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Smallpox used to be among the most dreaded diseases in history. It has been known to exist since antiquity. It had a high case fatality of 20 – 40%, i.e. almost 30% of the patients lost their lives. It killed more than 300 million people in the 20th century.
Epidemics occurred throughout the world, especially in India. In India, epidemics occurred every 5 to 7 years, even after the vaccine was brought in. It was known to wipe out entire villages and tribes worldwide and even change the course of history.

Tetanus is a dangerous infectious disease characterized by muscle spasms. It is caused by the toxins (potent neurotoxin) secreted by a bacterium k/a Clostridium tetani.
Tetanus may occur at any age and case-fatality rates are high even with intensive care. Without medical care, the case-fatality rate is almost 100%.

Reference:
Government of India, National rabies control programme, National guidelines on rabies prophylaxis, National Centre for Disease Control, 2019, Delhi, India.
 
Government of Himachal Pradesh: GUIDELINES FOR RABIES PROPHYLAXIS AND INTRADERMAL RABIES VACCINATION IN HIMACHAL PRADESH, 2019. Directorate of Health Service, Swasthya Sadan, Kasumpti, Shimla-171009

Breast Cancer ranks at number 1 amongst all the cancers in India. Unfortunately, 50-70% of the patients reach the doctor only once the disease is already in stage 3 or 4.
Learning the skill of Breast self-examination may help women to become familiar with the normal look and feel of the breast so that if there are any changes in the breasts she may seek medical help at the earliest.

Why is proper management of animal bite so critical?
An animal bite may potentially lead to development of Rabies and the disease is almost always fatal. Nevertheless, rabies can be prevented if timely and proper post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is done.

Two regimens for POST-exposure prophylaxis

Intradermal (ID) route: Updated Thai Red Cross regimen
Consists of:
0.1 ml intradermally
4 visits: 2 doses are given at each visit, hence: 8 doses
Days 0, 3, 7 & 28 (day 0 is the day of first dose)
Abbreviation: 2-2-2-0-2

Suturing, if required, should be delayed for a few hours to allow RIG to diffuse through the tissues before further trauma.
If suturing is necessary to control bleeding and in severe bites, first infiltrate the wound with RIG with as much amount as is possible anatomically and then loosely suture.
Facial wounds may need to be sutured early to avoid disfiguration. This may be done ONLY AFTER careful local infiltration with RIG

1.Immediately wash all the wounds with lots of water and soap. Ensure thorough flushing and that all the wounds are washed.
• Washing with soap and water should be started as soon as possible and continued for 15 minutes.
• Such thorough washing will remove a major amount of virus from the wound.
It is of utmost importance that all the wounds are detected and each one managed.

Rabies may manifest in one of the two forms:
1. Encephalitic (Furious) rabies
2. Paralytic (Dumb) rabies

Furious or encephalitic rabies
Hydrophobia (fear of water)
Photophobia (fear of light)
Aerophobia (fear of breeze)

Q. What should one do immediately after a dog bite?
1. Immediately wash all the wounds with lots of water and soap. Ensure thorough flushing and that all the wounds are washed.
• Washing with soap and water should be started as soon as possible and continued for 15 minutes.
• Such thorough washing will remove a major amount of virus from the wound.
2. Application of antiseptics: Povidone Iodine or any antiseptic with virucidal activity.