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Eyes, allergies and monsoon: Tips on coping with seasonal eye allergies in rainy season

Eyes, allergies and monsoon: Tips on coping with seasonal eye allergies in rainy season

As the humidity rises, let’s explore the link between allergies, infections and rains and learn some essential tips to cope with pesky eye issues this monsoon

Monsoon, the much-awaited respite from scorching heat, brings with it a mix of delight and distress because while the raindrops dance merrily, our eyes often find themselves struggling to keep up with the joy as it is that time of the year again when seasonal eye allergies and infections make their unwelcome appearance. As the heavens open up and the humidity rises, let’s explore the connection between allergies, infections, the rains and discover some essential tips to cope with these pesky eye issues.

Connection between allergies and monsoon

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Vijay Mathur, Senior Consultant at Sharp Sight Eye Hospitals , shared, “Monsoon is notorious for triggering eye allergies and infections. The dampness fosters the growth of viruses and fungi, leading to conjunctivitis, commonly known as “pink eye.” Symptoms include redness, itching, grittiness and excessive tearing with discharge. Pollen, dust, and other airborne particles carried by the monsoon winds can further aggravate eye irritation, causing discomfort to even non-allergic individuals.”

Common eye-related problems in monsoon

Dr Vijay Mathur highlighted –

1. Epidemic infectious conjunctivitis: Is the leading culprit. This condition causes red, itchy, gritty and watery eyes due to infection caused by viruses (adenovirus is the most common) in the air. This condition is highly infectious and can easily transmit from one person to another. Personal hygiene including hand washing is an effective way to prevent person to person transmission.

2. Allergic conjunctivitis: Monsoon is a time when fungi and moulds multiply. This leads to allergies in susceptible individuals.

3. Styes and chalazion: The damp environment fosters bacterial growth, leading to painful styes and chalazion on the eyelids.

4. All other eye infections: Bacteria and viruses thrive in the monsoon, increasing the risk of eye infections like Keratitis and Dacrocystitis.

Coping strategies:

Bringing his expertise to the same, Dr Rishi Raj Borah, Country Director – India, Orbis, revealed, “During the monsoon season, it is essential to focus more on our eyes since the rains and increasing humidity offer an ideal environment for pathogenic organisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungal moulds to develop and multiply. Eye conditions such as allergies and conjunctivitis are prevalent during the rainy season. They usually cause red, itchy, and watery eyes. Identifying and suppressing the root cause is the best approach to avoid all the sufferings associated with eye allergies. This means that if a person knows they are allergic to a specific substance, such as a fungal mould, they should avoid going to wet regions where they might come into contact with mould.”

Eyes, allergies and monsoon: Tips on coping with seasonal eye allergies in rainy season

He added, “Similarly, if someone is allergic to pollen, they should avoid stepping out of the house during the period when the pollen concentration is high in the air. Furthermore, wearing eyeglasses when going outside is a good practice that everyone should undertake. Maintaining personal hygiene by often washing hands with soap and water is essential. To reduce the chances of introducing irritants from the surroundings into the eyes, avoid touching the face and eyes frequently. Even when humidity levels are at their highest during the monsoon, dry eyes can occur.”

Dr Rishi Raj Borah suggested, “In such circumstances, artificial tears can assist to relieve discomfort while also moisturising the eyes. Furthermore, sharing personal belongings like towels and makeup should be avoided. It is also preferable to avoid utilising public swimming pools during the rainy season, since these might serve as breeding grounds for the spread of bacterial illnesses. Seeking professional medical assistance should be the norm for anyone experiencing symptoms of an eye allergy and if you are unsure of the underlying cause, an eye doctor or ophthalmologist will be able to help find out the probable root cause and offer therapies to relieve the symptoms.”

According to Dr Vijay Mathur, to combat these monsoon-related eye issues, follow these essential coping strategies –

1. Cleanliness first: Regularly clean your living space to reduce mold and dust accumulation.

2. Hand hygiene: Maintain good hand hygiene to prevent eye infections by refraining from touching your eyes with unwashed hands.

3. Use eye drops: Over-the-counter artificial tears provide relief from dryness and flush out allergens.

4. Stay dry: Avoid getting drenched in rain and getting splashed with dirty water in puddles to minimise exposure to allergens and infectious agents.

