Gastroenteritis, commonly known to cause vomiting and cramps, seems to have taken a virulent turn with more and more patients suffering renal complications.

Virulent gastro strain causing renal failure

Gastroenteritis, commonly known to cause vomiting and cramps, seems to have taken a virulent turn with more and more patients suffering renal complications.
    Since the onset of monsoon, more than 2,000 people in the city have been hospitalized with gastro, while an average of over 500 people contract the disease every week.
    Two patients from Byculla (in their 40s) suffered acute renal failure after being admitted to Saifee Hospital with gastroenteritis. Their doctor, Mayur Patel, said they required three dialysis sessions as their creatinine levels had shot up. “Two others needed ICU care,” he said. He has treated at least four such cases in other hospitals.
    “Renal failure is characterized by sudden decline in the volume of fluid filtered from kidneys. A gastro patient is severely dehydrated and there is nothing left in the blood for the kidney to filter,” he said.
    Physician Dr Alan Soares, who consults at Holy Spirit Hospital in Andheri (E), said he had treated three gastro patients who suffered kidney failure. “But we treated them with medicines. Dialysis was not needed,” he said.
    Gastroenteritis leads to renal failure in only 5-7% cases. “The trick is to hydrate the patient and bring the levels of urea and creatinine under control,” said Dr V K Joglekar, head of medicine at JJ Hospital. While normal gastro may take two-three days to cure, kidney failure could increase hospital stay, morbidity and mortality.
    Water contamination could be a reason, feel experts. 

 
DOS AND DON’TS
• Do not drink water from unhygienic places

• Boil drinking water for 20 mins to kill all germs

• Wash hands thoroughly before every meal

• Avoid raw, uncovered and cold food stored in inappropriate conditions

• Check seal before buying bottled water

• Pregnant women need to be cautious about eating out

Yukta Mookhey’s in-laws get interim relief from arrest

Yukta Mookhey’s in-laws get interim relief from arrest

Mumbai: A city court on Tuesday granted interim relief till July 25 to the in-laws of former beauty queen Yukta Mookhey on their anticipatory bail applications. Mookhey had filed a criminal case against them and husband Prince Tuli at the Amboli police station on July 3, alleging cruelty and criminal breach of trust, among other charges.
    The court granted relief to Mookhey’s father-in-law Bacchiter Singh (59), mother-in-law Harinder Kaur Tuli (60) and sisters-in-law Manmeet Kaur (32) and Chandan Kaur (34). Prince is yet to file an anticipatory bail application (ABA). Advocates Avinash Gupta and Filji Frederick appeared for the Tulis.
    Mookhey had married Tuli, whose family runs transport and hospitality businesses in Nagpur, in 2008. She and the couple’s three-year-old son have been staying with her parents for a year.
    In their plea, the Tuli family alleged that the couple’s marriage was opposed by a friend who had credible information about Mookhey’s past conduct and character. They alleged that Mookhey refused to allow them and other relatives to spend time with the couple’s son on the pretext of “undue hygiene”. “Even the grandparents were not permitted to touch the child without washing their hands in her presence and to her satisfaction,” the ABA reads.
    The Tulis alleged that the real genesis of the matrimonial dispute lay in Mookhey’s moral character, saying her conduct “was suspicious and inappropriate” on several occasions.
    The family claimed that when Prince was away from Nagpur in June 2012, Mookhey sent him an email seeking forgiveness and professing her love for him. While alleging that the mail was insincere, they said it also establishes that there was no domestic violence or any sort of ill-treatment as alleged by Mookhey in her complaints.
    They also alleged that she made wild and reckless allegations against Prince regarding unnatural sex allegedly committed upon her. They said if the allegations were true, she would not have waited for 13 months to report the matter.
    The court said that in the event of their arrest, they will be released on interim bail on the execution of a bond of Rs 25,000 each. They were also directed not to tamper with the evidence, not to leave the country without the court’s permission and to present themselves before the investigating officer every Wednesday and Sunday. The court also directed the prosecution file its reply.

