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Important signs and symptoms you need to know about Dengue.

Important signs and symptoms you need to know about Dengue.

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The virus that causes dengue is mostly spread via the bite of female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. There are no indications of dengue and severe symptoms that resemble the flu. A small proportion of people develop severe dengue, which can be fatal.

Dengue serotypes are groups of four closely related dengue viruses. Recovery from infection confers immunity against that serotype of dengue, but it also raises the chance of developing severe dengue if patients contract a different serotype later.

Every year, dengue infections affect millions of people globally. Southeast Asia, the western Pacific islands, Latin America, and Africa are where dengue fever is most prevalent. Localized outbreaks of the disease have been reported in Europe and the southern United States, among other new locations.

The development of dengue fever vaccines is ongoing. For now, in areas where dengue fever is common, the best ways to prevent infection are to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes and to take steps to reduce the mosquito population.

Who does dengue fever affect?

Africa, Central and South America, some regions of Asia, and the Pacific Islands are where dengue is most frequently found. Dengue is present in a few areas of the United States. More than half of the world’s population, who reside or travel to these areas, are most at risk. The chance of developing a major illness is higher in children and the elderly.

How common is dengue fever?

Around 96 million of the 400 million dengue infections that are reported each year around the world result in disease. Most occurrences occur in tropical regions of the world, with the following regions having the highest risk:

  • The continent of India
  • Asia-Pacific is
  • China’s south
  • Taiwan
  • Islands in the Pacific
  • Atlantic Ocean (except Cuba and the Cayman Islands)
  • Mexico
  • Africa
  • South and Central America (except Chile, Paraguay, and Argentina)

The majority of cases in the US are visitors who caught the virus abroad. However, those who reside near the Texas-Mexico border as well as in other southern US regions are at an increased danger. A dengue fever outbreak was discovered in 2014 in Hawaii, with earlier outbreaks being reported in 2013 in Brownsville, Texas, and Key West, Florida.

Symptoms

Many persons may not exhibit any symptoms or indicators of dengue illness. When symptoms do show up, they typically start four to ten days after being bitten by an infected mosquito and may be mistaken for other ailments, like the flu.

Any of the following signs and symptoms, as well as a high fever of 104 F (40 C), are brought on by dengue fever:

  • Headache
  • joint, muscle, or bone pain
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • back of the eyes hurt
  • enlarged glands
  • Rash

Most folks get better in about a week. In some cases, symptoms worsen and can become life-threatening. This is called severe dengue, dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome.

Your blood vessels become damaged and leaky with severe dengue. Additionally, the quantity of platelets in your blood decreases. Shock, internal bleeding, organ failure, and even death may result from this.

There can be speedy development of severe dengue fever warning signs, which is a life-threatening emergency. The warning signals, which may include the following, may appear within the first day or two after your fever has subsided.

  • Severe stomach pain
  • continual vomiting
  • bleeding from the nose or gums
  • Having blood in your faeces, urine, or vomit
  • under-the-skin bleeding that may resemble bruises
  • arduous or quick
  • Fatigue
  • Easily irritated or restless

Causes

Any one of the four dengue virus types can cause dengue fever. Being around someone who has dengue fever won’t cause you to catch it. In contrast, mosquito bites are how dengue disease is transmitted.

There are two mosquito species that carry dengue viruses most frequently are widespread in and around residential areas. The dengue virus enters the mosquito when it bites a person who is afflicted with it. The virus then enters the bloodstream of the person who is bitten by the infected mosquito. This can produces an infection.

Once you have recovered from dengue fever, you are immune to the virus type that caused your infection for life, but not to the other three types that cause dengue fever. This implies that one of the other three virus types could infect you once more in the future. In the event that you contract dengue fever a second, third, or fourth time, your risk of acquiring severe dengue fever rises.

Risk elements

You are more likely to have dengue fever or a more severe version of the illness, if,

You frequent or reside in tropical locales. A higher risk of contracting the virus that causes dengue fever exist if you live in tropical or subtropical regions. Southeast Asia, the western Pacific islands, Latin America, and Africa are regions with very high risk.

You’ve previously experienced dengue fever. If you have already had dengue fever, you are more likely to experience severe symptoms if you contract the virus again.

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Important things you need to know about the flu(Influenza).

Important things you need to know about the flu(Influenza).

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The flu season typically lasts from late fall to early spring and is accompanied by the typical flu symptoms of fatigue, sniffling, sneezing, and coughing.

The illness’s severity varies from person to person, but the COVID-19 pandemic has brought a new sense of urgency to our need to safeguard ourselves as both of these viruses spread in the coming months.

Flu vaccinations are crucial every year, but this year they’re even more crucial to prevent the general public, especially vulnerable populations, from contracting the flu while COVID-19 is still a danger.

What is the flu?

A common and contagious virus called influenza is transmitted when droplets enter the body of a different person. The virus then establishes itself and starts to grow. The flu spreads throughout the country each year. According to a 2018 CDC study, the flu affects 3 to 11 percent of Americans each year. This explains why some people experience symptoms.

The flu’s main season is winter, with February being its peak. However, influenza can strike at any time of the year. There are numerous flu strains. Which viral strains will be most prevalent each year is decided by medical professionals and researchers. Then, vaccinations are created using those strains. One of the simplest and most reliable ways to prevent the flu is with a flu vaccine.

A few symptoms of the flu and the common cold are similar.

People who have any ailment frequently encounter:

  • runny or congested nose
  • sneezing
  • bodily pains
  • overall weariness

Generally speaking, flu symptoms are worse than cold symptoms. The seriousness of the two is another obvious distinction. Rarely do colds result in further medical concerns or issues. However, the flu can cause:

  • sinusitis
  • infected ears
  • pneumonia
  • sepsis

If your symptoms are severe, you might want to get a diagnosis of the flu or the common cold confirmed. Your doctor will order tests to assist identify the cause of your symptoms. Call beforehand to find out the procedure for going to a doctor in person or online during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The symptoms of the common cold and the flu should also be handled carefully because they are similar to those of COVID-19. You only need to treat your symptoms if your doctor identifies you with a cold until the virus has finished its course. These remedies may consist of:

  • utilising over-the-counter (OTC) medicine for colds
  • drinking water
  • obtaining lots of sleep

What’s the difference between the flu and COVID-19?

