Tomcat Alert

Tomcat Alert
Dr Madan M Vasandani

Family Physician, Centrepoint Healthcare

I am sure all of you have heard of the Tomcats that are affecting a big percentage of the Surabayan population. To be honest with you I did not know much about Tomcats until recently.  A Tomcat is a family of the Rove Beetle, an insect that has an ant like shape but it has a more elongated body with orange and black striations. When threatened, it raises its abdomen, in the manner of a scorpion. Its secretions are acidic in nature and when it comes in contact with human skin it causes a very itchy rash that looks like that of a Herpes infection.

The Tomcat secretes a fluid called Paedrin which can cause blisters 24 – 48 hours after contact. The blisters can be infectious through towels, clothes or other things that comes in contact with Paedrin. So far the effects of the fluid have only been reported in Surabaya. Due to the ever increasing commute between cities in Indonesia, the chances of seeing Tomcats in Jakarta are very high. Reports say that these insects do not fly. 

If you come in contact with a Tomcat, stay calm and don’t panic. DO NOT try to kill it or hit it.  This will cause the the toxin to come into contact with your skin which can lead to the typical herpes like rash. Also do not scratch it as this can spread the toxin to a wider area resulting in a more widespread rash. Instead, blow it away or take a plastic bag and allow these insects to enter on its own and dispose the plastic bag in a proper place. Wash immediately it with soap and water. Soap  is alkaline in nature while the toxin is acidic. By washing it with soap you are actually neutralizing the toxin. 

The authorities are saying that the best way to kill the insect is by using insecticides. The consequences of this is that insecticides damages the environment which will further lead to the extradition of the tomcats from its natural habitat. The best insecticide for killing the tomcats without damaging the environment is those that is non-chemical base. Here is how you can make non-chemical insecticides in the comfort of your own house

Ingredients:

1. Neem leaves (daun mimba)

2. Galangal (lengkuas)

3. Lemon grass (daun serai)

Take equal portions of these ingredients and  mash it. Boil it in water (100 grms per litre of water) and heat it to 60 degrees. Leave it for 2 days.

You can spray this solution into the natural habitats of the Tomcats which is the moist and wet areas of your house.

            

    I hope this information regarding Tomcats is useful. Ensure that you keep your house and surrounding as dry and as clean as possible. These insects do not like to be in dry areas. Stay safe. If you have been exposed to a Tomcat or you have other Medical Condition, do not hesitate to make an appointment with our Centrepoint Healthcare physicians at 570-6208

A few interesting facts in the field of medicine

A few interesting facts in the field of medicine

                There is a wealth of information in the net in the field of medicine, here are some excerpts from various articles I found interesting. I hope you find this information useful

1. Early Antiretroviral treatment cuts HIV transmission – People infected with HIV are 96 percent less likely to transmit the disease to their healthy partners if they start antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) early, according to a study hailed as a scientific breakthrough of 2011.
2. Statins use linked to lower death rate in flu patients – The use of Statins – cholesterol lowering drugs - may reduce the risk of death in patients hospitalized for influenza. In a large US study, the administration of statins to flu patients before or after hospitalization reduced mortality rates by 41 percent3.    
3.    Acupuncture improves chemo-induced pain – Cancer patients who develop peripheral neuropathy as a result of chemotherapy may be able to turn to acupuncture to relieve their pain, according to data from a small pilot study
4.     Flu vaccination reduces COPD deaths in elderly – Mandatory preventive vaccination against seasonal influenza can reduce the mortality rate of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease – a disease of the lung due to excessive smoking – among those aged 65 years and older during influenza outbreaks, according to a Japanese study
5. Combined oral contraceptive pill helps ease painful periods – taking birth control pills may offer extra benefit for women who suffer from menstrual pain. In a study, which involved 2,102 women aged 19 at baseline, those who received a combined oral contraceptive pill had significantly lower severity of menstrual pain
6. Have a beer once a day – A study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that men who drank ONE beer a day for one month lowered their cholesterol levels, increased their blood levels of heart-healthy antioxidants, and reduced their level of fibrinogen, a protein that contributes to blood clots. Choose either beer or wine – not both 
7. There are 3 new health benefits of eating chocolate  
   
   a.       Chocolate makes you smarter – Flavanols in dark chocolate increase cerebral blood flow, which in turn may trigger the creation of new blood vessels and brain cells
   b.      Chocolate weakens heart attacks – A new study showed that regular chocolate eaters who had heart disease were less likely to die following a heart attack compared with people who didn’t treat themselves to the dark and dreamy stuff
   c.       Chocolate has a cavity-fighting compound- Theobromine in chocolate is as good as fluoride at hardening tooth enamel
   
   
   
8. One study found that men with the following conditions had a greater likelihood of having Low Testosterone – Obesity, Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol and Asthma. If you are a male above age 50 and you have one of these conditions make sure you get your Testosterone checked

The adage “There is to side to a coin” works for medicine. There are always benefits to everything that you do or eat. Do not be a pessimist because there is always a brighter side to life. Enjoy life, Don’t 

abuse it