Health Connect – September Edition

Health Connect – September Edition
To kickstart our new monthly series, we will start off with a topic that has been widely reported in the media recently – monkeypox
Background
Monkeypox is a viral disease caused by the Monkeypox virus, an orthopoxvirus. There are 2 distinct types of the monkeypox virus – West African and Central African. The monkeypox virus from Western Africa is thought to be less virulent. While monkeypox is not a pathogen that we are familiar with in this part of the world that we live in, it has in fact been known to cause disease in humans for many years in Africa and is even endemic in certain parts of Africa.
Transmission
Monkeypox cases, outside of Africa, have been traditionally linked to global travel, importing of animals etc. However, since earlier this year, the medical community has taken note of the fact that there are cases of monkeypox infections in various parts of the world, with some patients having no known travel history. At present, investigations are underway to better understand this.
Transmission of the virus can be broadly classified into animal-to-human or human-to-human transmission. Animal-to-human transmission occurs when an individual is exposed and in contact with an infected animal’s fluids or bites etc. Human-to-human transmission can occur through close contact and exposure to infectious materials and fluids, skin lesions and respiratory droplets etc.
Clinical Manifestations
Most of the time, monkeypox infections are self-limiting and symptoms are mild, though serious complications do occasionally occur. Common symptoms include rash, fever, chills, lymph node swellings, headaches, muscle aches, fatigue and more.
Treatment
Treatment of monkeypox infections are usually supportive and symptomatic in nature. Antiviral medications/vaccinations are currently being explored.
Do refer to the resources from the Ministry of Health (Singapore) and World Health Organization for further information and the latest updates.
References
- Ministry of Health, Singapore. (2022, June 7). Monkeypox. Ministry of Health. Retrieved June 14, 2022, from https://www.moh.gov.sg/diseases-updates/monkeypox
- Isaacs, S. N. (2022, June 10). Monkeypox. UpToDate. Retrieved June 14, 2022, from https://www.uptodate.com/contents/monkeypox?search=monkeypox&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~17&usage_type=default&display_rank=1#H2690330960
Health Connect – August Edition

Health Connect – August Edition
Polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS for short, is a common hormonal disorder in women of reproductive age. About 10% of women in this age group have this condition, and up to 70% of cases remain undiagnosed.
What are the signs and symptoms of PCOS?
- Irregular or absence of menstrual period
- Symptoms of high male hormones: excess hair growth on body, male-pattern hair loss, decreased breast size etc.
- Acne, oily skin
- Metabolic syndrome: weight gain and obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and increased insulin level, high cholesterol
- Infertility/ subfertility
- Slightly enlarged ovaries or cysts in the ovaries
What is the cause of PCOS?
The exact cause is unknown, but it is likely to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Some women with PCOS have several cysts in their ovaries. This is due to the eggs not being released every month, and the unreleased eggs in the ovaries form the cysts. Due to the irregular release of the eggs, menstrual periods are irregular, and women might experience difficulty with conception.
Women with PCOS may also produce more than normal levels of male hormones, which result in the features of excessive body hair, male-patterned hair loss etc.
How is PCOS diagnosed?
Your doctor will need to ask you about your medical history, and do a physical examination. Investigations like blood tests and ultrasound pelvis are required as well.
Why is it important to diagnose PCOS?
PCOS is associated with metabolic syndrome and endometrial cancer. Identification of PCOS will create the opportunity for your doctor to educate you on the long-term risks and monitor you accordingly.
Women with PCOS might also experience mood swings and depression, regular follow-up with a healthcare provider will improve pickup rates of such complications.
What is the treatment for PCOS?
There is no cure for PCOS. Treatment is targeted based on symptoms, and aim to reduce the effect of symptoms.
Lifestyle and dietary modifications
Regular exercise and weight management often help with regularization of menstrual periods.
Pharmacological management
Contraception pills might be used to regulate menstruation.
Subfertility or infertility can be managed with a specialist with either medication to induce ovulation, in vitro fertilization, or laparoscopic keyhole surgery
Metformin might sometimes be used to manage the insulin abnormalities associated with PCOS.
Health Connect – July Edition

Health Connect – July Edition
To kickstart our new monthly series, we will start off with a topic that has been widely reported in the media recently – monkeypox
Background
Monkeypox is a viral disease caused by the Monkeypox virus, an orthopoxvirus. There are 2 distinct types of the monkeypox virus – West African and Central African. The monkeypox virus from Western Africa is thought to be less virulent. While monkeypox is not a pathogen that we are familiar with in this part of the world that we live in, it has in fact been known to cause disease in humans for many years in Africa and is even endemic in certain parts of Africa.
Transmission
Monkeypox cases, outside of Africa, have been traditionally linked to global travel, importing of animals etc. However, since earlier this year, the medical community has taken note of the fact that there are cases of monkeypox infections in various parts of the world, with some patients having no known travel history. At present, investigations are underway to better understand this.
Transmission of the virus can be broadly classified into animal-to-human or human-to-human transmission. Animal-to-human transmission occurs when an individual is exposed and in contact with an infected animal’s fluids or bites etc. Human-to-human transmission can occur through close contact and exposure to infectious materials and fluids, skin lesions and respiratory droplets etc.
Clinical Manifestations
Most of the time, monkeypox infections are self-limiting and symptoms are mild, though serious complications do occasionally occur. Common symptoms include rash, fever, chills, lymph node swellings, headaches, muscle aches, fatigue and more.
Treatment
Treatment of monkeypox infections are usually supportive and symptomatic in nature. Antiviral medications/vaccinations are currently being explored.
Do refer to the resources from the Ministry of Health (Singapore) and World Health Organization for further information and the latest updates.
References
- Ministry of Health, Singapore. (2022, June 7). Monkeypox. Ministry of Health. Retrieved June 14, 2022, from https://www.moh.gov.sg/diseases-updates/monkeypox
- Isaacs, S. N. (2022, June 10). Monkeypox. UpToDate. Retrieved June 14, 2022, from https://www.uptodate.com/contents/monkeypox?search=monkeypox&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~17&usage_type=default&display_rank=1#H2690330960