Smileband health topics

A young woman is warning others about the risks of having lip fillers after the procedure left her with an infection covering her face that is still affecting her life a year on. Saysha Williams, 23, was eager to undergo the procedure after months of feeling unhappy with her appearance but instead was left in agony when her lips became blistered and she was diagnosed with a severe Impetigo infection.

Saysha, from Bruton, Somerset, claims that the infection was caused by a lack of hygiene when the injections were made at a beauty parlour back in August 2016, as she believes the practitioner failed to clean her mouth beforehand. Saysha said: 'I was told that my lips would be sore for a few days but it wasn't until later that evening that my lips still felt numb from the procedure.

'I did a bit of research to see if it was normal but I should have had the sensation in my lips back by that time.

'Then they started to turn purple and the next day I woke up with a white spot under my nose, more started to pop up and it was very sore and painful, turning into scabs around my mouth and into my nose.

Sahsya had seen the practitioner after recommendations from friends but was left unhappy with the results when she was left with the widespread infection.

The infection got worse with more painful scabs spreading across Sahsya's face and ulcers in her mouth stopping her from eating, drinking and speaking. 'I still have scarring on my upper lip that will be with me for the rest of my life and it's difficult to apply lipstick.

'They still aren't fully normal now. I have alot of sensitivity in them and sometimes, the scarring flares up. It took about three weeks for them to heal but they have never been normal again.

'People are so adamant to get the procedure done that they ignore the warnings from other people but at least if they see these pictures they might think twice.

'Do your research and don't just jump on the bandwagon because it's trendy at the time.

'The whole experience has taught me to love myself and I'm a lot more confident and happy in my appearance.'

Smileband health topics

Tetanus is a disease caused by the toxins produced by Clostridium tetani. The bacteria is found in the soil and the intestines of animals. Tetanus is a neurologic disease that progresses to severe painful generalized muscle spasms. Autonomic dysfunction can also occur.

 

In Arizona from 2011 to 2015 there were 5 cases of tetanus reported.

 

Arizona 5 year median: 0 cases

 

Transmission

Transmission primarily occurs by the bacteria entering the body through broken skin, usually by injuries from contaminated objects such as nails.

Incubation period can range from 3 to 21 days.

Lab Tests & Specimen Info
There are no laboratory tests for tetanus.

Isolation Precautions
Tetanus is not a communicable disease.

Prevention for Patients
Vaccination is the best prevention method. Approximately 100% of healthy adults and infants, children, and adolescents develop adequate antibody response after a primary series.   Tdap booster is recommended for adults in place of the Td booster. Immunity last approximately 10 years and requires a booster after that time.

Public Health Actions
Public health will conduct an epidemiological investigation on a case or suspect case.

Smileband health topics

Shigellosis causes acute gastroenteritis. When severe, stools contain blood, mucus, and pus. While usually self-limiting to 4-7 days, severe dehydration can occur; especially in infants and the elderly. Asymptomatic infections can occur.

 

Arizona 5 year median: 444 cases

 

Transmission
Transmission can occur through contaminated food or water, by person-to-person transmission by the fecal-oral route or through exposure to feces by sexual contact.

Incubation period can range from 1 to 7 days.

Lab Tests & Specimen Info

Test*	Specimen
Culture	Stool

 Isolation Precautions

Enteric precautions should be followed for the duration of acute symptoms. 

Generally, no environmental measures are indicated for sporadic cases. For outbreaks, environmental cleaning may be necessary following EPA-approved cleaning materials and guidelines.

Prevention for Patients

• Carefully wash hands with soap during key times such as before eating and after changing a diaper or helping to clean another person who has defecated.
• If caring for a child in diapers who has shigellosis, promptly discard the soiled diapers in a lidded, lined garbage can, and wash hands and the child’s hands. Any leaks or spills of diaper contents should be cleaned up immediately.
• Avoid swallowing water from ponds, lakes, or untreated swimming pools.
• When traveling internationally, follow food and water precautions strictly and wash hands frequently.
• Avoid sexual activity with those who have diarrhea or who recently recovered from diarrhea.

Public Health Actions
Public health will conduct case and contact investigation to determine the source, risk factors, and transmission settings.

Antibiotics are usually not necessary for Shigella infections but if treating, culture and test for antibiotic susceptibility. CDC has reported emerging strains of Shigella with quinolone resistance. 

Smileband health topics

Through its latest campaign for road safety, the Transport Accident Commission or TAC has come up with an unusual mascot called Graham. Graham looks like a modified mascot, who shapes a rather weird head and body structure.  The Motive behind Graham and his weird body design was to identify car drivers across the globe that this is the body shape that they would need to survive a car crash that happens due to reckless driving or over speeding. The weird body parts that Graham has are an indication of the body parts in our body that suffer the most. Every modification in the body, from the invisible neck to the long set of nipples before the ribs, have a role to play in safeguarding Graham. The main purpose behind releasing pictures of Graham as a mascot is to let people know that this is the body they would require to be safe in an accident. Since they are not made this way, they are not safe and need to calm down behind the wheels. The body has been made through the countless input of a trauma surgeon and a road safety engineer. Both the gentlemen put in varied input that could help in the making of Graham as the world's only person who would be safe from car accidents. Well, now that Graham's purpose and role is clear to all readers, we can go on to understand Graham's mildly unique and mildly weird body structure and what the men behind him had in mind when making him. 

