monsoon may increase

Monsoon may increase fungal infections

ByJustpaste.in

During the monsoon season the number of people developing fungal infections between their toes often increases.

Health experts say this is mainly because of extra humidity and sweat which create the perfect environment for fungus to grow.

Contrary to popular belief rainwater itself does not cause fungal infections. The real problem is when the skin stays wet for a long time.

Moist skin allows fungus to grow more easily.

According to dermatologist people with diabetes obesity weak immune systems or excessive sweating are at a higher risk.

In these individuals fungal infections may take longer to heal and are more likely to return.

Fungal infections usually affect warm damp areas of the body including the armpits groin waist neck under the breasts between the fingers and toes feet and scalp.

Common symptoms include itching, redness burning flaky skin and red rashes.

Experts say wearing wet clothes staying in sweaty clothing for long periods using damp shoes or socks or wearing tight fitting clothes during the rainy season can greatly increase the risk of infection.

Keeping the skin clean and dry is one of the best ways to prevent it. The scalp can also be affected during the monsoon. High humidity may keep the scalp damp for longer allowing fungus and bacteria to grow.

This can lead to dandruff itching an oily scalp and in some cases hair loss.

Doctors also warn against leaving hair wet after getting caught in the rain. It is best to rinse your hair with clean water and dry it completely to reduce the risk of scalp infections.

Avoid self treatment

health experts advise against buying anti itch or antifungal creams without consulting a doctor.  Some creams contain steroids that may temporarily reduce itching but can allow the fungal infection to spread further making it harder to treat later.

Stopping treatment as soon as symptoms improve is another common mistake.  Doctors recommend completing the full course of medicine as prescribed to prevent the infection from coming back.

Tips to prevent fungal infections

•Keep your skin and scalp clean and dry.

•Change sweaty clothes as soon as possible.

•Avoid wearing wet shoes or socks for long periods.

•Wear loose cotton clothing.

Eat a balanced diet to support a healthy immune system. Do not use skin or hair creams without medical advice.

Experts say early diagnosis proper treatment and good hygiene can help prevent fungal infections and reduce the chances of them returning.

Similar Posts

  • |

    Writers are embracing flaws to fight AI prose

    ByJustpaste.in

    In an era where generative artificial intelligence can generate essays in seconds, the digital world is quietly witnessing a linguistic backlash. Readers are increasingly attuned to the invisible fingerprint of large language models. Perfectly balanced sentences, predictable three-item lists, flawless grammar and fondness for the em dash. In response, a movement of novelists, journalists, essayists, and even corporate creators are opting an anti-AI literary counterculture. These writers are actively reintroducing human idiosyncrasies ranging from unorthodox metaphors to intentional typos to declare that a human is behind the keyboard. The hallmark of standard AI-generated text is not necessarily bad grammar. In fact, it is often too clean. Text-generation algorithms default to statistically probable phrasing. It’s resulting in a distinctively smooth, neutral tone that rarely takes stylistic risks. Over the past few years, certain visual and structural patterns have become clear red flags for readers. Excessive dependence on em dashes. Relying on clinical or dramatic transitions like “In conclusion,” “Delve,” or “Navigating the landscape of…” Prose that seems lacking the natural rhythm, pauses, and unpredictable detours of spontaneous speech. To break free from these algorithmic habits, authors are adopting techniques anchored in absolute negation. Novelist Laura Brooke Robson, author of Love Is an Algorithm, noted that she actively altered her sentence structures to avoid robotic cadence. Instead of relying on conventional metaphors, she intentionally sought out unexpected punctuation. For creators, avoiding the default traps of language models has surprisingly made their writing more original and lively. This counterculture goes beyond simply avoiding specific punctuation marks. Writers are cultivating a distinct aesthetic centered on authenticity, vulnerability, and friction. After years of detached or objective styles, creators are leaning back into intimate first-person storytelling. Specific personal experiences, odd sensory details, and messy real-life observations serve as proof of lived experience. They prove to be something synthetic text generators cannot genuinely claim. Minor human flaws, casual slang and even subtle typos are being viewed as authentic signatures. Some digital platforms and creators have even experimented with tools that preserve raw keystrokes to signal genuine human origin. Instead of smoothing out every transition, writers are introducing erratic pacing, quirky similes, and inventive vocabulary. Authors create an experience that keeps the reader engaged. Deliberately reassuring them that the text wasn’t produced by an automated model. Can Artificial Intelligence Just Copy It? Skeptics of this trend point out an obvious paradox! If large language models are capable of processing complex prompts, they can just as easily be instructed to “write with typos,” “use casual grammar,” or “tell a quirky story in the first person.” From a purely technical perspective, intentional mistakes does not make prose impossible for a machine to imitate. However, proponents of the movement emphasize that outsmarting algorithms was never the primary goal. Instead, the anti-AI counterculture is an artistic statement about human craft and intention. Writing is fundamentally an act of personal communication between two minds. When readers engage with text, they are seeking the author’s unique perspective, effort, and creative voice. Ultimately, this movement signals how society values written communication. As machine-generated text becomes ubiquitous, hyper-polished prose is losing its premium status. What readers increasingly crave is not frictionless perfection, but the warmth and oddity of a human voice.  

