Latest news with #Meningitis
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
'I thought Tourette's was about swearing'
Yasmin Bartle was 20 when she was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome. As part of Tourette's Awareness Month, she opened up about how a shopping trip led to a confrontation. As a child, Ms Bartle said she had "a few little quirks" including involuntary arm movements and making whistling noises. "There was a peak when I was probably around 10 or 11 and we were going through SATs [primary school exams]." Ms Bartle said the symptoms became less frequent until she contracted meningitis in 2019, an infection that affects the brain and spinal cord, according to the NHS. "We [the family] noticed these little things were becoming more frequent," she said. On one occasion, she said she was queuing in a shop and suddenly threw a bottle across the store. "I was so shocked because I didn't know where it had come from or what had just happened," she said. "My arm was always flying out to the side and I had a lot of head and neck tics and a few little noises." Ms Bartle was initially diagnosed with tics before being told she had Tourette Syndrome a year later. The 25-year-old from Hull said she was confused and "in denial." She said, like many people, she thought Tourette's was about swearing and she did not swear. "I was embarrassed and I hardly left my house," she said. On another occasion, Ms Bartle was in a grocery store and called out "alcoholic". She said another customer thought she was referring to them because they had a bottle in their hand and it escalated into an argument. She said: "I'm trying to say I have Tourette Syndrome. I'm really sorry and they didn't believe me." Ms Bartle said things began to improve for her when she said she was taken to a support group run by the TIC Yorkshire charity in Hull. "I realised, actually, there are a lot more people here that are a lot more like me and going through what I'm going through," she said. A year after being introduced to the charity, Ms Bartle became a volunteer. She said she wanted to challenge misconceptions about the condition. She said, when the charity tells people their child may be experiencing tics or Tourette's, parents feel relieved their child does not swear. Coprolalia, which, according to the NHS, is an involuntary use of obscene words or socially inappropriate remarks, is not the worst symptom, she added. Ms Bartle, who has written a book about the condition, said it was the mental tics, the compulsions and pain that most people with Tourette's would rather take away. She said it was important to research and understand the condition and urged those suffering to reach out for help. Tourette's Awareness Month takes place between 15 May and 15 June. This year's theme is being misunderstood due to public perceptions often shaped by stigma, jokes, and misinformation. According to the NHS, tics are fast, repetitive muscle movements that result in sudden and difficult to control body jolts or sounds. Tourette's Syndrome is a term that is used when tics have lasted for more than a year. According to the charity Tourette's Action, the condition affects one school child in every one hundred and is more common among boys. It says over 300,000 children and adults are living with the condition in the UK. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. 'I was commonly told I was faking my Tourette's' 'Ticket kiosk closure could trigger my Tourette's' NHS T.I.C. Yorkshire Tourette's Action BBC Action Line
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'Buffy' Stars Talk About 'Most Import Pressure' Parents Face
They once fought werewolves and vampires as stars of the hit series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but now Alyson Hannigan and Sarah Michelle Gellar are talking about an all too familiar problem facing parents today: Staying Healthy. The two women talked about how prioritizing health was important to both of them as moms, and opened up about how they hope to help their daughters learn better habits so they don't repeat their parents mistakes. Related: Josh Duhamel Gets Candid About How Hard It Is To Raise Kids While Being an Actor The two moms spoke with People about their shared focus on health, telling the magazine that they really hope to set a good example for their daughters when it comes to making good choices, calling it one of the hardest jobs they have. 'Oh my goodness. I always say that when you get married, you worry about that person," Gellar explained. "But that person is a fully formed adult and they can take care of themselves. Once you have children, every minute of every day is, what do I need to do? What haven't I done for them? What are they doing right now? Because you're their caretaker, you are responsible for these human beings and that's the most important pressure that exists." That's part of what inspired the pair to join up with pharmaceutical brand GSK to promote the importance of vaccinating teens, especially when it comes to Meningococcal diseases (AKA: Meningitis). 'It's an uncommon, but a very serious illness that can, within 24 hours sometimes, have very serious consequences, even death,' Hannigan told the magazine. 'My good friend lost one of her very close friends in high school. He was captain of the football team, star athlete. He went home with a headache and the next day he died. It just rocked their world and it was the first time that any of them had ever heard about it.' As such, the pair are working with the Ask2BSure campaign, hoping that more parents will learn about meningitis and how to prevent it. While those between the ages of 16-23 at at an increased risk, it sounds like Gellar and Hannigan's kiddos may already be covered, but hopefully their message reaches those who may not be. Up Next:
