Diphtheria Antitoxin Antibodies test is done on a blood sample to measure the amount of Diphtheria Antitoxin Antibodies in blood. It is used as a preliminary step to diagnose Diphtheria. Diphtheria is a bacterial infection caused by the bacteria Corynebacterium diphtheria. It harms the mucus membrane of throat and nose of the person. It is a communicable disease that is spread from another person or through the contact with objects that have bacteria on them. These toxins affect other organs and if not treated on time, damage them. It can also lead to kidney failure and paralysis.
It is recommended that you should either wear a sleeve-less or a short-sleeved shirt. Wearing a shirt with full- sleeves that can easily be rolled-up is also fine. You will not be expected to disturb your diet routine before this test. You can eat and drink as per your normal routine. However, if the sample taken is also to be used for further different tests, the doctor will inform you in advance. In that case, you might be advised to not eat for a few hours. Always follow the particular instructions given to you by the lab for the successful completion of the test.
As mentioned above, this test is used to confirm Diphtheria that you might be going through. It is also used by doctors during and after the treatment in order to check the progress of the medications. This test also helps in detecting other bacterial infections that might have been caused due to the same bacteria. Getting the test done on time, prevents any damage to major body organs like kidney that may be caused if not detected on time.
This test can be conducted at registered labs and infirmaries apart from the hospitals. For the test, one or two teaspoons of a blood sample would be obtained directly from you. • An alcohol pad is used to clean the skin. • A needle is then injected through the part of rinsed skin into to your vein; specifically in the one that can be seen from the skin. • The blood is dragged out from the needle by a nozzle, saved in a vessel and sealed with your name. • This sample is then carried to the research laboratory for examination. • It might takes 1-2 days or more for the test results to be declared.
| Type | Gender | Age-Group | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
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Diphtheria Antitoxin Antibodies
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Unisex
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All age groups
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Antibodies are not normally present.
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The National Women's Health Information Center offers the following 10 things you can do to help live longer, live better, and live happier:
Be informed. Learn about health promotion and disease prevention and ask your healthcare provider for specific information regarding your needs.
Be good to your bones. For healthy bones, be sure to replenish your stock of calcium every day with plenty of foods such as milk and other dairy products, tofu, leafy green vegetables, canned salmon or sardines, and calcium-fortified juices or breads. Speak with your healthcare provider about calcium supplements.
Avoid illegal drugs and alcohol. For women, the definition of moderate drinking stops at one drink a day. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines a drink as one 5-ounce glass of wine, one 12-ounce bottle of beer or wine cooler, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits. Remember that the alcohol content of each type of drink can vary widely. Where illicit drugs are concerned, there is no such thing as "moderate" use.
Take medicine wisely. Read the labels, follow the instructions carefully, and remind your healthcare provider or pharmacist about any other medicines or supplements you might be taking that could interact with your medicines. For your safety – to lower your risk for adverse side effects or medicine interactions, for instance – you should also let your healthcare provider know if you use any illicit or "recreational" drugs. If you have any questions about possible side effects, call your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
Play it safe. Avoid injuries. Buckle up. Wear a bike helmet. Use smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Wear sunscreen and UV protected sunglasses. Use street smarts and common sense. Practice safe sex by using condoms to protect against sexually transmitted diseases.
Get checked. Get regular checkups, preventive exam, and immunizations. Do not forget self-exams, too.
Don't smoke. Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in our country.
Eat smart. It is the secret to good health. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Enjoy a variety of foods, balance foods from each food group, and exercise in moderation.
Get moving. The other secret to good health: just 30 minutes of physical activity, accumulated over the course of each day, can radically improve the way you look and feel, both physically and mentally.
Be happy. Take time for yourself. Get connected with family, friends, and community. Do things you enjoy!
Routine activities for women to ensure good health
This chart provides general healthcare guidelines for women, but is not meant to replace any advice and guidance given by your healthcare provider. Please use it as a reminder to take care of your personal healthcare needs, and also as a list of topics you may want to discuss with your healthcare provider.