5. Consult your doctor: If symptoms persist, seek professional help for proper diagnosis and treatment.

With a little vigilance and proactive care, you can ensure that your eyes remain resilient during the monsoon. Welcome the rains with open arms and remember to shield your precious vision from seasonal woes.

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New Covid variant EG.5: Symptoms to transmissibility; 7 things to know about Omicron subvariant Eris

New Covid variant EG.5: Symptoms to transmissibility; 7 things to know about Omicron subvariant Eris

Covid variant EG.5 which is also unofficially known as Eris has been declared by WHO a variant of interest and the organization has asked countries to monitor the cases. Eris has been spreading fast in UK and is adding to the number of infections. Experts, however, say there’s no need to worry as the cases are largely mild and while hospitalisation cases in elderly have slightly increase, they remain lower than earlier waves. As per WHO, Eris has been found in 51 countries, including China, the US, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Canada, Australia, Singapore, the UK, France, Portugal and Spain. The symptoms of the new Covid variant Eris are reported to be running nose, sneezing, cough, fever, fatigue among others.

“The World Health Organization has identified a new strain of Covid-19 as a noteworthy variation, despite the little risk to the general public’s health. The EG. 5 or ‘Eris’ version, which is more prevalent globally, is connected to the Omicron subvariant XBB.1.9.2. Despite EG.5’s higher prevalence, growth advantage, and immune escape traits, no changes in disease severity have been noted yet. As per availability of suggested data, there is currently no reason to believe that this wave will be worse than past waves this year, but it will likely result in a wave of more cases and all the complications that brings, including more hospitalizations and Long Covid,” says Dr Vidya S Nair, Sr. Consultant & HOD- Pulmonology at Marengo Asia Hospitals, Faridabad.

Dr Ather Pasha, Senior consultant Internal Medicine, CARE Hospitals, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad shares 7 things you want to know about Covid’s new variant Eris.

New Covid variant EG.5: Symptoms to transmissibility; 7 things to know about Omicron subvariant Eris

7 facts about EG.5 or Eris
1. Omicron’s sub-variant

Eris is a subvariant of the Omicron variant, specifically XBB.1.9.2. It was first identified in China in February 2023 and has since spread to over 50 countries.

2. Transmissibility higher?

Eris is thought to be more transmissible than previous Omicron subvariants, but it is not clear if it is more severe. Early studies suggest that Eris may cause more hospitalizations than previous Omicron subvariants, but more research is needed to confirm this.

3. Eris evades immunity gained by infection or vaccination

Eris appears to be able to evade some of the antibodies produced by previous COVID-19 infections and vaccinations. This means that people who have been previously infected or vaccinated may still be at risk of getting sick with Eris.

4. Signs and symptoms of Eris

The symptoms of Eris are similar to those of other COVID-19 variants, including fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, and sore throat. Some people with Eris may also experience a loss of taste or smell.

5. Treatment for Eris

There is no specific treatment for Eris. Treatment is supportive and includes rest, fluids, and over-the-counter medications to relieve symptoms. In some cases, hospitalization may be necessary.

6. Ways to prevent Eris

The best way to protect yourself from Eris is to get vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. Vaccination and boosters help to protect you from getting sick, even if you do get infected.

7. Covid-appropriate behaviour

You can also protect yourself from Eris by wearing a mask, social distancing, and washing your hands frequently.

“Since vaccination is still the strongest defense against upcoming Covid-19 waves, it is crucial that everyone get all of the doses for which they are qualified as soon as possible. In India, presence of herd immunity also is going to be an added advantage as we have seen multiple waves of the Omicron variants. Long-term illness in anyone who has the infection is always a concern, as is severe disease in older adults and people with underlying problems. Therefore, every precaution should be taken (including avoiding crowded areas, wearing appropriate masking, cleaning hands, etc,” says Dr Nair.

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New coronavirus variant EG.5 on the rise: WHO, CDC on alert

New coronavirus variant EG.5 on the rise: WHO, CDC on alert

The EG.5 variant has been spreading rapidly in the US and has higher transmissibility. A US health official says updated vaccines will offer protection.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday classified a new strain of COVID-19 as a “variant of interest.” The EG.5 variant has been spreading rapidly in the United States, encompassing over 17% of cases. It has also been detected in China, South Korea, Japan and Canada.