While there are some similarities between COVID-19, the flu, and allergies, there are also many differences. The primary signs of COVID-19 include:

Sneezing is unusual. The flu symptoms, such as fever and body aches, are comparable to COVID-19. However, you might not experience shortness of breath as a flu symptom. Sneezing, coughing, and wheezing are some of the more common chronic allergy symptoms.

What are the symptoms of the flu?

Fever

Your body temperature will nearly always rise when you have the flu. Fever is another name for this. The majority of fevers caused by the flu range from a low-grade fever of roughly 100°F (37.8°C) to a high-grade fever of 104°F (40°C).

While worrying, it’s not uncommon for young children to experience fevers that are higher than those of adults. Consult your child’s doctor if you think they may have the flu.

When your temperature is high, you could have “feverishness.” Chills, sweats, or feeling cold in spite of a high body temperature are symptoms. Most fevers last 3 to 4 days, which is less than a week in most cases.

Cough

When you have the flu, a dry, persistent cough is typical. It’s possible for the cough to get worse and become painful.

Occasionally, you could feel like your chest hurts or your breath is short. Many coughs brought on by the flu might continue for around 2 weeks.

Muscle pain

Your neck, back, arms, and legs are the most typical locations for flu-related muscle discomfort. They are frequently severe, making it challenging to move even when attempting to carry out simple duties.

Headache

Your first flu symptom can be a terrible headache. Sometimes headaches are accompanied by other symptoms, such as light and sound sensitivity.

Fatigue

A less visible flu symptom is feeling weary. One of several conditions can be an indicator of feeling generally ill. These feelings of exhaustion and fatigue may strike suddenly and be challenging to get rid of.

How long does the flu last?

The majority of people recover from the flu in a week or so. However, it can take a few more days until you feel like yourself again. Even a few days after your flu symptoms have disappeared, fatigue is not uncommon.

It’s crucial to skip the first day of class or work until you’ve been fever-free for at least 24 hours (without using fever-reducing drugs, of course). A day before your symptoms start to manifest and for up to seven days afterward, the flu virus can be transmitted to another person.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, if you exhibit any cold or flu symptoms, you should separate yourself while getting tested and continue to practise excellent hygiene by:

  • the act of handwashing
  • cleaning up high-touch areas
  • putting on a face mask
  • staying away from other people

Treatment options for the flu

The majority of flu illnesses are mild enough for self-care at home without the use of prescription drugs. When you first experience flu symptoms, it’s crucial that you stay at home and limit your contact with others.

You will need to:

  • Drink a lot of water. This includes low-sugar flavoured drinks, soup, and water.
  • Use over-the-counter drugs to treat symptoms including fever and headaches.
  • To stop the virus from getting onto other surfaces or persons in your home, wash your hands.
  • Use tissues to cover your coughs and sneezes. Get rid of the tissues right away.
  • When outside, hide your face.

Remedies for flu symptoms

The flu is not enjoyable. However, there are numerous treatments for flu symptoms that offer significant relief.If you have the flu, have in mind these remedies:Pain relievers.

  • Pain relievers. drugs that reduce pain. It is frequently advised to use analgesics like acetaminophen and ibuprofen to relieve symptoms. These include headache, fever, and aches and pains in the muscles.
  • Decongestants. This kind of medication can ease sinus and ear pressure as well as nasal congestion. Read the labels carefully to choose the decongestant that is appropriate for you because each type can have some negative effects.
  • Expectorants. This kind of drug aids in reducing the buildup of thick sinus secretions that give you a cough-inducing feeling in your head.

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How dangerous can be Polio disease for a child?

How dangerous can be Polio disease for a child?

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The poliovirus is the illness that causes polio (poliomyelitis). Most people only experience minimal or no symptoms, but in a few, it might result in death or paralysis.

The three poliovirus variants are known as wild poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3. (WPV1, WPV2 and WPV3). Only a few regions of the world still have wild polio type 1, and wild polio types 2 and 3 have been eradicated (no longer exist). Paralysis is most likely to result from type 1 polio.

In several places of the world, polio cases are still present today. International efforts to eliminate polio are still underway, despite the fact that the number of infected individuals has significantly decreased.

The inactivated poliovirus vaccine should be given as a booster dose to adults who have already received it and are travelling to a region where polio is present. After receiving a booster, immunity is permanent.

Types of polio

Depending on the parts of your body the virus targets and multiplies in, polio can have various effects on you. the following types of polio:

  • Abortive poliomyelitis manifests as intestinal and influenza-like symptoms. It doesn’t have long-lasting effects and just lasts a few days.
  • Aseptic meningitis, a brain swelling, may result from non-paralytic poliomyelitis. It results in more symptoms than abortive poliomyelitis and can necessitate a hospital stay.
  • Paralytic poliomyelitis: When the poliovirus affects your brain and spinal cord, paralytic poliomyelitis results. The muscles that allow you to breathe, speak, swallow, and move your limbs can become paralysed by it. It is referred to as spinal polio or bulbar polio, depending on which areas of your body are afflicted. Together, spinal and bulbar polio can manifest (bulbospinal polio). Only 1% of polio survivors develop paralytic poliomyelitis.
  • Polioencephalitis: A uncommon form of polio that primarily affects newborns is polioencephalitis. The brain swells as a result.
  • Post-polio syndrome: When polio symptoms reappear years after an initial infection, it is known as post-polio syndrome.

What effects does polio have on my body?

