Blog
Australia could eliminate Cervical Cancer soon
Can we eradicate Cervical Cancer in Singapore too?
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(18)30189-0/fulltext In May 2018, at the World Health Assembly, the Director-General of WHO made a global call for action towards the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health priority. The present focus of this initiative is to ...
Eve of Deepavali - Shorter operating hours
Operating hours on 5/11/18 (Monday): 9am to 1pm Normal operating hours will resume on 7/11/18 (Wednesday)
FUTURE IMMUNISATION FOR CHLAMYDIA
The latest research into immunisation against chlamydia comes from the University of Texas (UT) Health San Antonio. "This research emphasizes the pre-exposure of chlamydia to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract as a vaccine," said Guangming Zhong, M.D., Ph.D., professor at UT Health San Antonio. ...
HOW TO PREVENT CHLAMYDIA
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) noted that the rates of chlamydia infection increased by 5% between 2010 and 2014 across countries in Europe. In 2014, two-thirds (63%) of the 396,000 reported cases were diagnosed among 15- to 24-year-olds. In fact, chlamydia is also ...
ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE – WHERE ARE WE NOW?
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-08/ecfc-dog083018.php 2018 was the year which saw the emergence of Super Gonorrhea (refer earlier Blog), where the bacteria were resistant to standard antibiotic treatment. There has been a recent update, based on samples collected from patients in 2016....
Female Doctor
In view of the private and personal nature of some medical visits, patients may prefer to consult a female doctor. We are pleased to announce that a female doctor is available at the following times: Wednesday 9am - 1pmWe recommend making an online appointment or calling us at +65 65350608 to ...
HIV – Undetectable equals Untransmittable
What does this mean? How does it affect you?
The introduction of anti -retroviral therapy (ART) for the treatment of HIV-positive persons has radically improved the life-expectancy of a fatal condition. At the 22nd International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2018) in Amsterdam, it was announced that the chance of any HIV-positive person with an ...
The Lancet: Response to HIV/AIDS epidemic at risk of 'dangerous complacency' as urgent change in approach is needed
HIV – Dangerous complacency, according to a new Lancet Commission led by the International AIDSAbout 37 million people worldwide live with HIV or Aids. And there are an estimated 1.8 million new cases every year. While new cases of HIV /Aids have been falling in recent years, infections have ...
WHAT IS HIGH-RISK SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR? WHO IS AT RISK OF HIV?
What do we need to know? What may be done?
HIV is a sexually transmitted disease/infection (STD/STI).Anyone can contract HIV from an HIV-positive person, regardless of sexual orientation (heterosexual, bisexual or homosexual), race, gender or age. However, is the risk of HIV the same for everyone? Some groups of people are more likely to ...
CHESTY DRY COUGH, FEVER, FATIGUE FOR WEEKS? IT COULD BE MYCOPLASMA
In general practice, we regularly see patients with dry, chesty coughs lasting several weeks. Mycoplasma infection is one of the main causes. In general, most symptoms are mild and infection will recover on its own. However, when symptoms get worse (usually over a period of 1 to 4 weeks), it is ...
ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE – WHERE ARE WE NOW
There is a well-documented trend showing a sharp increase in the numbers of Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea. While this is a major concern, there is a more worrying problem emerging, namely, antibiotic resistance. Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted disease (STD) in Singapore. There is ...
SHARP RISE IN GONORRHOEA AND SYPHILIS REPORTED IN AUSTRALIA
What do we need to know? Why does it matter? How does it affect us?
The latest data from the Annual Surveillance Report 2017 (HIV , viral hepatitis and sexually transmissible diseases/infections (STDs/STIs) in Australia) by The Kirby Institute for infection and immunity in society 2017 is now available: https://kirby.unsw.edu.au/report/annual-surveillance-report-...
Hepatitis C Treatments Save Healthcare Costs if Administered Early
Cheaper, shorter duration, better patient outcomesFor the more than 70 million people worldwide living with hepatitis C virus (HCV) , the past five years has seen this infectious, potentially fatal infection transform into a curable disease. The main risk factors for HCV are unprotected sexual ...
Potential Fetal Harm from Exposure to Dolutegravir from CDC Interim Statement
Implications for HIV Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)
The United States (US) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released an interim statement on May 23, 2018, regarding the safety of the antiretroviral drug, Dolutegravir (DTG).Dolutegravir is approved as part of the antiretroviral drug regimen for Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) . The ...
Anogenital and throat cancers – Have we overlooked prevention through vaccination?
HPV vaccination can prevent more than cervical cancerHPV vaccination is suitable for males and femalesPersons 26 years and below should consider HPV vaccinationWe have known for some time about the benefits of HPV vaccination to prevent cervical cancer.Singapore currently recommends HPV vaccination ...
GENITAL WARTS CAN BE PREVENTED BY VACCINATION
What do we need to know? Who are at risk? What may be done?
Data source: https://www.dsc-clinic.sg/Patient-Care/Prevention%20and%20Education/STI/Pages/STI-Statistics.aspxThe Singapore Department of Sexually Transmitted Infections (or DSC) revealed in January this year statistics on sexually transmitted diseases/infections (STDs/STIs) in Singapore. ...
RISE IN STD/STI INCIDENCE SINGAPORE: What do we need to know? Who are at risk? What may be done?
Data source: https://www.dsc-clinic.sg/Pati...The Singapore Department of Sexually Transmitted Infections (or DSC) revealed in January this year statistics on sexually transmitted diseases/infections (STDs/STIs) in Singapore. Like most developed countries, chlamydia has the highest incidence rates ...
Syphilis – The emergence of a pandemic cluster
The introduction of the antibiotic, Penicillin in the mid-twentieth century effectively treated Syphilis. This is still the first-line treatment for Syphilis. The first reported outbreaks of Syphilis were reported in Europe in 1495 and spread rapidly to other continents, resulting in a pandemic ...
Latest HIV treatment guidelines 2018: One-pill, once-daily treatment
Latest HIV treatment guidelines 2018: One-pill, once-daily treatment Simpler dosing, better adherence, better patient outcomes The United States (US) Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) released their updated guidelines on the treatment of HIV infection on March 27, 2018. ...
CHLAMYDIA
Most common STD
Data source: statistics from the DSC (released January 2018) CHLAMYDIA IS THE MOST COMMON STD IN SINGAPORE: What do we need to know? What are its symptoms? What tests are available? Is there effective treatment?The latest 2016 statistics from the Singapore Department of Sexually Transmitted ...
Super Gonorrhea
It has been reported this week that there is a man in the UK who contracted Gonorrhea somewhere in Southeast Asia and the bacteria is resistant to the standard antibiotics used to treat it. The media is calling it "Super Gonorrhea" But this is no laughing matter. If these antibiotic resistant ...
Seasonal Influenza Vaccination 2018
MOH has informed all doctors in their recent circular No. 15/2018, that due to significant changes in the current southern hemisphere influenza vaccine, all persons at risk should be vaccinated, irrespective of whether they had received flu vaccinations in the last one year. Influenza A was ...