Chondroitin and Glucosamine no help for Osteoarthritis

A recent meta-analysis has shown no benefit of these popular agents on osteoarthritis of the knee or hip.

Legionnaires' Disease in Bali

Two recent travellers to Bali have been diagnosed with severe pneumonia caused by Legionnaires' Disease. Both cases had independently stayed at the same hotel in Kuta, Bali at the end of July/beginning of August. Legionnaires' tend to target the middle-aged or elderly and particularly those with other risk factors that makes them more susceptible such as diabetes, kidney or respiratory disease or smoking. If you develop a severe flu-like illness, and have recently been to Bali then see your GP.

Cycle Instead Bike to Work Challenge 2010

Cycle Instead Bike to Work Challenge 2010 starts next week. Jumping on your bike to work is a Win-Win-Win no brainer: you get fit, save money and save the planet. Why not register a team from work and get pedalling?

What is Glaucoma?

It's National Glaucoma week next week - check out this video from Glaucoma Australia to learn more:

Heart Attack Risk

Another online risk calculator but this one's on our website and calculates your risk of heart disease or strokes over the next 5 years. You'll need to know your blood pressure and cholesterol level 'though.

Diabetes Week

Next week is Diabetes Week. We recommend getting tested for diabetes every 3 years once you turn 40 (or 18 if Indigenous Australian). Why not try this online risk calculator to see if you should get checked more frequently?

Dr Mathew John

We're pleased to welcome Dr Mathew John to our team. Mathew has extensive GP experience and has particular interests in Paediatrics, Obstetrics, Cardiology, Palliative Care and Pain Management. He starts with us on Tuesday, July 6th.

Is Rice Healthy?

We generally think that rice is a healthy food but not all rice is the same. White rice is what’s left after brown rice has been stripped of most of its fibre, vitamins, and minerals. White rice has a higher glycaemic index than brown rice and may be associated with type 2 diabetes. A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed that adults who ate white rice at least five times a week were 17% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes during 14-22 years of follow-up than adults who ate less than one serving a month. Eating brown rice seemed to be associated with a lower risk of diabetes (relative risk for high v low intake 0.89, 0.81 to 0.97). The authors estimate that replacing 50 g of white rice with the same amount of brown rice could reduce diabetes risk by 16% (9% to 21%). If brown rice is not to your taste then choose a white rice with a relatively low glycaemic index such as Basmati.

Rift Valley Fever (RVF) in South Africa

A warning for travellers to South Africa, perhaps to see the World Cup:

As of 10 May, the Government of South Africa has reported 186 confirmed cases of RVF in humans, including 18 deaths, in Free State Province, Eastern Cape Province, Northern Cape Province, Western Cape, and North West Province. RVF is a viral disease that primarily affects animals (such as cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats and camels). The disease can also affect humans. The main mode of transmission of RVF is via direct or indirect contact with the blood or organs of infected animals. Human infections have also resulted from the bites of infected mosquitoes. There is evidence that humans may become infected by ingesting the unpasteurized or uncooked milk of infected animals.

WHO advises no international travel restriction to or from South Africa. However, WHO recommends that visitors to South Africa, especially those intending to visit farms and/or game reserves, avoid coming into contact with animal tissues or blood, avoid drinking unpasteurized or uncooked milk or eating raw meat.

All travelers should take appropriate precautions against bites from mosquitoes and other blood-sucking insects (including the use of insect repellents, wearing long-sleeved shirts and trousers, and sleeping under mosquito nets).

World Hepatitis Day

World Hepatitis Day (12/5/10) passed me by last week as I was on holiday but I see the banners are still up promoting it. 1 in 12 people globally are living with chronic hepatitis B or C and as there is potential for treatment (as well as arisk of passing it on to others) it is worth finding out if you are infected. HepatitisWA has useful information on all aspects of these diseases.

Heart Week

This week is "Heart Week" run by the Heart Foundation. Their push this year is to get people to be aware of what the symptoms of a heart attack are and to act promptly. http://www.heartattackfacts.org.au/Home.aspx
This is obviously important but, from a GP perspective, prevention is better than cure. By and large heart disease is caused by a combination of any or all of the following: Genetics, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, Smoking, Diabetes & being overweight. You can't do anything about your genes but all the rest are what we call modifiable risk factors (Diabetes can't be cured but control can be optimized) and are best addressed sooner rather than later. For an assessment of your heart disease risk why don't you jump on your bike and pedal down to see your friendly local GP!