Through the mouth or nose, the poliovirus enters your body. In your gut and throat, it reproduces additional copies of itself (intestines). It can sometimes enter your brain and spinal cord and paralyse you. Your arms, legs, or the muscles that control your breathing may become paralysed.

Who is exposed to polio?

You are most vulnerable to contracting polio if if are not immunised and you:

  • reside in or visit a region where polio still exists.
  • live in or visit a place with inadequate sanitary conditions.
  • are less than 5
  • are expecting.

Can adults contract polio?

Yes, polio can strike adults. Many adults have immunity, either through vaccinations or from having polio. Unvaccinated adults who are exposed to the poliovirus can get the disease.

How widespread is polio?

Thanks to widespread immunisation campaigns, symptomatic polio is uncommon in many regions of the world. Polio is no longer distributed there, and most nations consider it to be eradicated. However, polio can start to spread again if individuals stop taking their vaccinations.

Symptoms

The majority of those who are infected with the virus don’t become sick and are unaware they are infected, despite the fact that polio can result in paralysis and death.

Polio not paralytic

Some persons who experience polio symptoms get a kind of polio that doesn’t cause paralysis (abortive polio). The mild, flu-like signs and symptoms that are typical of other viral infections are typically caused by this.

The following signs and symptoms, which may persist up to 10 days:

  • Fever
  • unwell throat
  • Headache
  • Vomiting
  • Fatigue
  • back stiffness or pain
  • neck stiffness or discomfort
  • Arms or legs that are painful or stiff
  • a weakened or painful muscle

Dyskinetic syndrome

Rarely does the disease manifest in its most severe form. Fever and headache are common early paralytic polio symptoms that can be mistaken for nonparalytic polio. But after a week, more symptoms start to show, such as:

  • decline in reflexes
  • muscular weakness or excruciating aches
  • slack and flaccid limbs (flaccid paralysis)

Poliomyelitis syndrome

Some patients have post-polio syndrome, a collection of incapacitating signs and symptoms, years after they had polio. Typical warning signs and symptoms include:

  • discomfort and deteriorating muscle or joint weakness
  • Fatigue
  • muscles are lost (atrophy)
  • issues with breathing or swallowing
  • respiratory issues that affect sleep, like sleep apnea
  • less ability to tolerate cold temperatures

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What happens when a person is dignosed with Glaucoma?

What happens when a person is dignosed with Glaucoma?

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What is Glaucoma?

A series of eye disorders known as glaucoma harm the optic nerve. For clear vision, the optic nerve, which transmits visual data from the eye to the brain, is essential. High pressure in your eye is frequently associated with damage to the optic nerve. However, glaucoma can develop with normal eye pressure as well.

Even while it can strike anyone, older persons are more likely to develop glaucoma. For those over 60, it is one of the main causes of blindness. Numerous glaucoma types show no symptoms at all. You might not notice a change in vision until the problem is advanced since the effect is so gradual.

Regular eye exams that include measuring your eye pressure are crucial. Early glaucoma diagnosis allows for possible prevention or slowing of vision loss. For the rest of your life, glaucoma patients will require treatment or monitoring.

Types of Glaucoma

(Chronic) Open-Angle Glaucoma

The only indication of open-angle, or chronic, glaucoma is a progressive loss of vision. Your vision could be permanently damaged due to this loss’s sluggish progression before any other symptoms show up. This is the most prevalent kind of glaucoma, according to the National Eye Institute (NEI).

(Acute) Angle-Closure Glaucoma

A strong, fast, and painful rise in pressure may result from the rapid buildup of fluid if the flow of your aqueous humour fluid is suddenly blocked. An emergency condition exists with angle-closure glaucoma. In the event that you start to experience symptoms like excruciating pain, nausea, or blurred vision, you should call your doctor right once.

Birth defects glaucoma

Congenital glaucoma is a condition in which an abnormality in the angle of the eye limits or delays normal fluid drainage. Symptoms of congenital glaucoma frequently include clouded eyes, excessive weeping, or sensitivity to light. Glaucoma that is congenital can run in families.

Secondary Glaucoma

Secondary glaucoma frequently develops as a result of trauma or another eye ailment, like cataracts or tumours. This kind of glaucoma can also be brought on by medications like corticosteroids. Rarely, glaucoma can develop as a result of eye surgery.

Glaucoma with normal tension

People with normal eye pressure occasionally get optic nerve injury. This has an unknown origin. However, this type of glaucoma may be caused by high sensitivity or a lack of blood supply to your optic nerve.

Symptoms of Glaucoma

Primary open-angle glaucoma is the most prevalent form of the disease. Except for a progressive loss of vision, it shows no indications or symptoms. You should therefore get yearly complete eye exams so that your ophthalmologist, or eye specialist, can keep track of any changes in your vision.

A medical emergency is acute-angle closure glaucoma, also known as narrow-angle glaucoma. If you suffer any of the following signs, see a doctor right away:

  • intense eye pain
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • your eye is red
  • abrupt changes in eyesight
  • observing bands of colour surrounding lights
  • sudden eyesight haze

What Causes Glaucoma?

Aqueous humour, a transparent fluid that is continuously produced in the back of your eye, The front of your eye is filled with this fluid as it is created. It then exits your eye via channels in your iris and cornea. The intraocular pressure (IOP), which is the normal pressure inside your eye, may rise if these pathways are completely or partially occluded. Your optic nerve may suffer injury if your IOP rises. You could start losing your eye’s sight if the damage to your nerve gets worse.

Sometimes it’s unclear why the pressure in your eyes rises. However, medical professionals think one or more of the following may be involved:

  • eyedrops for dilation
  • obstructed or constrained eye drainage
  • prescription drugs like corticosteroids

How Is Glaucoma Treated?