  • Remembering Maryam Mirzakhani

    ByJustpaste.in

    When Maryam Mirzakhani approached complex mathematical problems, she did not rush to find immediate solutions. Instead, she unrolled large sheets of paper across her floor, sat down with markers, and drew intricate shapes, loops, and abstract surfaces. A ritual so visual that her young daughter described her rigorous research simply as painting. Behind those quiet, methodical sketches was one of the most brilliant mathematical minds of her generation. A scholar whose work reshaped our understanding of spatial geometry and dynamic systems forever. Born and raised in Tehran, Iran, Mirzakhani’s early childhood ambitions centered on literature rather than numbers. She devoured books and dreamed of writing novels. However, during her high school years, her focus shifted dramatically as she discovered the creative, puzzle-like nature of advanced mathematics. Her extraordinary talent surfaced on the world stage when she represented Iran at the International Mathematical Olympiad, winning gold medals in back-to-back years at ages 17 and 18, including a flawless top score in her second appearance. After completing her undergraduate studies at Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, Mirzakhani moved to the United States to pursue graduate research. At Harvard University, under the mentorship of Fields Medalist Curtis McMullen, she tackled complex problems in theoretical geometry that had baffled researchers for decades. She earned her PhD at age 27, producing a doctoral dissertation so groundbreaking that it yielded multiple papers published in top-tier mathematical journals. Her career progressed rapidly, leading to a full professorship at Stanford University by the age of 31. Mirzakhani’s work specialized in theoretical areas such as hyperbolic geometry, Riemann surfaces, and moduli spaces. She’s expert in abstract concepts that involve understanding the geometry and dynamic possibilities of complex curved surfaces. While her research was firmly rooted in pure mathematics, it held profound implications for theoretical physics, quantum field theory and cryptography. In 2014, at the age of 37, Mirzakhani achieved a historical milestone. She was awarded the Fields Medal, officially known as the International Medal for Outstanding Discoveries in Mathematics. Widely regarded as the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for mathematics, the honor is presented only once every four years to exceptional scholars under 40. Mirzakhani became both the first woman and the first Iranian ever to receive the award since its establishment in 1936. Despite national and international acclaim, Mirzakhani remained famously modest. She often referred to herself as a slow mathematician. She emphasized that true insight comes from patience, resilience, and a willingness to feel lost before finding a breakthrough. To her, mathematics was not about fast calculations, but about deep, enduring understanding. Tragically, her life was cut short. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013, she continued her scholarly pursuits while fighting the disease. By 2016, the cancer had spread to her liver and bones. On July 14, 2017, Mirzakhani passed away at Stanford Hospital at the age of 40. Her passing sparked widespread tributes across the globe, with academic institutions, world leaders, and fellow scientists celebrating her contributions. Today, her legacy endures as a testament to human curiosity. Her life is an enduring inspiration for women pursuing careers in science and mathematics worldwide.    

  • Texter’s thumb warning signs

    ByJustpaste.in

    Smartphones have become an important part of daily life but using them for long hours can put extra stress on your hands especially your thumbs. If you often spend hours typing chatting or scrolling through social media and notice pain stiffness numbness or a clicking feeling in your thumb wrist or hand don’t ignore these signs. Health experts say this condition is commonly known as “Texter’s Thumb.” It is a term used for hand and thumb problems caused by repeated smartphone use. Common symptoms include thumb joint pain stiff fingers swelling near the thumb and discomfort while moving it. Doctors warn that ignoring these symptoms can lead to more serious hand and wrist problems over time.  In the past people mainly used phones for calls and text messages. Today smartphones are used for social media online banking watching videos shopping gaming and many other daily tasks. This increase in screen time puts continuous pressure on the hands. Dr. Maureen O’Shaughnessy from the University of Kentucky HealthCare Hand Center says smartphones are now a permanent part of modern life so people should learn healthier ways to use them without putting unnecessary strain on their hands and body. Experts explain that holding a phone in the same position for hours or keeping the wrist and elbow in one position for too long can cause pain at the base of the thumb and in the wrist. Using only one hand for most phone activities can also tire the fingers. Many people notice their pain improves after spending a few days using their phones less. To reduce the risk experts recommend taking regular breaks from your phone. If you cannot avoid using it try changing how you hold it switch between your left and right hand and use different fingers instead of relying only on your thumbs. Reducing endless scrolling can also help. Using the phone’s voice to text feature is another simple way to reduce typing and lower stress on your hands. Increasing the font size can make the screen easier to read without holding the phone too close. Grip holders or phone rings attached to the back of the device can also improve comfort by spreading the phone’s weight across your hand and acting as a stand while watching videos. If your hands or thumbs feel sore after a long day of phone use spend a few minutes each day doing gentle stretches for your fingers and wrists. Experts say these simple exercises can relax the muscles improve blood flow and help prevent future hand and wrist problems.

