From 1 November 2023, the shingles vaccine Shingrix® will replace Zostavax® on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) schedule to help prevent shingles and post-herpetic neuralgia. 

A free 2-dose course of Shingrix® will be available for: 

• people aged 65 years or over 
• First Nations people aged 50 years or over, and
• immunocompromised people aged 18 years or over with specific medical conditions such as haemopoetic stem cell transplant, solid organ transplant, haematological malignancy and advanced or untreated HIV

Iron deficiency anaemia is one of the most common haematological conditions in the world, affecting females of childbearing age, children and individuals living in low- and middle- income countries. 

Iron is an essential component for haemoglobin synthesis, and its uptake, storage and utilisation are regulated by a number of physiological mechanisms. Haemoglobin carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. Iron is absorbed in proximal small intestine via dietary containing iron. Food containing high iron such red meats, fruits and vegetables such as beans, lentils, tofu and etc. To increase iron absorption, Vitamin C can be consumed with iron tablets or foods containing high iron. 

Read more …

Iron infusion therapy is now available at our clinic which only takes 15 to 20 minutes. The iron infusion therapy is Ferinject (Ferric carboxymaltose) which was listed on PBS June 2014. If you have low iron studies and anaemia on blood tests and unable to tolerate oral iron tablets, iron infusion therapy is another alternative treatment available. It has very good safety profile with very rare occasion of anaphylaxis or anaphylactoid reaction. Other side effects are headache, nausea, abdominal pain and injection site reaction (includes possible skin staining from leakage of iron infusion). In the past, a doctor had to refer a patient to a hospital for iron infusion and been put on long waiting list. However, this will no longer necessary. Iron infusion procedure will cost $200 with Medicare rebate $82.90 (this does not include the cost of Ferinject)

NB: Patient will need to see a doctor first. The doctor will assess the patient and check on latest blood test results. The doctor will then write prescription for Ferinject. The patient will book a time for iron infusion to be done on designated day. As per our medical centre policy, we are only doing iron infusion for a patient who is 15 year old and above.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterised by red and scaly plaque rash. It is thought to be immune-mediated inflammatory (autoimmune) disease. It is not contagious. Psoriasis also can affect nails and joints (causing psoriatic arthritis). Psoriasis affects 2-4% of males and females. It affects at any age from childhood to adult. It has peaks onset of 30-39 years and 50-69 years.

Risk factor for triggering or worsening psoriasis:

• Family history especially in those with first degree relatives. Genetics suspectibility with major histocompatibility complex on chromosome 6p21, IL-12 and IL-23 genes had been implicated in psoriasis
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Drugs such as Lithium, Beta- blockers, antimalarials, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• Infections due to viral or bacterial infections. Poststreptococcal infection causes flare of guttate psoriasis. HIV is known to worsen the condition of psoriasis.
• Excess alcohol consumption
  

Clinical features:

Psoriasis usually presents with symmetrically distributed, red, scaly plaques with well defined borders. The scale can be silvery white and may have peeling surface. Scaling and redness of skin occurs due to increased growth than normal and cells turnover in psoriasis with inflammation. In normal skin, the skin cells turnover is 27 days but in psoriasis, the skin cells turnover become shortened to 4 days. The most common sites affected are scalp, elbows and knees. In severe form of psoriasis, it can affect the whole body. Some patient can complain itchy of the skin leading to scratching and lichenification (thickened leathery skin).

Read more …