Rilek1Corner

Tag: infection

  • Man Loses Hand And Legs To Infection

    Man Loses Hand And Legs To Infection

    A GARDENER has had his two legs and left hand amputated after suffering from bacteria infection, which caused his limbs to turn black and put his life in danger if they were not quickly removed.

    The 66-year-old man, who wants to be identified only by his surname Chew, has also been told by doctors that he would lose the fingertips of his right hand, which have turned black, Chinese evening daily Lianhe Wanbao reported yesterday.

    Mr Chew’s case began some two months before the widely reported one of technician Tan Whee Boon, whose hands and legs were cut off last month, after they turned gangrenous due to medical complications.

    Three types of bacteria were found in Mr Tan’s body, and one was Group B Streptococcus (GBS), which may cause infections of the skin, joints, heart and brain.

    Mr Tan, 50, had eaten raw fish just before his limbs turned black, and the Ministry of Health said there was a possible link between raw fish consumption and GBS infection.

    Mr Chew told Wanbao that he has been hospitalised since mid-June when he suddenly experienced great pain in his stomach, a bout of vomiting and weakness in the limbs.

    He was at home and had just eaten a packet of rice, which he had bought.

    “The distress came after 9pm, and my limbs began to swell. Six hours later, I was lying unconscious in an intensive care ward,” Mr Chew said.

    He was told by doctors the following day that he was infected by bacteria and his left leg had to be amputated immediately. His right leg was amputated two days later.

    The last amputation, which removed his left hand, took place early this month.

    Mr Chew’s case differs from Mr Tan’s in that he had not eaten raw fish before he suffered the same symptoms, reported Wanbao.

    Doctors had also not explained to Mr Chew the exact cause of his complications, much to his chagrin, said the newspaper.

    A family clinic doctor, Mark Low, told Wanbao that Mr Chew could also have been infected by GBS, as the bacteria is found not only in raw fish but practically anywhere.

    So far it has not been determined why the bacteria infection has been rampant, said Dr Low, adding that he does not rule out mutation.

    GBS could block blood flow and cause limbs to turn black, even in people who are not in the more vulnerable group, which includes diabetic patients and smokers, said the doctor.

     

    Source: http://mypaper.sg

  • The Struggles Of a HIV Positive Mother

    The Struggles Of a HIV Positive Mother

    KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 — A mother of four was forced to choose between HIV medication and her children.

    Norlela Mokhtar, 50, was diagnosed 14 years ago as being HIV positive and three years later, she was in dire need of medication but medical care for HIV patients was not free.

    “It cost about RM1,000 a month and I did not have that kind of money because I was working as a clerk at that time,” she said.

    “I had to choose between myself and my children.

    “I had to choose between paying for my medication or to feed my children.”

    She avoided doctor’s visits and check-ups to avoid being asked to take the medication.

    “In 2005, I had tuberculosis and I had no choice when I was admitted,” she said.

    “Prof Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman (Malaysian AIDS Council exco member) started me on the anti-retroviral treatment, even though it was not free at that time.”

    It was then that she regained her health, along with her weight.

    “I was a skeleton of about 50kg as I lost so much weight. I was only 30kg at that time,” she said.

    Norlela was advised by a friend of hers to get tested because her former husband was an intravenous drug user (IDU).

    She believes she contracted the disease from him.

    “In that year of being diagnosed, I had no support,” she said

    “At that time, whatever they said did not have any impact on me because I was thinking about my four children, who were between two and 10 years old.”

    She went on with life without acknowledging the disease but remained a strong front for her children.

    “I made sure I was strong in front of them,” she said.

    Norlela recalled the discrimination she faced, from both family and friends, but she has no regrets.

    “My youngest child was taken away from me by my stepmother for fear I would infect my children,” she said.

    “In the office, they didn’t let me go to the canteen or use the items in the pantry.

    “However, I am not angry with them because they didn’t know how a person was infected.”

    An advocate for those like her, Norlela formed Persatuan Wahidayah Malaysia (Pewahim) and the Rumah Wahidayah, a shelter for women and children living with HIV/AIDS.

    She believes building a “zero discrimination” nation towards those infected with HIV/AIDS was the first step towards building a HIV/AIDS free nation.

    “People are not able to get married, get a proper education or even get loans just because they are infected by HIV or AIDS. This needs to stop,” she said.

    “People should also be educated, instead of taking HIV tests only when required.”

     

    Source: http://www.themalaymailonline.com