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What sort of impact could ‘Aussie Flu’ have on the UK?

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A virulent strain of influenza, H3N2 has severely hit the UK this flu season. The number of patients combating the virus at one point rising by 78% in just a week, according to statistics from the Royal College of GPs.

The strain this is putting on an already stretched NHS is noticeable, and with Australian scientists revealing that their previous outbreak of H3N2 lasted for almost three months it is important to ensure that steps and precautions are made to help deal with symptoms and also prevent the spread of the virus.

How much has Aussie Flu spread?

Across the UK several areas are approaching what are classified as epidemic levels of H3N2. This equates to 108.9 cases per 100,000 doctor’s consultations, meaning the reach of this strain of flu is potentially massive.

Flu seasons are often difficult to predict, especially when different strains and mutations of the virus come to the fore.

The length of time the Australian scientists suggested an outbreak can last for can be an invaluable insight when ensuring health services are prepared for worst-case scenarios and a lengthy period of dealing with patients suffering with the illness.

This length of time also means the public in general need to be alert in order to avoid catching and spreading the virus themselves.

The Symptoms

Being aware of the symptoms and understanding what is wrong can go a long way to helping treatment and also easing the potential burden on your GP’s surgery, at least initially.

According to the NHS symptoms of the flu can include:

  • Sudden fever
  • Temperature of at least 38C
  • Diarrhoea
  • Stomach pain
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting

Normally the symptoms are manageable, however the elderly, the very young, and people with underlying medical conditions, such as heart, lung or kidney disease, diabetes or a neurological disease – are the most at risk.

Dealing with flu

The symptoms of flu will often leave a patient feeling rotten.

It’s important if you’re suffering from the flu that you prioritise rest and keeping warm while taking paracetamol or ibuprofen to help keep your temperature down and help with coping with the aches and pains the flu can cause. You should also ensure you drink lots of fluids to help stave off dehydration.

A GP isn’t likely to prescribe antibiotics to treat the flu, the best way to prevent contracting flu is still a vaccination.

Aside from making yourself more resistant to the flu there are other preventative steps you can take to avoid contracting and spreading the flu virus.

The flu virus can live on hands and surfaces for up to 24 hours. It’s important to prevent the spread of germs from coughs and sneezes by washing your hands with soap and warm water.

If you can’t wash your hands when out in public, such as when you’re travelling on public transport, consider using an antibacterial hand gel.

You should keep in mind that while trying to avoid infection sometimes this will be inevitable, either through contact with the public or a family member. Following the necessary steps to aid recovery is important, but bear in mind that if symptoms persist, or your condition deteriorates that should seek the advice of your GP.

Content supplied by:

Shamir Patel is a pharmacist and director of leading online pharmacist https://www.chemist-4-u.com/ a website that provides the public with a range of treatments and medications for a variety of conditions. From cold and flu treatments, to hay fever and allergies to more sensitive conditions like hair loss and sexual wellbeing.

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Corporate Merchandise – Helping Your Business Create an Impact

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Doing business does not only mean introducing the business with an impact to the public to create a strong impression. What is even more important is how to make sure that the business will linger in the consciousness of people, enhancing name recall and staying atop the competition. Such factors are very critical to business survival, allowing the business to weather the tumultuous stages when the competition suddenly revs up and the weak is left behind and eventually forgotten.

In order to prevent this from happening, there are many number of ways available at your disposal. The most common and tested means is to hand out free corporate merchandise to business partners as well as to clients to solidify business relationships and impart a sense of value and significance to transactions.

Share Comradely Relations with Corporate Merchandise
The corporate merchandise that a company may give to clients and business partners alike ranges from apparel to pens, calendars, mugs, towels, and so many other items. Whatever item is used, the main rationale behind giving them is for everyone in the ambit of the business to share comradely relations, alluding that each is important to each other. After all, a business without the support of its loyal patrons and the high esteem given to it by peers will most likely find it hard sailing through difficult times.

Corporate Merchandise as Collector’s Items
Any corporate merchandise is a collector’s item. Giving out such merchandise will help the business be endeared to the people and to the public in general. For some, a collection cabinet is displayed prominently in one’s home to show off one’s gamut of collections. In this situation, people who do collect them hold a high degree of value to their collections, highlighting their strong emotional attachment to them.

Corporate Merchandise as a Great Business
Designing corporate merchandise is a great business too. And an intricate one at that! It is not enough that one will rely on the simple act of distributing them to generate patronage for the company. It is also important to consider such aesthetic factors as the colors used, the print/embroidery on the merchandise, and on the part of the merchandise where the company name or logo will be emblazoned. The reason behind this is to make sure that the impression they will leave on those who may come across them will be long lasting and not momentary.