Polio in Europe

Polio has been confirmed in an outbreak of paralysis in Tajikistan where 120 children have been effected, 10 of whom have died. This is the first outbreak of Polio since Europe was classified as Polio-free in 2002. Polio is included in the standard childhood Australian Vaccination Schedule but a booster is recommended for travellers to endemic areas including the Indian Subcontintent and Nigeria.

Children's Influenza Vaccine Programme halted

The vaccine programme for children is on hold following a spike in the number of children admitted to hospital with febrile convulsions following the injection. There are no concerns regarding the adult vaccine and this programme continues.

Swine Flu update & Meningitis outbreak in Chad

Swine Flu (H1N1) continues to be a problem in Southeast Asia (particularly Thailand), West Africa and the tropical zones of the Americas. From January to March there have been 1500 cases of meningococcal meningitis with a 10% fatality rate in Chad - travellers to the area are advised to get immunised against this.

2010 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine available

We now have stock of the 2010 Influenza vaccine available for all patients not just the subsidised supply for at-risk groups.

Risks of serious illness for pregnant women contracting Swine Flu

A study published this week in the BMJ looked at women admitted to intensive care in Australia with H1N1 influenza (Swine Flu). They found that pregnant women were 7 times more likely to be admitted than non-pregnant women. This rises to a 13-fold increase in the second half of pregnancy. On a positive note this raised morbidity/mortality is less than was predicted from previous flu pandemics probably because governments have encouraged pregnant women to have the Swine Flu vaccine and made antiviral agents easily available. The seasonal influenza vaccine (which this year includes the H1N1 strain) is recommended by the department of health for all women who will be in the 2nd or 3rd trimester of their pregnancy during the flu season.

Government-funded 2010 Flu vaccine in stock

The government-funded 2010 flu vaccine, which includes the H1N1 swine flu as well as 2 other common strains, has arrived. This is currently available free for certain at-risk groups - those over 65, and with chronic disease such as diabetes, heart disease and chest problems such as asthma. We are expecting supplies shortly for patients not in any at-risk group.

An Aspirin a day doesn't keep the doctor away

Many people take a low dose of aspirin each day to thin the blood and ward off heart attacks and strokes. Recently a number of studies, including one published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association have shown no benefit, and some risk (of bleeding problems), of taking aspirin in people who don't already have heart disease or strokes. If you are already taking aspirin for this reason we would suggest discussing further with your GP.

Australian Organ and Tissue Donor Week

The theme of this year’s Australian Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week is "family discussion" with the aim of helping to lift the nation’s family consent rate of just 56%. While around 80% of Australians express widespread support for organ donation, currently 1 in 2 Australians don’t know the wishes of their family members and 1 in 3 Australians don’t know that their family’s consent is required for donation to proceed. For more information and to download a copy of the Family Discussion Kit visit http://www.donatelife.gov.au/family

Even kings contract Malaria

New research  published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicates malaria as the likely cause of Tutankhamun's death. OK, this was a little while ago but malaria still kills millions each year so it is important to take anti-malarial tablets and to avoid mosquito bites in endemic areas.

Free Influenza Vaccine for toddlers

The WA Health Department has announced that it will fund free seasonal influenza vaccinations for children aged 6 months to 5 years this year. Last year this age group had the highest rate of hospitalization for flu. Expect the vaccine to be available from your GP from about mid-March.

Avian Influenza ("Bird Flu") in Egypt

Travellers need to be aware of ongoing H5N1 Influenza reporting in Egypt. There have been 97 laboratory confirmed cases of which 27 have died.

World Cancer Day

Feb 4th is World Cancer Day. A timely reminder for us to think of ways we can reduce our chances of developing this deadly disease. Diet and exercize are important as are sun protection strategies. Screening such as Pap smears, breast exams and skin checks will all lessen the chances. Go to CancerWA for more preventative tips.

Swine Flu update

Main parts of the world with high rates of Swine Flu transmission currently are parts of North Africa, South Asia and East and South Eastern Europe. Travellers to these areas are advised to be immunised. For more detail see the WHO website.

Dr Noel Murphy

Welcome to our new WAGPET registrar, Dr Noel Murphy who starts with us today.

Swine Flu Vaccine Approved for Children

Last month the PanVax H1N1 (Swine Flu) vaccine was approved for use in children from 6 months to 9 years of age. Unlike adults, 2 doses are required a month apart. http://www.healthemergency.gov.au/internet/healthemergency/publishing.nsf/Content/health-swine_influenza-index.htm