Dengue claims kid; 8 cases of cholera in 8 days

Dengue claims kid; 8 cases of cholera in 8 days

Mumbai: The spate of monsoon diseases appears to be worsening with a nine-yearold boy succumbing to dengue in Hinduja Hospital and eight cases of cholera coming up in the first eight days of July alone.
    The boy, Yash Bansode, who lived in Vasai, died after a month-long hospitalization on Saturday. This is the second confirmed case of dengue death in metropolitan Mumbai; the first was that of a 42-year-old patient from Bhaktivedanta Hospital in Mira Road.
    Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) health officer Dr Sunil Wadkar confirmed the death and said Bansode had returned from his hometown of Sangli. Intensivist Dr Khushrav Bhajan of Hinduja Hospital said, “The boy needed dialysis in between. He developed secondary infection, and could not fight it out.”
    Meanwhile, the incidence of water-borne diseases has increased, confirmed BMC officials. After 12 cholera cases were recorded in June, there are eight confirmed cases in the first eight days of July. Cholera is an infectious disease that causes severe diarrhea, dehydration and, in rare cases, death.
    Three of the eight cases this month have been recorded from B Ward or the Kalbadevi stretch. “Eight cases in eight days does mean a spurt in cholera cases, but there is no reason to panic,” said a senior health official. “Cholera is something new this year as we did not have it last year. However, there is no breakout and we do not need to hit the panic button yet,” said BMC additional municipal commissioner Manisha Mhaiskar.
    Water-borne diseases are rising across the city in proportion to complaints of contaminated water flowing through municipal pipes and taps.
    Meanwhile, the BMC has decided to enlist the help of volunteers to spread awareness. “We have realized that highrises are also to blame. Clearly, there is need to spread awareness that water accumulation can lead to breeding of mosquitoes,’’ said Mhaiskar. BMC is roping in volunteers from NSS, TISS among others to travel to highrises. “This programme will start from July 15.”

list of what to strictly avoid post a break-up

Break-up don’ts

It’s never easy to follow guidelines. Nonetheless, here’s a list of what to strictly avoid post a break-up

    Abreak-up comes with baggage. Every heartbreak, no matter how little, is accompanied by feelings of being unwanted, pain, humiliation and lack of selfconfidence. And while following a rule book is never possible, we feel it is necessary to avoid certain things after a break-up. Read on to know what they are... 

DON’T LOCK YOURSELF UP The best escape mechanism for most people is going MIA. But it’s the worst thing to do. Not only is it stressful, it also confines you to a shell, which, after some time, ends up becoming your comfort zone. Also, if you’ve been dumped, it is the best way to make your ex feel exhilarated. Respect yourself and deal with the situation rather than running away from it. 

DON’T SAY ‘LET’S BE FRIENDS’ An ex is an ex. Period. There’s no ‘We’ll be friends’, at least not immediately after the break-up. You may end up being friends with benefits, which, ultimately, will be heart-wrenching for one of you. The path from ‘being in love’ to ‘being friends’ is not easy. We’re not saying you can’t be friends with your ex, but it is important that both of you heal completely before taking that decision. It’s better to let bygones be bygones. 

STALK NOT Social networking sites may have become similar to spyware, but this way, you are just ruining your chances of getting back on track. The more you see your ex happy, the more you will sulk and sob. Block them from sites you’re a regular visitor on. And don’t keep a track of their life.

DON’T PRETEND IT’S OKAY We’ve seen the ones who go ‘It’s cool’ when in reality, it isn’t. Give yourself the time to mourn. Cry it out, talk to a friend or a stranger, but don’t choose to refrain from sharing what you are going through. The more you live without mourning, the more hurtful it gets. Abstaining from expressing can be harmful. 

DON’T GET INTO A REBOUND More often than not, people get into another relationship hoping it’ll help them get over the previous one. An overlapping relationship is a wrong decision one makes post a break-up. It never gives you time to figure out what you want from being with that special someone. You also end up in a rut, following a pattern of doing it wrong when it comes to relationships.

Monochromatic for monsoon

Monochromatic for monsoon

    As the monsoon hits the city, people are wondering what to wear. Worry not, lovelies, we have answers to this query. To keep your date with monsoon trend this season, try monotones.
    The monochromatic clothing options works in twoways. Firstly, it makes one look slimmer and is also a spot-on trend. If the fear of looking over-dramatic haunts you, then this is the perfect look for you when you choose to step out for a big event. This look can be carried without looking too loud. One of the easiest looks to put together for the rainy season, single-tone dresses work for both day as well as night, allowing you that option
of refraining from changing during those hectic days.
    The look works multi-way. For a casual look, pair your dress with a summer blazer or a light cardigan. Fashion is in layering.
    For the night, accessorise your outfit with some chunky jewellery or a throw a printed scarf around your neck and you’re in sync with trends too.
    To complete the classic look, wear wedges or block heels, or keep it simple with a pair of flats.
    — Isha Sharma

Katrina Kaif

Passion wanes after a year together, says study

Passion wanes after a year together, says study

    Relationships start to lose their spark after just one year, a new study has revealed. The survey conducted, suggested that 15% of couples make love every day, in the first 12-month “honeymoon” period of a relationship. Around 53% of the respondents admitted that within four years, action in the bedroom takes place only a few times in a week.
    It was found that beyond that point, for 43% of couples it dwindles to just a few times a month.
The study also suggested that for people, who stay together for 15 years or more, 15% have sex no more than a few times a year. When asked how they might spice things up in the bedroom, 17% could only suggest “turning off the light”. However, nearly 30% confessed that at times they have problems “getting in the mood”.

