The first Mediterranean seal baby of 2025 was born in Karpathos

There he is...the new born baby boy

 In the first days of autumn, good news came from Karpathos for the animal kingdom and our ecosystem. A new member was added to the Mediterranean seal population a few days ago. The first birth of the year took place in North Karpathos, inside a sea cave. In fact, it is a male seal, a fact that is of particular importance, since in the last five years, female births have been recorded. The Mediterranean seal is one of the most endangered species of marine mammals in the world and Karpathos is one of its most important breeding grounds in Greece. Every year, approximately six to eight baby seals are born in the area, contributing to the conservation of the species. 1/3 of Karpathos is considered an ecological zone and is protected by a green shield.

Helicobacter pylori

 

What is Helicobacter pylori?

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a type of bacteria that lives in the lining of the stomach.

More than half of the world’s population is infected with it and about 3 in every 10 adults are estimated to carry it.

H. pylori causes inflammation of the stomach lining, known as gastritis. This leads to the stomach making more acid than usual. This can cause open sores in the stomach (gastric ulcers), or in the upper part of the small intestine (duodenal ulcers). H. pylori is also linked to some types of stomach cancers.

What causes Helicobacter pylori?

It is not fully understood how people get infected with H. pylori. Most people become infected as children, but you can also be infected as an adult.

H. pylori is mostly transmitted through close contact with family members, or in day care centres. It may be spread if infected people don’t wash their hands after a bowel movement, or through kissing and other close contact. Better hygiene has helped reduce H. pylori in developing countries.

What are the symptoms of Helicobacter pylori infection?

Most people with H. pylori infection don’t have any symptoms. If you have symptoms, they may include:

• a burning feeling in your upper stomach area (like heartburn) — which may change with eating
• indigestion or full feeling before you have finished eating
• nausea and vomiting
• bloating and burping
• loss of appetite

 

When should I see my doctor?                             

If you vomit blood or notice dark blood in your stool (poo) go to the nearest hospital emergency department or call triple zero (000). This may be a sign of a bleeding stomach ulcer.

See your doctor if you have ongoing symptoms or if you have difficulty swallowing.

How is Helicobacter pylori diagnosed?

A range of tests can be used to diagnose H. pylori including:

• breath test
• blood test
• stool (poo) sample
• endoscopy with tissue biopsy of the stomach lining

Your doctor will advise the best test in your situation.

During a breath test, you will be given a liquid or capsule to swallow that contains a special form of carbon. After a short time, the doctor will ask you to breathe into a machine, which can detect the presence of H. pylori bacteria. This test is safe and accurate, and can help your doctor determine the best treatment.

A blood test looks for antibodies to H. pylori. It can still show positive results after treatment and the bacteria are gone, so it’s not the best test for most people.

A laboratory can test your stool (poo) sample for proteins (antigens) from H. pylori.

An endoscopy is a procedure where a thin tube with a camera is inserted through your mouth, to view your stomach. During an endoscopy, a small piece of tissue or cells (biopsy) can be taken to help diagnose H. pylori and other conditions. This may be recommended when there is a family history of gastric cancer or certain symptoms are present.

How is Helicobacter pylori treated?

H. pylori is treated with eradication therapy — a combination of medicines that includes antibiotics and acid-suppressing medicine. The antibiotics kill the H. pylori bacteria. The acid-suppressing medicine helps heal stomach sores and reduces the chance of new sores from developing.

After you’ve finished treatment, you may be offered a breath test to check the medicines worked. It is important to follow your doctor's instructions and finish the full course of treatment to get rid of the infection.

Sometimes, the first treatment doesn't work because the bacteria aren’t affected by the antibiotics. This is known as antibiotic resistance. In this case, a specialist doctor (gastroenterologist) may prescribe different medicines.

Once H. pylori is successfully treated, your risk of getting infected again is low. Unless it is successfully treated, H. pylori will usually stay in the lining of your stomach for life.

Can Helicobacter pylori be prevented?

Most people infected with H. pylori get it in early childhood, but there is limited information on how to prevent it.

