Widal: A century old blood test and its creator
Widal test is commonly used across tropical countries, in an attempt to find out if a person with fever, has typhoid. This popular test is named after its creator, Georges-Fernand-Isidor…
Filariasis: Thread like worms that move in our bodies
Index Home The word filaria derives its origin from Latin filum, that means thread-like. These worms are really thin. Even grownup or adult worms that are about 2-4cm long, are less…
Sepsis: Serious infection that leads to a war within
Index Home Sepsis lies on the pathway from infection to death. While we have discovered drugs against bugs that cure infections, yet sometimes infections are overwhelming. As a response, our body's…
The rise and fall of needle less injections: jet-inject
Index Home The other day, I was browsing through my cachet of health postage stamps. I came across a peculiar injection device in use in some stamps. This device was invented…
Semmelweis and his struggle for a simple handwash
Index Home Washing hands is a simple, low cost, and an obvious health-promoting measure. Yet, we need not one, but two days in a year to reinforce its need. 5th May…
Neglected tropical illnesses and their postage stamps
Index Home All diseases are not equal. While some get more attention, others are neglected. This unequal treatment is often due to either a threat-perception, our ability to make a change,…
Story behind the first Nobel Prize in Medicine
Index Home The Nobel Prize was instituted in 1901, and the first Nobel in medicine was warded to Von Behring. He shared stage with other luminaries such as Rontgen for Physics,…
Rabies: Pulling out of jaws of a certain furious death
Index Home As a toddler, I was often warned. "Do not go near stray dogs - If they bite you, you will get fourteen injections in your tummy." There were, and…
Cinchona comes to rescue the world
Index Home Man has known malaria for centuries. It is a fever, that comes with shaking chills, a lot of pain, and turns white of the eyes yellow. Sometimes this fever…
Medical scientists on Israeli stamps, and their Indian connection
Index Home Israel honoured two medical scientists, with a postage stamp-set in 1994. Both, worked on vaccines to prevent infections that are common in the tropics. Both were born, and received…