Category Archives: Health

Everything You Need to Know About Ear Piercing

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If you’re considering getting your ears pierced, you may be wondering where to start.

Ear piercing is a popular form of body modification that has been practiced for centuries and is a great way to express yourself through jewelry.

Depending on who is getting their ears pierced, the challenge most of the time is choosing where to get this service done.

In this post, we are going to look at the best places you can get ear piercing done, some types of ear piercing, how to take care of your ear for faster healing and more.

So, are you ready to learn more about ear piercing? Let’s explore the ins and outs of ear piercing together.

Types of Ear Piercings

Standard Lobe Piercing

This is the most common type of ear piercing, which involves puncturing the earlobe with a needle or piercing gun.

Helix Piercing

This type of piercing is located on the upper ear cartilage and can be done with a needle or piercing gun.

Tragus Piercing

This piercing is located on the small flap of cartilage that covers the ear canal and is typically done with a needle.

Conch Piercing

This type of piercing is done in the center of the ear’s cartilage and can be either inner or outer conch piercing.

Industrial Piercing

This type of piercing involves connecting two separate piercings in the upper ear with a single piece of jewelry.

Rook Piercing

This piercing is located on the inner ridge of the ear cartilage and is typically done with a needle.

Daith Piercing

This piercing is done through the innermost fold of cartilage in the ear and can be performed with a needle.

Here is a detailed article explaining the types of ear piercings with good illustrations: https://zensaskincare.com/blog/cute-ear-piercing-ideas-top-different-combinations-chart

Ear Piercing Technique

Both piercing guns and needles can be used for ear piercing. However, for professional ear piercing, it is recommended to use a piercing gun as it is a safe, simple, and efficient method.

How to Take Care of a New Ear Piercing

After piercing your ear, you need to take care of it until it has healed.

Here are some simple steps to take care of your ear piercing:

  1. Get a cotton pad or swab and soak it in surgical spirit or aftercare lotion.
  2. Use the soaked pad or swab to gently clean around the piercing area, making sure to cover it thoroughly.
  3. After cleaning, gently rotate the piercing stud 180 degrees in either direction and back and forth.

Don’t remove the piercing stud until the piercing is completely healed.

Repeat this cleaning process at least once a day for six weeks to ensure optimal healing.

Try not to touch the new piercing too much.

Baby Ear Piercing

While it’s possible for babies to get their ears pierced as young as 1 month, healthcare professionals typically recommend waiting until they are at least three months old, as they are still receiving vaccinations at this age.

It is generally not advisable to pierce a baby’s ears, as their immune systems are still developing, and they may not be able to communicate any discomfort or pain. It’s best to wait until the child is old enough to decide for themselves if they want their ears pierced.

How Long Does an Ear Piercing Take to Heal?

The healing time for an ear piercing can vary depending on the individual, the type of piercing, and the aftercare provided.

Generally, it takes about 6 to 8 weeks for an earlobe piercing to heal completely, while cartilage piercings can take 4 to 12 months.

It’s important to continue proper aftercare until the piercing is fully healed to prevent infection and promote proper healing.

Can Ear Piercing Go Wrong?

Ear piercing, like any other body modification, carries certain risks and potential complications. Here are some of the most common ones:

Infection

If the piercing isn’t properly cleaned and cared for, bacteria can enter the wound and cause an infection. Symptoms of an infected piercing include redness, swelling, and pain.

Allergic Reaction

Some people may have an allergic reaction to the metal used in their piercing jewelry. This can cause itching, redness, and swelling.

Keloid Scarring

Keloids are raised, thickened scars that can form around a piercing site. They are more common in people with darker skin tones and can be difficult to treat.

Bleeding

Some bleeding is normal during and immediately after a piercing, but excessive bleeding can be a sign of a more serious problem.

Nerve Damage

In rare cases, a piercing can damage a nerve in the ear, leading to numbness or loss of sensation.

Jewelry Embedment

Jewelry can become embedded in the skin if it’s too tight or if the piercing becomes infected. This can cause pain and require medical attention.

It’s essential to choose a reputable and experienced piercer, follow proper aftercare procedures, and monitor the piercing site for any signs of infection or other complications. If you experience any of these complications, seek medical attention immediately.

Where to Get Your Piercing Done

Getting your ears pierced can be done in a variety of settings, such as a salon, beauty shop, or even a pharmacy.

For children, or if you are unsure where to get the ear piercing done the pharmacy is the best place to start. However, if you are and adult and understand the process of piercing the choice is yours.