High-density living, poor sanitation and poor hygiene all increase the risk of getting H. pylori.

 

Complications of Helicobacter pylori

Nearly everyone who has H. pylori gets gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining). This leads to increased stomach acid production. If you experience symptoms, it's known as H. pylori-associated dyspepsia (indigestion).

Because your stomach produces more acid than usual, you are more likely to develop open sores in the stomach (gastric ulcers).If these occur in the upper part of the small intestine they are known as duodenal ulcers.

H. pylori also increases the risk of certain stomach cancers. Fortunately, treating and removing H. pylori infection heals most sores and reduces the risk.

H. pylori infection leads to most cases of an uncommon disease called gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. This is a slow-growingcancer that starts in the stomach. If the H. pylori infection is successfully treated when the lymphoma is in its early stages, it often shrinks and may even be cured.

 

Note: 

Our clinic -HIPPOCRATES QUICK MED CLINIC- has the ability to diagnose and treat Helicobacter pylori. We have diagnosed and treated all of these patients and the microbe was successfully eradicated. It is good to check these patients once a year with a gastroscopy. 

Doctor Socrates close to sports and athletes in Karpathos

Sports is something that our clinic constantly supports. The ancient Greeks were sports enthusiasts. Our Clinic serves all athletes who may need help at any time of the day. If necessary or if the athlete wishes, the doctor Socrates visits the patient at the place of his choice. No problem...
 

BOTOX in Karpathos by Doctor Socrates (Hippocrates Quick MED Clinic)

 

Health, Medicine and the Clinic in Karpathos

The Clinic (Hippocrates Quick MED Clinic) that all patients in Karpathos visit, is located in the center of the island's capital. 

The location is new since Doctor Socrates was forced to move a year ago, abandoning his old Clinic. 

In front of the building there is parking for customers and for people with disabilities. Access is easy since the Clinic is at the entrance (slightly elevated).  

It has a special ramp for those who use wheelchairs, but there is also a mechanical stair lift for wheelchairs.  

 

The Clinic is open, on call and available 24 hours a day. The staff is trained and ready to welcome and offer their services to patients who choose to visit the Clinic. 

If patients need the doctor at the Hotel, doctor Socrates immediately visits the patient in his room. The Doctor visits patients in all hotels, even the most remote ones. If for some reason he needs to transport patients to the Clinic, he transports them himself with his medical car.  

The most important thing for Doctor Socrates is that the patients do not suffer, knowing that there is always the stress and uncertainty of being far from their homeland. The Doctor wants his clients to feel like home and wants his clients to feel like family members. 

 The clinic has a family atmosphere and clients feel truly comfortable when they visit it.

That is why the Clinic is preferred by patients visiting the island of Karpathos.

 

Why Karpathos is one of the most suitable islands for all ages

 

It is indeed the most suitable island because 

-Geographically, where it is located, it is awe-inspiring 

-Although Karpathos has not shown its history, I will only tell you that Odysseus suffered a lot with his sailors in the Carpathian Sea and in fact these waters in combination with the winds made him lose his orientation. Odysseus did not have the best relations with the God Poseidon who was the god of the seas, who raised incredible waves to prevent him from traveling back to Ithaca. That is why the island is called the island of Poseidon. The home of Poseidon was Karpathos and there is even the cave of Poseidon that you can visit. Did you also know that in Tristomo (an area of ​​the island), they built galley ships that were sent to the Trojan War on behalf of the Greeks? 

-It has amazing, barren and wild beaches 

-It has rare flowers and fauna 

-It has amazing places where you can go hiking, even mountaineering and climbing. 

