The Union Health Ministry implemented a ban on 156 "irrational" FDC medicines, effective immediately. These medicines, including widely used antibiotics, painkillers, and multivitamins, were commonly used to treat fever, cough, and infections. The ban was imposed due to the associated health risks and lack of therapeutic justification for the ingredients in these FDCs.

What are FDC medicines?

FDCs or fixed-dosed combinations, also known as "cocktail drugs," are medications that combine multiple drugs in a single pill. They are designed to treat multiple symptoms or conditions simultaneously. While they offer convenience, they can pose significant risks. These risks include the possibility of overdose, adverse interactions between the drugs, and the development of antibiotic resistance. Additionally, many FDC medicines lack sufficient scientific evidence to support their safety and efficacy.

Expert opinions on FDC medicines

Experts have raised concerns about the use of FDC medicines. They believe that many of these combinations lack sufficient scientific evidence to support their safety and effectiveness. Additionally, the combination of multiple drugs in a single pill can increase the risk of adverse side effects and interactions with other medications.

Experts have also found that FDC medicines may not be as effective as individual drugs in treating certain conditions. It is important to note that safer and more effective alternatives are available for most of the medical conditions that FDC medicines were used to treat. One particular concern is the inclusion of antibiotics in some FDCs. Overuse of antibiotics can contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance, a major public health threat.

The risks of FDC medicines

The use of FDC medicines can lead to adverse effects, including serious ones. Additionally, safer alternatives, tested in clinical trials, are available to treat the same medical conditions. Experts recommend prescribing drugs individually based on a patient's clinical symptoms rather than combining them in FDCs.

The ban on irrational FDC medicines by the Union Health Ministry can be seen as a positive step towards promoting rational drug use and protecting public health. The goal is to eliminate unnecessary and potentially harmful drug combinations. This is a step forward in reducing the risks associated with medication and ensure safer and more effective treatment options for patients.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has once again claimed that US President Donald Trump is "suffering from dementia," an allegation the White House has strongly denied.

Speaking to CNN, Pritzker said Trump is "a different man" than he was a decade ago.

Pritzker Questions Trump's Mental Fitness

"Look, the man is continually suffering from dementia," Pritzker said. "I don't think he really understands what he's saying."

He added that Trump often makes statements without fully thinking them through.

"This is a man who has threatened to jail the mayor of Chicago, the governor of Illinois. He regularly threatens to go after people and, indeed, has used the Department of Justice to go after people," Pritzker said.

According to Pritzker, Trump has "concepts in his head" that he tends to blurt out without careful consideration.

He also urged people to compare Trump's public appearances from 2015 and 2016 with his recent speeches and press conferences.

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"I really think that there's something genuinely wrong with him," Pritzker said.

However, Pritzker acknowledged that he is not medically qualified to diagnose the president.

'I'm Not a Doctor,' Pritzker, while criticizing what he described as Trump's increasingly disjointed speech patterns.

He said the way Trump "puts words and sentences together... they are almost divergent in the same sentences."

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Trump's Health Under Scrutiny

Trump, who became the oldest US president in history after turning 80 this year, has faced growing public scrutiny over his health.

Recent public appearances have prompted speculation after observers noted swollen ankles, bruising on his hands, verbal slips and occasional episodes in which he appeared drowsy during meetings and international summits.

Some physicians have also publicly expressed concerns about the president's physical and cognitive health, although none have diagnosed him with dementia.

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New Book Makes Fresh Claims

A recently released book, Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump, claims the president's medical condition is among the administration's most closely guarded subjects.

Written by The New York Times White House correspondent Maggie Haberman and investigative reporter Jonathan Swan, the book is based on more than 1,000 interviews conducted over three years.

According to the authors, Trump now prefers shorter public appearances, seated events and staying close to the White House, unlike his extensive travel schedule during the 2024 presidential campaign.

The book also describes Trump as more of a "homebody" during his second term and claims staff members observed that he was sleeping less while spending early morning hours watching television, speaking on the phone and posting on Truth Social.

White House Rejects Allegations

The White House dismissed the claims made in the book.

"President Trump's sharpness, unmatched energy, and historic accessibility stand in stark contrast to what we saw during the last administration when Democrats and the legacy media intentionally covered up Joe Biden's serious mental and physical decline from the American people," White House spokesperson Davis Ingle told the Daily Mail.

"President Trump is the sharpest and most accessible President in American history who is working nonstop to solve problems and deliver on his promises."

Trump Says He Is in 'Excellent Health'

Meanwhile, Trump has also repeatedly rejected allegations of cognitive decline or other serious health issues.

His most recent annual physical examination concluded that he is "in excellent health."

A 42-year-old woman in the UK recently shared the story of her decade-long battle with a parasitic brain infection called neurocysticercosis. Lowri Denman took a 3-month trip to India in 2007. Three years later, she passed a meter-long tapeworm that left her horrified. Years later, her health worsened in the worst way imaginable.