Promotional Products is a business dedicated to getting your company name and logo onto as many different varieties of product as possible. The more products that have your company name and logo on them, the more exposure your business gets. Promotional Products is about advertising through merchandise exposure.

Surfactant Skincare Series – Impact on Skin

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This month, we’re looking at surfactants – the chemical agents in cleansing products. It is important because while surfactants play an important cleansing function, they also potentially cause skin irritation. Last two weeks, we have understood:

  1. Different groups of surfactants and their functions – Anionic, Cationic, Amphoteric and Non-ionic surfactants
  2. What to Look out for when Cleansing Baby Skin – Discussion on the use of liquid cleanser being preferable to water, and what to look out for in the choice of liquid cleanser

Today, we’re looking more in-depth into how surfactants interact with skin and the potential harm to our skin.

Surfactants, while cleanse and remove oil soluble dirt/sebum, also potentially damage skin cells and lipids

Surfactants, while cleanse and remove oil soluble dirt/sebum, also potentially damage skin cells and lipids

Alkalization – The traditional soap is alkaline in nature (pH of 9 and above) and the alkalinity will increase the skin pH (which is of pH 4.6 to 5.6). Modifying the skin pH to more alkaline than it is supposed to be has the impact of (i) reducing skin lipids, including ceramides (ii) allows for growth of harmful bacteria like staph bacteria that thrives in a more alkaline environment and (iii) increases transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Alkaline soap is able to dissolve both fat and water-soluble components of skin. Synthetic cleansers are of varying pH and able to modify the pH of the cleansing product.

Damage to Skin Lipids – Surfactants are able to clean dirt and sebum that are oil-soluble. However, this property also means that surfactants may inadvertently solubilize the skin natural lipid membranes (ceramides). Stronger anionic surfactants like Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) enhances penetration into the skin and able to affect the deeper skin cells (skin lipids).

Damage to Skin Cells – During washing, the surfactants interact with the skin cells and collagen fibers and cause temporarily swelling and hyper-hydration. Once the water evaporates, there is destruction of the skin protein structures (known as denaturation) and leads to skin dryness, roughness, tightness and scaling. This is an adverse effect of anionic surfactant.

Toxic to Skin Cells – Known as cytotoxicity, surfactants can permeate skin cells and cause irreparable alteration. Certain surfactants such as benzalkonium chloride and cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) are known to be more cytotoxic than SLS.  CAPB is an amphoteric surfactant, a group of surfactant less irritating than anionic surfactant (SLS belongs to anionic group) but nonetheless can be cytotoxic. CAPB is also associated with allergic contact dermatitis.

Irritation to Skin – This is related to the duration of exposure, frequency, concentration and individual skin type. SLS is a known irritant that can cause skin inflammation (irritant contact dermatitis) and when combined with triclosan (an antibacterial and antifungal agent in products), can stay on the skin for hours/days. Amphoteric and nonionic surfactants are considered to be less irritating to skin. (Note: Skin irritation and cytotoxity are different concepts.)

What to Note when Choosing Cleansing Products

Based on the above surfactant interaction with skin, it follows that we ought to choose:

  • Products close to the skin pH (even water is not, either neutral pH 7 or sometimes more alkali)
  • It follows then to avoid soaps, which by nature are alkaline
  • Avoid SLS, as it can penetrate, damage and irritant skin
  • Avoid CAPB as it is cytotoxic
  • Choose products with larger micelles as they do not penetrate the skin cells as much (product packaging may not indicate this information so it’s quite hard to know; look out for Polyethylene oxide (PEO)/ PEO Sorbitan Laurate which forms larger micelles in the surfactant or for the term Hydrophobically Modified Polymers (HMPs))
  • Choose cleansing products that are moisturizing and moisturize right after washing
  • Reduce washing for prolonged time and frequent washing
  • Avoid alcohols, gels and alphahydroxy acids that can cause stinging
  • Avoid perfume, benzoyl peroxide, preservatives, parabens, propylene glycol, lanolin, methylisothiazolinone and other top irritants in this post
  • Avoid ingredients ending with sulfates

It is not easy to find a cleanser without any of the above-mentioned ingredient. For those with sensitive skin, it may be better to not wash as often and take care to choose a hypoallergenic product. Try to read the ingredient label of your product and be sure that the first few ingredients are at least not those in this post.

References

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