The immune system is a
host defense system comprising many biological structures and processes within
an organism that protects against disease. To function properly, an immune
system must detect a wide variety of agents, known as pathogens, from viruses
to parasitic worms, and distinguish them from the organism's own healthy
tissue. In many species, there are two major subsystems of the immune system:
the innate immune system and the adaptive immune system. .. .. Science and
Medicine has evolved greatly over the years yet life is cruel to some !.
Way back in 2012, Cricket
South Africa placed two 19-year-old bowlers - Prenelan Subrayen and Solo Nqweni
- under rehabilitation after independent tests carried out by the Australian
Institute of Sport and the Sports Science Institute of South Africa deemed
their actions illegal. The two bowlers were not permitted to take part in
first-class cricket till the rehabilitation was complete. One among them in
news for tragic reasons, Nqweni played
for South Africa Under-19s in 2012 and was later contracted to Eastern Province and the
Warriors franchise. He was on his first
cricketing assignment abroad. His return
to motherland is making news!.
Alexander was born in Pella, the capital
of the Kingdom of Macedon, on the sixth day of the ancient Greek month of
Hekatombaion, which probably corresponds to July 356 BC, although the exact
date is uncertain. He was the son of the king of Macedon, Philip II, and his
fourth wife, Olympias, the daughter of Neoptolemus I, king of Epirus. King Philip had seven or eight wives,
Olympias was his principal wife for some time, likely because she gave birth to
Alexander.
Pic credit : weaponsandwarfare.files.
32
years later in June 323 BC, Alexander
died in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar II, in Babylon. There are different versions of Alexander's
death and details of the death differ slightly in each. By one account, roughly 14 days before his death, Alexander
entertained admiral Nearchus, and spent the night and next day drinking with
Medius of Larissa. He developed a fever,
which worsened until he was unable to speak. In another, Alexander was struck with pain after downing a
large bowl of unmixed wine in honour of Heracles. .. .. and another one states that Alexander
the Great died of an illness that started after a night of drinking 12 pints of
wine. He was bed-ridden but his cognition was not affected. The symptoms all
fit with Guillain–Barré !! syndrome.
A few days
back came news that Solo Nqerni would be returning home. Sadly, Nqweni, an allrounder from the Eastern Cape,
was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome while playing club cricket for
Aberdeenshire last July, spent four weeks in an induced coma and has been
receiving treatment in a Scottish hospital for the past five months. He has now
recovered enough to travel back to South Africa to continue his rehabilitation. The treatment reported costs sky-hi. It costs more than 74 lakhs approx. (US$104,000) for an air ambulance. His agent
launched a fundraiser – only a small portion could be collected, then came the
news that an anonymous donor offered to foot the rest of the bill.
Guillain-Barré
(gee-YAH-buh-RAY) syndrome is a rare disorder in which one’s body's immune system
attacks their own nerves. Weakness and
tingling in the affected person’s extremities are usually the first symptoms. These
sensations can quickly spread, eventually paralyzing the whole body. In its most severe form
Guillain-Barré syndrome is a medical emergency. Most people with the condition
must be hospitalized to receive treatment. The exact cause of Guillain-Barré
syndrome is unknown. But it is often preceded by an infectious illness such as
a respiratory infection or the stomach flu.
There is also news that
the South Africa men's senior side has
pledged a significant amount of money to help the rehabilitation of Solo
Nqweni, the 26-year-old allrounder who returned home from playing in
Aberdeenshire. Nqweni was in an induced coma for four weeks before spending
five months in intensive care in a Scottish hospital to be treated for the rare
and serious auto-immune disorder. He returned home in January to undergo
rehabilitation in Johannesburg.
The cost of rehabilitation
is significant and various fund-raising initiatives have been launched to
assist Solo, a CSA release said, and a contribution of Rand 50,000 (US$ 3330
approx.) (2.38 lakhs !!) has come in from the men's squad.
With regards – S.
Sampathkumar
7th Feb 2020.
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