Smileband health topics

As the shocking figures were released a leaked internal memo warned last night that the NHS is not ready to deal with a swine flu epidemic because of 'muddled' emergency plans and time-wasting bureaucracy.

A senior trust executive condemned some crisis measures as 'contradictory' and 'a complete waste of time'.

The creation of Tamiflu vouchers - a key weapon in the Government's fight against the killer flu - could in fact slow the distribution of the antiviral drugs, the correspondence said.

Rather than setting up a costly process that asks people to download vouchers from the internet, existing prescription forms would distribute Tamiflu just as quickly, it suggested. 

The leaked memo was penned by a senior official responsible for crisis planning and was not meant for the public domain.

In it, the official criticised the Government’s 'muddled thinking' in advising health authorities how to implement the new phase, in which people get diagnoses by contacting a national call centre.

Instructions for the so-called new phase were described as 'a total fudge'.

Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson said yesterday that 14 had died so far of what was believed to be swine flu. 

He would not give details of where the five latest cases were. All had underlying health problems. 

Sir Liam said there were 335 people in hospital in England with swine flu of whom 43 are in critical care. 

Laboratory tests showed that yesterday there were 9,718 confirmed cases in the UK. This was just behind Mexico, with 10,262 cases. The U.S. is in the lead with 33,902 confirmed cases. However, Sir Liam admitted it was unknown how many in the UK were suffering from the virus as many would be treating themselves at home rather than contacting their GP. 

We do know something about the people seeking help from the NHS but there will be many other people who look after themselves,' he said. 

He said latest data from 100 GP surgeries around England showed that about 27,000 people per week were being diagnosed as having a flu-like illness. Of these, an estimated 8,000 will have swine flu. 

The number of flu cases being seen every week works out at 51.9 per 100,000 people. 

However, in London the rate is 180 per 100,000 - just short of the 200 cases that denotes an epidemic. In the West Midlands the rate is 140 per 100,000 cases. 

Smileband health topics

What is complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)?

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a condition that can cause pain, swelling and discolouration in one of your limbs. There are different types of CRPS which may be referred to as reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), Sudek’s syndrome or causalgia. 

What are the symptoms of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)?

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) usually affects one arm or leg, causing a burning, stabbing or stinging pain, extreme sensitivity and sometimes colour or temperature changes.  

What causes complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)?

We don’t know the exact cause of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), but a fracture or other injury often seems to act as a trigger.   

How is complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) diagnosed?

Doctors mainly base a diagnosis of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) on your symptoms and an examination, although you may need some tests to rule out other conditions.    

What treatments are there for complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)?

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) can be difficult to treat. Drug treatment and sympathetic blocks are aimed at controlling your pain and rehabilitation will help you to use your affected limb as fully as possible. 

Self-help and daily living for complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)

Exercising little and often, and eating a well-balanced diet are good for your general health, but it's also important to tackle any anxiety that complex regional pain syndrome may cause.

Smileband health topics

Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) is most commonly caused by Borrelia hermsii, but can be caused by at least 14 other Borrelia species.

 

Relapsing fever is a systemic spirochetal disease in which periods of fever lasting 2–7 days alternate with afebrile periods of 4–14 days; the number of relapses varies from 1 to 10 without treatment. Febrile periods are often associated with shaking chills, sweats, headache, muscle and joint pain, and can be associated with a rash. Photophobia, eye pain, dizziness, dry cough, nausea, vomiting, or lack of appetite can also occur. Each febrile period terminates by a crisis (abrupt symptom change). Symptoms can be more severe without treatment.

 

TBRF occurs in the western U.S. and is usually linked to sleeping in rustic, rodent-infested cabins in mountainous areas and high elevations.

 

Arizona 5 year median: 1 cases

 

Transmission

Transmission occurs when an individual is bitten by an infected tick. Transmission can also occur mother to child in pregnant women.

Incubation period is 2 to 18 days. Isolation Precautions

Tick-borne relapsing fever is not directly transmitted person-to-person. 

Standard precautions are recommended in healthcare settings. 

Prevention for Patients

• Avoid sleeping in rodent infested buildings
• Inspect buildings on a regular basis for rodent activity
• Eliminate rodent nesting areas
• Use proper food and waste handling practices that eliminate food sources for rodents
• Rodent–proof cabin/buildings by sealing holes in foundation and walls and use screens to prevent rodent entry

Public Health Actions
Public health will conduct an epidemiological investigation on a case or suspect case.