Health Awareness blog

Today, I went to the 7^th Biennial Scientific Meeting Postgraduate Medical Education Society today at Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Star, Kedah. I was lucky to be there and listen to the talk of the very one and only Dr Ang Swee Chai, an orthopaedic surgeon. I am sure that many of us have heard of her and her nobel work at Palestine since 1990s. Dr Ang was a pro-Israel at first, but changed her mind after what she had seen in Jerusalem. Some people may misunderstand claiming that there are only Muslims in Palestine. It is wrong. There are also other religions including Christian. And all persons are the same in Gaza. I just mention this so we know that not only Muslims were killed.

I know myself cannot do even close to what she has done to Palestinian people. I am touched when she said that by walking through the ruin buildings, she can only passed by and whispers her prayers. Because the damage is so bad and nobody can do anything. The building was ruin by a “vacuum bombs” and the bombs damaged the whole building buried with them hundreds and thousands of lives, and of course, there were no survivors, just dead bodies…  No wonder she said that “no help” is needed there, just prayers. Apparently Israeli just knew how to be the worst people of all nations. The way they choose their bombs and armaments are “excellent”. It is almost nothing remains after their attacks.  

It is ashamed when human doesn’t react like a human anymore. I wonder how humanity has left their spirit. What have they done till their eyes so blinded and can no longer see. What have their done till their ears are deafen and can no longer hear. They are truly monsters in human disguised.

I am touched with the song by Michael Heart-We will not go down (Song for Gaza). Please do something for the people in Gaza showing that you are a true human in your heart. If you cannot give your service directly, maybe you can donate for them. Kindly do so to the charity bodies that may be available at your own place. If none, you can visit to http://www.unrwa.org/ for your donation. If you have nothing to donate, please say your prayers – hopefully they will have some peace. And with a bit of luck, we can feel the peace as well…

WE WILL NOT GO DOWN (Song for Gaza)
(Composed by Michael Heart)

A blinding flash of white light
Lit up the sky over Gaza tonight
People running for cover
Not knowing whether they’re dead or alive

They came with their tanks and their planes
With ravaging fiery flames
And nothing remains
Just a voice rising up in the smoky haze

We will not go down
In the night, without a fight
You can burn up our mosques and our homes and our schools
But our spirit will never die
We will not go down
In Gaza tonight

Women and children alike
Murdered and massacred night after night
While the so-called leaders of countries afar
Debated on who’s wrong or right

But their powerless words were in vain
And the bombs fell down like acid rain
But through the tears and the blood and the pain
You can still hear that voice through the smoky haze

We will not go down
In the night, without a fight
You can burn up our mosques and our homes and our schools
But our spirit will never die
We will not go down
In Gaza tonight

The original song available at: http://www.michaelheart.com/songforgaza.htm

Ramsay Hunt Syndrome is a recrudescent infection of herpes zoster (varicella zoster) which involves the sensory and/or motor component of the facial nerve (7^th cranial nerve). The incidence is about 3-12% of all cases of facial paralysis in adult. In children, the incidence is about 5%. It is the second most common cause of acquired facial palsy.

The virus usually remains dormant in the geniculate ganglion. Once reactivated, the virus will replicates and been transmitted along the facial nerve and the surrounding skin.

The affected person commonly complains of severe otalgia (ear pain) before develops any facial asymmetry (due to the paralysis) or loss of sensation of the affected site. Otalgia is usually accompanied by vesicular eruptions around the ear and in the deep meatus. The eruptions will later rupture and become crusted. Some patients may also complain of hearing loss (which usually sensory neural). Some may present with vertigo as well.

If there is any suspicion of sensory neural hearing loss, an audiogram is indicated to look at the degree of the hearing loss. Facial nerve testing is not significant and will not change the management.

In terms of treatment, valacyclovir or famciclovir can be given up to 10 days. High dose of steroids help to decreases post herpertic neuralgia and may involve facial nerve function especially if the treatment is commenced early of the onset of the disease. Antibiotics and steroids eardrop may give some benefit in terms of prevention of bacterial superinfection in the ear canal. If there is any evidence of herpetic keratitis (eye involvement), ophthalmology referral should be done. In majority of patients, complete (or near complete) recovery is expected.

Reference:

1. Michael J Ruckenstein. Comprehensive Review of Otolaryngology.  Saunders. 2004.
2. Judith Collier et al. Oxford Handbook of Clinical Specialties. 8^th edition. 2009.