It is important to choose a reputable and experienced location that uses proper sterilization techniques to ensure a safe and successful piercing experience.

Below is a list of pharmacies that do professional ear piercing.

Pharmacy Chains

Most towns have pharmacy chain store where you can easily access ear-piercing services, but it’s important to note that not all branches may offer this service. To avoid any inconvenience, it’s advisable to call and book an appointment before visiting the pharmacy.

Here are some of the pharmacy chains you can go to.

Pharmaplus

Is a chain pharmacy with over 50 branches across Kenya. Pharmaplus Pharmacy offers free ear piercing.

Phone: 0793560460, 0113314018

Goodlife Pharmacy Ltd

Goodlife Pharmacy is a fast-growing pharmacy and health hub and the only one of its kind in East Africa. The pharmacy offers free ear piercing.

Whatsapp: 0715 703 000

info@goodlife.africa.com

Haltons Pharmacy

Haltons Pharmacy is a chain of retail pharmacies that provides both prescription and non-prescription medications. They also offer ear-piercing services.

Contacts: 0110 139524

Where can you do ear piercing in Nairobi CBD?

New Lemuma Pharmacy Co. Ltd

A modern Community Pharmacy based in Nairobi city CBD. New Lemuma pharmacy offers free ear piercing.

Tom Mboya Street, Nairobi, Kenya.

Phone: (+254) – 0713 755 274

Email: info@newlemumapharmacy.co.ke

Which Pharmacy in Ongata Rongai Provides Ear Piercing?

Spurs Pharmacy Rongai

This is a community pharmacy located in Rongai area that provides ear-piercing service for free.

Opposite Aga Khan University Hospital, Ongata Rongai, Magadi Rd

Next to Tymes arcade

Call 0717502371

Cost of Ear Piercing.

The majority of pharmacies offer ear-piercing services for free, with only the studs being charged for.

Here are the prices of studs.

Studex Ear Studs – between Ksh. 650/- to 850/-.

Caflon Ear Studs – between Ksh. 250/- to 500/-

The piercing gun is Ksh. 3500/-

Conclusion

By following proper aftercare instructions and being aware of potential risks and complications, you can enjoy your new ear piercing and the jewelry that comes with it.

Do you have any questions?

Yellow Fever in Kenya (All About YF)

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Yellow fever is a viral disease that is endemic in tropical areas of Africa and Central and South America, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The disease is transmitted by two types of mosquitoes, one of which is responsible for the Zika virus. People can become infected when a mosquito bites an infected monkey and then bites a human being.

Yellow Fever Symptoms

Yellow fever can present with a range of symptoms, and while many infected individuals may experience mild or no symptoms, those who do become symptomatic typically experience a range of non-specific symptoms during the initial illness.

These may include fever, chills, headache, backache, muscle pain, prostration, nausea, and vomiting. While most patients improve after the initial presentation, in approximately 12% of cases, the disease progresses to a more severe form characterized by jaundice, hemorrhagic symptoms, and eventually shock and multi-organ failure.

This severe form of the disease is associated with a case-fatality ratio of between 30% and 60%.

Given the initial nonspecific nature of the symptoms, it can be difficult to distinguish yellow fever from other illnesses such as malaria or dengue, which are also common in regions where yellow fever is endemic. As such, early and accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment and management of the disease.

Why You Need the Yellow Fever Jab

Vaccination is the most important measure against yellow fever, and travelers should receive the vaccine before visiting areas where yellow fever is found. The vaccine must be approved by the WHO and administered by an approved yellow fever vaccination center.

Yellow fever vaccination is important for two distinct reasons.

Firstly, it helps prevent the international spread of the disease.

Countries that are free of yellow fever often require travelers arriving from regions where yellow fever is endemic to present a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate upon entry. This helps prevent the introduction and subsequent spread of the disease in these countries.

Secondly, the vaccine helps protect individual travelers who may be exposed to yellow fever infection during their travels.

While the risk of contracting yellow fever may vary depending on factors such as location and time of year, it is generally recommended that all individuals who plan to travel to regions where yellow fever is endemic get vaccinated. This is especially important for those who may be at increased risk of exposure, such as people who plan to spend time in rural or forested areas where the virus is most commonly transmitted.

By getting vaccinated, travelers can reduce their risk of contracting yellow fever and ensure their own health and safety while abroad.

Where is Yellow Fever Vaccine Injected?

