April 2010

Spotlight on Autism

Two years ago the United Nations declared 2 April as World Autism Awareness Day. Autism is a growing disorder with international statistics showing that one in 158 people are affected by it. According to Gerhard Pieterse, the executive director of the Cape Town based NGO Autism Western Cape, it is estimated that more than 500 000 people in South Africa are on the autistic spectrum.

What is autism?

Autism was first described by Leo Kanner in 1943 and is a life-long brain disorder that makes it difficult for a person to communicate and form relationships with others. It is normally diagnosed in early childhood and affects four times more boys than girls.

Symptoms and severity differ from one person to the next and can range from those with no speech and severe learning disabilities, to people with average IQs. People with autism may also narrow interests and engage in repetitive and sometimes challenging behaviours that necessitates specialist support and care. Autism affects people of all racial, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds.

Causes and treatment

The cause of autism is still unknown and it is widely accepted that there is no single cause but rather a genetic predisposition that is triggered by environmental factors. At the moment there is no laboratory test that can detect the presence of autism and diagnosis is made through clinical observation by trained professionals.

Most children with autism are healthy and have no apparent medical reason for their symptoms. Diagnosis can be difficult, because the condition varies so widely in terms of symptoms and severity.

Treatment and cure

There is currently no cure for autism and treatment is aimed at alleviating symptoms. Treatment may include educational and behavioural therapy, drug therapy, speech and occupational therapy, and dietary intervention. Medication is used to treat specific behaviours related to autism such as hyperactivity; it is not used to treat the autism per se.

Symptoms to look out for

Social skills:
·   Lack of attachment to parents and caregivers
·   Avoids eye contact
·   Resists being held or cuddled

Language skills:
·   Skips the babbling stage
·   Loses previous ability to say words or sentences
·   May use a sing-song voice

Behaviour:
·   Performs bizarre or repetitive gestures, such as rocking and head banging
·   Develops specific compulsive routines and rituals
·   Becomes distressed by minor changes in the environment
·   May become unusually attached to or fascinated by an object

Sources: Health24, Autistica.org.uk

Health Calendar: April

2      World Autism Awareness Day
5-11 National Polio Eradication Awareness        Week
7     World Health Day
17   World Haemophilia Day
25   Africa Malaria Day

Golfer Ernie Els has spoken out about his son’s autism and has set up the Els Autism Foundation in the US

Epicentre News Desk:

Epicentre’s Wellness Workplace Programme

With April being Health Awareness Month, Epicentre CEO Cherie Cawood gives us the low-down on Epicentre’s holistic workplace programme.

“Epicentre’s holistic workplace programme is designed to build resilient employees who are physically, mentally and socially healthy; resulting in them making healthier choices that benefit themselves, their workplace and their communities.

The danger of NCDs

While HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death in South Africa it is by no means our only health concern. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recognises chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) to be by far the leading cause of death in the world today, and their impact is steadily growing. In 2005, 35 million people died from NCDs, which represents 60% of the total number of global deaths in that year.

Moreover, between 2005 and 2015, deaths due to NCDs are projected to increase by 17%. This largely invisible epidemic is more serious in low- and middle-income countries, where 80% of all NCD deaths occur.

Creating a healthy culture

The main causes of NCDs are known. A small set of common risk factors is responsible for most of the major NCDs: an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and tobacco use. Elimination of these modifiable risk factors would prevent 80% of premature heart disease, 80% of premature stroke, 80% of type 2 diabetes and 40% of cancer.

The “Be the best you can be” programme is based on best practices and addresses the challenges of HIV/AIDS within a broader wellness approach. The programme focuses on creating a healthy culture within the workplace and empowering employees to live life to the fullest.

A positive result

The “Be the best you can be” programme combines education and behaviour change through a process of health testing and referrals. The result is the prevention of health risks, or if they can’t be prevented, then the early detection and treatment.”

Counting down to a Polio Free World

Polio was one of the most dreaded childhood diseases of the 20th century, crippling thousands of people, mostly young children. Highly contagious, it is caused by the poliovirus (PV) and easily spread by human-to-human contact.

Symptoms

The last case of polio in South Africa was recorded in 1989, according to Antonia Barnard, Assistant Director at City of Johannesburg’s Public Health Unit. The contagious nature and severity of the illness means that it remains a major challenge for the South African Health Services to detect any cases imported from other African countries.

Polio causes the sudden weakness or lameness of an arm or leg – not caused by injury – in children under the age of 15. The polio virus is passed easily from one person to another and mostly affects children under five years.

Immunisation

Many serious childhood diseases, including polio, can be prevented by immunisation that protects not only the individual but also curb the spread of disease within the greater community.

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has shot down rumours that there are dangers associated with receiving the vaccination, warning MP’s not to stir up anxiety by propagating unsubstantiated claims. Motsoaledi pointed out that vaccination campaigns in both the UK and Nigeria ran into problems due to unfounded claims about side-effects with the vaccination rate for measles falling by 15% in the UK.

“The word ‘side-effects’ nearly destroyed this country,” Motsoaledi said, referring to former health minister Manto Tshabala-Msimang’s overemphasis on the side-effects of AIDS drugs, which deterred many patients from seeking treatment that could have saved their lives.

Immunisation is free at state clinics.

Sources: Joburg.org.za, Business Day, Wikipedia

How to protect yourself from mozzies

Malaria remains the biggest killer on the African continent, with malaria deaths in South Africa steadily increasing. It is estimated that malaria kills over 3 000 children each day in sub-Saharan Africa.

Malaria is caused by a parasite, which the female mosquito transmits to humans. The symptoms of malaria include nausea, fever, headaches, sweating, cold shivers and bodily aches and pains. Symptoms are often incorrectly diagnosed as flu.

How to prevent malaria

Consult your doctor before starting on any malaria medication. It is important that you apply other methods of prevention even if you are using some form of medication. This can include:

·    Wear long sleeve shirts and pants, especially at dawn or dusk when mosquitoes are at their most active.
·    Use long-lasting mosquito repellents on all exposed areas of the body.
·    Keep a fan on during the night – the movement seems to put off the mosquitoes.
·    Use mosquito nets over beds.
·    Place gauze screens on all doors and windows.

Sources: Health24

How To:

- Programme set-up, Training & Policy Development	- Education & Awareness
- Peer Education Training, Toolkits & Coaching	- VCT & Health assesment interventions
- Employee support programmes	- Research