• IP addresses are NOT logged in this forum so there's no point asking. Please note that this forum is full of homophobes, racists, lunatics, schizophrenics & absolute nut jobs with a smattering of geniuses, Chinese chauvinists, Moderate Muslims and last but not least a couple of "know-it-alls" constantly sprouting their dubious wisdom. If you believe that content generated by unsavory characters might cause you offense PLEASE LEAVE NOW! Sammyboy Admin and Staff are not responsible for your hurt feelings should you choose to read any of the content here.

    The OTHER forum is HERE so please stop asking.

Newly launched *** Rare disease reported in Singapore

Watchman

Alfrescian
Loyal
Newly launched *** Rare disease reported in Singapore

By Evelyn Lam / Wayne Chan |
Posted: 30 December 2010 2214 hrs
phpl4d3mt.jpg

Patient suffers from Lemierre's syndrome


SINGAPORE: If you have a sore throat, coupled with neck pain, giddiness and a fever that doesn't go away,
you should see a doctor immediately. You may be suffering from the "Lemierre's syndrome" which is rare .
and potentially lethal.
Experts said, there have been fewer than 10 such cases in Singapore over the past 10 years.
But this month alone, two cases have been reported.

One of the patients was 32-year-old Vincent Leo.

He thought it was just the flu when he had a sore throat and fever two weeks ago.
But when he did not get better, he saw a doctor and found out that he had Lemierre's.

"I kept vomiting and having diarrhoea at night. My left side of my face swelled up a little too.
It was even painful to eat and drink," said Mr Leo.

Dr Jagadesan Raghuram, Chief and Senior Consultant of the Department of
Respiratory Medicine with Changi General Hospital, said: "The common bacteria that we have
in our oral cavity usually causes this disease...some of these bacteria for one reason or another
becomes pathogenic, meaning they invade, and become a cause of the disease.

"What it does is the bacteria, apart from causing local problems like gum disease or
local cavities...it can actually spread through the tissues in the oral cavity into the neck...
the bacteria that causes this infection actually causes inflammation in the surrounding vessels of the neck.

"And the bacteria can actually seep to other organs like the lung, liver, kidneys, spleen.
And if the infection is not controlled or treated aggressively, upfront, this can cause organ failure and death."

Dr Raghuram said the disease affects young adults between 20 and 40 years old.
Treatment includes a four-week course of antibiotics. For the first two weeks, the patient
needs to take the antibiotic intravenously in hospital followed by another two weeks orally.
Antibiotic treatment can be stretched to six weeks where needed.

He added that patients are also treated with blood-thinners for three to six months
because the disease usually involves blood clots in the veins. Dr Raghuram said
medical records show that only one patient here has died from the disease.
He said the rare disease occurs in about only one in every 1.25 million people.

-CNA/ac
 

mako65

Alfrescian
Loyal
Count himself lucky to be the few in the millions! Not Hanta, West Nile or the dreaded SarS! SARS, just a whiff or cough will really cripple the economy here, no shit!!!
 

mako65

Alfrescian
Loyal
Tis is still far from fatal to the majority of us n it's not virus-borne! Rest assured n enjoy da new year!!! Dun be surprised tat the influx of foreigners will bring in host of health problems in the future....just take note!
 

BlueCat

Alfrescian
Loyal
nowaday,so many food are genetically modified,to make them grow faster.
i think more of these rare diseases will surface.
 
Top