Hindustan Times
25-04-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Pune civic body to conduct immunisation drive for Haj pilgrims on April 26
The health department of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) will conduct a vaccination drive for pilgrims travelling for the Haj pilgrimage at Azam Campus, Pune, on Saturday, said the officials. The immunisation drive will be held at the Unani Hospital, Azam Campus, Camp between 9 am and 5 pm. The list of eligible Haj pilgrims has already been received by PMC from the state government. As many as 1,503 pilgrims will be vaccinated, said the officials. Dr Rajesh Dighe, assistant health officer and city immunisation officer, PMC, said, 'All listed pilgrims will be administered the Polio vaccine (orally) and the Meningitis vaccine (via injection). Pregnant women will be exempt from the vaccination. Also, pilgrims above the age of 65 with underlying health conditions will be given the Influenza vaccine as per government guidelines.' As per PMC officials, a team of 8 doctors, 23 nurses, 10 data entry operators, and 10 attendants has been appointed. Dr Nina Borade, health chief of PMC, has appealed to all pilgrims to eat before coming for vaccination. 'All Haj pilgrims should carry photocopies of their passports and medical certificates. Besides, they should report to the vaccination centre at the time mentioned in their designated time slots to avoid inconvenience,' she said.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Elmira College nursing students test crisis skills in Meningitis simulation on campus
ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) – Elmira College senior nursing students took part in an annual public health emergency response exercise on Wednesday morning. The exercise simulated a Meningitis outbreak on campus. It was held from 10 a.m. to noon in Meier Hall and was designed to give students hands-on experience in managing a public health crisis. WATCH: Gov. Kathy Hochul gives update on state's measles response The simulation included faculty, campus security, and community volunteers, who all played roles to make the scenario as realistic as possible. Meningitis is a highly contagious infection, it affects the fluid and membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, according to the Mayo Clinic. There are two types of Meningitis, viral and bacterial, the Mayo Clinic said viral infections are the most common cause of meningitis in the United States. Students were responsible for assessing symptoms, coordinating care, and working under pressure — just as they would in a real outbreak. According to Debby Woglom, Nursing faculty at Elmira College, the volunteer patients first checked in at a registration table, then they were sent to a dispensing table where they could get mock antibiotics and talk to an expert if needed. 'We created an outbreak of Meningitis on campus, and they had to do a case investigation like the Public Health Department would do,' Woglom said. 'Then they had to figure out who was exposed to Meningitis, and then they had to dispense medications, so that those who were exposed wouldn't actually get sick,' she said. Low-cost vaccine & microchip clinic to be held in Knoxville To prevent confusion, the college sent out alerts in advance to remind students and the public that this was only a drill. Despite the alerts, the higher level of activity, people moving in and out of Meier Hall, and volunteers playing the role of patients made the exercise feel very realistic, according to nursing student Jamie Wagner. 'It shows you the command you have to go through, just like you would in a job. It shows you who you need to report to, the information that you need to share,' Wagner said. 'Exactly what you need to do to help the public and not become a mass casualty,' she said. It's important to note, this was just a simulation and there are no known cases of Meningitis at Elmira College. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Leaders
09-03-2025
- Health
- Leaders
Saudi Arabia Launches Emergency Scooters to Help Worshippers in Madinah
The Madinah Health Cluster is providing visitors of the Prophet's Mosque with a new emergency scooter service that offers quick medical assistance during Ramadan, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The scooters will facilitate movement of paramedics as thousands of worshippers are currently filling the mosque's courtyards. Emergency Scooters Therefore, the new service offers them a valuable opportunity to navigate busy areas, attend to urgent cases, as well as transfer patients to nearby hospitals and care centers if needed. Since its launch, the scooter initiative has served 91 people who were referred to healthcare facilities in the central area, such as Al-Shifa Health Endowment, Haram Emergency Hospital, and the Safiyyah and Bab Jibreel Urgent Care Centers. The initiative stands as a testament to the Madina Health Cluster's commitment to ensuring visitors' safety and wellbeing. Emergency Scooters Related Topics: Saudi Health Ministry Convoy Transfers Hospitalized Pilgrims to Holy Sites Saudi Health Advises Umrah Pilgrims to Take Meningitis Vaccine ACYW-135 Vaccine is a Must: New Health Regulations for Kuwaiti Umrah Pilgrims Short link : Post Views: 1 Related Stories
