Heena Sharma Blog

I t is natural for parents to protect their children from any harm, including the endless array of germs they are exposed to every day. As children grow up, they are continuously exposed to various germs, especially in places such as daycare centres and preschool. Children with low immunity are highly susceptible to various types of infections. The high incidence of infections has led to an increased and inappropriate use of antibiotics, which has further resulted in antimicrobial resistance . Antimicrobial resistance, a widespread problem, takes places when microbes build resistance against the medications intended to kill them due to overuse. It is one of the world's most pressing public health problems. The best way to tackle this is to build a strong immunity, which naturally protects your child from infections. Dr. Rajesh Kumawat, Head - Medical Services & Clinical Development, The Himalaya Drug Company, shares a few tips that can help boost your child's i

Scientists have developed a unique anti-viral composition that can effectively provide protection against several influenza A viruses such as H1N1 , H3N2 , H5N1 and H7N9 . Influenza, a contagious respiratory illness that infects the nose, throat and lungs, is among the leading causes of death, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. The new anti-viral composition is made up of three siRNAs (small interfering ribonucleic acids) targeted at three genes and encapsulated in hybrid polyelectrolyte microcapsules, the Sputnik reported. The results will be used to develop a drug to prevent and treat the viral infection, according to Alexander Timin from the Tomsk Polytechnic University in Russia. The team developed 11 new siRNAs with anti-viral activity in vitro that can suppress conserved and consensus sequences in the genome of the influenza A virus on the NS, PA and NP genes. Anti-viral properties were screened and three siRNAs -- PA-1630, NP

The health benefits of drinking sufficient water are endless, the latest being- reduction of bladder infections in women. Senior author Dr. Yair Lotan said, "In the controlled trial, women who drank an additional 1.5 liters of water daily experienced 48 percent fewer repeat bladder infections than those who drank their usual volume of fluids. The participants self-reported their usual volume as less than 1.5 liters of fluid daily, which is about six 8-ounce glasses. "That's a significant difference," said Dr. Lotan. "These findings are important because more than half of all women report having bladder infections, which are one of the most common infections in women." He added that more than a quarter of women experience a secondary infection within six months of an initial infection and 44 to 77 percent will have a recurrence within a year. Physicians suspect more fluids help to reduce bacteria and limit the ability of bacteria to attach t