IOP reduction is the main objective of glaucoma treatment in order to prevent further vision loss. Usually, prescription eye drops are the first thing your doctor will prescribe. Your doctor might recommend one of the following therapies if these don’t work or if more sophisticated therapy is required:

Medications

There are many medications available that are made to lower IOP. These medications can be used orally or as eye drops, but drops are more prevalent. One of these or a mixture of them may be recommended by your doctor.

Surgery

Your doctor can advise surgery to create a drainage passage for fluid or remove tissues that are generating the excess fluid if a blocked or slow channel is the cause of elevated IOP.

Different therapies are used to treat angle-closure glaucoma. This form of glaucoma is a medical emergency that needs to be treated right away in order to lower eye pressure as soon as feasible. To reverse the angle closure, medications are typically used initially, but they may not be successful. It is also possible to use a laser to perform a procedure called laser peripheral iridotomy. To enable greater fluid circulation, this technique makes tiny holes in your iris.

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What are the causes and symptoms of Corona Virus?

What are the causes and symptoms of Corona Virus?

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A lot of medical professionals think that pangolins or bats are where the new coronavirus strain most likely got its start. The initial human transmission occurred in Wuhan, China. Since then, person-to-person contact has been the primary method of viral transmission.

A class of viruses known as coronaviruses can infect both humans and animals with sickness. One example of a coronavirus is the SARS-CoV virus strain, which causes the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). In 2002–2003, SARS spread quickly.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is the name of the new coronavirus strain (SARS-CoV-2). Coronavirus illness is brought on by the virus (COVID-19).

Approximately 80% of COVID-19 patients recover without specialised care. These individuals could have minor flu-like symptoms. However, 1 in 6 individuals may develop serious symptoms, such as breathing difficulties.

What is a Corona Virus?

A group of viruses known as coroviruses can make people sick with respiratory conditions. Because the virus’s surface is covered in spikes that resemble crowns, they are known as “corona.” Examples of coronaviruses that affect people include the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory disease (MERS), and the common cold.

What caused coronavirus?

Wuhan, a city in China’s Hubei region, was the site of the most recent outbreak. In December 2019, the first COVID-19 cases were reported.

Certain animal species, including cattle and camels, frequently contract coronaviruses. Despite the rarity, coronaviruses can occasionally be transmitted from animals to people. According to a reliable source, this new strain most likely originated from bats, while one study raises the possibility that pangolins were the original host.

It is still unknown how the virus originally infected humans, though. According to some reports, the first cases originated at a seafood and livestock market in Wuhan. SARS-CoV-2 may have begun to spread to humans from this location.

How it spreads?

Through small communities, SARS-CoV-2 transmits from one person to another. People who have COVID-19 cough or exhale little droplets containing the virus. These droplets can cause an infection if they go into someone’s mouth or nose who doesn’t have the virus.

Close contact with an infected person is the most typical way that this disease spreads. Close proximity is approximately 6 feet.  When a person’s symptoms are the worst, the disease is most contagious. But even someone who is symptom-free can transfer the infection. According to a recent study, 10% of infections come from persons who don’t have any symptoms.

The virus may also droplets that land on neighbouring surfaces or objects. By touching these surfaces or objects, other people could contract the infection. If the person then touches their mouth, nose, or eyes, infection is probably going to occur.

It is significant to note that research on COVID-19 is still in its early stages. The new coronavirus may be spread through additional channels as well.

Symptoms and Complications

The symptoms of COVID-19 infection might range from little to no symptoms to serious sickness and death. Most illnesses start up to 14 days following exposure and are typically mild.

The most typical signs are:

  • a new or worsening cough
  • Fever
  • Tiredness
  • Chills
  • muscle pain
  • Headache
  • diarrhoea, vomiting, or nauseous

Additional signs include:

  • respiratory issues or shortness of breath
  • unwell throat
  • swallowing that hurts or is challenging
  • eye colour (conjunctivitis)
  • a diminished appetite
  • loss of flavour or scent

Some individuals, nevertheless, could experience other, more serious consequences like pneumonia or respiratory failure. People who are not fully immunised, pregnant women, adults 60 and older (risk rises with age), people with underlying chronic medical conditions (such as heart disease, diabetes, lung disease), people who are obese with a BMI of 40 or higher, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of developing a severe illness from COVID-19.

In certain instances, COVID-19 infection might result in chronic symptoms that persist for several weeks or months after the patient has recovered. This is referred to as a lengthy COVID or a post COVID-19 condition. Regardless of the severity of your infection or whether you have symptoms, you could develop post-COVID-19 illness.

Symptoms that commonly affect adults include:

  • Tiredness
  • memory issues
  • trouble sleeping
  • breathing difficulty
  • Concern and sadness
  • general discomfort and suffering
  • having trouble focusing or thinking
  • Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Typical signs that children experience include:

  • Tiredness
  • Headaches
  • Loss of weight
  • muscle ache
  • trouble sleeping
  • runny or stuffed nose
  • having trouble focusing or thinking

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What are the ways to treat and diagnose Gastritis?

What are the ways to treat and diagnose Gastritis?

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What is Gastritis?

Gastritis is a disorder that causes the mucosa lining of the stomach to become inflamed. This inflammation results in stomach pain, dyspepsia, bloating, and nausea. It can trigger other issues. Gastritis can develop gradually (chronic) or suddenly (acute) (chronic). Reducing stomach acid and modifying your diet can help with gastritis symptoms.

The mucosa is the protective mucus lining that lines your stomach. Your stomach’s lining shields it from the powerful stomach acid that aids in food digestion. The protecting mucosa gets inflamed and leads to gastritis when something weakens or harms it. The most frequent bacterial cause of gastritis is a kind of bacterium known as Helicobacter pylori.

About 8 out of every 1,000 people get acute (sudden) gastritis. Long-term, chronic gastritis is less frequent. Approximately two out of every 10,000 people are impacted.

Types of Gastritis

There are two main categories of gastritis:

Erosive (reactive): Erosive gastritis results in both stomach lining erosion and inflammation. Reactive gastritis is another name for this illness. Alcohol, smoking, NSAIDs, corticosteroids, viral or bacterial infections, stress from diseases or injuries, and corticosteroids are some of the causes.

