Monday, 1 December 2014
Monday, 6 October 2014
Saturday, 4 October 2014
Trivialising Dengue Fever: An open letter to The Star
An open letter to The Star
To The Star Newspaper,
Malaysia
4 October, 2014
Dear Editor,
RE: ‘PAPAYA LEAF JUICE CAN HELP IN RECOVERY FROM DENGUE FEVER’ (THE STAR 5.7.14)
I refer to an article published by your newspaper titled as above.
While it is fascinating that there seems to be a very simple and effect way of increasing platelet count for dengue victims, this short article leaves a lot to be desired.
The article seems to suggests that the age old remedy of boiling papaya leaves for dengue fever is vindicated. This could lead to a dangerous suggestion for ordinary people to promote it rather than to seek immediate medical help in suspected dengue cases.
Dr Jeyabalan Velayutham explains, “The most important management in serious dengue [cases] is careful and meticulous fluid management. Too little water intake can lead to loss of blood volume but too much can also cause water to leak into the lungs. Careful assessment of fluid levels by an experienced doctor based on clinical examination and monitoring important parameters esp haematocrit measurement is the key to a successful outcome in serious dengue [cases]. In addition, many people get very bad vomiting and stomach ache in dengue and taking a diet advocated in the newspaper article can make matters worse.
“Dengue is a very complicated disease which is beyond just dropping [blood] platelets. Besides reducing platelets, it can affect important organs like the liver, lungs, heart and kidneys. In addition, one of the most dangerous complication is capillary leaks. This results in fluid leaking into important organs like the lungs resulting in impairment of oxygenation of the blood and breathlessness. This also causes the blood volume to drop and the resultant drop in blood pressure causes inadequate blood flow to important organs.”
A responsible newspaper would have included other facts about dengue fever and urge the public to seek medical help once symptoms of dengue appear. The article should have also warned against self-medication.
Dengue is a life threatening disease which Malaysians are exposed to every year especially during the rainy seasons (“Dengue fever battle far from over” The Star, 14.8.14). It is important that the public are not given the impression that there is a home cure that is supported by medical research.
On behalf of the APOSL science club,
Pepper Lim
Dr Jeyabalan Velayutham, Consultant Physician and Nephrologist
Dr Kok Sen Wai, Psychiatric MO.
To The Star Newspaper,
Malaysia
4 October, 2014
Dear Editor,
RE: ‘PAPAYA LEAF JUICE CAN HELP IN RECOVERY FROM DENGUE FEVER’ (THE STAR 5.7.14)
I refer to an article published by your newspaper titled as above.
While it is fascinating that there seems to be a very simple and effect way of increasing platelet count for dengue victims, this short article leaves a lot to be desired.
The article seems to suggests that the age old remedy of boiling papaya leaves for dengue fever is vindicated. This could lead to a dangerous suggestion for ordinary people to promote it rather than to seek immediate medical help in suspected dengue cases.
Dr Jeyabalan Velayutham explains, “The most important management in serious dengue [cases] is careful and meticulous fluid management. Too little water intake can lead to loss of blood volume but too much can also cause water to leak into the lungs. Careful assessment of fluid levels by an experienced doctor based on clinical examination and monitoring important parameters esp haematocrit measurement is the key to a successful outcome in serious dengue [cases]. In addition, many people get very bad vomiting and stomach ache in dengue and taking a diet advocated in the newspaper article can make matters worse.
“Dengue is a very complicated disease which is beyond just dropping [blood] platelets. Besides reducing platelets, it can affect important organs like the liver, lungs, heart and kidneys. In addition, one of the most dangerous complication is capillary leaks. This results in fluid leaking into important organs like the lungs resulting in impairment of oxygenation of the blood and breathlessness. This also causes the blood volume to drop and the resultant drop in blood pressure causes inadequate blood flow to important organs.”
A responsible newspaper would have included other facts about dengue fever and urge the public to seek medical help once symptoms of dengue appear. The article should have also warned against self-medication.
Dengue is a life threatening disease which Malaysians are exposed to every year especially during the rainy seasons (“Dengue fever battle far from over” The Star, 14.8.14). It is important that the public are not given the impression that there is a home cure that is supported by medical research.
On behalf of the APOSL science club,
Pepper Lim
Dr Jeyabalan Velayutham, Consultant Physician and Nephrologist
Dr Kok Sen Wai, Psychiatric MO.
Monday, 8 September 2014
Hari Tesla 13.9.14
This year we're celebrating APOSL's birthday and honoring Tesla at the same time.
Tesla was born on 10.7.1856 . Please click "join" on our Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/events/146204338909361/
Saturday, 12 April 2014
APOSL Survey: 34% of people in malls think the Sun goes around the Earth
On 22 March, six members of APOSL went to Times Square, Pavilion, KLCC, Lowyat, and Sungai Wang. This survey was also conducted on university students at UiTM. They conducted a survey to find out how much the Malaysian public knew about science.
You know how it is lah, when you approach a stranger in the street, their usual response is, "Not interested!" . To the credit of these APOSL members, they managed to get 309 people to respond.
They asked 3 "true/false/don't know" quotations.
- Humans are developed from an earlier species of animal.
- The Sun goes around the Earth
- At least one of these exist: ghosts, penunggu, vampires, toyol, pocong, langsuir.
Wednesday, 26 February 2014
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