  • From notebook to newsroom: what ethical journalism looks like in an AI-powered world

    ByJustpaste.in

    By Nabiha Khalid A specific sort of discomfort falls over a newsroom when the instruments of the profession begin to surpass the ethical standards intended to regulate them. Artificial intelligence is now capable of creating text, images, and videos that are indistinguishable from genuine human creations, and the consequences of this change are far from straightforward. When a false quote can be convincingly linked to a public figure, or when a deepfake video can spread more swiftly than any correction can be issued, the very core of journalistic integrity the assumption that reported facts reflect what has truly happened faces significant pressure. This is not an imagined crisis; it is the current reality in modern media. I attened a workshop under the project titled “Digital Trust and Free Expression in the AI Era” at the Department of Media and Development Communication, University of the Punjab, supported by the U.S. Mission to Pakistan in partnership with the Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network (PUAN) last week and we discuused in the wrodkshop that what ethical journalism requires in today’s context cannot depend solely on instinct. Verification must be a systematic process rather than something that happens by chance, involving a discipline of cross-checking, sourcing from multiple angles, and being technically adept at identifying manipulated media. Fact-checking, which used to be a background activity conducted before publication, must now be approached as a clear, continual practice that news consumers can observe and rely on. The difference between accurate reporting and unintentionally spreading misinformation often hinges on this one consistent habit of verification, applied uniformly rather than selectively. It is equally important to emphasize responsible digital storytelling, understanding that journalists do not just deliver information but are guardians of public knowledge. In an information landscape dominated by AI, the journalist’s role evolves slightly: from being the first to break news to becoming the most trustworthy source to verify it. This shift does not imply a lesser role; rather, it could very well be the most crucial aspect of journalism in the coming years. It is important to place this change in a broader historical context. Journalism has endured disruptive technologies in the past the telegraph shortened distances, the around-the-clock news cycle diminished patience, and social media altered the role of gatekeeping, enabling anyone with a smartphone to share information. Each disruption brought about its own ethical challenges, and each time, the industry persisted not by opposing the technology but by creating new standards to regulate it. Artificial intelligence is the newest and possibly the most significant example of this trend. What sets it apart from previous disruptions is the remarkable realism of synthetic content: earlier types of misinformation needed some level of narrative development, whereas AI can now generate the very evidence needed an image, a voice, a document ,Journalism has long relied on certain standards as evidence. This brings up a difficult yet essential question: can the technologies that jeopardize trust in journalism also aid in its restoration? The answer, with caution, is affirmative. News organizations are increasingly utilizing AI-assisted verification tools, reverse-image analysis, and metadata forensics to combat the misuse of these very technologies. This dual nature of AI serving both as a threat and a tool indicates that ethical journalism today necessitates a level of technical knowledge that was not mandatory a decade ago but has now become crucial. A journalist who lacks training in identifying the distinctive markers of synthetic media is, in a significant way, not adequately equipped for the current landscape. Additionally, there is a less obvious yet significant challenge to address: the imbalance between the rapid production of AI-generated content and the measured approach of ethical journalism. News organizations facing pressure to publish swiftly areparticularly prone to this disparity, making it essential that rigorous editorial standards, rather than advanced technological capabilities, serve as the key protection.No matter how advanced a detection tool may be, it cannot take the place of an organizational culture which places a priority on accuracy rather than on immediacy. The responsibility for digital trust does not fall solely on journalists. Public media literacy the ability to critically assess a viral image, to look for a second source before sharing, and to identify the emotional manipulation often present in synthetic content serves as a crucial second line of defense. In this regard, ethical journalism and an informed audience are interdependent: one cannot completely substitute for the lack of the other. The diligence of a newsroom holds little value if its audience hasn’t been prepared to recognize and demand that diligence in the first place. So, in an age when artificial intelligence is involved, ethical journalism does not call for rejecting technology; rather it involves basing the use of technology on firm principles of verification, transparency, and accountability. The future of the newsroom won’t be determined by how fast it publishes, but by the care with which it confirms the facts, and perhaps that is the most human safeguard we still have. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the U.S. Mission to Pakistan or USEFP/PUAN.

