Indus Vitals

Tooth decay is the most common oral health problem and it is caused by less dense bones. This problem generally occurs above the age of 65. At this age gum naturally recedes, which makes it more possible for cavities causing tooth decay. It’s also because older people have less saliva flowing and they usually take medicines, which causes a dry mouth, thus increasing bacteria that causes tooth decay. Lastly, the elderly people also have weak bones making bacteria stable around the jaw and teeth. The reason why bones can be weak is because of a lack of vitamin D and calcium. Calcium can also keep the teeth secure and harden tooth enamel. On the other hand, vitamin D aids in the body’s intake of calcium and phosphorus which are required for teeth reconstruction. Also, without vitamin D, there would be weak teeth. Some sources that have calcium are milk, cheese, salmon, and dark leafy green vegetables. Vitamin D is also obtained by exposure to the sun and consumption of eggs, milk, and f...

KARACHI: The metropolitan city of Karachi, with official scientific reports confirming significant prevalence of polio virus in its environment, is all set to witness administration of fractional dose intradermal inactivated polio vaccine (fIPV) into its deserving children from August 15 to 25 to protect them from infectious crippling disease which has affected 13 children countrywide, including one in Karachi so far this year. A source in the health department said that in view of month-wise data suggesting increase in detection of polio (poliomyelitis) virus in various sewage samples, the authorities have resolved to ensure new response activities, including administration of emergency fIPV injection in high-risk areas, besides improving routine immunisation scheme of the government for children, to boost the immunity in children of Karachi and Sindh against polio and other vaccine preventable diseases.  As per official data, Sindh has 28 sites for environmental sample collec...

By Our Correspondent KARACHI: Speakers at a moot on the importance of mangrove conservation and its expansion across the country’s coastline have expressed concern that the types of mangrove species in the Indus Delta has reduced by 50 per cent during the last many years, whereas cutting of mangroves for fuel, fodder and grazing had been posing direct threat to the mangrove ecosystem. Two institutions of the University of Karachi—Muhammad Ajmal Khan Institute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilisation (MAK-ISHU) and Institute of Environmental Studies (IES) jointly organised a seminar to mark the World Mangroves Day, with the collaboration of the Sindh Forest Department at KU, recently. The Chief Conservator of the Forest Department, Riaz Ahmed Wagan, informed the audience that the Indus Delta located in Thatta, Sujawal, Badin and Karachi had shown the existence of eight species of mangroves in the past, but, at present, only four of them are found, i.e., Avicennia marina, Rhizophora ...

By Sabahat Muslim KARACHI: Blood samples of as many as 159,665 (3.80%) screened healthy donors of the Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority (SBTA) regulated 185 blood banks were found positive for transfusion transmitted illnesses (TTIs) during a period of five years across Sindh, revealed a lately released medical science research report. According to the doctors who conducted the said study to assess the prevalence and distribution of TTIs among healthy blood donors, there has been a considerable increase in the number of Hepatitis B or C and HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) among blood donors in Sindh, which underscores the need for continued surveillance, prevention and intervention to address the issue. The research report, showing a continuously increasing trend of all the mentioned infections, has been published in Cureus Journal of Medical Science, an online open access multi-specialty journal. A team comprising Dur-e-Naz Jamal and Sundas Gul of SBTA, Samra Waheed of ...

By Our Correspondent KARACHI: Raising alarm over the increasing rate of viral hepatitis C cases in the country, experts have once again stressed the need for ensuring rapid screening for the disease among general population as the only way to avert severe liver damages and other health complications. The disease experts and senior physicians spoke at large at various seminars and awareness meetings held in connection with the World Hepatitis Day, urging the government to take its lead role holistically. Hepatitis Day theme for this year was “It’s time for action”. A person dies every 30 seconds from a hepatitis-related illness globally, says the World Health Organisation, with a call to accelerate action on better prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) observed the day with a comprehensive programme to raise awareness about the escalating threat of viral hepatitis in Pakistan. According to a press release, a large numbe...