Rapid Responses to:
|
|
Rapid Responses: Rapid Responses published:
-
![[Read Rapid Response]](/icons/misc/sectionDOWN.gif)
Is it just me ?
- JP Dias (22 August 2003)
-
Is it just me? Yes, it is! Only Strep, Skin Sore and Sore Throat.
- Friedrich Flachsbart (23 August 2003)
-
BMJ - stick to british medical topics
- Rakesh Mehan (23 August 2003)
-
Need for community intervention in the form of improved sanitation
- Samir S Patil (27 August 2003)
-
Benefit of salted water.
- Jean-Paul Mercier (27 August 2003)
-
Not just for the British
- Richard L Hockey (27 August 2003)
-
Improving health in Aboriginal communities by building swimming pools is an innovative method
- Sudhir Kumar (28 August 2003)
-
Re: Is it just me ?
- Artemis Anders (29 August 2003)
-
Yes it is you, contd.
- Rob Weller (28 September 2003)
-
Number in figure 1
- Alan C Gibbs (31 August 2004)
|
|
|||
|
JP Dias, GP Horsham RH12 3LL
Send response to journal:
|
Is it just me, or are any other BMA members and subscribers wondering what releveance this article has to any aspect whatsoever of UK medical practice ? I've racked my brains but the more I think, the less reason I can see for this article and this edition to have been posted out to me by the BMJ publishing group on behalf of the BMA. The BMJ is really going soft in the head. Thank goodness for the Lancet. Competing interests: A BMA member and UK GP |
|||
|
|
|||
|
Friedrich Flachsbart, General medicine 37085 Göttingen
Send response to journal:
|
Dear Sir, we all suffer from streptococci. In Australia they are easily seen. In Europe they hide, Silent Occult Streptococci. But we should carefully treat them. Otherwise they become killer: If You do not believe, look into the "Lee Spark" NF Foundation: Severe Streptococcal Infections & Necrotising Fasciitis. www.nfsuk.org.uk Sincerily Yours Friedrich Flachsbart Competing interests: None declared |
|||
|
|
|||
|
Rakesh Mehan, Consultant Radiologist Bolton
Send response to journal:
|
I thought I was reading some politically correct Guardian article, This theme issue is the strangest one yet. Perhaps the British Medical Journal could consider sticking to issues of interest to British doctors? Competing interests: None declared |
|||
|
|
|||
|
Samir S Patil, Resident Internal Medicine MGIMS. Sevagram, Maharashtra, India.442102
Send response to journal:
|
Probably community intervention in the form of provision of better sanitary conditions and improving nutrition would be more beneficial. Swimming pools should'nt be considered as a primary measure to reduce the incidence of pyoderma or otitis media.The results of the study could be a reflection of the defeciencies in the basic sanitary facilities available. Competing interests: None declared |
|||
|
|
|||
|
Jean-Paul Mercier, Fencing teacher Montreal, Canada
Send response to journal:
|
I was surprise in reading some of these responses. I learned a lot ! Is nobody curious about those SALTED water swimming pools and their possible good effect on general public health ? Microbes do not believe in frontiers. Thank you. Competing interests: None declared |
|||
|
|
|||
|
Richard L Hockey, Data Analyst Queensland Injury Surveillance Unit, Brisbane, Australia
Send response to journal:
|
It may come as a surprise to some readers of the BMJ but people outside Britain read it as well! Competing interests: None declared |
|||
|
|
|||
|
Sudhir Kumar, Consultant Neurologist, Department of Neurological Sciences Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore, Tamilnadu, India-632004
Send response to journal:
|
Sir, I read with interest the recent article by Lehmann et al (1). They have demonstrated multiple health-related benefits of swimming pools in remote Aboriginal communities in Australia. Although this intervention has been a success story, it may not be so in all such cases. Aboriginal communities are different regarding their acceptance and access of the modern health care system. They believe in traditional treatment rather than modern treatment. For example, they may seek faith healers’ help for snakebites, epilepsy and psychiatric disorders. Many methods used in India include avoiding or taking certain diets for specific diseases, application of cow dung over infected wounds, wearing metal rings around ankles to prevent epileptic fits, branding (scar produced by burning the skin with a hot metal) to treat jaundice, application of lime over throat for pharyngitis, etc. Most of these methods have no scientific basis and are often harmful. Indigenous people are very reluctant to change their practice. This is despite constant health education and provision of modern treatment free of cost or at subsidized costs. The best solution seems to be to involve the community in any attempted measures to reduce disease burden. The idea of swimming pools to reduce pyoderma and otitis media is really an innovative one. As the authors point out, this method has had a dual success- improvement in school attendance in addition to a reduction of infections. In India, a similar success story was that of introduction of midday meal programmes at schools (in 1950s) for students up to class V in Tamilandu state. Besides improving the nutritional status of malnourished children in the age group of 5-10 years, the school enrolment has also gone up significantly (2). Similarly, for improvement of reproductive health and family planning of women, local dais (traditional birth attendants) were selected and appropriately trained. They were given sterile delivery pack and the results have been encouraging (3). In conclusion, there is a need to develop more innovative ways incorporating community participation for an improvement in health status of Aboriginal communities. References 1.Lehmann D, Tennant MT, Silva DT, McAullay D, Lannigan F, Coates H, et al. Benefits of swimming pools in two remote Aboriginal communities in Western Australia: intervention study. BMJ. 2003; 327: 415-9. 2.Agarwal DK, Agarwal KN, Upadhyay SK. Effect of mid-day meal programme on physical growth & mental function. Indian J Med Res. 1989; 90: 163-74. 3.Chaturvedi SK. Delivery pack for traditional birth attendants. Lancet 1978; 2: 102 Competing interests: None declared |
|||
|
|
|||
|
Artemis Anders, concerned citizen Melboune, Australia, 3000
Send response to journal:
|
Perhaps the authors of this excellent public health article chose to submit it to the BMJ because of the widely held Aussie belief that you British indigines (AKA Poms) don't wash enough. Jokes aside, the role of basic hygiene and sanitation in the health of human communities should never be forgotten, even by primary care practitioners in the affluent developed world. Competing interests: A strongly held belief that the role of running water and an adequate sewerage system in disease prevention should not be taken for granted. |
|||
|
|
|||
|
Rob Weller, Rehabilitation Physician, Clinical Services Director Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre, Kew, Australia
Send response to journal:
|
perhaps BMJ should consider publishing a British Edition and a World Edition, similar to JBJS's British and American Editions. Then old chaps like JP Dias wouldn't need to waste time reading about health issues outside the UK..... Competing interests: None declared |
|||
|
|
|||
|
Alan C Gibbs, lecturer in medical statistics Centre for cancer epidemiology,Christie hospital trust.Manchester,M20 4QL
Send response to journal:
|
In order to be consistent with the numbers given in the rest of the paper it appears that the number seen on July the first in community A should be 47, rather than 46. If this is correct perhaps the authors could persuade the editor to print a very brief correction? Competing interests: None declared |
|||