Yellow fever vaccination is a process that involves several steps, including preparation, administration, and follow-up. The following is a general overview of the yellow fever vaccination process:

Before getting vaccinated, individuals should consult with a healthcare provider to ensure that the vaccine is safe and appropriate for them. It is also important to check the requirements of the country or region to which they are traveling, as some may require proof of yellow fever vaccination before entry. Individuals should also make sure to schedule the vaccination at a designated yellow fever vaccination center.

The yellow fever vaccine is typically administered as a single injection into the upper arm. The vaccine contains a live attenuated strain of the virus and is considered safe and effective. After receiving the vaccine, individuals are typically observed for a short period of time to monitor for any adverse reactions.

Yellow Card

After receiving the yellow fever vaccine, individuals should receive an international certificate of vaccination (yellow card) as proof of vaccination. This card must be presented upon entry to certain countries and should be kept in a safe place for future travel.

It is also important to note that the vaccine provides lifelong immunity for most individuals, but some may require a booster dose after 10 years, particularly if they continue to travel to areas where yellow fever is endemic.

How is Yellow Fever Managed?

Good and early supportive treatment in hospitals improves the survival rate for those infected with yellow fever. Although there is currently no specific anti-viral drug for yellow fever, specific care to treat dehydration, liver and kidney failure, and fever can improve outcomes. Associated bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics.

Do I Need YF Vaccine for Kenya

WHO vaccination recommendation: yes

It is recommended for all travelers who are 9 months or older to receive the yellow fever vaccine, with the exception of those whose travel is limited to the entire North Eastern Province; the states of Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu, Malindi and Tanariver in Coastal Province; and the cities of Nairobi and Mombasa , for whom the vaccine is generally not recommended.

Kenya yellow fever requirements

Country requirement at entry: a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for travelers aged 1 year or over arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission.

Where to Get the Vaccine and Cost

You can get the vaccine at Port health clinics located within all Kenyan airports, level 5 hospitals (if it is available) and selected private hospitals.

Check out this website (https://victormatara.com/list-of-hospitals-that-offer-yellow-fever-vaccine-in-nairobi/) for a complete list of vaccination centres in Kenya

The charges for Yellow fever vaccine are;

(For the yellow fever vaccine called Stamaril manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur)

Ksh 3000/- Nairobi City Hall health centre (previously Ksh 2500)

Ksh 3500/- Port Health Clinics

The cost of the vaccine may range between Ksh 2000/- to 3500/- depending with the health facility.

Finally, a brief history of YF and its impact on public health

Yellow fever has a long and devastating history, dating back to the 17th century when the first recorded outbreak occurred in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.

Over the centuries, yellow fever has caused numerous outbreaks across Africa, South America, and the Caribbean, claiming the lives of millions of people. The disease was especially deadly in the Americas, where it played a significant role in the slave trade and the construction of the Panama Canal.

The discovery of the yellow fever virus in the early 20th century paved the way for the development of a vaccine, which has since been instrumental in preventing the spread of the disease. Today, yellow fever remains a significant public health concern, particularly in areas where the vaccine is not widely available or where outbreaks continue to occur.

The Ministry of Health in Kenya reported an outbreak of yellow fever in Isiolo on March 5th, 2022. During the period 12 January to 15 March 2022, a total of 53 suspected YF cases, including six deaths, were reported.

Reference

Gershman, M. D., & Staples, E. J. (2021, June 11). Yellow Fever. CDC.GOV. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2020/travel-related-infectious-diseases/yellow-fever#table423

World Health Organization (2020, July 1). INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL AND HEALTH. WHO.INT. https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/documents/emergencies/travel-advice/yellow-fever-vaccination-requirements-country-list-2020-en.pdf

Gianchecchi E, Cianchi V, Torelli A, Montomoli E. Yellow Fever: Origin, Epidemiology, Preventive Strategies and Future Prospects. Vaccines (Basel). 2022 Feb 27;10(3):372. doi: 10.3390/vaccines10030372. PMID: 35335004; PMCID: PMC8955180.

