTIs themselves. Visit a doctor if you see yourself suffering from the symptoms mentioned earlier. Rush to the hospital if you see blood in your urine.

Be mindful of the UTI symptoms and take the necessary precautions to prevent getting a UTI, and also seek the required treatment if you contract the infection.

Visit Zoi Hospitals for Urology and Other Consultations

More Comprehensive Care

Experiencing comprehensive care is necessary to lead a productive and healthy life. At Zoi Attapur, we strive to extend our reach to as many patients as possible. Our 24/7 emergency trauma care provide services with efficiency and crucial expertise. Physical health not only affects your body but also your mind. At Zoi, you are given care that is organized and coordinated to meet your needs in terms of physical, emotional and cognitive health. Zoi’s main philosophy is to understand and empathize with distress and provide essential and sufficient therapy.

We have now shifted our Out-patient and Diagnostic services from the Zoi hospitals’ premise at Pillar 145 and Zoi Clinics at Pillar 128 to a bigger space in Attapur to not only provide more comprehensive care, have more specialities’ consultations available, but also to elevate your satisfaction of the experience to the best of our ability. The Pillar 145 hospital is now dedicated for enhanced Emergency and In-Patient services.

More Convenient Space

Have you ever felt the added pressure from a crammed hospital?

Space and convenience are essential for a hospital. The more spacious a hospital is the more at ease you will be. For your convenience we have moved to a bigger space where there is plenty of room and attention too.

Visiting a hospital is often stressful and anxiety inducing. The crowd and rush environment at the hospital can be distressful. But Zoi Attapur is now coming with more space and more convenience for you.

More Facilities

Zoi was the first in Attapur a fully loaded multi-speciality setup and to have DXA or BMD Scans. We added Digital X-ray, Fully Automated Lab, Lung Function Test, Audiology, Treadmill Test, Dietician, Rehab Devices, Optometry and so on to our already existing facilities. We have ensured state-of-the art facilities with advanced technology. The fully automated laboratories, online report availability, fully integrated diagnostic reporting with the hospital software, paperless digital patient records with complete security and privacy, even online billing provide all the necessary requirements at one place for you, often from your mobile.

Billing and registration is possible on each floor.

Your Zoi now brings you more access to facilities, technology and convenience.

More Doctors

Doctors are the heart of a hospital. We have doctors who excel in their specializations and serve with utmost patience and empathy. All the departments at Zoi Attapur set high standards for patient-care with qualified doctors in helping you experience a pain-free life. Now that Zoi has moved into a bigger space at Attapur, we have expanded our doctor panel too.

Each floor of Zoi Hospital Attapur is dedicated to different clinical fields. You can now visit your doctor without any hassle or inconvenience. With easy access to other specialties, Zoi New Block Hospital is a one stop for all your families needs.

Conclusion

We promise to keep serving you with empathy, expertise and commit to uphold the quality of health care and service along with the trust we got from you over the years, with our experience and constant upgradation. We shall continue to work towards providing holistic healthcare and treatments for you..

Approximately 21 million women around the world undergo unsafe, illegal abortions each year. Complications from these unsafe procedures account for approximately 13% of all maternal deaths, or nearly 50,000 per year.

At Zoi’s Gynaecology department, every decision regarding a woman’s health, like pre-pregnancy counseling, safety around pre-marital sex, vaccination, Contraception, methods of delivery, laparoscopic surgery, blood transfusions, etc., are done with the utmost importance and care.

And at Zoi, we practice a sound health policy that is based on scientific facts and evidence-based medicine. The best health care is provided when it is free of any external dogma. Our core values involve taking care of the patient-physician relationship. When it comes to abortions, we strictly follow all the rules of our Indian law.

The Decision on Abortions

The decision-making is kept personal between the women and their doctor, so it is free from any kind of ideology surrounding abortions.