What else do we know about the EG.5 variant of COVID-19?

The WHO said that the new variant does not at present seem to pose an additional public health risk compared to other strains of COVID-19.

“Collectively, available evidence does not suggest that EG.5 has additional public health risks relative to the other currently circulating Omicron descendent lineages,” the organization said.

It said that a more comprehensive evaluation of the risk posed by EG.5 was needed. 

Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical lead on COVID-19, said that while EG.5 had increased transmissibility, infections were not more severe than other Omicron variants.

“We don’t detect a change in severity of EG.5 compared to other sublineages of Omicron that have been in circulation since late 2021,” she said.

New coronavirus variant EG.5 on the rise: WHO, CDC on alert

Meanwhile, Dr Mandy Cohen, the director of the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said that updated vaccines to be offered in mid-to-late September will provide protection against the variant.

“Right now, what we’re seeing with the changes in the viruses, they’re still susceptible to our vaccine, they’re still susceptible to our medicines, they’re still picked up by the tests,” Cohen said.

The CDC chief said that the mutations in the virus amounted to “small changes” and “subtypes of what we’ve seen before.”

“We are likely to see this as a recommendation as an annual COVID shot just like we have an annual flu shot,” she said.

Countries not reporting COVID-19 data, WHO says

Meanwhile, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that many countries were not reporting coronavirus data to the organization.

He said only 11% had reported hospitalizations and ICU admissions related to COVID-19.

The WHO issued a set of recommendations for reporting data on the virus, particularly mortality and morbidity. It also urged countries to continue offering vaccination.

“About a year ago, we were in a much better situation to either anticipate or act or be more agile,” Van Kerkhove said.

“And now the delay in our ability to do that is growing. And our ability to do this is declining.”

“What we cannot do right now is give you an accurate statistic of how many deaths are actually occurring for Covid-19,” she said.

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Long covid symptoms may appear months after infection: Study

Long covid symptoms may appear months after infection: Study

The study states that the symptoms of long covid can last even after a year after the sickness has subsided.

According to the most thorough examination of how symptoms develop over a year, long COVID-19 can last at least a year after the acute sickness has subsided.

The multicenter study, a collaboration between UC San Francisco, the Centers for Disease Control, and seven other sites, advances understanding of post-COVID-19 conditions by describing trends in greater detail than prior research and highlighting the significant effects the epidemic has had on the American health care system.

The study appeared in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), a publication of the CDC.

For about 16 per cent of the COVID-positive people in the study, symptoms lasted for at least a year; but for others, they came and went. The study assessed symptoms every three months, enabling researchers to differentiate between symptoms that improve and those that emerge months after the initial infection.

“It was common for symptoms to resolve then re-emerge months later,” said lead author Juan Carlos Montoy, MD, PhD, associate professor at UCSF’s Department of Emergency Medicine. “A lot of prior research has focused on symptoms at one or two points in time, but we were able to describe symptom trajectory with greater clarity and nuance. It suggests that measurements at a single point in time could underestimate or mischaracterizes the true burden of disease.”

Long covid symptoms may appear months after infection: Study

Fluctuating Nature of Disease:

Long Covid involves a range of symptoms that persist or develop about a month after initial infection. These symptoms are associated with significant morbidity or reduced quality of life.

The study involved 1,741 participants – two-thirds of them female – who sought COVID-19 testing at eight major healthcare systems across the country. Three-quarters tested positive for Covid-19, but those who tested negative may also have had an infection of some type, since they were experiencing symptoms. These included fatigue, runny nose, headache, sore throat, shortness of breath, chest pain, diarrhoea, forgetfulness and difficulty thinking or concentrating.

Covid positive participants were more likely to have symptoms in each of the symptom categories at baseline, but by the end of the year, there was no difference between those who were Covid-positive and negative.

“We were surprised to see how similar the patterns were between the Covid positive and Covid negative groups,” said Montoy. “It shows that the burden after Covid may be high, but it might also be high for other non-Covid illnesses. We have a lot to learn about post-illness processes for Covid and other conditions.”