Nairobi County (2023, February 15). Nairobi City County announces availability of Yellow fever and polio vaccines. Nairobi City County. https://nairobi.go.ke/nairobi-city-county-announces-availability-of-yellow-fever-and-polio-vaccines/

Ministry of Health (MOH) (2022, March 5). Kenya on alert as it reports outbreak of yellow fever. Ministry of Health. https://www.health.go.ke/kenya-on-alert-as-it-reports-outbreak-of-yellow-fever/

World Health Organization (2022, March 25). Yellow fever – Kenya. WHO.INT. https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2022-DON361

Choosing the Best Glucometer: Key Factors to Consider for Accurate Blood Glucose Monitoring

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Glucometers in Kenya

Regular blood glucose checkup is an essential part of diabetes management. It helps you to monitor your glucose levels and ensures that your medication is working effectively. However, choosing the right glucometer can be a challenge, with so many options available in the market. To help you make an informed decision, here are some factors to consider before buying a glucometer:

Availability and cost of strips: Look for a glucometer whose strips are readily available in most chemists and surgical retailers. This will save you time and effort. Also, ensure that the cost of the strips is affordable to you as you will need to buy them regularly.

Battery life: A glucometer with a long battery life is more efficient and gives accurate results. This is crucial in ensuring that your physician can make proper decisions when it comes to altering your medication dosages.

Accuracy: Inaccurate readings can be frustrating and misleading. Therefore, go for a glucometer that gives readings in less than 5 seconds. This shows that the glucometer is fast and accurate.

Ease of use: Choose a glucometer that is easy to use, especially if you are elderly or have a complicated medication regimen. Code-free glucometers are a great option, as they do not require changing the codes each time you buy new strips.

Quality: While ease of use is essential, it should not be the only factor to consider. Ensure that the glucometer you choose is of high quality and can provide accurate readings consistently.

Having your own glucometer at home can be a game-changer in diabetes management. It saves you time and money, as you do not have to visit the chemist or clinic for frequent checkups. However, it is crucial to understand the ranges of high and low glucose levels, which can be explained by your pharmacist or doctor. With these factors in mind, you can choose a reliable and effective glucometer that meets your needs.

Here’s How to Get the Best Out of Your Healthcare Provider

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Going to see a healthcare provider could be hectic especially when it is your first time. This could be your doctor, dentist, physician, pharmaceutical practitioner or let’s just say wherever you can go when you feeling unwell. 

Predicting when you’ll become sick is not easy, this happens abruptly and before you think of anything you are at a health facility seeking treatment. They start asking you how you feel and several other questions.

Since we don’t usually see healthcare providers frequently, you may feel nervous or be unable to articulate yourself better to be understood. It is also difficult to compose yourself before a total stranger asking for help.

How are you going to trust them with your personal information?

A healthcare provider will rely on your signs and symptoms with which he/she can prescribe medication or recommend further tests. Your signs and symptoms are basically how you feel e.g headache, fever, coughing e.t.c. 

Signs and symptoms are not just enough, your healthcare provider will ask personal questions such as your age, contact information and whether you have a partner. Don’t panic for this is just routine. Expect also questions about:

  • allergies (food or medicines)
  • medications that you are using- either short-term or long-term.
  • Your past and present medical history, whether you’ve had the same condition before.
  • What you ate last
  • What you were doing before you got sick – traveling, attending an event, working, at home e.t.c

You don’t need to explain everything to the tiny details. Try to be precise and don’t give a lot of irrelevant information.

If you don’t give the right information or leave out some vital specifics you might end up not getting the best treatment. Your healthcare provider might not be able to make a proper judgment. When the diagnosis is not right you might end up even spending more money than you should.

Even when you are sure that what you are suffering from is typhoid, don’t begin by saying “I have typhoid” or any other disease you could think of. All you need to do is just explain your symptoms and answer the questions that they ask you. 

They are going to listen to you and run some needed tests and tell you what you could be suffering from. Give your healthcare provider a chance to determine and prescribe what’s best for you. If you think of feel your healthcare provider is not reading the same page as you, ask questions.

The following questions will help you feel comfortable with your healthcare provider and understand what’s happening to you. You don’t have to ask all of them;

  1. What am I suffering from?
  2. How are the medicines you’ve prescribed going to help me?
  3. How do they work? 
  4. Why am I taking more than one drug? (When more than 1 drug has been prescribed)
  5. How long am I going to take these medications?
  6. What foods should I avoid?
  7. Is there any interaction between the drugs?
  8. Will I feel better?

Again, be curious always to know what disease you are suffering from, don’t just take medication because the doctor has prescribed. Seek a second or third opinion from another healthcare provider when in doubt, uncertain or confused.

As you continue to seek the best healthcare experience, remember to be objective, be brief and ask relevant questions and above all don’t be rude.

I’d like to wish y’all good health and happiness

Its November, Diabetes Awareness Month

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Notes

According to WHO, there are currently about 422 million people with diabetes worldwide, and this number is projected to rise to over 642 million by 2040.

