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  • Stock pic of a back with red rashes and text overlay shingles herpes zoster
    Shingles Frequently Asked Questions
    Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a viral infection caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox. The reactivation after dormancy in adulthood causes extremely painful rash which is avoidable by awareness and vaccination. Here are a few things everyone must know about Shingles. What is Shingles? Shingles is a viral disease caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, also known as the Herpes Zoster virus. The virus remains…
  • Profile pic of a young man in a shirt and jacket and the text Antibiotic resistance is a glaring reality.
    Be Aware Of Antibiotic Resistance
    Pranav Johri, 41 from New Delhi was diagnosed as being Antibiotic resistant when multiple courses of antibiotics did not help treat Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis, a common enough condition. He shares how he dealt with and why he campaigns for AMR awareness. What were the early symptoms?What made you go to a doctor? What were you prescribed antibiotics for? In May 2016, I noticed symptoms of a pulling pain in the groin, sensitivity to cold, and daily low-grade fever. I went to a urologist when I…
  • Image of a patient's hand being held by someone and text overlay What is Palliative Care
    Palliative Care - Benefits and Misconceptions
    Dr. Seema R Rao of Karunashraya explains palliative care, addresses the myths and misconceptions around it and highlights its importance for better quality of life of patients. What is Palliative Care? In India, more and more people are suffering from serious illnesses like cancer, heart diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, AIDS, stroke, organ failure, drug-resistant tuberculosis, and neurological diseases. Physical issues like pain, shortness of breath, nausea, loss of appetite, fatigue,…
  • Profile picture of the author Usha Jesudasan at a desk with the text overlay on blue strip Exercise Mind, Body and Soul
    Exercising and Moving As We Grow Older
    Author-writer Usha Jesudasan, 70, has lived with polio since she was two years old. She shares how her relationship with exercise has changed over the years and why we must exercise the body, mind and soul. My mother said that I could walk when I was just eleven months old and run by the time I turned one year. ‘I was so proud that you could do these things earlier than your cousins. Your chubby little legs going pat pat pat on the ground when the others were just learning to stand.’ ‘But then…
  • Srinivas donating blood plasma and text overlay that says Helping save lives
    A Century With My Blood Plasma Donation
    Srishailam Srinivas, 67, a resident of Australia, has completed 100 donations of blood plasma, donating continuously every fortnight for the last six years. He maintains that it is an endeavor to give something back to the community because plasma is in great demand in Australia for making vaccines. Please could you tell us a bit about yourself? What are you doing and where are you based? I am Naval Architect by profession. I graduated from IIT Kharagpur in 1977. After working in India for 13…
  • Picture of a capsule with text Safety and overlay of text How to prevent medication errors
    घर पर दवाओं से जुड़ी गलतियों से कैसे बचें
    वैश्विक स्तर पर, प्राथमिक और बाह्य रोगी (आउट पेशेंट) स्वास्थ्य देखभाल केंद्रों में 10 में से 4 रोगियों को दवा से जुड़ी गलतियों के कारण नुकसान होता है। इस नुकसान में से 80% तक को रोका जा सकता है। सबसे हानिकारक त्रुटियों का संबंध निदान, नुस्खे (प्रिस्क्रिप्शन) और दवाओं के उपयोग से हैं। इस लेख में जानें कि रोगियों और उनके देखभाल करने वालों को घर में दवा की त्रुटियों से बचने के लिए क्या करना चाहिए। दवा की त्रुटियां (दवाओं से जुड़ी गलतियाँ, मेडकैशन एरर) क्या हैं? ‘नेशनल कोऑर्डिनेटिंग काउंसिल फॉर…
  • Picture of a capsule with text Safety and overlay of text How to prevent medication errors
    How To Prevent Medication Errors At Home
    Globally, as many as 4 in 10 patients are harmed in primary and outpatient health care. Up to 80% of harm is preventable. The most detrimental errors are related to diagnosis, prescription and the use of medicines. This article highlights tips that patients and their family caregivers must follow to prevent medication errors at home.  What are Medication Errors? Medication error has been defined by the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention as “Any…
  • A composite image of Dr Najoo Varkey and the book cover Stop Marrying your niece
    A Doctor Crusades Against Hearing Loss In Children
    Bangalore based paediatrician Dr Najoo Varkey’ has written a book  “Stop Marrying Your Niece! (or uncle, or cousin)", highlighting the linkage to hearing loss. Shivani Maheshwari, editor PatientsEngage reviews the book and interviews Dr. Najoo Varkey on how she came to study this linkage of hearing loss with sanguineous or blood marriage and what she hopes this book will accomplish.  Hearing loss is one of the most severe forms of disability and the second most common…
  • Stock pic of capsules with text overlay Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance Together
    How Can We Reduce AntiMicrobial Resistance (AMR)
    World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) is observed from 18-24 November every year. It serves as a reminder of the growing problem of Antimicrobial Resistance and how each one of us can play a role. PatientsEngage breaks down the problem and what we must do to address the problem of AMR together.  What are bacteria? Bacteria are germs found inside and outside of our bodies. Most germs are harmless, and some can even be helpful to humans, but some bacteria can cause infections, like strep…
  • Profile pic of Usha Jesudasan
    उम्र बढ़ने के साथ लोगों के साथ जुड़े रहने का महत्व
    70 वर्षीया लेखिका उषा जेसुदासन कहती हैं कि बढ़ती उम्र और अकेला होना डरावना हो सकता है, लेकिन ऐसे में भी आप खुश रह सकते हैं - आप उम्मीद न छोड़ें। इस लेख में वे हमें बताती हैं कि उन्होंने अकेलेपन और उदासी को दूर करने के लिए किस तरह से जान-बूझ कर एक सोचा-समझा प्रयास किया है, जिसमें नए दोस्त बनाना, दूसरों के बच्चों की देखभाल करना, किताबें दान करना, और  खुद को सक्रिय और व्यस्त रहना शामिल है। जब मेरे पिता की मृत्यु हुई, तब मेरी माँ की उम्र 70 वर्ष से थोड़ी अधिक थी। मुझे याद है कि मैं उनके लिए बहुत…
Please do share the conditions you would like us to prioritise over the next few months
The human population is greying, and with it concerns about the aged have been growing. Even as birth rates fall steeply, improved healthcare systems have contributed to unprecedented longevity levels. The challenges of taking care of the elderly…
I would like to hear from members of this forum if they have had any experience in dealing with post-surgical (for FD) pain. The patient was operated three years ago for FD in the LHS rib cage bones. There is very little that is known or written…
The big hospitals all have 24 hour chemist shops. But do you know the 24 hour chemists that you can get to without having to go to a hospital and do they also offer home delivery ? 
I think this is a great site, even for a person like me without any chronic diseases (touch wood, fingers crossed) but want to stay that way and keep looking for like-minded people and forums who look at health as primary goal of life and as a way…

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