SAS Urban Survival Handbook (127 page)

Once the eggs hatch in the body, the larvae migrate to the liver. Early symptoms may include abdominal discomfort, mild fever, throat infections, nausea, coughing or wheezing—often not severe enough for infestation to be suspected. Complications can develop, leading to convulsions, behavioural changes, and—if larvae migrate to the eye—impaired vision or eventually
blindness
. If this condition is suspected,
seek URGENT medical attention.

WARNING Dogs MUST be wormed on a regular basis (consult a vet). Young children who play with dogs or in gardens/ parks where dogs may defecate are AT RISK. Recent surveys have found that soil in most public parks is severely contaminated. The eggs are NOT destroyed by cold weather. Care should be exercised by EVERYONE who handles soil. When gardening, for example, avoid hand-to-mouth contact.

TOXOPLASMOSIS

Potentially VERY serious infection
. Humans may be affected (and often are) by eating infected pork or lamb, although the protozoa responsible for the infection may live in several species. More seriously, the organism can multiply in a cat’s intestines and eggs are then excreted in cysts within the faeces. Humans may become infected by touching the cat, or handling a litter tray or soil contaminated by cat faeces.

In healthy humans the infection manifests itself only with flu-like symptoms, although eye inflammation may also occur.
However, in pregnant women, particularly in the early stages of pregnancy, the risk of infection must be avoided AT ALL COSTS. There are severe risks to the foetus, including abortion and stillbirth.
Babies may be born with abnormalities ranging from anaemia (and other blood disorders) and enlargement of the liver or spleen, to an enlarged head, brain damage, blindness, deafness. In some cases the baby may appear normal but may develop severe problems in the first two years—including eye, ear and brain diseases.

Anyone with a suppressed immune system (especially anyone suffering from AIDS) must also take great care to avoid infection. The consequences could be devastating—possibly leading to complications involving the lungs, heart and brain.

WARNING Always wear gloves or wash your hands thoroughly after handling a cat, a litter tray, cat’s faeces, raw meat or soil ALWAYS dispose of cat litter trays carefully and promptly. Toxoplasmosis is an EXTREMELY common infection worldwide.

WEIL’S DISEASE

Properly called leptospirosis. Human infection may occur from contact with the urine of infected rats—a possibility when swimming or enjoying other watersports in city rivers, dockyards or canals. Dogs may also be infected. Symptoms of human infection include fever, chills, headache, muscular pains, rashes, eye inflammation. The kidneys and liver may be affected. In many cases, recovery is slow—the nervous system could be affected, producing symptoms similar to meningitis. Seek urgent medical attention.

BITES/STINGS

Many species of animals and insects bite or sting. Cat and dog bites are fairly common—less so, are bites and stings from smaller creatures such as hornets, scorpions and jellyfish. It may not always be clear what has caused a sudden pain, especially if a sting occurs while swimming. If in any doubt, seek medical attention.

Some people may have extreme allergic reactions to bites and stings (see Anaphylactic shock). In rare cases, this can be life-threatening. Unfortunately a person has no way of knowing whether they are particularly sensitive until a problem develops.

ANIMAL BITES

Always have an animal bite inspected and treated. There is a high risk of infection from bacteria or viruses in the animal’s saliva. Depending on where you are in the world, this is particularly important if there is any possibility of rabies. Cat bites more commonly become infected than dog bites—this is thought to be because the puncture wounds are smaller, preventing natural seepage of fluids. It may be advisable to report any dog bite to the police. The animal might prove a danger to other people. ALWAYS seek medical attention.

HUMAN BITES

Whatever the reason for the bite, it should be remembered that infection of the wound is very likely. Tetanus booster shots may be advisable. Certain viruses may be transmitted in the saliva of infected people, including hepatitis, rabies, herpes—HIV transmission may even occur. A human bite must ALWAYS receive medical attention.

BEE/WASP/HORNET STING

Get medical help immediately if anyone is stung more than once or stung in the mouth or throat. The latter is dangerous because the swelling caused by the sting could obstruct breathing. If possible, give the victim ice cubes to suck.

TREATMENT
Bee stings should be carefully removed by stroking the sting with the side of a needle and then extracting it with tweezers. Do not squeeze or prod the poison sac, as this will only release more venom. Apply bicarbonate of soda in a cold compress.

WARNING Some people are allergic to insect stings. Seek URGENT medical attention if anyone shows signs such as:

• ■ Facial and throat swelling
  
• ■ Wheezing/breathing difficulties
  
• ■ Vomiting
  
• ■ Dizziness
  
• ■ Severe itchy rash
  
• ■ Collapse
  

SCORPION STING

May be no more serious than a bee sting. Some species may be particularly venomous and a sting could cause diarrhoea, vomiting, sweating and severe pain. The heart may be affected. It is likely to be more serious for the elderly or young children. ALWAYS seek urgent medical attention. It may be necessary to use an antivenin to control the effects of the sting.

SPIDER BITE

A tarantula bite is generally about as serious as a bee sting. Other species including the black widow and the brown recluse (US), the funnel web and red-back (Australia) may occasionally cause death. If you have been bitten by any spider, seek urgent medical attention. It may be necessary to use an antivenin—these are available for all dangerous species.