If you know whether you have diabetes or not, you may be able to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes, the most common variety. If you find out you are prediabetic, you might be able to reduce future complications by making lifestyle changes.

Diabetes is a risky condition that most people don’t realize they have until complications arise or they are hospitalized; once this happens, treatment that may last for years may be started.

Therefore, the best way to deal with this condition is to prevent it in the first place.

Getting your blood glucose tested at your closest healthcare facility, pharmacy, laboratory, or clinic is a great idea during November, a diabetes prevention month.

Taking the necessary actions according to the doctor’s recommendation is based on the early detection of the condition.

The following known lifestyle changes could help prevent diabetes.

  1. Eat a balanced diet
  2. Regular exercise
  3. Reduce weight
  4. Eat healthy fats

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a long-term disorder characterized by a raised level of glucose {or sugar} in the blood. Permanently elevated blood sugar levels are the key indicator for this metabolic disorder.

There are two main types of diabetes mellitus:

diabetes mellitus type 1, which mostly affects younger adults, it is when the body cannot make insulin as most insulin-producing cells have been destroyed.

The other type is type 2, which is often brought on by a poor diet and lack of exercise. For this case, the body cannot make enough insulin or the insulin produced cannot be used properly, usually occurs later in life but is becoming common in younger population.

Diabetes is a disease with severe complications; this can limit how people function physically. Elevated glucose levels cause long-term damage of kidneys, blood vessels, heart and nerves. Serious complications of diabetes mellitus include renal damage, heart attack, loss of sight, diabetic foot syndrome and even organ failure. In a worst case-scenario, diabetic foot leads to amputation.

Kenya

I am glad a good number of diabetes patients in Kenya are not ignorant about their condition; most of them are compliant to medication and are cautious about their diet.

Mostly diet is crucial in controlling blood glucose levels in combination with medication prescribed by a physician. On the other hand, it is alarming to hear about a group of people that is living in denial. It is always hard for them to understand that diabetes is a long-term condition and most of the time treatment is usually long term.

These patients do not take their medications regularly leading to complications and uncontrolled blood glucose.

Diabetes Management in Kenya

Just to note Kenyans do not have specific treatment guidelines for diabetes mellitus. This means most of the prescriptions prescribed are typically customized according to the patient’s response to treatment.  The prescriber adopts what works well for the patient; the prescription there after is tailored from time to time.

Happy diabetes month!

Can I Use Carolight Cream or Mediven S for Light Skin?

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Reading through an article the other Saturday on the standard pullout – woman instinct, the words of Ajuma Nasenyana the queen of African beauty caught my eyes, she hails from the part of Africa where habitants are considered to be the darkest but she was not petrified of venturing into modeling, an industry mostly dominated by the light-skinned females.

 For most women, they would think about acquiring cosmetics to bleach their skin. For Ajuma, seeing her tower above the international catwalk for eight years was not easy, she admits “growing up I often felt like the ugly duckling simply because I did not fit into the mould of what society defines beauty by. The issue of skin colour is one of those things that no one likes to talk about, yet so many girls suffer because of it”

Due to this and everyone glorifying the beauty of the girl child so many girls have succumbed to exposing themselves to dangerous bleaching products.

I came across a young pretty girl who wanted something to lighten her skin color, for a moment I thought she was crazy, she insisted on Mediven S because a friend had recommended it.

But why Mediven S? It contains betamethasone dipropionate BP 0.05% and salicylic acid 3% – a potent steroid causing thinning of the skin.

I remembered vividly how a friend of mine had tried using Mediven S to stop pimples on his face, the results were excellent but when he stopped the pimples came back with retribution. I was lukewarm on whether it was going to give good results or not but instead I watched her go experiment it on herself. I still do not know the outcome then after. Nevertheless, there are people who say they have applied it and results were good.

I had not finished pondering about this when I got a text message from a friend who wanted to know if there is anything she could apply on her face because of black spots and small swelling she got after applying a cream called carolight.

I got confused at first but at the same time this sounded interesting. Later I learned that, carolight cream is a bleaching cream which can transform dark skin to light skin and contains essentially hydroquinone 4.2% which can pose a threat if applied over a long period of time. She had used it roughly for a period of three months. I wished these two could have met.

I realized the reason why one needs to try out a new cosmetic on a small area before applying on a large area and best skin is one’s natural skin the way it is without adulterants.

It’s obvious that every woman is distinctive, and something that may agree with one individual can be totally lethal to another.

I’m yet to define the word beauty, I not sure if it is light skin or dark skin.