Viral Infections

Viral infection is caused by a virus present in the body. Various kinds of viruses can affect almost any part of the body thus, compromising any persons’ state of well being.  Viruses can infect any type of tissues in the human body from the smallest part up to the largest human organ.

Most viral infections don’t need antibiotic treatment since they can be worsened but, it can be treated with the body’s immune system.

The best way to fight viral infections is to pay attention to one’s well being with the help of:

• Proper body hydration
• Proper healthy diet
• Regular exercise
• Enough sleep
• Avoiding stress

Viral infections that can’t be easily treated with the body’s immune system can be treated but it must depend on the type of virus that infects and the location of the virus in the body.

Vaccination against Viruses

Ideally, antiviral drugs are administered into a persons’ body in the form of vaccine especially during the childhood years. However, some vaccine can administer to adults if it’s needed.

Vaccines are inactivated or dead microorganisms/organisms or purified products derived from them.

There are several types of vaccines for different strategies used to reduce risk of illness and retaining its ability to induce a beneficial response to immune system.

Vaccines may be monovalent or multivalent

Monovalent vaccine – immunization against a single antigen or single microorganism
multivalent vaccine – immunization against two or more microorganisms

Type of Vaccines

Toxoids  Vaccines – contains inactivated toxic compounds

Example vaccines are against:

• Tetanus
• Diphtheria

Killed Vaccines- contains killed microorganism

Example vaccines are against:

• Flu
• Polio
• Cholera
• Hepatitis A
• Bubonic plague

Subunit Vaccines – contains proteins or “whole agent”

Example vaccines are against:

• Hepatitis B
• human papillomavirus (HPV)

Conjugate Vaccine- contains polysaccharide

Example vaccines against:

• Haemophilus influenzae type B

Attenuated Vaccines – contains live attenuated virus microorganisms

Example vaccines are against:

• Measles
• Rubella
• Mumps
• Yellow fever

Experimental Vaccines – vaccines that are innovative and now in development

Example vaccines are:

• T-Cell Receptor
• DNA

Other serious viral infections can be treated with anti-viral drugs with the supervision of a general practitioner and/or a specialist.

Pins and Needles

“Pins and Needles”is caused by too much pressure apply on a nerve temporarily. Some of the common causes is when a person sit on one position for a period of time and when intend to switch position “Pins and Needles”occurs. Also occurs in arms, hands, feet and/or other parts of the body.

Although “Pins and Needles”is not desirable to feel, it is not a serious condition, usually the normal feeling of the affected part will return within a couple of minutes. When the feeling of numbness and tingling continue, chances are you might have a pinched nerve.

Symptoms of “Pins and Needles”

• Numbness
• Weakness
• Pricking
• Burning
• Itching
• Tingling sensation
• Slight pain in the muscle or nerve

Causes of “Pins and Needles”

• Inactivity
• Sitting in bad position
• Traumatic nerve damage
• Nerve entrapment
• Nerve compression
• Stroke
• Migraine
• Alcoholism
• Multiple sclerosis
• Dehydration
• Reduced blood supply to the affected areas

Home Remedies / Natural Treatment for “Pins and Needles”

Simple repositioning of the affected limbs or part of the body will lead to normal feeling of the “Pins and Needles” affected part.

Avoiding being inactive for a longer period time
Avoid repetitive action of the certain body part for a longer period of time

Other Suggestion for “Pins and Needles”

When this feeling occurs in alarming rate, it is advisable to see a doctor for general health concern.

Swine Flu

With the global scare of now popular Swine influenza or also called as Swine Flu. It is caused by any virus of the family Orthomyxoviridae. This kind of virus is endemic to pigs or popularly known as Swine. This kind of strain is also known as Swine Iinfluenza Virus (SIV).

Classification of Influenza Virus:

• Influenzavirus A, which is common
• Influenzavirus C , which is rare
• Influenzavirus B which is not reported in swine

All three clades, Influenzavirus A, B, and C, are also endemic in humans.

Causes of Swine Flu

Exposure to swine with known illness of Swine Flu, this includes a person who works in swine industry. Once a person has been exposed to swine flu, the virus mutates then it allows it to pass between humans. It is believed that these strain now on outbreak in many countries including Mexico and United States.

Symptoms of Swine Flu

The symptoms of swine flu if human is infected will be like similar to those of influenza illness.

These includes, chilling, fever, headache, and extreme muscular pains. The nose and throat are inflamed, and this may extend down to the windpipe of the lungs that could further result into cough, runny nose, sore throat and watery eyes.

For mild cases of fever, the temperature may rise from 39ºC (102ºF) – 40ºC (104ºF). Fatigue and general body weakness may persist for several weeks.

Home Remedies / Treatment for Swine Flu

Note: it is advised to report all cases of Swine flu with the nearest authorities for them to decide what are the best action can be done to avoid possible outbreak since the WHO is now on the brink of calling Swine Flu pandemic. The listed home remedies are just an aid and an initial action to address swine flu symptoms. Always ask your General Practitioners advice.

Long Pepper: Mix ½ teaspoon of long pepper powder with 2 teaspoons of honey and ½ teaspoon of ginger juice. Take it 3 times a day during the initial stages of flu. It can help avoid further complications in the larynx and the bronchial tube.

Garlic: Consume liberal amount of garlic. It is an effective antiseptic against flu.

Turmeric: Mix 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder in a cup of milk. Take it 3 times a day. This will prevent further complications and stimulates liver activity.

Mix equal parts of onion juice and honey. Take 3-4 teaspoons of this mixture everyday.

Ginger: Mix 1 teaspoon of ginger juice, 1 cup of fenugreek decoction and few drops of honey for flavoring. It is a excellent diaphoretic that increases perspiration and lowers down the fever. To make a fenugreek decoction, simply boil 1 tablespoon of fenugreek seeds in 1 liter water until it lowers by 1/3.

Grapefruit: Consume moderate to liberal amount of grapefruit for it tones up the body’s system and digestive tract.

Basil leaves: Boil 1 gm of basil leaves and some ginger in 1 liter water. Wait until the water lowers to a half. Drink as tea when necessary.

Finger Millet: Burn some flour of ginger millet and inhale its fumes. It will help stimulate blood circulation in the nasal mucosa and gets rid of stuffy nose.

Diets Suggestions for People infected with Swine Flu

Abstain from solid foods during the acute stages of Swine Flu. For the first 3-5 days of the treatment, the patient should undergo an exclusive fruit and vegetable juice diet diluted in water on a 50:50 proportion, might also change depends if the condition is extreme.

Follow with an exclusive fruit diet for the next 2-3 days after the fever subsided. Follow again with a fruit and milk diet for the next 2-3 days.

Eat plenty of fresh fruits and raw vegetables afterwards.

Avoid alcoholic drinks, coffee, tea, as well as cheese, potatoes, rice, stale, spices and condiments, milk, seasoned meats and all refine, processed foods.

Other suggestions for Swine Flu

Warm water enema: Administer a warm water enema everyday for the first 3-5 days of the treatment.

Cold packs: Soak a large piece of linen material in cold water. Squeeze it, and then wrap it around the body and legs of the patient. Cover completely with a blanket. Leave for 1 hour. Remove the pack then sponge the body using lukewarm water. Repeat application several times a day to reduce temperature. Let the patient stay in bed until complete recovery.