Beware of flood-borne disease

By Dr. Christofora Dewi N

For hundreds of years, dealing with floods every year has become a part of the people’s life in Jakarta, and last Thursday has become the worst over the last 6 years.  The huge amount of flooding and standing water has made more than 20-thousand people homeless, and some were killed. It also leaves a wake of disease.

Flooding is associated with an increased risk of infection. Floods can be a potential source of many water-borne diseases. It can also increase the risk of vector- or carrier-borne diseases, such as malaria and dengue hemorrhagic fever. Outbreaks have been reported when massive floods occur.

  Water-borne disease

The major risk factor for outbreaks associated with flooding is the contamination of water facilities. Eating or drinking anything from contaminated flood water can cause diarrhea, typhoid fever and hepatitis A. Moreover direct contact with polluted waters can cause skin infections, wound infections, eyes infections, and ear, nose and throat infections.Post flood, usually there will be an outbreak of leptospirosis. Leptospirosis can be transmitted to both human and animals by direct contact with the urine of infected rats in contaminated water. The disease gets into the body through cuts and wounds as well as the eyes, nose and mouth. The symptoms including high fever, severe headache, muscle pain, chills, redness of the eyes, abdominal pain, jaundice, skin haemorrhages, vomiting, diarrhea and rash. Severe cases can be fatal if not treated immediately. 

The most important preventive measure to be implanted following flooding, in order to reduce the risk of outbreaks of water-borne diseases are by wearing rubber boots, gloves and mask when wading through contaminated flood waters, hand-washing after contact with flood waters, do not allow children to play in flood water areas, wash hands frequently (always before meals), ensure boiling or chlorination of water, and do not allow children to play with toys that have been contaminated by flood water and have not been disinfected. Moreover vaccinations of hepatitis A to high risk groups, such as persons involved in the management of drinking water, waste water or sewage might be considered. 

Vector-borne disease

Standing water caused by heavy rainfall or overflowing rivers can act as breeding sites for mosquitoes, and therefore enhance the potential for exposure to infections such as dengue, and malaria. The risk of outbreaks is greatly increased by changes in human behavior such as increased exposure to mosquitoes while sleeping outside, and overcrowding. 

Prevention from mosquito-borne disease starts by spraying your home with repellent and insecticides and fogging your home. If your neighbor is fogging make sure you follow suit as mosquitoes will move from your neighbor’s home to yours. Cover, empty and clean domestic water storage containers (such as toilets) to combat vector mosquitoes. 

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ARE YOU 'BANJIR' READY????
By Dr. Madan M. Vasandani

During the floods, like many Jakartans, I was stranded at home. And like most Jakartans, I experienced a power shortage. Panic started to engulf me as my mind started to wander: what if the floods don’t recede? Do I have enough supplies to last till the floods recede? What if a health emergency occurs at this moment, how do I take my dear ones to the hospital? Do I have all the medicines that my family may need?

With this article I would like to concentrate more on the medical aspects that surrounds flooding or in Bahasa Indonesia it is famously known as ‘Banjir’. What medicines and what precautions should you take, should another flood (God forbid) hit Jakarta again. 

Medicines you should have in your house

Name	Preparation
Ibuprofen	Tablet and syrup
Paracetamol	Tablet and syrup
Cold and cough preparation containing a mucolytic like guaifenasin and an antihistamine like cetirizine	Tablet and syrup
Electrolytes just in case diarrhea or vomiting sets in to any of your family members	Sachet
Vitamins	Syrup and tablets
Betadine	Solution
First aid kit
Enough supply of your long term medication
Domperidone for vomiting	Tablet and syrup

       Make sure you read the insert before giving these medicines to your children

                 

One important thing that most Jakartans tend to neglect is emergency preparedness. If you are living in Jakarta, I hope by now you realize that we don’t have a dedicated emergency hotline like a 911. For medical emergencies, make sure you know the phone number of the nearest able hospital which has an ambulance service. This number should be easily accessible by everyone including your ‘pembantus” A good place to stick this number is your refrigerator.

Beyond medical supplies and emergency numbers, make sure you are well stocked in your canned foods and my experience is that a cup of hot chocolate during floods alleviates a lot of anxiety. Have a safe rainy season Jakartans.

If you have any health concerns, do not hesitate to make an appointment with our General Physicians at 5706208.

Top 5 Benefits of Vitamin B12 Injections

 

Are you feeling tired, not recovering the way you used to or just don’t have the energy to do all you want to do? Consider an energy boosting nutrient called Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin.

Vitamin B12 has long been known for its health benefits.  It is a water soluble vitamin that is found in highest levels in meat, fish, milk and fortified processed foods.  People who are vegetarian/vegan most likely do not get an adequate amount if they are not eating animal products.  Even those consuming nutritional yeast do not give their bodies enough B12.  The problem with recommending patients to consume more of these B12 containing foods is that these animal proteins and processed foods, with the exception of fish, are the ones that we want to decrease since they lead to increased inflammation, increased cholesterol and worsening of asthma and allergies.

B12 supplementation is available via oral tablets, sublingual drops and injections. Oral supplementation of vitamin B12 does not absorb very well overall and oral absorption decreases in most everyone as we age.  Sublingual drops are better than oral tablets but the best way to know that you are getting the B12 you need is to take it via injection.  Talk to your naturopathic physician about a good dosing schedule.

Signs of B12 deficiency can include fatigue, weakness, sore tongue, nerve pains, insomnia, depression, canker sores, easy bruising, numbness and tingling in hands or feet and memory problems.  B12 deficiency has also been linked to migraine headaches and menstrual irregularities.

1. Recent research has shown that higher levels of Vitamin B12 protect against brain changes that happen with aging. People with higher B12 levels, even those without actual deficiency showed less age related decline like dementia and alzheimer’s disease. 
2. B12 is involved in the process that converts food into energy, this is why it gives people an energy boost.  Without it, the food we eat is not able to be processed as efficiently for energy production leading to fatigue and even weight gain. 
3. B12 also has an important role in forming new red blood cells and can cause an anemia if deficient. Anemia can cause fatigue, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate and weakness. 
4. B12 protects against heart disease by reducing homocystine levels. Elevated levels of homocysteine increase cardiovascular risk by increasing atherosclerosis and hardened arteries. 
5. B12 is a very important part of the covering of our nervous system, the myelin sheath.  Having coverings helps our neurological system to work better which improves mood, memory, reaction time and just makes us feel better! 

Centrepoint Healthcare offers Vitamin B injections. 

To get yours, contact us today at 570-6208. Walk-ins and appointments welcome!