Women undergoing abortions are entitled to privacy, dignity, respect, and support. The couples or women who come for abortions are taken care of with empathy. We have found that even the male partner goes through the same amount of stress as the lady when they take a decision on terminating an unplanned or unintended pregnancy. All the required support is given by the doctors through personal counseling.

Restrictions and bans are a thing of the past where women and girls were denied  direct access to health care. Women are now protected by constitutional rights directed towards the safety and confidentiality of abortions . This ensures:

1) Availability, accessibility, affordability, acceptability, and quality of abortion services.

2) Free and informed decision-making

3) Right to obtain education and full information on abortion.

Why Abortion?

Many factors necessitate a woman having an abortion. They include, but are not limited to, contraceptive failure, barriers to contraceptive use and access, rape, incest, fetal anomalies, illness during pregnancy, and accidental exposure to dangerous and harmful medications which are detrimental to the fetus’s health.

Pregnancy complications include – sudden painful and accidental separation of the placenta; uncontrollable heavy bleeding from a centrally placed low lying placenta; very high blood pressure resulting in seizures; and cardiac or kidney failure. These may be so severe that abortion is the only measure to save the mother’s life.

When couples or women are not free to take a decision on abortion, women resort to unsafe means to end unwanted pregnancies by self medication with over the counter (OTC) medications, ingestion of dangerous chemicals or plant products.

In times of socio-economic crisis and a breakdown in societal health systems, e.g. due to a pandemic, lack of information and lack of access to health care results in an increased risk of unintended pregnancy. This often results in patients resorting to unsafe abortion procedures or a forced continuation of pregnancy.

Also, women started relying on unqualified medical providers (quacks) to get rid of pregnancy. This adds to the danger to their health and even their lives.

Trimester Wise Safety

Abortion in the 1st Trimester:

First trimester abortion is safe and can be performed with medication up to 12 weeks. However, this method of termination is proven more successful within 7 weeks of conception. As for the painfulness of medical abortions, it causes slight discomfort and may be a little more than crampy painful periods.

After 7 weeks, the failure rate increases with medication methods and may require surgical evacuation. It is worth trying the medical method first always, as anesthesia can be avoided as well as the cost of surgical intervention. Failure of medical methods may happen as each body reacts differently to medications.

In case the medical method fails, then, the surgical procedure done is called D & C – Dilatation and Curettage.

When comparing the medical and surgical methods, there is the same amount of blood loss. Both methods cause the bleeding to taper off before it completely stops over a period of time.

Abortion in the 2nd trimester

Abortion from 12 weeks to 20 weeks is done only in certain special cases.

This can also be done medically by inducing abortion with medication. This is more painful than the 1st trimester abortion.

For the above, thorough guidance from a gynecologist is needed and not just any doctor. In the case of medication, a follow up ultrasound is essential to ensure all the products of conception have been expelled from the uterus. Failing to do so can cause prolonged bleeding, infections, and damage over time to the uterus.

This is the check list for you before going for a surgical abortion :

1. Doctor visit
2. Ultrasound confirms two things: age of the fetus and the position of the fetus.

Tips from Zoi’s Best Gynecologists:

It is important to keep regular track of periods and a high degree of suspicion about being pregnant is required when a period is missed.

You may do a self urine pregnancy test as soon as the period is missed. Especially when periods are irregular, pregnancy tests may not detect pregnancy even after 1 week of a missed period.

At Zoi, we prescribe the safest and most suitable contraceptive methods to all women who are seeking safe sex. You will be guided well to successfully prevent another abortion. It is very much possible, even to avoid getting to a stage where you have to go for an abortion. Contraception and education are key. Women need to be free to talk to their doctor about their needs and various contraceptive methods.

In the case of a missed period, please visit your gynecologist to know the ways to detect an unintended pregnancy very early. The earlier you see the doctor for an abortion, the more time you have to evaluate your choices. Early intervention helps ensure that the abortion process, if that is the choice made, is less painful both physically and emotionally.

