No tobacco day

Environmental Day

Environmental day is on June 5.

 This year's 2018 theme is "Beat Plastic Pollution".

India is the global host for this.
The main emphasis for this is to ban the use of plastic carry bags.
Already 18 states across India had ban plastic carry bags.
This really protects all the river's ,lakes across the nation.

Recycling of plastic has to be done due importance.

Dr.Renju T George,
India.

Precautions of Nipah virus infection in Dental Clinics

Nipah Virus Alert

The outbreak of Nipah viral Infection, needs a few precautions to be taken care of in dental clinics.

> Follow Universal precautions for infection control Eg:- Double Surgical glove, eye wear, Triple layer Masks, Apron for Doctors and assistants

> Use Handwash after each case.

> Assistants should use rubber gloves while handling used instruments and medical wastes

> Proper Sterilization of Instruments Including files and dental burs, Gutta percha,  Impression trays after use

> Disinfection of Impressions
( Alginate and impression compound , elastomeric materials disinfected with 0.5% sodium Hypochlorite)

> Proper waste disposal including waste sharps like needle and Blades

> Maintain proper record of patients and treatment given. Also educate the patient the need to inform the clinic if their relatives or themselves have any symptoms related to Nipah infection at the time of   treatment or post treatment

> Identify for any symptoms like fever, headache, drowsiness etc since few days and refer them for a proper medical check-Up and Care.(Remember the incubation period is 5 - 14 days so patient may be asymptomatic while he comes for dental treatment)

>AS A PRECAUTION - Reschedule appointments for elective scaling, Crown preparations, Restorations to reduce splatter contamination of clinic for atleast two weeks.


>EMERGENCY cases like dental extractions, Drainage of Abscess etc to be done with extra precautions.

>Use of disposable drapes for patients recommended.

Nipah Virus

Nipah virus or NiV  infection is a newly emerging zoonosis that causes severe disease both in animals and humans.
 
Mode of transmission

Fruit bats of Pteropodidae family,Pteropus genus are the main cause of this disease.

At first the pigs were the intermediate host.

Later,humans became infected with NiV as a result of consuming date palm sap that had been contaminated by infected fruit bats.

Human to human transmission is also identified.

Signs and Symptoms

Incubation period is 5 -14 days.

Fever
Headache
Dizziness
Altered mental state
Cough
Stomach pain
Nausea
Vomiting
Muscle aches

Acute respiratory syndrome.The chances of getting Fetal encephalitis is more.
Patient condition can change to coma stage with in 24-48 hours.

Prevention

No vaccines either for humans or animals as such.
The primary treatment for human care is intensive supportive care.

Dr.Renju T George,
Dr.Renju's Dental Clinic,
Pipeline,Palarivattom,
Cochin,
India.