Is the spark still there in your relationship?

LOSE WEIGHT WITH HEALTHY EATING HABITS

    There are times when you eat at the wrong time and eat more than required to maintain proper energy levels. Bushra Khan, an HR professional in an MNC, found it very hard to find any time to exercise and stay fit during her busy yet sedentary lifestyle. At one point, she weighed 81 kgs and was diagnosed with thyroid. One of her close friends encouraged Bushra to join a gym to lose weight.
    At Talwalkars, Bushra was introduced to Reduce and was impressed with the concept, which led her to start the programme immediately. The plan was customised according to her lifestyle, preferences and tastes. She consumed seven smaller portions during her meals, which included a mix of fibre-enriched Reduce food products and regular food at her home. Her healthy eating patterns made her energetic and confident, and she lost 16 kgs and 30 inches in four months. Reduce offers 70-odd varieties of food products, is easy and convenient to follow, entailing only minor modifications in one’s lifestyle. The products are available across Mumbai in all Talwalkars gyms and Nuform studios.
    Call: +918879631175/ 022-33710100
    SMS: Reduce to 53636
    www.talwalkars.net/Reduce 

Bushra Khan (right) undergoing a Reduce weight-loss programme counselling session

My 14-year-old dislikes sports

I’ve been a sportsman. My 14-year-old dislikes sports and refuses to get into any sport. It worries me as a father.
At a certain level, I’m touched that you acknowledge your disappointment as a father. As parents, we tend to live our dreams through our children and want them to meet our expectations. Not necessarily for selfish reasons but because every parent wants his child to be the best. However, only some parents are fortunate to have their children’s goals match with their expectations. We live in rapidly changing times, where new job avenues are being created every few years. What your 14-year-old son is going to do in his life may be very different from what you can even visualise. He may not be interested in sports and that has nothing to do with the fact that you have been a sportsman. He is his own individual self and you must respect that. Perhaps your constant nagging is driving him away from sports because it is rare to see a 14-year-old boy not liking sports. Just take it easy for a change. Talk to him about his interests and try finding out why he has the aversion. A conversation is any day better than an inflexible stand you may be taking. Slowly, if he has genuine interest and gets some reassuring advice from you, he will come around and decide to play a sport. Encourage him rather than pointing faults when he is picking up a sport. He may also be feeling some kind of complex that he may not be as good as you and that is something only you can help him get rid of. Perhaps you could be a partner in his sport and in the process teach him. 


My seven-year-old refuses to take any kind of feedback and behaves like he is always right. He never accepts defeat. He is fine when he is alone but starts to become very stubborn when there is company around. He seems to be aware of his bad behaviour and openly defies anything he doesn’t like. Perhaps he is an attention seeker but how do I handle him?
Your seven-year-old definitely seems to have a strong and dominating personality, which is great if used in a constructive way that builds self-confidence. However, if we do a reality check, such kids would find it difficult to learn adaptive skills to handle challenges. The fact that he keeps looking for validation and reassurance means that he is unsure. Defiance is some kind of defence mechanism. I would recommend a firm stand which, while giving him comfort, does not give him false over-confidence. Sensitising the children at a young age to more inclusive and tolerant behaviour is important for them to remain grounded. He should get the message that mistakes are human and acceptable and that all of us lose and fail in life. Your reaction to his actions should be appropriate. Most often parents are over sensitive and the exaggerated response is harmful. And sometimes, even if you are overseeing his actions, try to show that you are ignoring. The attention that he is always seeking will slowly reduce when he sees that no eyes are on him.

How to get siblings to share a room peacefully

How to get siblings to share a room peacefully

    In a majority of Indian households, siblings are often required to share a room. While sharing a room can help foster a strong bond between the siblings, parents often have to witness a lot of arguments and fights, especially when their kids begin to grow up and enter the teenage years. Here’s how you can get your teens to share a room peacefully. 

CREATE PERSONAL SPACE Getting siblings to share a room is often a tough task because they know that they won’t enjoy their privacy anymore. As parents, it is your responsibility to ensure that the siblings enjoy their personal space. You can do so by designing separate beds, work desks and book shelves for your children. This way, there’s actually a separate area for each child. 

GET THEM USED TO EACH OTHER’S HABITS Sharing a room can be a problem if the siblings have opposite traits and temperament. In such a case, you need to set certain boundaries and be firm about them. For instance, if one child is extremely neat while the other one is a slob,
ensure that each
child takes turns in
keeping the room
and their belongings clean. 