Our commitment is that you own your say in the matter of contraception and when you want to conceive, and in the event of an unintended pregnancy, you have all the tools, knowledge, and support to choose to abort or keep the pregnancy. If you are going for an abortion, you are empowered to make the best and safest health choices, retaining your say in the matter of conceiving at the time you are ready.

Though flu is one disease we see pretty often, other diseases such as Typhoid, Cholera, Dengue, Malaria are the ones to watch out for. The common causes are unhygienic environment, mosquitos, overcrowding.

There is no specific age group as such to get affected by these diseases so it’s important for everyone to have an awareness about what the symptoms are and what can be done to avoid them and if affected how to get efficient treatment.

Water and food borne diseases

Though there are many diseases which spread through food and water, here are the few common diseases seen in India:

1. Typhoid
2. Cholera
3. Gastroenteritis infections

Typhoid

• It is caused by the bacteria Salmonella typhi and paratyphi
• Symptoms are  fever which is seen at evenings and early mornings along with headaches, loose motions, abdominal pain, fatigue.
• Typhoid can be diagnosed by tests such as Widal, blood culture, Salmonella antibody test
• The challenges in Typhoid is that the tests may turn out negative in early stage of disease so it’s important to visit a qualified physician who can diagnose it by clinical symptoms
• The complicated part of the disease is that symptoms might subside but disease might be present in gallbladder. The course of treatment depends on the severity of disease.

Dr Prashanth A., General physician at Zoi hospitals says – I have encountered patients in age group between 16-21yrs being more affected this year as compared to previous years

Tips For Prevention and Recovery

1. Drinking clean water and eating hygienic home-cooked meals routinely.
2. Regular follow-up checks are necessary during recovery to prevent multiple attacks.

Gastroenteritis

• Gastroenteritis is commonly seen during monsoon. Contaminated food and water due to bacteria or protozoal organisms is the cause. The temperature and humidity help in the growth of organisms.
• The symptoms can vary from mild abdominal pain to severe pain associated with loose motions, vomitings, weakness, headache.
• The main form of treatment is fluids. So, it’s important to keep yourself hydrated. Oral Rehydration Solution is helpful.
• If symptoms are severe, I.V. fluids and antibiotics will be prescribed.

Tips For Prevention

1. Keeping yourself-hydrated is critical
2. Avoid roadside foods and have water from a clean source.

Cholera

• Another disease which spreads through contaminated water and food. The disease is caused by an organism called Vibrio cholera.
• Presenting complaints are multiple vomiting and stools also known as “rice water stools”. This leads to loss of fluids and electrolytes from the body leading to severe dehydration which may lead to death if not treated early.
• Proper and early replenishment of fluids and electrolytes is important. ORS solution is available at any store and early intake of it will be lifesaving.
• No antibiotic treatment is required for cholera.

Tips for prevention

1. Maintaining hygiene
2. Always wash fruits and vegetables before consumption
3. Ensure clean and safe drinking water
4. It will be wise to avoid eating roadside panipuri and samosas etc at least during this season

We have seen recently Nepal govt ordering for closure of all panipuri selling vendors in view of increased cholera cases.

Mosquito borne diseases

Although there are many diseases spread by mosquito bites, the most frequently seen diseases are Malaria and Dengue. Without proper care the diseases can be life-threatening.

Malaria

• It is caused by the bite of a female anopheles mosquito and by the transmission of disease-causing malarial parasite.
• Symptoms usually arise 10 days post mosquito bites. Patients may present with high grade fever and severe chills in the evenings, headache, sudden fall in temperature leading to excessive sweating.
• More severe form may present with severe anemia, jaundice, hypoglycemia (fall in sugar levels), seizures, loss of consciousness, coma.
• Malaria is typically diagnosed by antigen test or blood smear test
• Treatment varies between tablet to injection form depending on severity

Tips For Prevention

1. Clearing any stagnant water in your surroundings to eliminate mosquitoes.
2. Applying mosquito repellents in the evenings or when going out.