JELLYFISH STINGS

May range from a mild itchy rash to incapacitating pain. DON’T touch any fragments of ‘tentacle’ adhering to the skin—vinegar (acetic) acid should be used to neutralize their stinging capability. Calamine lotion will soothe. Many dangerous species are found in tropical waters. The effects of the Portuguese man-of-war (not strictly a jellyfish) may be severe. Stings are most dangerous while swimming far from shore. The pain may make it difficult to move—let alone swim. After any sting, ALWAYS seek medical attention. If there is sweating, vomiting, breathing difficulties, convulsions or loss of consciousness, SEEK URGENT MEDICAL ATTENTION.

FISH ‘STINGS’

Mai
nly in tropical waters, some species of fish such as scorpion fish and stone fish may be extremely venomous. The blue-ringed octopus, sea urchins and stingrays can cause severe injury, too. Even if you have not identified what type of creature has caused the pain (by a bite or poisonous sting) SEEK URGENT MEDICAL ATTENTION.

SNAKE BITE

Victim may feel dizzy, nauseous, hot and faint. Effects vary according to species of snake, its size, the amount of venom injected and the age, health and size of the victim. SEEK URGENT MEDICAL ATTENTION. With prompt treatment, most victims recover fully. Antivenin, antibiotic drugs and tetanus injections should be given in the event of any bite, poisonous or otherwise. If you kill the snake, keep the body to aid identification so that the antivenin can be matched accurately. NEVER apply a tourniquet.

REMEMBER
The chances of serious injury or death as a result of being bitten by a snake are slight. Nevertheless, you should avoid all possible confrontations with snakes. Never corner a snake. Never try to pick one up with a stick. Never approach one to take a photograph—the snake could interpret your behaviour as a threat. Given the enormous variety of poisonous snakes and the enormous variety of potential victims (in terms of age, sensitivity, health), the results of a bite can be highly unpredictable. Never hurry a snake-bite victim—it will speed the passage of poison around the body.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

PLEASE NOTE

Substance ‘abuse’ is a very misleading term. It should refer to the abuse of one’s body with a substance—after all, it’s not the substance that’s being abused. More correctly, we should say substance ‘use’ or ‘misuse’.

Heavy drinking, tobacco smoking, taking certain ‘drugs’ for non-medicinal purposes or inhaling solvents, are all types of substance use or misuse. They are all very dangerous and can lead to death in many ways—through poisoning, accident, disease, choking, anaphylactic shock (severe allergic reaction) or heart failure. Intravenous drug users, who share needles, are at increased risk of contracting HIV and hepatitis B.

The only way to reduce the health risks of tobacco smoking is to STOP SMOKING. Habitual alcohol and drug users must also try to stop but, like smokers, may need medical and emotional support. Confidential self-help groups like Alcoholics/Narcotics Anonymous, worldwide organizations, offer practical help and companionship for those who wish to break free.

The use of ‘drugs’, the misuse of prescribed drugs and the misuse of other substances to relax or to achieve out-of-the-ordinary or ‘mystical’ experiences are widely publicized. In most countries, governments provide leaflets in health centres, schools and colleges drawing attention to the risks. Many young people ‘experiment’. Some are more vulnerable to peer pressure. Most will lose interest after a short time, with no lasting ill effects. This is NOT a new phenomenon (remember ‘reefers’ in the 1950s?). Parents should look back to their own teenage years—the first cigarette (and how disgusting it tasted!) and the first under-age alcoholic drink.

Many anti-drug campaigns are aimed directly at heroin, cocaine and crack. The popular belief that cannabis use can inevitably lead to use of these drugs has been largely discounted. However, the use or misuse of certain drugs/substances may cause distress to the user’s family and friends—it may alter behaviour patterns, increase the risk of accident and may cause general ill health or actual physical harm. The ‘market’ is sometimes flooded with impure or contaminated products, which could kill—especially if injected. There is a danger with mixing drugs/substances, or mixing drugs/substances with alcohol. The biggest risk is that of overdose, especially with sedative drugs.

Sedative drugs induce sleep and reduce muscle activity. If they are taken to excess, the whole body system is slowed down and this could result in coma. Breathing may stop, the tongue may fall back and block the windpipe, or the unconscious user may choke on his/her own vomit. The user can die.

The drugs/substances that most often result in coma are heroin, morphine, strong tranquillizers, barbiturates, glues, inhaled solvents, gases and lighter fuels, and ALCOHOL. Coma is less likely to result from hallucinogens such as LSD, ‘magic’ mushrooms, cannabis or mild tranquillizers.

Injecting a drug directly into a vein is the most dangerous way to take it, as the whole dose acts immediately and the ‘hit’ is more intense. Blood may be ‘backwashed’ and stored in the syringe, which is why intravenous drug users who share needles are particularly at risk from HIV and hepatitis B.

The body usually develops a tolerance for increasingly large doses of any drug/substance. Just as a drinker quickly finds that he/she has to drink more to feel the effects of alcohol, so a drug/substance user has to take more to get a ‘hit’. If the user of a powerful drug, such as heroin, decides to cut down, the tolerance gradually reduces. A single injection of the former high dose can then cause death.