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New Covid variant Eris detected in Maharashtra; should India be worried? What experts say

New Covid variant Eris detected in Maharashtra; should India be worried? What experts say

Amid spread of new Covid variant, India needs to be careful, as Covid appropriate behaviour has taken a back seat and immunity is waning, says expert.

New Covid variant EG.5.1 or Eris that has been adding to the surge of Coronavirus cases in UK has also been causing slight increase in Coronavirus caseload in Maharashtra. The new Omicron variant was first detected in May but did not cause any notable impact in the months of subsequent months of June and July. However, as per state health department data, Covid cases have increased from 70 at the end of July to 115 on August 6, said a TOI report. The new Covid strain Eris has increased hospitalisation cases among elderly in UK and while there is no need to panic, it’s imperative to keep a close watch on it. The rise in Corona cases could be due to waning immunity from previous infections or vaccinations and it’s important to take booster shots to fight the virus.

New Covid variant Eris detected in Maharashtra; should India be worried? | Health - Hindustan Times

‘India needs to be careful amid waning immunity’

“The concern about new Covid-19 strains depend on various factors, including their transmissibility, severity, and the effectiveness of vaccines and treatments against them. Given that viruses can mutate over time, there is always a possibility of new strains emerging. The latest strain EG5.1, also known as Eris is one such strain which WHO is closely monitoring. India needs to be careful, since the Covid appropriate behaviour has taken a back seat and vaccination immunity is probably waning. So, if caught off guard, it can be disastrous,” says Dr Ravi Shekhar Jha, Director & HOD-Pulmonology, Fortis Escorts Hospital, Faridabad.

“The new strain was initially started from the United Kingdom, and now very few cases have been reported in Mumbai. Since the positivity rate or any upsurge in cases have not been reported so far, thus this strain may not be of much concern for India,” says Dr Kuldeep Kumar Grover, Head of critical care & Pulmonology – CK Birla Hospital, Gurgaon.

Symptoms of Eris or EG5.1

“The symptoms are same as previous variants, like cough, cold, fever, throat pain and chest tightness, but in immunocompromised people and some susceptible individuals, it can lead to fatal ARDS. It also appears to be more contagious than previous variants,” adds Dr Jha.

“Usually, infected people may witness mild kind of Covid feelings since this is the new co-variant of Omicron strain, but that may not cause any significant harm. As we all know that rapid spread of the Covid strain is characterised by more infectivity and less visibility. But since almost every individual has been double vaccinated and has developed hybrid immunity, the infection spread rate may be minimal, with almost nil hospitalisation,” says Dr Grover.

“We need to keep a close watch and need to follow normal hygiene like hand wash and mask at public places which also effectively reduces the risk of other viral and some bacterial infections. The cases in Maharashtra are not of too much concern but again, since this is flu season and season of fever due to other causes too, like malaria, typhoid and Dengue, we are not testing enough for Covid, so cases may be missed. We need to be careful if we see sudden spike in fever cases where no cause could be established,” says Dr Jha.

What people in India need to do for avoiding Covid infection

“So first and foremost, three things to ensure – healthy balanced diet, hygienic lifestyle, regular vaccination (if applicable or flu shots), and again following the Covid appropriate behaviour – wearing mask, avoiding crowded places and proper sanitisation,” says Dr Grover.

While the strain hasn’t increased the cases much, “public need to be vigilant on their part and follow the safety precautions, even though this strain does not seem to be that much contagious,” as per Dr Grover.

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New Covid variant Eris spreading rapidly in UK; know symptoms and prevention measures

New Covid variant Eris spreading rapidly in UK; know symptoms and prevention measures

From running nose to fatigue, know 5 symptoms of new Covid variant Eris that is spreading fast in UK.

The pandemic has eased but newer variants of Covid keep emerging. EG.5.1 or Eris that was first identified in May has been raising the number of Covid cases in UK and currently 1 out of 10 Covid cases in UK are due to this latest strain which is not currently listed as variant of concern. Eris has been contributing to hospitalisation cases in UK albeit mostly among elderly.