 
SET SLEEPING TIME-FRAME Though your kids are sharing a room, it is important for them to honour each other’s sleep schedule. If their school timings differ and one kid is an early riser, make sure you have an early lights-out policy. 

BE FIRM AND CONSISTENT Do not encourage your children to stay up late. If one of them likes to stay up in the night to read or listen to music, get a bedside lamp or headphones for him/her so that they do not disturb their sibling. 

GIVE THEM SOME ALONE TIME As they get older, it may be more challenging for siblings, especially a brother and sister to share a room. If possible, hang a curtain in the middle of the room or divide it using a slider. If this isn’t feasible, let each of them spend some time alone in the room, while asking the other to study or play in your room.

Create separate personal space for the siblings in the room

Is your child overweight?

Is your child overweight?

Your child may be healthy and growing but is he/she excessively fat? Here’s how to find out whether your kid is turning obese and ways to tackle the problem

    While the link between cardiac diseases and obesity is known in adults, did you know that children with central obesity also show signs of cardiac dysfunction in their childhood itself ? A study recently conducted by two doctors found a link between obesity among children and excessive fat above the heart, excessive fat in abdominal cavity and a pre-diabetic condition called insulin resistance among them.
    Says consultant endocrinologist Dr Dheeraj Kapoor, “With the addiction to fast foods and lack of exercise, children in India are prone to putting on weight at a very early stage in life. Due to the sedentary lifestyle in our homes — children too adopt the same and become prone to diseases associated with obesity like Type 2 diabetes, heart problems and arthritis. To ensure that your child stays healthy and fit, make sure your kid is exercising and following a healthy meal practice.”
    According to survey reports, up to one out of every five children in the US is either obese or overweight. This is not just restricted to the Western world. Gradually, children in India are becoming obese. According to city doctors, by the time a child is eight-yearold, he or she is already far into the overweight category, making treatment more difficult. Blame it on the kind of lifestyle that people in our country live or junk foods, lack of exercise — the reason is not just one. Often, parents who are overweight or obese have been found to pass on this ‘disease’ to their kids.
    Overweight children have a high risk of becoming overweight adolescents and adults, which might place them at a higher risk of developing chronic diseases like diabetes or have a cardiac arrest at a later stage. Apart from this, overweight children are also prone to develop low self-esteem, stress and depression.
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR CHILD IS OVERWEIGHT?
    If you think that your child has a tendency to put on weight or has been putting on lately, visit your doctor. The doctor will evaluate your child’s weight and height and will compute his BMI (Body Mass Index). If the BMI is high in your child compared to his height, age and growth patterns — the doctor will suggest diet changes or weight loss programs. Also, remember that it is difficult to assess obesity in children since they can grow in unpredictable spurts.
PARENT’S ROLE
    If your child is overweight, don’t scorn him to exercise always, eat less and only healthy foods. Going too strict may dampen his or her spirits. Instead, let your child know that you shall always support. Remember that children’s feelings are always based on their parents’ feelings about them. It is crucial to talk to your child about his or her weight, while also allowing them to share their concerns with you.
    Batriatric surgeon Dr Prashant Rao feels that childhood obesity is not just a common phenomenon in the US but in India as well. Says he, “15% percent of children in the country are considered overweight or obese. Treating this problem is important because children who enter their teens usually live 10-15 years less than their counterparts who are not obese. Dietary modification along with ample amount of exercise will ensure that your child loses weight faster.”
    Instead of putting your child on strict diet or severe exercise routine, focus on gradually changing your family’s physical activity and eating habits. By involving your family to stay healthy, everyone is taught about eating nutritious food and your child will also not feel singled out.
There are a number of nutrition camps in the city where you can take your child to. Such camps emphasise on developing good eating habits that helps fight obesity. The objective of such camps is to organise interactive sessions with nutrition experts and your kids, teach them how to identify and categorise
healthy food and also prepare a wholesome meal plan for your little one.
CAUSE OF OBESITY IN CHILDREN The cause of obesity in children could be due to a variety of factors. Some of the most common ones are genetic factors, lack of physical activity, unhealthy eating habits or a combination of all these. Apart from this, rare conditions like a hormonal imbalance can also lead a child to put on weight.
    If weight problems are prevalent in some families, it could also be a trigger. Thus, it is extremely crucial to not ignore if you see that your child has been putting on weight. These days, many children spend a lot of time being inactive. From playing video games to watching TV for hours and being stuck to their computers, with the increase in the number of inactive hours, your child is at a high risk of putting on excess weight.
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH CHILDHOOD OBESITY Children who are obese or overweight are at a higher risk of a number of health problems like — high cholesterol, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, bone problems, early cardiac disease and various skin infections.