Non-erosive: Stomach lining inflammation that does not cause erosion or compromise the lining.

What Causes Gastritis?

Inflammation brought on by heavy alcohol use, frequent vomiting, stress, or the use of specific medications like aspirin or other anti-inflammatory therapies can result in gastropathy. Additionally, it might result from any of the following:

  • Abuse of alcohol: Prolonged drinking can irritate and damage the stomach lining.
  • Autoimmune disease: In certain people, the stomach lining’s healthy cells are attacked by the immune system.
  • Bacterial infection: Peptic ulcer illness and chronic gastritis are mostly brought on by the H. pylori bacterium (stomach ulcers). Inflammation is brought on by the bacteria’s destruction of the stomach’s barrier lining.
  • Reflux of bile: Your liver produces bile to aid in the digestion of fatty foods. Reflux is a reflowing action. When bile bypasses the small intestine and instead rushes back into the stomach, this condition is known as bile reflux.
  • Medication: Regularly taking corticosteroids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) to treat chronic pain can irritate the stomach lining.
  • Stress on the body: A sudden, serious sickness or injury might cause gastritis. Gastritis frequently occurs even following trauma to the body that does not affect the stomach. Brain injuries and severe burns are two common causes.

Symptoms of gastritis

There are many cases of gastritis without symptoms. When symptoms do occur, many people mistake them for indigestion. Additional indications of gastritis include:

  • tarry, dark stool
  • Bloating.
  • vomiting and nauseous.
  • greater satiety during or after a meal.
  • decrease in appetite.
  • abdominal ulcers
  • shedding pounds without intending to.
  • discomfort or soreness in the upper abdomen (belly).
  • throwing up blood.

How is gastritis diagnosed?

Your doctor will examine you physically and inquire about your medical history and symptoms. Your doctor might also recommend one or more of the following tests:

  • Breath test: You ingest a capsule or liquid containing the radioactive substance urea during an H. pylori breath test. Then you exhale into a bag that resembles a balloon. Urea is converted into carbon dioxide by H. pylori bacteria. The breath test will reveal a rise in carbon dioxide if you have the bacteria.
  • Blood test: Checking for antibodies that combat the H. pylori bacteria through a blood test.
  • Stool test: H. pylori bacteria are detected in your stool during this test of your faeces (poop).
  • Upper endoscopy: Your doctor examines your stomach using an endoscope, a lengthy, thin tube with a camera attached to it. The oesophagus, which joins your mouth to your stomach, is where the doctor puts the scope. Using an upper endoscopy, your doctor can look at the stomach lining. Additionally, a tissue sample (biopsy) from the lining of your stomach may be taken in order to check for infection.
  • Upper GI examination: For an upper GI examination, you ingest barium, a chalky material. Your stomach lining is coated by the fluids, giving the X-ray technician more precise images.

How is gastritis treated?

Depending on the reason, there are many treatments for gastritis. While some medicines treat symptoms of dyspepsia, others kill bacteria. Your healthcare professional might advise:

Antibiotics: The bacterial infection may be treated with antibiotics. For a few weeks, you might need to take many different kinds of antibiotics.

Antacids: Calcium carbonate drugs that act as antacids lessen exposure to stomach acid. They could aid in reducing inflammation. Heartburn can also be treated with antacids like Tums and Rolaids.

Histamine (H2) blockers: Drugs like ranitidine (Zantac), cimetidine (Tagamet), and other analogues reduce the formation of stomach acid.

Proton pump inhibitors: These drugs lessen the amount of acid your stomach generates. Examples include omeprazole (Prilosec) and esomeprazole (Nexium). Proton pump inhibitors also treat gastroesophageal reflux disease and stomach ulcers.

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What are the symptoms and causes of Melanoma?

What are the symptoms and causes of Melanoma?

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What is melanoma?

The most dangerous kind of skin cancer is melanoma, which means “black tumour” in Latin. It spreads easily to any organ and expands swiftly. Melanocytes, which are skin cells, are the source of melanoma. Melanin, a dark pigment that gives skin its colour, is produced by these cells. However, some melanomas are pink, red, purple, or skin-colored. Melanomas are often black or brown in hue.

The majority of melanomas start in normal skin, however about 30% start in moles that already exist. Given that the majority of melanomas don’t begin as moles, it is crucial to remain alert to changes in your skin. Your skin’s propensity to acquire melanoma may, however, be predicted in part by the number of moles you have. Finding out if you belong to a melanoma skin cancer risk category is crucial.

Due to melanomas’ rapid rate of growth, delaying treatment might occasionally mean the difference between life and death. Since melanomas have a 99% cure rate if identified in the earliest stages, knowing your risk might help you be especially alert in detecting changes in your skin and obtaining skin checks. Early identification is crucial since the depth of the malignant development directly affects the effectiveness of the treatment.

How common is melanoma?

Though it only accounts for around 1% of all skin malignancies, melanoma is the leading cause of death from skin cancer. It is one of the most prevalent cancers in people under the age of 30, particularly among young women.

Over the past 30 years, melanoma incidence has substantially increased. It is widely acknowledged that one of the primary causes of this sharp increase in melanoma cases is rising UV exposure levels.

Signs of melanoma

Any part of your body might develop melanoma. Even your internal organs and eyes can get melanoma. Melanoma is more likely to form on the trunk of men, frequently the upper back. Melanoma on the legs is more common in women.

Because early melanomas can often be successfully treated, it is crucial to know how to recognise them. Moles, scaly patches, open sores, and elevated bumps can all be symptoms of melanoma.