Experts opine that there is a need to keep a close eye on this new strain which is of Omicron lineage and spreads faster than the original Covid-19 virus. However, there is no reason to believe that EG.5.1 is deadlier than previous strain. The rise in cases could be due to waning immunity from previous infections or vaccinations and it’s important to take booster shots to build up a defence against the virus.

Eris raising hospitalisation cases among elderly

“As seasons are changing and Covid virus continues to spread, newer variants continue to emerge worldwide. One of the recent variants that has been identified is Eris variant which has recognised to be come out of UK where it has been known to cause 1 in 10 of the Covid cases. This is showing an increase in number of cases in UK, with a somewhat higher levels of hospitalisation for people who are seniors even if they are vaccinated. So, it is something which we need to keep an eye on. This is strain of the Omicron variant which itself was significantly mutated compared to the original Covid 19 virus that came in 2019,” says Dr Pavithra Venkatagopalan, corona-virologist and Covid awareness specialist at Rotary Club of Madras NextGen.

New Covid variant Eris spreading rapidly in UK; know symptoms and prevention measures

Symptoms of new Covid variant Eris

This variant has very similar symptoms compared to previous variants as per Dr Pavithra.

  • Running nose
  • Sneezing
  • Cough
  • Fever
  • Fatigue (mild or severe depending on the person’s composition).

Preventive measures

Dr Pavithra says people need to take booster shots if they haven’t done already and get tested in case of any symptoms to contain the spread.

“We have to keep an eye on spread of this variant. However treatment and preventive measures continue to be the same. Unvaccinated people should get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible. Booster shots have to be taken if not done so far. If people are known to be showing symptoms, they need to be isolated, get tested if needed. More importantly, now that the schools have started in full swing, the wave will see increase in number of cases. But whether this will result in hospitalisation of the younger population we do not know,” says the expert.

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SARS-CoV-2 emerging in US, immunity levels are waning’, warns US epidemiologist

SARS-CoV-2 emerging in US, immunity levels are waning', warns US epidemiologist

US epidemiologist Eric Feigl-Ding warns of a new COVID-19 wave in the United States as immunity levels decline and booster shots are not yet available. Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 resurging is emerging, and hospitals could become overwhelmed even without a surge in deaths.

According to US epidemiologist Eric Feigl-Ding, there is evidence of SARS-CoV-2 resurging in the United States, indicating the emergence of a new COVID-19 wave.

Taking to Twitter, Epidemiologist and health economist Eric Feigl-Ding said that the immunity levels are declining, and the availability of new booster shots is not yet imminent.

“A new COVID wave is clearly emerging in the US, all while immunity levels are waning and new boosters aren’t even close to arriving yet. You don’t need another original Omicron winter wave to cause disruption—the Delta variant killed a lot in Aug-Oct 2021. Plus don’t risk Long Covid.”

Speaking on the effective SARS-CoV-2 virus concentration in the last six months. “The upward movement in wastewater puts us about equal to April levels, but we clearly could be headed to another wave.”

SARS-CoV-2 emerging in US, immunity levels are waning', warns US epidemiologist

Meanwhile, when asked about the potential toll of the new wave compared to the Delta variant, Eric explained that while it might not result in the same level of fatalities, it can still cause significant disruption.

He emphasized that hospitals can easily become overwhelmed even without a surge in deaths.

Earlier in June, Reuters reported that COVID-19 vaccines being developed and manufactured for the 2023-2024 campaign should target one of the currently dominant XBB variants, the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) staff reviewers.

In May, an advisory group to the World Health Organization (WHO) proposed updating the COVID-19 booster shots for the year to target XBB subvariants. In the United States, last year’s COVID vaccine boosters included a bivalent shot containing both the original strain of the vaccine and the Omicron variant.

According to CDC data available up to early May, approximately 17% of people in the United States received a COVID booster shot during the 2022-2023 vaccination season.

Vaccine manufacturers such as Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna Inc, and Novavax Inc are currently in the process of developing updated versions of their COVID-19 vaccines specifically targeting the XBB.1.5 variant and other strains that are currently circulating, Reuters reported.