-You can enjoy cycling, traveling many kilometers on the most incredible routes 

-You can do the best water sports such as windsurfing 

-You can enjoy the most beautiful diving, getting to know the perfect seabed of the island. Recently, treasures from ancient shipwrecks were discovered 

-If you are not an athletic type, then we guarantee that you will enjoy the most beautiful taverns with delicious food and the best wine and always with a view 

-If you want to have fun at night, you will find the best bars with the best DJs, who often organize parties and the dancing does not stop 

-You can visit picturesque and traditional villages and experience their traditions. One of them is the village of Olympos which is the most famous 

-You can also go around the island by boat daily and see all the beaches -There is also a daily boat that goes to the island of Kasos which is the neighboring island of Karpathos 

-Every time someone visits the island they discover new things 

-You can enjoy the wonderful sunset in the fishing village of Finiki 

-You can isolate yourself in the coastal village of Lefkos with its beautiful beaches and very good food 

-You can enjoy the clear blue waters with the white sand on the beach of Diakoftis 

There are so many advantages that I am definitely forgetting many. The only thing that is certain is that this island is different from the rest and believe me the local people are as helpful as they are kind and hospitable. 

You will not regret it....

Welcome to Karpathos

Our Clinic and our staff wish you a pleasant stay on our island (and your island), have wonderful holidays and unforgettable summer moments. 

For anything that concerns you regarding your health, do not hesitate to contact us or visit us at our Clinic. We are open every day and all day and you can even see us without an appointment. 

Don't let a health problem spoil your vacation. 

With love and respect... 

Doctor Socrates and staff

Hippocrates Quick MED Clinic 

 

Contact Dr. Socrates - HIPPOCRATES QUICK MED CLINIC

 

Strep throat

 

Strep throat is a bacterial infection that can make your throat feel sore and scratchy. Strep throat accounts for only a small portion of sore throats.

If untreated, strep throat can cause complications, such as kidney inflammation or rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever can lead to painful and inflamed joints, a specific type of rash, or heart valve damage.

Strep throat is most common in children, but it affects people of all ages. If you or your child has signs or symptoms of strep throat, see your doctor for prompt testing and treatment.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of strep throat can include:

=Throat pain that usually comes on quickly

=Painful swallowing

=Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus

=Tiny red spots on the area at the back of the roof of the mouth (soft or hard palate)

=Swollen, tender lymph nodes in your neck

=Fever

=Headache

=Rash

=Nausea or vomiting, especially in younger children

=Body aches

It's possible for you or your child to have many of these signs and symptoms but not have strep throat. The cause of these signs and symptoms could be a viral infection or some other illness. That's why your doctor generally tests specifically for strep throat.

It's also possible for you to be exposed to a person who carries strep but shows no symptoms.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will conduct a physical exam, look for signs and symptoms of strep throat, and probably order one or more of the following tests:

-Rapid antigen test. Your doctor may perform a rapid antigen test on a swab sample from your throat. This test can detect strep bacteria in minutes by looking for substances (antigens) in the throat. If the test is negative but your doctor still suspects strep, he or she might do a throat culture.

-Molecular (polymerase chain reaction, or PCR) test. This test is also done using a swab sample from your throat.

-Throat culture. A sterile swab is rubbed over the back of the throat and tonsils to get a sample of the secretions. It's not painful, but it may cause gagging. The sample is then cultured in a laboratory for the presence of bacteria, but results can take as long as two days.

Treatment

Medications are available to cure strep throat, relieve its symptoms, and prevent its complications and spread.

Antibiotics

If your doctor diagnoses you or your child with strep throat, your doctor will likely prescribe an oral antibiotic. If taken within 48 hours of the onset of the illness, antibiotics reduce the duration and severity of symptoms, as well as the risk of complications and the likelihood that infection will spread to others.

With treatment, you or your child should start feeling better in a day or two. Call your doctor if there's no improvement after taking antibiotics for 48 hours.

Children taking an antibiotic who feel well and don't have a fever often can return to school or child care when they're no longer contagious — usually 24 hours after beginning treatment. But be sure to finish all the medicine. Stopping early can lead to recurrences and serious complications, such as rheumatic fever or kidney inflammation.

Symptom relievers

To relieve throat pain and reduce fever, try over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others).

Use caution when giving aspirin to children or teenagers. Though aspirin is approved for use in children older than age 3, children and teenagers recovering from chickenpox or flu-like symptoms should never take aspirin. This is because aspirin has been linked to Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition, in such children.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/strep-throat/symptoms-causes/syc-20350338