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Each day |
Each month |
Each year |
Other |
|---|---|---|---|
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Exercise 30 minutes a day. |
Perform an oral cavity self-exam, gums, teeth, lips, tongue |
Have a dental checkup once or twice a year. Have vision and hearing checked annually.
|
Discuss with your healthcare provider whether you need an annual exam. |
|
Protect yourself from the sun - use sunscreen and dress appropriately. |
Perform a full-body self-exam for unusual moles or other skin conditions. Have your healthcare provider examine moles annually, or immediately for suspicious growths. |
Have a pelvic exam and Pap test beginning at age 21.Talk with your healthcare provider about his or her recommendations for further testing and screening for the human papillomavirus, or HPV.* |
After age 50:
Begin screening with a colonoscopy at age 45 in African Americans |
|
Watch your fat intake - no more than 25 % to 35% of your calorie intake. Most fats should come from sources of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, such as fish, nuts, and vegetable oils. |
Be aware of your weight, check your BMI (body mass index) |
Have your blood pressure and cholesterol levels checked |
Starting at age 45: every 5 years have a full lipid profile test for cholesterol and triglycerides. Earlier screening is recommended if you have risk factors for coronary artery disease. |
|
Eat sources of protein such as lean or low-fat meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs, and nuts. Eat 5 to 9 services of fruits and vegetables daily. At least half of all of the grains eaten should be whole-grains. Consume 3 cups of fat-free or low-fat milk or equivalent milk products per day. |
|
Talk with your doctor about when you should have a mammogram. |
Get pneumococcal vaccines. After age 65: get the pneumococcal vaccines; also recommended for those younger than 65 who have medical problems that increase the risk for serious complications and death |
|
Be aware of your alcohol intake and stress level. |
|
Get a flu shot. |
Get a tetanus/diphtheria (td) booster every 10 years |
* The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that women have their first Pap test at age 21. Women ages 21 to 29 should have a Pap test every 3 years. Women 30 and older are recommended to have co-testing every 5 years, and cytology and HPV every 3 years. It's reasonable to discontinue screening for cervical cancer in women age 65 and over after receiving negative prior screening tests if there is no history of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2+ within the last 20 years. After screening has been discontinued, it should not be resumed, even if a woman has multiple sexual partners.
Our body’s immune system not only determines our general well-being, but also prevents the outbreak of different health conditions and diseases. The immune system protects us from fatal diseases and helps in the repair and rejuvenation of damaged or infected cells.
Immunity can be boosted in several ways and homeopathic medicines are very effective for this purpose. There are many homeopathic medicines, which treat all kinds of health problems, overcome them and improve immunity so that recurrence is prohibited. Here are some top homeopathy medicines, which boost body immunity, along with the situations when they are applicable:
Thuya Occidentalis: This homeopathic medicine is very effective for treating several ailments and boosts immunity as a result. It is used for treating tumors, sinusitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis and myriad types of ear infections.
Baptisia Tinctoria: This provides a high dose of fiber to the body which helps in enhancing immunity. The central nervous system is also treated with this medicine along with conditions, such as malignant sore throat, diphtheria, scarlet fever and pneumonia. Body inflammations, cerebrospinal meningitis, tumors, ulcers and different types of cancer can be treated with this medicine.
Echinacea Angustifolia: This is another popular homeopathic medicine, which strengthens the overall immune system. It effectively helps in fighting different infections and inflammatory conditions.
Echinacea Purpurea: This homeopathic medicine helps in boosting the overall immune system of the body. It is very powerful and effective in fighting and eliminating all types of infections caused due to bacteria and virus.
Apis Mellifica: This homeopathic medicine is used in the treatment of various health conditions. It deals with edema, conjunctivitis, problems in the trachea and pharynx. Ear infections and conditions which occur in the kidney and bladder are also treated with this medicine. It treats several ovarian disorders too.
Gelsemium Sempervirens: This medicine helps in relieving migraines. It helps the occipital nerves and treats meningitis, drooping eyelids, paralysis and myocardial infarction. Problems related to the peripheral nervous system and menstruation are also treated with the same.
Ginseng: It is used to treat all types of deficiency diseases. This medicine helps in strengthening the lungs and provides nourishment to body fluids. The peripheral nerves are relaxed and heart weakening diseases are treated. Sexual organs are stimulated by this medicine too, which leads to increased libido.
