Welcome
to Home Health UK’s News page with all the health news stories
we think you might be interested in from the first 3 months of 2006
In
this part of the site we aim to provide you with some of the latest
health information regarding diagnosis of various illnesses and
medical conditions. We will also aim to tell you about any developments
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We
have 2 news stories that we hope you will be interested in. The first
news story is about DVT and how it could be linked to cabin pressure. The second story is about
an ear infection vaccine for children.
DVT
and cabin pressure
Sitting still for long periods cannot alone explain why air passengers
are at higher risk of a DVT. A study by Dutch researchers has found that
low air pressure within an aeroplane cabin and poor oxygen levels enhance
the risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis. The study looked at 71 healthy volunteers
and found that chemicals indicating clotting were higher during 8 hours
on a flight than in 8 hours sitting in the cinema, watching a movie marathon.
The volunteers were not allowed to drink alcohol, take aspirin or wear
flight socks and were asked to remain seated as much as possible.
The
chemicals were measured before, during and immediately after the flight.
They also monitored the individuals during 8 hours of normal daily activities.
4
out of 10 of the volunteers carried a gene that put them at risk of DVT.
Lead researcher Professor Frits Rosendaal told BBC news
that immobilisation during a long flight was still likely to be the most
significant factor but that something else adds to the risk when you are
in the air that does not exist when you are sitting down for a long time
on the ground. Low cabin pressure and oxygen levels were thought to be
the most likely cause.
Despite low levels of cabin pressure and oxygen, DVT for
healthy middle aged travellers occurs only once for every 40,000 flights
and causes death once in every 2 million.
For
more information on DVT click
here.
Ear infection
vaccine
Czech
scientists have developed a vaccine which could help prevent ear infections
in young children. The vaccine was found to be effective
against 2 types of bacteria, streptococcus pneumoniae and haemophilus
influenzae.
Around 5,000 young children were either given this vaccine,
or a hepatitis A vaccine at various ages between 3 and 15 months the researchers
then followed them up at the age of 2. 333 of the children given the new
vaccine had a middle ear infection, compared with 499 in the control group.
A
UK ear expert however said there were concerns about giving a vaccine
for what is usually a mild infection. Speaking to the BBC, Antony Tucker,
an ear, nose and throat surgeon at Bradford Royal Infirmary, said, "
The suggestion here is giving a vaccine against something that isn't a
life threatening condition"
For more information on ear infections click
here.
NEWS HISTORY
2005
Sept-Dec
2005
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