The “ABCDE” memory aid from the American Academy of Dermatology will help you remember the indicators that a lesion on your skin can be melanoma:

  • Asymmetry: One half is different from the other.
  • Border: The borders are not straight.
  • Color: There are varying hues of brown, black, grey, red, and white that are speckled and irregular.
  • Diameter: The spot’s diameter is larger than the diameter of a pencil eraser (6.0 mm).
  • Evolving: The spot is changing in size, shape, or colour or is new.

Tell your doctor if you see any sores that won’t heal, odd bumps or rashes, changes in your skin, or any moles you already have because not all melanomas follow the ABCDE rule.

The ugly duckling sign is another method for detecting melanoma. The ugly duckling mole is one that stands out from the rest and needs to be examined by a dermatologist.

What causes melanoma?

The majority of medical professionals concur that excessive sun exposure, especially sunburns while you are young, is a significant risk factor for melanoma. According to statistics, solar ultraviolet (UV) rays are the primary cause of 86% of melanomas. What causes skin cancer in the sun? UV exposure can alter specific genes that control how cells grow and divide by damaging a cell’s DNA. When your skin’s DNA is harmed and those cells begin to divide, issues could arise.

The World Health Organization has classified UV radiation from tanning beds as a carcinogen, or substance that causes cancer, because it increases the risk of melanoma. Over 6,000 melanoma cases are thought to be linked to tanning bed use each year in the US.

Although anyone can get melanoma, those who have the following risk factors are more likely to do so:

  • A personal account of having melanoma.
  • a melanoma family history.
  • Blue eyes, blond or red hair, and fair skin with freckles.
  • excessive sun exposure, which can result in painful sunburns.
  • A residence near the equator or at a high elevation may expose you to more UV radiation.
  • a background of using tanning beds.
  • an immune system compromise.
  • a lot of moles, particularly unusual moles.

Melanoma can affect anyone, however it is more prevalent in white people. Melanoma most frequently develops on the palms, soles, and nails of those with darker skin.

Preventing melanoma

  • Although melanoma cannot always be prevented, you can lessen your risk of acquiring it by staying out of the sun (even going pink in the sun).
  • When on vacation overseas or in the UK during the summer, most individuals become sunburned when engaging in outdoor activities like gardening, tanning, or playing cricket.
  • You must exercise extreme caution at these times, especially if you have fair skin and numerous moles.
  • By using sunscreen and dressed responsibly in the sun, you can aid in preventing yourself from suffering from sun damage.
  • Avoid using sunlamps and sunbeds.
  • Regular skin examinations can aid in an early diagnosis and improve the likelihood of a successful cure.

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What are the most effective ways of treating sunburn?

What are the most effective ways of treating sunburn?

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What is a sunburn?

Skin that has been sunburned is red, painful, and warm to the touch. Within a few hours of spending too much time in the sun, it frequently manifests.

Simple self-care procedures, such as taking painkillers and cooling the skin, can help you recover from a sunburn. But the sunburn could not go away for several days.

Everyone should take steps to protect their skin from the sun all year long by applying sunscreen and other skin-protection techniques. Even on chilly or overcast days, it is crucial when you’re outside.

Symptoms

Symptoms of sunburn include:

  • On white skin, inflamed skin appears pink or red; however, it may be more difficult to discern on brown or black skin.
  • the sensation of hot or heated skin
  • Itching, discomfort, and pain
  • Swelling
  • small, potentially breakable blisters packed with fluid
  • If the sunburn is severe, headache, fever, nausea, and exhaustion may result.
  • eyes that are dusty or hurt

Any exposed body part, including the lips, scalp, and earlobes, is susceptible to burning. If, for instance, clothing has a loose weave that lets ultraviolet (UV) light through, even covered areas can burn. The eyes can burn as well because they are very sensitive to UV light from the sun.

After being exposed to the sun for a few hours, sunburn symptoms frequently develop. The top layer of the damaged skin may peel off within a few days as the body begins to mend itself. Healing from a severe sunburn could take several days. Any persistent alterations in skin tone often disappear with time.

Causes

Too much ultraviolet (UV) light exposure results in sunburn. Sunlight or man-made sources like sunlamps and tanning beds both produce UV light. The wavelength of light known as UVA can damage skin over time by penetrating to its deepest layers. Sunburn is brought on by UVB rays, which penetrates the skin more superficially.

Skin cells are damaged by UV radiation. Erythema, or inflamed skin, or sunburn, is a result of the immune system’s reaction, which involves increasing blood flow to the injured areas.

On chilly or cloudy days, sunburn is still possible. UV rays can reflect off of water, sand, and other surfaces, and they can also burn skin.

Diagnosis

A physical examination is typically part of the diagnosis of sunburn. Your doctor might also inquire about your signs and symptoms, prescriptions you’re taking, history of sunburns, and UV exposure.

Your doctor may advise phototesting if you experience sunburn or a skin reaction after only a brief period of exposure to the sun. In order to simulate the issue, measurable levels of UVA and UVB light are applied to small patches of skin during this test. You’re labelled sun-sensitive if your skin reacted to phototesting (photosensitive).

Treatment

Treatment for sunburns can reduce pain, swelling, and irritation but does not repair the skin. Your doctor could advise using a prescription corticosteroid cream if self-care measures fail to relieve your sunburn or it is extremely severe.

Lifestyle and home remedies

Use a painkiller.

As soon as you can following overexposure to the sun, take a nonprescription pain medication for pain management. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, among others) and acetaminophen are two examples (Tylenol, others). You could also try applying a gel pain reliever to the area.

Skin cooling down.

Apply a clean cloth soaked with cool running water to the afflicted area of skin. Alternately, take a cool bath with 2 ounces (60 grammes) of baking soda added per tub. Several times per day, cool the skin for roughly 10 minutes.

Use a lotion, gel, or moisturiser.

Calamine lotion or an aloe vera gel might be calming. Before using, try putting the product in the refrigerator to cool it. Avoid anything alcoholic-related.

For a day, take in more water. By doing this, dehydration is avoided.

Be patient with blisters.