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Immune response against bystander virus, not SARS-CoV-2 causes long Covid: Study

Immune response against bystander virus, not SARS-CoV-2 causes long Covid: Study

Immune inflammatory reaction not against Covid, but against a harmless bystander virus present in the body, driving a cytokine storm, may be behind long Covid.

Immune inflammatory reaction not against COVID-19, but against a common, harmless, dormant “bystander” virus present in the body, driving a cytokine storm, may be behind long Covid, a new research has found. Analysing Covid-patients’ blood samples, researchers found that 3 months after being hospitalised for severe infection, there was no rapid increase in the immune cells targeting SARS-CoV-2, but an increase in those targeting the dormant Cytomegalovirus (CMV). CMV is usually harmless but can stay in your body for life once infected with it.

The finding indicated that the prolonged inflammation at 3 months in severe patients may not be driven by SARS-CoV-2 but instead may be “bystander driven”.

Immune response against bystander virus, not SARS-CoV-2 causes long Covid: Study

“Long Covid occurs in one out of ten COVID-19 cases, but we still don’t understand what causes it.

“Several theories proposed include whether it might be triggered by an inflammatory immune response towards the virus that is still persisting in our body, sending our immune system into overdrive or the reactivation of latent viruses such as human cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein Barr virus (EBV),” said Laura Rivino, senior lecturer at the University of Bristol, UK, and the study’s lead author.

The researchers analysed blood samples of 63 patients hospitalised for mild, moderate or severe COVID-19 infection at the start of the pandemic when vaccines were not available.

The study also found patients with severe COVID-19 to display a higher number of long Covid symptoms compared to mild and moderate patients, even as the team’s analysis revealed no direct association between long Covid symptoms and Covid-related immune inflammatory responses.

Further, 79 per cent of all the patients reported at least one ongoing long Covid symptom with breathlessness and excessive fatigue being the most common, the study published in the journal eLife said.

The significant dysfunction found in the immune profiles of severe patients at 3 months indicated that inflammation may persist even for months post-recovery, even though results showed the inflammation in these patients to resolve over time.

At 12 months, the researchers found, both the immune profiles and inflammatory levels of patients with severe disease were similar to those of mild and moderate patients.

“Our findings suggest that prolonged immune activation and long Covid may correlate independently with severe COVID-19.

“Larger studies should be conducted looking at both a larger number of patients, including if possible vaccinated and non-vaccinated COVID-19 patients, and measuring a larger range of markers and cytokines.

“Understanding whether inflammation and immune activation associate with long Covid would allow us to understand whether targeting these factors may be a useful therapy for this debilitating condition,” said Rivino.

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How cognitive behavioral therapy helps reduce post-viral fatigue after Covid-19: Study

How cognitive behavioral therapy helps reduce post-viral fatigue after Covid-19

Those who suffer from COVID-19 post-viral fatigue benefit from cognitive behavioural treatment, which results in fewer fatigue and attention issues.

Those who suffer from COVID-19 post-viral fatigue benefit from cognitive behavioural treatment, which results in fewer fatigue and attention issues.

Lead researcher, Hans Knoop, Professor of Medical Psychology at Amsterdam UMC found that “After behavioural therapy, patients not only had less symptoms but also functioned better both physically and socially. Those improvements were still present even after six months.” Today, research from Amsterdam UMC, RadboudUMC and three other hospitals is published in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

How cognitive behavioral therapy helps reduce post-viral fatigue after Covid-19

Following a COVID-19 infection, a significant majority of individuals experience persistent symptoms. The most prevalent symptom is extreme and persistent exhaustion, which is also known as long-COVID or Post-Covid Syndrome. those who underwent cognitive behavioural therapy were compared to those who got standard treatment in the ReCOVer research, which was supported by ZonMw. Typical care included GP or expert monitoring, physiotherapy, and/or occupational therapy.

Cognitive behavioural therapy for patients with persistent fatigue after COVID-19 focuses on reducing fatigue by dealing with the symptoms differently. “Together with patients, we look, for example, at how they can improve their sleep-wake rhythm. We also help them become more active again with small, safe steps. For example, by going for short walks,” said Knoop.

