Newsletters

2023 Newsletters - 2023-07-07

Hepatitis B

How common is Chronic Hepatitis B?

• Chronic Hepatitis B is known to be a global problem.
• More than 250 million people are chronically infected with Hepatitis B virus.
• Chronic infection causes more than 650 000 deaths each year.

2023 Newsletters - 2023-07-06

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes both acute and chronic infection. Acute HCV infection is usually asymptomatic and is only very rarely associated with life-threatening disease. About 15–45% of infected persons spontaneously clear the virus without any treatment. The remaining 55–85% of persons will develop chronic HCV infection. Of those with chronic HCV infection, the risk of Cirrhosis of the liver is 15–30% within 20 years.

2023 Newsletters - 2023-06-05

Hormonal Imbalance in Women

Welcome to the latest edition of our newsletter! In this edition, we delve into the significance of hormones, explore common hormonal imbalances in women, and highlight how our laboratory can help you gain a deeper understanding of your hormonal health.

2023 Newsletters - 2023-06-05

Lactose intolerance

Lactose is a sugar primarily found in milk. Our bodies possess an enzyme called lactase, which is responsible for breaking down this sugar. However, individuals with lactose intolerance experience a reduced activity or absence of this enzyme. As a result, lactose is not properly digested, leading to varying degrees of digestive issues such as bloating, flatulence, intestinal cramps, and diarrhea.

2023 Newsletters - 2023-05-18

World Hypertension Day 2023

The heart is the body’s most vital organ. When it beats, it pumps blood into the vessels which send the blood around the body. The force of pushing blood against the walls of the blood vessels is called the blood pressure. When the blood pressure is high, the heart has to pump harder to circulate blood around the body.

2023 Newsletters - 2023-05-15

Allergies

Allergies are a common health issue affecting millions of people worldwide. In this newsletter, we'll discuss the types of allergies, testing, management, and prevention.

2023 Newsletters - 2023-04-03

Cholera Update

During the first week of February this year, the South African health authorities reported two cases of cholera in people returning from Malawi. Since then, four more infections have been notified to the NICD.

2023 Newsletters - 2023-03-24

World TB Day

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by the bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) and mostly affects the lungs but may affect the central nervous system (brain) and gastrointestinal tract. A total of 1.6 million people died from TB in 2021 (including 187 000 people with HIV). Worldwide, TB is the 13th leading cause of death and the second leading infectious killer after COVID-19 (above HIV/AIDS).

2023 Newsletters - 2023-03-14

The Salty Truth

Salt is closely related to many aspects of human history. Its uses are vast ranging from being used to preserve and flavor food to being used to promote fertility in animals (1,2).

2023 Newsletters - 2023-03-09

Kidney Health

Preparing for the unexpected, supporting the vulnerable!
In the spirit of this year’s theme let’s explain a short summary of what we need to know about the kidney.