Pharmacy News

These are congenital defects (defects present at birth). During development of the foetus, there is incomplete closure of the lip or the roof of the mouth, forming an open cleft. Each can occur separately, but they often occur together, sometimes in association with other malformations. Usually only soft tissues are affected, but occasionally bone can [...]

Most premature babies require specialised care, usually within a newborn intensive care nursery, for up to several weeks after birth. The baby is nursed in a humidicrib and, depending on his condition, may require oxygen, intravenous infusion, tube feeding and careful monitoring. If your baby does need intensive care, your doctor will explain exactly what [...]

“I am deathly afraid that he is having an affair. He just doesn’t want that much sex anymore. Is he?”

ANSWER: Frequency of and interest in sex is not a symptom. It does not “mean” anything if medical problems are ruled out. It is a means of sharing and expression that stands in and of itself. [...]

Even if you do not plan to change anything else in your diet, for social, business or other reasons, improve the quality of the water you drink. Drink at least 2 or 3 litres of it every day.

The latest research indicates, that it is not only the purity of water that is important, but also [...]

In the condition known as hiatus hernia, there is reflux of the acid contents of the stomach up into the lower part of the gullet and this may produce indigestion.

If this symptom of indigestion is of recent onset then it may be safely treated without further investigation. If it is severe or persistent or recurrent, [...]

Penicillin was first isolated from a mould by Fleming in 1929 but it was Chaim and the Australian, Florey, who first brought it into clinical use in 1940.

Originally, penicillin had to be given by injection but now derivatives are available which can be taken by mouth. This drug is bacteriocidal and has such a low [...]

Live yoghurt contains ‘friendly’ bacteria which form lactic acid in milk, suppressing the growth of harmful bacteria. Some of the bacteria which are used to make yoghurt are Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus. The bacteria in many yoghurts are still alive, but are kept dormant by refrigeration. However yoghurts which have been pasteurised [...]

While petting frogs is a harmless childhood activity, handling toads can be dangerous, the New England Journal of Medicine (314:1517) reports, since the skin of some types of toad secretes a poison which, when conveyed to the mouth, causes drooling, convulsive seizures, and serious disturbances of the heart rhythm. The Colorado River toad is the [...]

Emergency symptoms: Apply emergency treatment immediately.

Important: A child with heatstroke who does not revive within minutes after treatment is in danger and requires immediate emergency care.

Symptoms: feeling that lungs and muscles are “on fire”, dry mouth, breathing difficulty, dizziness, nausea blurred vision, hot, dry skin, high fever, absence of sweating.

Emergency treatment

1.     Call for emergency help [...]

For the past 50 years or so, we’ve been killing ourselves with a silent bang. It’s a little-known fact that suicide is the ninth leading cause of death in this country and the fifth leading cause among men ages 25 to 44.

There is no simple answer for why men commit suicide, says John L. McIntosh, [...]