Health

A novel monoclonal antibody, developed by US researchers, has shown promise against malaria infection in an early clinical trial.  Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine`s Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD) found that the antibody -- MAM01 -- provided dose-dependent full protection against the malaria parasite with minimal side effects. "This new monoclonal antibody could transform how we prevent malaria in young children and pregnant women," said lead author Kirsten E. Lyke, Professor of Medicine at the varsity’s School of Medicine. "Unlike vaccines that may require multiple doses or boosters, a single injection of a long-acting antibody could provide immediate, months-long protection. It`s a fundamentally different way to stop infection before...

The Air Quality Index (AQI) around Akshardham was recorded at 230, in the `Poor` category, in Delhi this morning as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The Air Quality Index (AQI) at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium area recorded an AQI of 252, as seen from visuals taken near Barapullah Bridge. Raising concern regarding higher levels of AQI, pulmonologist Dr. Sharad Joshi from Ghaziabad said to ANI, "Air Quality Index (AQI) has risen significantly, leading to higher levels of particulate pollutants from sources like crop burning, vehicular exhaust, and fireworks. This exacerbates respiratory issues for those with conditions such as COPD, asthma, or a history of tuberculosis, causing symptoms like cough, fever, breathlessness, and chest pain." He added that even those without pri...

The Ahmedabad Medical Association (AMA) in collaboration with the Ahmedabad Family Physicians Association (AFPA) has unveiled a special initiative to safeguard the health of city residents, officials said on Sunday. The `Doctor on Call` Diwali Medical helpline has been launched to provide round-the-clock medical guidance and immediate treatment support to citizens during the festive period. The helpline will be operational 24/7 from October 19 to October 26, ensuring continuous access to professional medical advice throughout the week-long celebrations. The helpline is designed to assist residents with any health-related emergencies, first aid queriemedical guidances, or urgent medical guidance during Diwali, when accidents or health issues often spike due to fireworks, sweets and season...

India must treat adolescence as its "second window of growth" and invest urgently in nutrition, education and healthy food systems to avert a future health and productivity crisis, experts said at the 3rd International Conference on Public Health and Nutrition (ICPHN 2025) here this week. The conference was organised by Sukarya, an NGO working on issues of maternal and child health and nutrition, gender equality and women`s empowerment. Professor K Srinath Reddy, Chancellor of the Public Health Foundation of India, said failure to address adolescent nutrition would "lock in inter-generational poverty and poor health outcomes". "Adolescence offers a biological and social opportunity to reset health trajectories. The choices young people make now -- what they eat and how active they are -...

Diwali is here along with its festivities that not only include delicious food and drink, but also the firecrackers, which have become an inseparable part of the celebrations. Unfortunately, even as the experience of lighting them brings out the inner child in us, they affect our health in more than one way. They not only bring with them the noise pollution that startle animals, but also the smoke that actually has adverse effects on people’s health, and makes it worse for those with pre-existing respiratory problems. Mumbai doctors say they aren’t the only ones affected during this time of the year, but it is also the children, who have lungs that are still growing, but also the elderly and pregnant women, who are also vulnerable during this time of the year.   With Diwali underway and ...

An ambulance assistant of the Indian Army returning to duty from leave administered mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to an eight-month-old infant on a train and saved his life, a Defence official said on Saturday. Sepoy Sunil, posted in a field hospital of the Army in the north-east, administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to the infant and stabilised the baby while travelling on the New Delhi-Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express, he said. "His timely and professional action prevented a fatality in a situation where no immediate medical support was available," the Defence official said in a statement. The eight-month-old infant had developed sudden respiratory distress while travelling in the train earlier this week and became unresponsive. The mother of the child fainted as she thought the ...

Once considered a midlife milestone, menopause is now arriving earlier for many Indian women — sometimes in their late 30s or early 40s. Doctors are seeing a sharp rise in cases of premature or early menopause, driven by a mix of lifestyle, environmental, and hormonal factors. Every year, World Menopause Day observed on October 18 aims to raise awareness about menopause and the support options available for improving women’s health and well-being during this life stage. Now, experts are sounding the alarm: Indian women are entering menopause much earlier than their Western counterparts. On average, Indian women experience menopause at the age of 46–47 years — several years earlier than women in the West. “Women today are experiencing perimenopause earlier than expected,” says Dr. Shweta ...

Diwali is almost here as it set to be celebrated from October 18 to October 23 across five days not only in India but across the world. Indians across the country are going to be celebrating the ‘Festival of Lights’ with a lot of good food, culture, tradition, but many for many it is not complete without bursting firecrackers, an activity that has become an important part of the festivities. The traditional crackers that not only produce a lot of smoke but also create a lot of loud sounds. This not only leads to air but also sound pollution, with the latter affecting humans and animals alike.  With Diwali festivities, mid-day spoke to Dr Paresh P Naik, Consultant ENT, Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre, and Dr Jarvis Pereira, Consultant ENT, Holy Family Hospital, highlight the effects ...

Even though preventable, lead exposure remains a serious global health threat and continues to affect millions of children and adults alike, said the World Health Organization on Friday, calling for immediate action to tackle the growing burden.  Lead is present in numerous everyday materials, including paint, batteries, cosmetics, and even spices. It contaminates air, water, and soil, resulting in persistent exposure in communities worldwide. It is linked to approximately 1.5 million deaths annually, primarily from cardiovascular disease, and causes irreversible neurological and behavioural damage, especially in children. Young children absorb significantly more lead than adults, leading to reduced IQ, learning difficulties, and behavioural problems. Lead exposure also harms the develop...

Maternal exposure to air pollution particles such as PM2.5 during pregnancy can affect brain development in newborn babies, according to a new study.  Researchers at Hospital del Mar, the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), and the CIBER area of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP) in Spain analysed extremely small particles -- about thirty times thinner than a human hair. It was composed of harmful elements from combustion processes and toxic organic compounds, but also of essential elements for brain development, such as iron, copper, and zinc. The results, published in the journal Environment International, showed that newborns of mothers exposed to higher levels of fine airborne particles during pregnancy show slower myelination at this very early stage of life. M...