Dengue

• One of the most common and dangerous diseases caused by the mosquito Aedes aegypti. This mosquito bites in the day and breeds in clean fresh water. It is easy to treat but can be life threatening also in very minimal cases leading to dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome
• It usually presents as fever with joint pains. Pains are very severe that is why it got its name “break bone fever”.
• It is diagnosed using NS1 antigen and IgG and IgM antibody test
• The mainstay of treatment is fluids and symptomatic treatment. The use of pain-relieving drugs such as aspirin or NSAIDs should be taken only on advice of physician as they may worsen the disease by leading to bleeding
• The most important aspect of this disease is fall in platelet count so any value less than 1 lakh recommended for a hospital admission and if platelets keep decreasing, single donor platelets (SDP) are advised as treatment.
• There is no specific cut of value at which SDP should be given. It depends on clinical symptoms and is ultimately called by the treating doctor.
• There is no specific fixed drug for treatment of Dengue.

“The notion of papaya and kiwi fruits increasing platelets is still debatable”

Prevention

1. To use mosquito nets, using mosquito repellants
2. Any water accumulation should be avoided, even if its fresh water
3. People living in endemic areas of malaria should take prophylactic drug courses under physician’s advice.

Take home points

• Although many drugs are available over-the-counter(OTC) for fever, it is not advisable to take them without physician approval, as the course of each disease is different and it can cause complications before reaching out to the doctor. So, the advice is to meet your physician as early as possible in the event of complaints such as fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, loose stools. As self-medication can do more harm than good.
• Flu vaccines can help in decreasing the chance of disease, it is advisable to take booster doses yearly once.
• If we can keep our food and drink intake hygienic and consult our doctor as early as possible, surely we can make every monsoon memorable

Dr. Prashanth Reddy. A
Internal Medicine
Zoi hospital, Somajiguda

Zoi Hospitals is proud to announce the establishment of Rotary Challa Blood Center at the Somajiguda premises. The new addition at our Somajiguda hospital will increase access to safe blood to hundreds of people and also make it easier to donate for the residents of Hyderabad. The Rotary organization is known for its charitable work and we at Zoi are very happy that we get to have the only Rotary Blood bank in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, in our premises. This is one of the ways we get the opportunity to contribute to people.

In order to ensure safe blood, the Rotary Challa Blood Center acquires blood only from voluntary donors as replacement. The blood is then screened using the Chemi-Luminescence ImmunoAssay (CLIA) process for detecting any potential infections – therefore ensuring high quality of blood in the storage. This method can catch infections even as recent as 7 days ago as against other methods that can identify infections contracted a longer time ago.

As for people who are receiving the donated blood, a ‘Gel-Technology’ based cross matching test is done. This safety test eliminates any form of blood-related complications in the receiver mainly as allergic transfusion reactions making it safer to receive.

Blood donations are an essential part of any healthcare system. Did you know that Blood banks come under the Drug control Authority of India. Blood is the most essential ‘drug’ and the most regulated drug and can also be the most unregulated drug. At Zoi Hospitals, we are committed to making blood as a drug most safe and accessible.

You can do your bit by donating blood to save lives. More often than not, people face great difficulty in procuring blood, plasma and blood products. This was seen clearly in recent times during the pandemic. Actually, most people want to donate and are gratified when they donate blood. What stops them is possibly thinking someone else is doing it, or I will do it later, or just going with what is convenient at that moment. DOnating blood is actually very simple and fulfilling. It’s time to break the inertia and to donate!

If 1% of the population donates blood, it can minimize blood shortage dramatically. 1 donor is saving 3 lives. Think about that and more importantly act.

To donate blood and for any information about it, at the Rotary Challa Blood Center at Zoi, call 040-48551898 or email us at rotarybloodcentre@zoihospitals.com