TYPES
The virus belongs to the Orthomyxoviridia family. They are classified into types A, B، C, and D based on their core proteins.

SYMPTOMS
Influenza (flu) can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Flu symptoms usually come on suddenly. People who have flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:

• fever* or feeling feverish/chills
• cough
• sore throat
• runny or stuffy nose
• muscle or body aches
• headaches
• fatigue (tiredness)
• some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.
• Malaise

*It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.

VULNERABLE OR PEOPLE AT MOST RISKS

• Pregnant women
• Individuals with chronic medical conditions such as chronic cardiac, pulmonary, renal, neurodevelopmental, liver or hematologic diseases
• Children below 5 years of age
• Elderly
• Health-care workers

COMPLICATIONS

• Sinus infections
• Bacterial pneumonia
• Ear infections
• Worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.

HOW IT SPREADS?

Experts believe that flu viruses spread mainly by tiny droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. Less often, a person might get the flu by touching a surface or object that has the flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.

DIAGNOSES OF SEASONAL INFLUENZA

Other respiratory viruses i.e., rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza, and adenovirus can also reflect influenza-like illness symptoms. However, the collection of proper respiratory samples and in-depth laboratory investigation can confirm the root cause.

TREATMENT

• People with low or medium risk are treated for symptomatic treatment like fever or pain and are recommended to stay at home to avoid transmission.
• High-risk patients might need a different plan of treatment depending on the physician’s evaluation.

PREVENTION

• Other than vaccines or flu shots, influenza can be avoided by:
• Good respiratory hygiene: applying cough and sneezing etiquette.
• If symptomize, self-isolate early on to prevent infecting others.
• Regular handwashing and sanitizing.
• Avoiding close contact with sick people.
• Avoiding touching eyes, nose, or mouth
• Clean and sterilize frequently used surfaces and tools

HOW CAN ARMADA HEALTH CARE HELP?

We at Armada Health care facility, have a comprehensive multi-specialty setup and competent team to take care of you the best through prevention, systematic diagnosis, and treatment.

REFERENCES

• Abu Dhabi Health Authority (DHA) Seasonal Influenza Awareness Guide (2023-2022)

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/keyfacts.htm

1- Causes:

Type 2 diabetes mellitus consists of an array of dysfunctions characterized by hyperglycemia and resulting from the combination of resistance to insulin action, inadequate insulin secretion, and excessive or inappropriate glucagon secretion.

2-Main Signs & Symptoms:

Many patients with Type 2 Diabetes are asymptomatic. Clinical manifestations include the following:

• Classic symptoms: Polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, and weight loss

• Blurred vision

• Lower-extremity paresthesia (numbness)

• Fungal infections (eg, balanitis in men)

3-Diagnosis:

Diagnostic criteria by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) include the following:

• A fasting plasma glucose (FPG) level of 126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L) or higher, or

• A 2-hour plasma glucose level of 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) or higher during a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), or

• A random plasma glucose of 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) or higher in a patient with classic symptoms of hyperglycemia or hyperglycemic crisis

Whether a hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level of 6.5% or higher should be a primary diagnostic criterion or an optional criterion remains a point of controversy.

Indications for diabetes screening in asymptomatic adults includes the following:

• Sustained blood pressure >135/80 mm Hg

• Overweight and 1 or more other risk factors for diabetes (eg, first-degree relative with diabetes, BP >140/90 mm Hg, and HDL < 35 mg/dL and/or triglyceride level >250 mg/dL)

• The ADA recommends screening at age 35 years in the absence of the above criteria.

If you experience any of these signs or symptoms, we at Al Hafiz Hospital have all the tests related to diabetes and doctors who are the experts in the diagnosis and management of diabetes.

Book your consultation today.

The condition in which your thyroid gland is not producing certain essential hormones

Prevalence:

Around  5% of the UAE population is suffering from Thyroid disorders

Symptoms and common complaints:

-FATIGUE

-Increased sensitivity to cold

-Muscle Aches

-Dry Skin

-Joint pain and stiffness

-Constipation

-Weight Gain

-In women; heavy or irregular menstrual Bleeding

-Puffy face

-Depression in some cases

-Thinning or hair loss

-Impaired memory (short term)

-Slow heart rate (Pulse)

-Enlarged Thyroid gland in the neck (Goiter)

Underactive Thyroid is a condition that may not cause Noticeable symptoms in early stages but eventual debilitating health conditions such as, Heart disease, Obesity and Infertility

Approach to Disease:

Accurate Thyroid Function tests are available to diagnose the defect and treatment with synthetic Hormones is usually simple, short term in most cases and effective

What is vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that is made when the skin is exposed to sunlight. It is present in only a small number of foods, including fortified products, such as milk.

Vitamin D is best known for supporting calcium metabolism. It helps the body absorb calcium from food and supplements to support the maintenance of healthy bones cells.

Vitamin D comes from a small variety of foods and is produced when the skin is exposed to sunlight.

Vitamin D also:

• supports muscle health
• plays a role in the immune system
• regulates blood pressur and supports cardiovascular health

Vitamin D intake is not the best measure of the vitamin’s status in the body, as many factors can affect its uptake. For example, the health of the stomach can interfere with how much vitamin D a person absorbs from the food they eat.

What causes vitamin D deficiency?

People with serum vitamin D levels of less than 20 (ng/mL) are at risk for vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin D deficiency occurs when a person either does not consume enough vitamin D or when their body cannot absorb and metabolize the vitamin D they do consume.

Below are some of the factors that affect whether or not a person is at risk of having a deficiency:

• Living at a high latitude: This is due to there being less access to the sun’s ultraviolet-B (UVB) rays.
• Being indoors too much: means missing out on the sun’s rays.
• Living in a highly polluted area
• Using large quantities of sunscreen
• Having darker skin: People with darker skin need more sunlight exposure to absorb enough vitamin D.
• Diet: Eating foods rich in vitamin D, or foods that have been fortified with the vitamin, reduces the risk of vitamin D deficiency.
• Being overweight: Research suggests that being overweight correlates with lower vitamin D levels. This may be because excess body fat somehow affects vitamin D absorption.
• Age: People’s ability to absorb vitamin D may decline with increasing age.
• Gut health: Disorders that affect the gut, such as Crohn’s diseas, can undermine the intestines’ ability to absorb vitamin D.
• Kidney and liver health: People with liver or kidney disease tend to have lower vitamin D levels.
• Pregnancy or breast-feeding: more risk for deficiency .
• infant: Human milk is low in vitamin D. Infants who are nursing may need a vitamin D supplement, particularly if they do not go outdoors everyday.

Symptoms

Many people with a vitamin D deficiency may have no symptoms or

The symptoms of vitamin D deficiency can be vague ,Some symptoms of a deficit in vitamin D include:

• thinning or brittle bones, osteoporsis , or frequent bone fractures.
• muscle weakness, particularly if there is an unexplained change in muscle strength
• changes in mood, with people who have low vitamin D experiencing anxiety or depression.
• chronic pain, as vitamin D plays a key role in supporting bone, muscle, and cell health.
• high or rising blood pressure
• exhaustion, even with enough sleep
• decreased endurance
• unexplained infertility.

Dr Hajer Albadry

General practitioner