The skin might recover faster if the blister is intact. If a blister does rupture, use a pair of tidy, tiny scissors to remove the dead skin. Use mild soap and water to gently wash the area. The wound should then be dressed with an antibiotic cream and a nonstick bandage.

Gently handle skin that is flaking.

The impacted area may start to peel after a few days. This is how your body removes the top layer of unhealthy skin. Use moisturiser even if your skin is flaking.

Use an anti-itch medication.

As the skin starts to peel and repair underneath, an oral antihistamine such diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Chlor-Trimeton, other brands) may help to reduce itching.

Use a calming, medicinal cream.

Apply non-prescription 1% hydrocortisone cream to the affected region three times each day for three days if you have a mild to moderate sunburn. Before using, try putting the product in the refrigerator to cool it.

eye sunburn treatment. 

Use a clean towel that has been soaked with cool running water. Contact lenses shouldn’t be worn until after ocular symptoms have subsided. Avoid rubbing your eyes.

Stop exposing yourself to the sun more.

Avoid the sun or utilise other sun protection techniques while your sunburn heals. You might want to try a product with sunscreen and moisturisers.

Avoid using products with the suffix “-caine,” such as benzocaine.

Such lotions may aggravate skin irritation or result in an allergic reaction. A rare but possibly fatal illness that reduces the quantity of oxygen that the circulation can carry has been connected to benzocaine (methemoglobinemia).

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What are the different types of Breast Cancer?

What are the different types of Breast Cancer?

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About Breast

The breast is composed of a variety of tissues, from extremely fatty tissue to extremely dense tissue. There is a network of lobes within this tissue. Each lobe is composed of lobules, which are tiny, tube-like structures that house milk glands. Milk is transported from the lobes to the nipple via tiny ducts that connect the glands, lobules, and lobes. The areola, the darker region that encircles the nipple, contains the nipple in the centre.

Additionally, the breast is covered in lymphatic and blood arteries. By bringing oxygen and nutrition to the cells as well as eliminating waste and carbon dioxide, blood arteries nurture the cells. Unlike blood arteries, lymph vessels only transport fluid away from tissues. They join the lymphatic system, which removes bodily waste, and the lymph nodes. The tiny, bean-shaped organs known as lymph nodes aid in the defence against infection. The body has several locations for groups of lymph nodes, including the neck, groyne, and abdomen. Regional lymph nodes of the breast are those that are close to the breast, such as the axillary lymph nodes under the arm.

What is a breast cancer?

Healthy cells in the breast begin to alter and expand out of control to form a tumour, which is a mass or sheet of cells. A tumour may be benign or malignant. Malignant refers to the ability of a cancerous tumour to develop and metastasize to different body regions. A benign tumour is one that is still growing and has not yet spread.

Breast cancer can spread through the blood vessels and/or lymph nodes to places including the bones, lungs, liver, and brain. Though it most frequently travels to surrounding lymph nodes, in which case it is still regarded as a local or regional disease.

This is the most advanced stage of the illness and is known as metastatic or stage IV breast cancer. The presence of adjacent lymph nodes alone, however, does not typically indicate stage IV breast cancer.

After initial therapy, breast cancer may return locally, which refers to the same breast and/or nearby lymph nodes. Additionally, it may return in another location on the body; this is known as a distant or metastatic recurrence.

DIfferent types of breast cancer

Breast cancer comes in a variety of forms, each of which can be described in a variety of ways. It’s simple to become perplexed. The specific breast cells that develop into cancer dictate the type of breast cancer.

The types of breast cancer are generally classified into two categories i.e. Invasive cancer and Non-ivasive cancer.

Noninvasive (in-situ) types of breast cancer

Breast cancer cells that are in situ are non-invasive and stay in one area of the breast without spreading to neighbouring tissue, lobules, or ducts.

In situ breast cancer refers to cancer that only affects the milk ducts or lobules. Ductal carcinoma and lobular carcinoma are the two forms of in situ malignancies.

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)

The ACS estimates that 20% of newly discovered breast tumours fall into the DCIS category. A lump that develops in a milk duct, which transports milk from lobules, or glands, to the nipple, is the beginning of DCIS. There isn’t any body-wide spread of a DCIS. The likelihood that the tumour will eventually penetrate the ductal walls and enter the breast’s surrounding fat and tissue increases with time. However, thanks to improvements in diagnosis and therapy, the majority of women with DCIS, also known as stage 0 breast cancer, benefit from treatment.

Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)

Technically speaking, an LCIS is not a type of cancer but rather an alteration in the breast. To create breast milk, the breast has tens of thousands of tiny clusters called lobules. These lobules may develop cells that resemble cancer cells. LCIS usually stays put and doesn’t spread. Your care team may want to watch you in order to quickly address any changes because LCIS increases your chance for developing invasive breast cancer.

Invasive types of breast cancer

The majority of breast cancers are invasive, which means the disease has progressed from the primary site to surrounding breast tissue, lymph nodes, or other parts of the body.

Breast cancer cells that are invasive (infiltrating) breach the protective boundaries of healthy breast tissue and disseminate to other parts of the body via the circulation and lymph nodes. The two most prevalent kinds of invasive breast cancer are Invasive ductal carcinoma and invasive lobular carcinoma.

Invasive ductal carcinoma

Invasive ductal carcinoma is the most prevalent kind of breast cancer, accounting for around 70–80 percent of all occurrences (IDC). IDC is a cancer that begins in a milk duct and spreads to other breast tissues. Milk ducts are the tubes in the breast that bring milk to the nipple. It may eventually expand farther, or metastatically, to other bodily regions.

Invasive lobular carcinoma

The second most frequent kind of breast cancer is invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), which makes up between 5 and 10 percent of all cases. Breast tissue nearby is first affected by ILC, which originates in the lobules (where breast milk is produced). It might spread laterally like IDC. In contrast to IDC, this cancer is more difficult to find on mammograms and other tests. Both breasts are afflicted by ILC in one out of every five women.