Cognitive behavioural therapy has clear results for these patients. Most participants experienced significantly less fatigue and improved concentration after treatment. They also made significant progress socially and physically. The results also proved to be stable over time. After six months, the differences, compared with those received regular care, were still present. “Cognitive behavioural therapy also appears to be a safe treatment. Our research shows that the symptoms did not worsen, and new symptoms arose less often,” added Knoop.

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Conflict, climate change, Covid, cost-of-living heighten threats for most vulnerable women, babies: UN report

Conflict, climate change, Covid, cost-of-living heighten threats for most vulnerable women, babies: UN report

The report sounds the alarm on a silent emergency of preterm birth which is impeding progress in improving children’s health and survival.

An estimated 13.4 million babies were born preterm in 2020, with 45 per cent of them being born in just five countries, including India, China and Pakistan, according to a report released by the United Nations agencies and partners on Wednesday. The report titled ‘Born Too Soon: Decade of Action on Preterm Birth’ is developed by more than 140 individuals from 46 countries and is produced by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) together with PMNCH — the world’s largest alliance for women, children, and adolescents.

The report sounds the alarm on a “silent emergency” of preterm birth which is impeding progress in improving children’s health and survival.

The global preterm birth rate was 9.9 per cent in 2020, compared to 9.8 per cent in 2010. An estimated 13.4 million babies were born pre-term in 2020, with nearly 1 million dying from preterm complications, which is equivalent to around 1 in 10 babies born early (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) worldwide.

In 2020, Bangladesh had the highest estimated preterm birth rate (16.2 per cent), followed by Malawi (14.5 per cent) and Pakistan (14.4 per cent). Rates are also high in high-income countries, such as Greece (11.6%), and the United States of America (10.0%), the report stated.

“Almost half (45 per cent) of all preterm babies in 2020 were born in just five countries: India, Pakistan, Nigeria, China and Ethiopia,” it said.

The report highlighted that preterm birth rates have not changed in the past decade in any region of the world and that “four Cs” – conflict, climate change, COVID-19 and the cost-of-living crisis – heighten threats for the most vulnerable women and babies in all countries.

For example, air pollution is estimated to contribute to 6 million preterm births each year.

Nearly 1 in 10 preterm babies are born in the 10 most fragile countries affected by humanitarian crises, according to a new analysis in the report. Climate science is increasingly exposing the direct and indirect effects of climate change on pregnant women, stillbirths and preterm birth.

Conflict, climate change, Covid, cost-of-living heighten threats for most vulnerable women, babies: UN report

According to it, 1.2 million babies are ‘born too soon’ in the 10 most fragile countries affected by humanitarian crises, where accessing care for women and babies is particularly challenging.

“More investment is needed to specifically mitigate risks and to increase focus on women and babies in policies and programmes addressing the climate emergency,” it said.

“Born too soon underlines why we must increase investment and accountability for preterm birth – the world’s largest cause of death of children under the age of five. Progress is flatlining for maternal and newborn health, as well as the prevention of stillbirths, and is now pushed back further through the devastating combination of COVID-19, climate change, expanding conflicts and rising living costs,” said Helga Fogstad, Executive Director, PMNCH.

“By working together in partnership – governments, donors, the private sector, civil society, parents, and health professionals – we can sound the alarm about this “silent emergency”, and bring preterm prevention and care efforts to the forefront of national health and development efforts, building human capital by supporting families, societies and economies everywhere,” Helga added.

With the report coming at a time when the International Maternal Newborn Health Conference (IMNHC) is being held at Cape Town from May 8, the WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and PMNCH called for increased investments, accelerated implementation of established national policies for maternal and newborn care to improve care for women and newborns and mitigate risks from preterm births.

They also called for promoting education through the life cycle; supporting smarter economic investments, with co-financing across sectors; strengthening climate adaptation responses across the life course; and advancing the coordination and resilience of emergency systems, besides investing in locally-led innovation and research to support improvements in quality of care and equity in access.

Ensuring quality care for these tiniest, most vulnerable babies and their families is absolutely imperative for improving child health and survival, said Dr Anshu Banerjee, Director for Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing at WHO.

“Progress is also needed to help prevent preterm births — this means every woman must be able to access quality health services before and during pregnancy to identify and manage risks,” he said.

Read more at-https://bit.ly/42pnXVr