All about Ménière's disease

Ménière's disease is an abnormality of the inner ear causing a host of symptoms, including vertigo or severe dizziness, tinnitus or a roaring sound in the ears, fluctuating hearing loss, and the sensation of pressure or pain in the affected ear. The disorder usually affects only one ear and is a common cause of hearing loss. Named after French physician Prosper Ménière who first described the syndrome in 1861. more  

Treatment approaches for drug addiction

Drug addiction is a complex but treatable brain disease. It is characterized by compulsive drug craving, seeking, and use that persist even in the face of severe adverse consequences. For many people, drug addiction becomes chronic, with relapses possible even after long periods of abstinence. more

Marketing junk food to children restricted

More than 50 consumer groups have decided to back a "code of practice" which will include restrictions on television and internet advertising of unhealthy food to children. Honoring the code of practice is voluntary. more  

The methadone fix

There is no miracle solution to the addictive grip of opioid drugs such as heroin, writes Patralekha Chatterjee. New WHO guidelines confirm that, even after 40 years, substitution therapies such as methadone are still the most promising method of reducing drug dependence, but getting access to treatment is a global problem. more

Who owns the information? Who has the power?  

The Health Metrics Network, which is hosted by WHO, received US$ 50 million in funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to improve the quality and reliability of health information in developing countries. Executive Secretary Dr Sally Stansfield says it’s time for the world to shift the ownership of health information to countries instead of letting donors and disease-specific programs run the agenda. more

Acute pesticide poisoning: A proposed classification tool 

Cases of acute pesticide poisoning (APP) account for significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in developing countries.1,2 There are no reliable estimates as to how many people per year suffer from pesticide-related health effects. This is due to several reasons including a lack of standardized case definition. more

HIV, infant feeding and more perils for poor people: new WHO guidelines encourage review of formula milk policies

The new WHO Consensus Statement on HIV and Infant Feeding highlights critical issues in the continuing debate on whether the HIV transmission resulting from breastfeeding can ever be superseded by the benefits of breastfeeding and therefore justified ethically. more

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Information appearing on the Vidyya Medical News Service is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Seek professional medical help and follow your health care provider's advice.

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