Inflammatory breast cancer

Compared to other types of breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer has a tendency to spread more quickly and can be found in the ducts or lobules. According to the NCI, this fast-moving, aggressive illness accounts for 1 to 5 percent of breast cancer cases in the country. Its name comes from the inflammatory symptoms it produces, which typically include redness and swelling on the breast’s surface.

Due to these symptoms, a breast infection is frequently misdiagnosed. According to the American Cancer Society, one in three patients with this type of cancer do not receive a diagnosis until the disease has spread to other parts of the body and is at an advanced stage. Inflammatory breast cancer has a decreased survival rate due to these factors.

Paget’s disease of the breast

Paget’s disease of the breast, sometimes called Paget’s disease of the nipple, is a far less typical form of breast cancer. According to the NCI, it primarily affects patients who have been diagnosed with another breast cancer at a ratio of 1 to 4%. Paget cells, a particular type of tumour cell, are produced as it progresses in the skin of the nipple and areola.

Angiosarcoma of the breast

Breast cancer called angiosarcoma develops in the lining of lymphatic or blood vessels. According to the NCI, it is uncommon, making up just 1 to 2 percent of all sarcomas (including those found elsewhere in the body). Angiosarcoma can affect anyone, however it most frequently affects adults over the age of 70.

It frequently results from side effects of radiation therapy to the breast, but it may take up to eight or ten years before it does. Angiosarcoma is a fast-growing kind of cancer that frequently isn’t discovered until it has spread to other parts of the body.

Phyllodes tumors

Phyllodes tumours are uncommon and develop in the breast’s connective tissues. Despite the fact that it can afflict patients of any age, this form of tumour primarily affects women in their 40s. This kind of tumour is more common in people with Li-Fraumeni syndrome, an inherited genetic disorder. The ACS estimates that 25 percent of phyllodes tumours are malignant.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma, low-grade adenosquamous carcinoma, medullary carcinoma, mucinous carcinoma, papillary carcinoma, and tubular carcinoma are further, even more uncommon varieties of invasive breast cancer.

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What are the symptoms and causes of Tuberculosis?

What are the symptoms and causes of Tuberculosis?

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A potentially dangerous infectious disease that mostly affects the lungs is tuberculosis (TB). People can contract tuberculosis from one another by coughing or sneezing small droplets of bacteria into the air.

Infections of tuberculosis, once uncommon in wealthy nations, started rising in 1985, in part due to the appearance of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. HIV impairs the immune system, making it incapable of warding off TB pathogens. In the United States, tuberculosis started to decline once more in 1993 as a result of more effective control initiatives. But it still raises questions.

The majority of medications used to treat tuberculosis don’t work on many forms of the disease. For months, those with active tuberculosis must take a variety of drugs to treat the infection and prevent antibiotic resistance.

Different kinds of tuberculosis

You may also hear about several forms of TB, such as the most prevalent, pulmonary (lung) tuberculosis, in addition to active or inactive TB. But in addition to your lungs, the bacterium can also harm other parts of your body, leading to extrapulmonary tuberculosis (or TB outside of the lung). Additionally, systemic miliary TB, which can affect the entire body and result in:

  • Meningitis is a brain inflammation.
  • High quantities of white blood cells in your urine are referred to as sterile pyuria.
  • Spinal tuberculosis, often known as Pott’s disease or TB spondylitis.
  • an adrenal gland disorder called Addison’s disease.
  • The liver infection hepatitis.
  • Neck lymphadenitis, often known as scrofula or TB lymphadenitis.

Who is most at risk?

The majority of persons with tuberculosis are in their prime working years. All age groups, though, are in danger. In low- and middle-income nations, there are more than 80% of cases and fatalities.

Active TB is 18 times more likely to develop in HIV-positive people. Additionally, people with other immune-system compromising illnesses are more likely to have active TB. Undernourished individuals are three times as vulnerable. In 2021, there were 2.2 million new TB cases worldwide that could be linked to malnutrition.

Smoking and problematic alcohol use both raise the risk of TB. The causes of 0.74 million new cases of tuberculosis (TB) worldwide in 2021 were related to alcohol use disorders, while 0.63 million were related to smoking.

Symptoms of tuberculosis?

The majority of persons harbouring TB germs in their systems don’t develop TB disease. They actually still have a latent TB infection. If you have latent tuberculosis, you:

  • had no symptoms
  • cannot transmit TB to others
  • In the future, if your immune system deteriorates due to another factor, you could become ill with active TB illness.
  • Must take medication to avoid contracting active TB disease in the future

The TB bacteria are active if you have TB disease, which means they are growing (multiplying) inside of your body and making you ill. You can distribute the TB germs to other individuals if the disease is developing in your lungs or throat. TB disease can strike weeks to years after you’ve contracted the infection.

Your TB symptoms will depend on where the disease is spreading in your body.

Typical general signs include:

  • the flu with a fever
  • sweats at night (heavy sweating during sleep)
  • shedding pounds without trying
  • reduced appetite
  • weakness or exhaustion

Your lungs’ TB illness symptoms could include the following:

  • Cough that persists for more than three weeks
  • coughing up sputum or blood (a thick mucus from the lungs)
  • chest pain

What causes tuberculosis?

TB is brought on by a bacteria known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. There are numerous TB strains, some of which have developed drug resistance.

Airborne droplets that are infected with the TB bacteria can spread the disease. Anyone around can breathe in these droplets once they are in the air. TB patients can spread the germs by:

  • sneezing
  • coughing
  • speaking
  • singing

Even if they have contracted the germs, people with healthy immune systems may not show signs of TB. Latent or dormant TB infection is what this is. Latent TB affects about one-fourth of all people on the planet.

Although latent TB is not contagious, it can eventually develop into an active illness. You can get sick from active TB disease and spread it to other people as well.

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