Health trends

Scorpion-sting treatment approved

The US Food and Drug Administration recently approved Anascorp, the first specific treatment for a scorpion sting by Centruroides scorpions in the United States. Venomous scorpions in the US are mostly found in Arizona. Severe stings occur most frequently in infants and children, and can cause shortness of breath, fluid in the lungs, breathing problems, excess saliva, blurred vision, slurred speech, trouble swallowing, abnormal eye movements, muscle twitching, trouble walking, and other uncoordinated muscle movements. Untreated cases can be fatal.

"This product provides a new treatment for children and adults and is designed specifically for scorpion stings," said Karen Midthun, M.D., director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. "Scorpion stings can be life-threatening, especially in infants and children."

Anascorp, Centruroides (Scorpion) Immune F(ab')2 (Equine) Injection, is made from the plasma of horses immunised with scorpion venom. Anascorp may cause early or delayed allergic reactions in people sensitive to horse proteins.

Source: US Food and Drug Administration

Sunshine Girls endorse cancer screening

Members of the national netball team, The Sunshine Girls, recently supported the Jamaica Cancer Society's Pap Smear Screening Clinic. In her welcome, Carol Blair, administrative director and CEO of the Jamaica Cancer Society, (JCS) thanked The Sunshine Girls for their endorsement of the Society's efforts and lauded the team's sportsmanship while representing Jamaica in the recent World Netball Championships.

Earl Jarrett, Chairman of the JCS further expressed his hope that having "a team that operates at the world standard will influence women to come to the JCS or to their doctors for pap tests". Jarrett asserted that cervical cancer can be cured with early detection an noted that "there is a way to fight cervical cancer - a simple Pap test can detect changes in the womb."

Marva Bernard, president of the Jamaica Netball Association, offered a personal account of her mother's struggle with breast cancer. Her mother was diagnosed in 1964 and lived until 1990. She emphasised that cancer does not have to be a death sentence, as early detection can mean a longer life.