Homeopathy is an excellent way to augment the immunity of the body, without worrying about side effects. Homeopathic medicines can eliminate a disease gradually from its roots, and prevent recurrence too. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a Homeopath.
Updates From Lybrate: Immunity is your first line of defense against disease-causing infections and pathogens. To safeguard and boost your immunity, you can consider these immunity boosting supplements available on Lybrate.
Virus is the most common cause of pain in the throat or sore throat and it is often accompanied by cold symptoms like running nose, red watery eyes, cough and sneezing. Smoking, irritants in the air and pollution are the main causes of sore throat. It becomes very difficult to swallow food in such a condition when an individual experiences pain, itchiness or irritation in their throat.
Causes
The main causes of occurrence of sore throat include:
Symptoms of Sore Throat:
When to Visit the Doctor
It is very important to visit your doctor, if the pain in the throat lasts for longer time and it is accompanied by symptoms like joint pain, difficulty in breathing and fever. The primary symptom of sore throat is pain in the throat and other symptoms like hoarseness and white patches on the tonsils also occur under this condition. People of all age groups can get affected with this condition, but it affects mostly children and smokers. People with weak immune system and suffering from allergies are also prone to pain in the throat. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult an Ent Specialist.
Bringing your baby home is an extremely exciting feeling. It’s also the time, when as parents, you tend to get a little nervous thinking of the tremendous responsibility.
Being new to the world, your baby’s immune system is still getting developed. Until they begin with their immunizations, they would need all the help they can get to fend off illness and germs. These below mentioned hygiene tips will help them in getting the healthy start they need.
Wash your hands
Germs roam around your house on your hands. It sounds terrifying, but washing your hands with soap and water is one of the easiest ways to stop the spread of bacteria and germs. A liquid hand wash ensures that the germs are not spread. Dettol Original Liquid Handwash protects you from 100 illness causing germs.
You should wash your hands:
Before breastfeeding or preparing formula milk
Before and after preparing food
After going to the toilet or changing a nappy
After cleaning or touching something filthy (feces, vomit, saliva, urine)
Whenever you feel your hands are dirty
In case you don’t have access to water, use Dettol Wipes to disinfect your hands
Clean surfaces before and after use
As a new mum, you’ll always have your hands full, but by establishing a foolproof hygiene routine at home you can safeguard the whole family from harmful germs. Surfaces that you come in contact with on a regular basis should be cleaned and disinfected. These include:
Kitchen surfaces before and after you prepare food
Baby changing mats and nappy bins
Door handles
Toilet seats, flushes and taps
Light switches and bin lids
Once your baby starts utilizing a high chair, it’s imperative that you keep it hygienically clean. Dettol Hygiene Liquid will get rid of 99.9% of germs that are present.
Prevent infection from visitors
You can bet money on the fact that the moment you reach home, friends and family will be queuing up to say hello to the newest member of the family. Don’t be hesitant to ask them to wash their hands before and after they touch your baby. Also, ask people who are ill to postpone their visit to meet your baby until they are better.
Immunizations for your baby
Immunizations – or vaccinations – are a fast, safe and extremely effective method to protect your loved ones from infectious diseases, such as tetanus, diphtheria, polio and whooping cough. Once vaccinated, your baby’s small body will be able to fight diseases in a more efficient manner.
The advised age to start vaccinations for your child is two months. Get in touch with your doctor to plan your vaccination schedule, so that your baby gets the right vaccinations at the perfect time.
A quite serious bacterial infection, diphtheria is caused by the Corynebacterium diphtheria. It usually tends to affect the throat and the mouth of an affected person, although there are other varieties which can infect your skin as well. However, the most common cases of diphtheria affect the throat and the mouth.
Symptoms of diphtheria in general
It may take up to five days for symptoms to show up when you are infected with the disease. Some of the symptoms would be:
These are the primary symptoms which will affect your throat in general. Some of the other symptoms that may show up are:
The parts of your body, which are affected the most tend to be your throat, tongue and the neck. The pain tends to persist for quite some time as you recover.
Causes of diphtheria
Diphtheria is usually spread by the following methods
If you are showing any of these symptoms, it is prudent to consult a doctor immediately as diphtheria, if left untreated, may also result in serious complications.
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