UK Woman Left With 38 Parasites After India Trip

Despite avoiding meat on her trip, Denman picked up the infection after she ate pork that contained microscopic tapeworm eggs.

After the doctor gave her a clean bill of health, she began experiencing headaches and seizures. A doctor's consultation and several diagnostic tests revealed that she had 38 parasites in her brain. After confirming her neurocysticercosis diagnosis, her treatment ensued to which she responded well. She spent a few years in good health.

But after some time, she developed swellings on her brain around the parasites that caused various new symptoms in her body. She ended up quitting her job and moved with her parents for medical care.

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Treatment, medication, and psychological stress affected her physical appearance and mental well-being. She experienced paranoia, psychosis, severe anxiety, and panic attacks. She also spent six weeks in a neuropsychiatric hospital.

After years of recovery, Lowri regained normalcy and returned to work in 2022. Her case turned out to be rare, went on to be discussed by many experts in the UK and the US.

Lowri did not have any surgery to remove the parasites from her brain. The parasites have now calcified in her brain. She will remain on epilepsy medication for the rest of her life.

Lowri is now determined to spread awareness about the disease using her experience.

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All About Neurocysticercosis

Neurocysticercosis is a parasitic brain infection that also affects the spinal cord. It is caused by the larval stage of the pork tapeworm, Taenia Solium. It is the leading cause of acquired epilepsy in several underdeveloped and developing nations.

Neurocysticercosis occurs when a person swallows tapeworm eggs, usually through food or water contaminated with feces from someone carrying the adult tapeworm. The eggs then hatch in the body, travel through the bloodstream, and form cysts in the brain.

The symptoms of neurocysticercosis depend on the basis of the size and number of the cysts. They include:

• Seizures

• Headaches

• Nausea and vomiting

• Weakness or numbness

• Vision problems

• Difficulty with balance and coordination

• Difficulty in thinking and focusing

Its prevention includes maintaining good hand hygiene, ensuring proper sanitation and sewage disposal, consuming thoroughly cooked pork, and identifying and treating people who carry the adult tapeworm. Preventing pigs from accessing human feces is also a preventative measure.

Although neurocysticercosis is uncommon in many developed nations; it still occurs, especially in people who have lived or traveled to regions where the parasite is endemic.

At least 17 US states have reported cases of watery diarrhea, nausea and fatigue caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 145 people aged between five and 86 contracted the parasite between May 1 and June 16.

Twenty of those infected have been hospitalized. The infections have been reported across 17 states, with the highest number of cases recorded in New York.

"Local, state and federal (CDC, FDA) public health authorities are investigating several clusters of cases in more than one state. Investigations to identify potential sources are ongoing," the CDC said in its update on the outbreak.

Which States Are Reporting Cases?

New York has reported the highest number of cases, with between 31 and 80 infections, according to The Independent. Illinois and Texas have each reported between 11 and 30 cases. Other affected states include:

• Alaska
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Florida
• Georgia
• Louisiana
• Massachusetts
• New Jersey
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• Tennessee
• Virginia
• Wisconsin

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Cases Typically Rise During Summer

Cyclospora infections usually increase during the summer months, and the CDC considers May 1 through August 31 to be the peak cyclosporiasis season. No deaths have been reported in the current outbreak.

As of June 16, the CDC had also recorded 45 travel-related cases of cyclosporiasis among people who became ill after consuming contaminated food or water outside the United States.

Three of those patients were hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported.

Health officials believe the current outbreak is linked to contaminated food consumed within the United States. Most of the affected patients had not travelled outside the country before becoming ill.

The officials are still working to identify the specific food item responsible for the outbreak.

What is Cyclospora cayetanensis?

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Cyclospora cayetanensis is a parasite that leads to the illness Cyclosporiasis -- a form of food poisoning.

One can get a Cyclospora infection from contaminated food or water. It causes watery diarrhea and other intestinal symptoms.

A Cyclospora infection can be mild or very serious, and may last weeks or months. It is typically treated with antibiotics.

People with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS or cancer, are more at risk of severe disease.

Symptoms Of Cyclospora Infection

Symptoms of cyclosporiasis usually start within a week of exposure (eating or drinking contaminated food or water) and include:

• Watery or explosive diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Bloating and gas
• Fatigue (extreme tiredness)
• Low-grade fever
• Nausea
• Stomach cramps
• Vomiting

How Can You Prevent A Cyclospora Infection

While it is not yet fully understood how Cyclospora gets into food and water, individuals can prevent cyclosporiasis by not consuming food or water that may be contaminated with feces.

The US CDC advises people to take measures to prevent the foodborne illness such as:

• Wash your hands with soap and water before and after handling or preparing raw fruits and vegetables
• Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting, or cooking
• Fruits and vegetables that are labeled "prewashed" do not need to be washed again at home
• Scrub firm fruits and vegetables, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush
• Cut away any damaged or bruised areas on fruits and vegetables before preparing and eating
• Refrigerate cut, peeled, or cooked fruits and vegetables as soon as possible (within two hours).