  • Balancing Welfare and Healthcare

    ByJustpaste.in

    By Dr Sajid Shiek Pakistan’s social protection programmes have helped many vulnerable families. The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and its health and nutrition-linked initiatives are meant to support mothers, children, and low-income households. BISP’s Nashonuma programme is described by the programme itself as a conditional cash transfer initiative for health and nutrition, and it works through facilitation centres at government health facilities. In Sindh, the Mother and Child Support Program, also known as MAMTA, is similarly designed to provide cash support to pregnant and lactating women while linking assistance with regular health checkups. These efforts are important and deserve recognition. At the same time, public programmes should also be reviewed for how they affect service delivery inside already crowded health facilities. Having worked as a Medical Officer in the Health Department since 2014, I have seen that the implementation of these programmes in government hospitals can create practical difficulties, especially in rural areas. This is not a criticism of the welfare idea itself. It is a concern about how the system is being managed. Many rural government hospitals in Sindh already face limited space, staff shortages, and pressure on basic resources. When programme-related procedures are carried out in the same facilities, the number of visitors increases further. In some centres, outpatient attendance has risen sharply, not only because of illness, but also because beneficiaries must visit hospitals to complete formalities linked to these programmes. As a result, outpatient departments become crowded for much of the day. Doctors and paramedical staff must divide their time between patient care and administrative work. Medicines, supplies, and other hospital resources are used more quickly, which can affect patients who come for treatment of genuine medical problems. Crowding also makes infection prevention more difficult. The World Health Organization says infection prevention and control is essential for safe and quality healthcare, and that without effective IPC, quality health care delivery is not possible. In busy facilities, long queues and congested waiting areas can increase the risk of spreading communicable diseases, especially among pregnant women, infants, and older patients. Another issue that deserves attention is the possible effect on family planning services. Financial support linked to pregnancy and safe delivery can encourage maternal care, but policymakers should also consider whether such incentives are fully aligned with broader reproductive health and population management goals. This is an area that needs careful assessment rather than assumptions. The burden is not only physical. Healthcare workers are also under pressure. The WHO has noted that high levels of stress, burnout, and workforce strain are linked to staff shortages, unsafe working conditions, and stressful environments, and that at least a quarter of health and care workers reported anxiety, depression, and burnout symptoms between January 2020 and April 2022. In crowded facilities, these pressures can grow further and affect the quality of care. The solution does not require reducing social welfare programmes. It requires better coordination. A practical step would be to establish separate BISP and MAMTA facilitation centres outside hospitals, or at least in dedicated administrative units with separate staff. This would allow beneficiaries to receive support without interrupting clinical work. Hospitals could then focus on diagnosis, treatment, emergency care, maternal services, immunization, and disease prevention. Better coordination between social protection and health departments would reduce congestion, improve infection control, and allow medical staff to spend more time on patient care. It would also make the welfare system more efficient and easier for beneficiaries to use. Pakistan does not need to choose between social protection and healthcare. Both are public responsibilities, and both should strengthen each other. If welfare administration is kept separate from clinical services, hospitals can remain focused on healing, while social programmes continue to support the poor in a more effective way. This issue deserves review at the policy level. A small structural change could improve both healthcare delivery and social protection outcomes across the country. The writer is a senior Medical Officer. He can be reached at doctorsajid07@gmail.com

  • Organic eggs may have higher environmental impact

    ByJustpaste.in

    A new study by researchers at the University of Oxford suggests that producing organic and free range eggs may have a greater impact on the environment than eggs produced by hens kept in conventional cage systems. According to the research if all egg production switched to organic and free range farming carbon emissions could increase by about 60%. The amount of land needed for egg production would also nearly double. The researchers estimated that producing only organic and free range eggs would release around 2.316 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gases. In comparison producing eggs only from caged hens would generate about 1.184 million tonnes. The study explains that while organic and free range systems are often considered better for animal welfare they require more hens to produce the same number of eggs.  This is because hens kept in cage systems generally lay eggs more efficiently. Researchers also warned that organic and free range farming may require more land and could have a greater impact on water pollution. The study’s lead author, Dr. Harriet Bartlett said that future decisions about egg production should carefully balance three important factors animal welfare environmental impact and the need to produce enough food.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *