Meralgia Paresthetica Meralgia paresthetica is a disorder that causes tingling sensation and numbness in the thigh. It is actually caused by nerve compression that cuts-off the sensation to the area of the thigh region. It can occur due to obesity or wearing tight clothing or due to local injury and even during pregnancy. This condition can be treated using conservative methods and in severe cases by medications. The other name for meralgia paresthetica is femoral (cutaneous) nerve syndrome.
Symptoms :
This condition can cause tingling sensation or sudden numbness on the outer part of the thigh region. For some people it is felt as burning pain on the skin surface of the thigh portion. The symptoms are mild to moderate and it may increase when the person is standing or walking.
Causes :
Meralgia paresthetica is caused by increased pressure on the thigh region due to obesity, enlargement of belly, or by pregnancy. Sudden tingling occurs when the femoral cutaneous nerve gets compressed due to excess of pressure. This nerve is actually a sensory nerve that passes through the groin but during such condition the nerve gets trapped or compressed causing burning pain on the thigh. Often, the nerve gets trapped in the groin under the inguinal ligament from the abdomen to the upper thigh portion.
Wearing a tight belt, tight clothing, and tight pants is the common cause for this condition. The same feeling or numbness also occurs for some pregnant women when the increasing belly exerts pressure on the groin. Meralgia paresthetica also occurs when the tissue of the inguinal ligament gets scarred due to sudden injury. In some cases prolonged diabetes and motorcar accident (if the seat belt gets pressed to the body) can also cause meralgia paresthetica.
Who are at risk?
People who are obese, people who are diabetic for prolonged period, and people who have the habit of wearing tight clothing are prone to develop this condition. Pregnant women can also experience tingling pain in the thigh region.
Tests :
No tests are necessary to diagnose meralgia paresthetica. Your doctor will often examine the affected portion of the groin and assess the intensity of the pain you experience. For some people imaging tests like X-ray, nerve conduction test and electromyography is done to detect nerve compression.
Treatment :
For mild to moderate pain it is enough if you use any of the conservative measure. You can loosen the clothing in the abdomen region or take pain relieving medications like Ibuprofen or Tylenol to get relief from the symptoms. Your doctor will examine the area physically to find out the underlying cause of the pain. He may give you a shot of cortisone injection if the nerve pain is severe.
Medications like gabapentin or Dilantin or Lyrica is also prescribed to get relief from neuropathic pain. Some of these drugs may produce side effects like nausea, vomiting, and constipation. You need to consult your doctor before taking any medication. In rare cases, surgery is done to release the nerve compression.
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is neurological problem that causes impairment in physical movement and muscular weakness. The affected person may not be able to move or speak as before and is a nervous system disorder. The nerve cells of the spine and the brain will gradually become weak and ultimately die. It is not clear what causes ALS and the disease cannot be cured but the symptoms can be treated. ALS is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease since it was first diagnosed with the famous football player. When the neurons progressively become weak and unable to function properly the person’s voluntary muscular movement will become paralyzed.
Symptoms :
Initial symptoms of ALS include difficulty in talking, walking and carrying out routine activities. There will be weakness in the legs and ankles causing great difficulty in moving his legs. The affected person will make clumsy movements due to his inability to move the muscles properly. It may cause difficulty in eating and talking. He may not be able to stand or sit in good posture and cannot make any muscular movements on his legs and hands as before.
The paralyzed muscular movement will gradually spread to various parts of his body after his hands and limbs are affected. The person will have great trouble in speaking and even breathing. As more and more of motor neurons die due to the progression of the disease the person will eventually become paralyzed and even die. Fortunately the nerves that are involved in digestion and bladder control are not affected by ALS since they are done automatically.
Causes :
The disease of ALS can be genetic suggesting that it can be inherited. It is the nerve cells that are actually affected in this disease causing progressive weakness. Although there is no solid theory that explains what causes ALS there are theories suggesting that it can occur due to gene mutation or chemical imbalance. An individual affected with ALS will have high levels of glutamate which is a chemical secreted in the brain leading to toxicity. Weakened immunity can also trigger ALS leading to nervous disorder.
Who are at risk?
Children born to parents of ALS have increased chance of developing this disease. Men are more prone to have this disorder than women and often the disease occurs in the age group of 40-65. A person who is smoking continuously and a person who have increased exposure to poisonous chemicals like lead have increased risk for getting ALS.
Consequences :
As the disease progresses it may affect your normal functions like eating, breathing and speaking. Certain muscles involved with breathing can get affected and paralyzed leading to difficulty in breathing. In the advanced stage of ALS the patient will have to depend on tracheostomy procedure that involves artificial respiration. In many causes the patients with advanced stage of ALS will die due to lung failure.
ALS can affect the normal speaking ability of the person causing slurred speech. For some people the speech can become totally affected as the disease progresses. The neuro-generative disease can affect the eating or swallowing ability of the person leading to malnutrition. In rare cases ALS can cause dementia.
Tests :
Some of the symptoms of ALS are very much like other neurological problems and hence it is difficult to be diagnosed at early stage. After examining the patient and collecting his medical history, the doctor may request for electromyogram for studying the electrical activity of the muscles. Abnormal muscular activity can be due to ALS or nerve cell death.
Nerve conduction study is administered to assess the ability of the nerves to send or receive impulses. In some cases imaging tests like CT or MRI scan is done for getting clear images of the brain function. Lumbar puncture is also done in some people to collect the spinal fluid for testing. If necessary, the doctor may do muscle biopsy for testing in the laboratory.
Treatment :
There is not a single medication or therapy to treat ALS but the symptoms can be controlled or slowed down to prevent many complications. The symptoms of one person may vary squarely with other person and hence the method of treatment is devised suitably suiting the needs of the person. Riluzole is prescribed for ALS to slow down the progression of the disease. It can cause slight dizziness or GI problems in some people.
Medications are given for controlling the symptoms of muscular cramps, fatigue and spasticity. Suitable drugs are given to reduce sleep apnea and other sleep related problems. For people with severe breathing difficulty, mechanical ventilation is given by tracheostomy procedure in which a small tube is inserted in the neck portion to connect with windpipe which is then connected to respiratory machine. Physiotherapy is given for reducing problems in muscular movement in walking. Suitable exercises are suggested for improving the muscular strength and for getting cardiovascular fitness.
The affected person will be taught the ways of using walker or wheelchair or tramps to improve one’s walking ability. Suitable stretching exercises will help in getting relief from muscular cramps or pain. Hand or arm weakness can be treated with suitable occupational therapy so that the affected person can carry out his daily activities. A speech therapist can help you to overcome your speaking ability and to get improved communication. Nowadays tablet computers are used for effective methods of communicating. The affected person should make sure that he/she gets adequate nutrition if they have problems in eating or drinking.
Coping with Problems :
It is hard to accept that you have serious neurological problem like ALS but you have to overcome the shock and grief and develop positive ideas to carry on with your life. Joining a support group can help you in sharing your feelings with others who are undergoing similar pain and physical problems. Discuss with your doctor about the ways of improving the quality of life with suitable therapy.
Symptoms :
Initial symptoms of ALS include difficulty in talking, walking and carrying out routine activities. There will be weakness in the legs and ankles causing great difficulty in moving his legs. The affected person will make clumsy movements due to his inability to move the muscles properly. It may cause difficulty in eating and talking. He may not be able to stand or sit in good posture and cannot make any muscular movements on his legs and hands as before.
The paralyzed muscular movement will gradually spread to various parts of his body after his hands and limbs are affected. The person will have great trouble in speaking and even breathing. As more and more of motor neurons die due to the progression of the disease the person will eventually become paralyzed and even die. Fortunately the nerves that are involved in digestion and bladder control are not affected by ALS since they are done automatically.
Causes :
The disease of ALS can be genetic suggesting that it can be inherited. It is the nerve cells that are actually affected in this disease causing progressive weakness. Although there is no solid theory that explains what causes ALS there are theories suggesting that it can occur due to gene mutation or chemical imbalance. An individual affected with ALS will have high levels of glutamate which is a chemical secreted in the brain leading to toxicity. Weakened immunity can also trigger ALS leading to nervous disorder.
Who are at risk?
Children born to parents of ALS have increased chance of developing this disease. Men are more prone to have this disorder than women and often the disease occurs in the age group of 40-65. A person who is smoking continuously and a person who have increased exposure to poisonous chemicals like lead have increased risk for getting ALS.
Consequences :
As the disease progresses it may affect your normal functions like eating, breathing and speaking. Certain muscles involved with breathing can get affected and paralyzed leading to difficulty in breathing. In the advanced stage of ALS the patient will have to depend on tracheostomy procedure that involves artificial respiration. In many causes the patients with advanced stage of ALS will die due to lung failure.
ALS can affect the normal speaking ability of the person causing slurred speech. For some people the speech can become totally affected as the disease progresses. The neuro-generative disease can affect the eating or swallowing ability of the person leading to malnutrition. In rare cases ALS can cause dementia.
Tests :
Some of the symptoms of ALS are very much like other neurological problems and hence it is difficult to be diagnosed at early stage. After examining the patient and collecting his medical history, the doctor may request for electromyogram for studying the electrical activity of the muscles. Abnormal muscular activity can be due to ALS or nerve cell death.
Nerve conduction study is administered to assess the ability of the nerves to send or receive impulses. In some cases imaging tests like CT or MRI scan is done for getting clear images of the brain function. Lumbar puncture is also done in some people to collect the spinal fluid for testing. If necessary, the doctor may do muscle biopsy for testing in the laboratory.
Treatment :
There is not a single medication or therapy to treat ALS but the symptoms can be controlled or slowed down to prevent many complications. The symptoms of one person may vary squarely with other person and hence the method of treatment is devised suitably suiting the needs of the person. Riluzole is prescribed for ALS to slow down the progression of the disease. It can cause slight dizziness or GI problems in some people.
Medications are given for controlling the symptoms of muscular cramps, fatigue and spasticity. Suitable drugs are given to reduce sleep apnea and other sleep related problems. For people with severe breathing difficulty, mechanical ventilation is given by tracheostomy procedure in which a small tube is inserted in the neck portion to connect with windpipe which is then connected to respiratory machine. Physiotherapy is given for reducing problems in muscular movement in walking. Suitable exercises are suggested for improving the muscular strength and for getting cardiovascular fitness.
The affected person will be taught the ways of using walker or wheelchair or tramps to improve one’s walking ability. Suitable stretching exercises will help in getting relief from muscular cramps or pain. Hand or arm weakness can be treated with suitable occupational therapy so that the affected person can carry out his daily activities. A speech therapist can help you to overcome your speaking ability and to get improved communication. Nowadays tablet computers are used for effective methods of communicating. The affected person should make sure that he/she gets adequate nutrition if they have problems in eating or drinking.
Coping with Problems :
It is hard to accept that you have serious neurological problem like ALS but you have to overcome the shock and grief and develop positive ideas to carry on with your life. Joining a support group can help you in sharing your feelings with others who are undergoing similar pain and physical problems. Discuss with your doctor about the ways of improving the quality of life with suitable therapy.
Aphasia
Aphasia Aphasia is a condition that seriously affects your ability to communicate. It can affect the individual’s verbal and written skills and often it occurs after an accident of head injury. The cells of the brain are affected severely causing disruption of communication. The portion of the brain that controls the language and communication skills is seriously affected in Aphasia. However this disease does not affect the individual’s intelligence. This communication disorder can be treated by improved communication methods and by practicing various modes of language skills.
Causes :
Often the condition of aphasia occurs after a stroke or brain injury. This disorder develops after there is sudden block of blood flow or due to sudden rupture in the major blood vessel of the brain. It causes serious damage to the cells of the brain or cell death that involves in communication and language. A head injury or stroke or a tumor or an infection in the brain cells can be the cause of aphasia.
For some people there will be progressive degeneration of brain cells that controls the language. In later stages the affected person will eventually develop dementia. In some cases there can be temporary aphasia due to uncontrolled seizures or due to transient ischemic attack which disrupts the normal blood flow in the brain. The affected person will regain the verbal skills once the condition is reversed. It is reported that more than 40-50% of the people who develop a stroke will get aphasia.
Types :
There are many types of aphasia and it causes disruption of communication in various degrees.
In severe cases aphasia can affect the quality of life of the person causing disturbed relationships or loss of job.
Symptoms :
Aphasia is not a disease but a sign of underlying disorder like stroke or brain infection. Some of the symptoms of aphasia are difficulty in talking, slurred speech, speaking incomplete sentence or using irrelevant words while communicating. The individual will not understand what others are taking or have difficulty in understanding them.
They will use sentences that are not recognized and write words that gives no meaning. The symptoms are not the same for every person since it varies according to the extent of damage caused to the brain. Individuals with mild symptom will struggle while making conversation and have trouble in choosing the right word while talking.
Tests :
The doctor will look for the above symptoms and will make use of informal observation to assess the patient’s condition. He may ask you to name some objects kept in the table or ask you to repeat some words or narrate a story and ask some questions about it or use similar procedures for testing the person’s vocabulary skill. He may order for imaging tests like X-ray, CT scan of the brain to know the exact damage. He will have to find out the root cause of the disease which can be a stroke or head injury or brain infection.
Treatment :
Treatment for aphasia depends on the age, health condition and extent of brain injury of the patient. In case the damage is mild the person can easily recover with the help of speech therapy. If the problem is due to brain tumor, then surgery is to be done for improvement of communication. Underlying problem is to be treated for aphasia. Most of the affected person will show improvement through effective speech therapy. The therapist will teach various other means of communication to overcome the difficulty in language.
Language Rehabilitation :
This is an excellent remedy for people affected with aphasia to recover their language skills. There are people who regain full levels of communication after learning speech therapy. It is necessary that the person should start this therapy in early stages. Drawings, gestures and various other modes of communication is taught during therapy sessions. They will be taught to use books or boards for effective communication when they have trouble to find the right set of words.
Medications like piracetam or memantine are given for people with aphasia to clear the block or to improve the blood flow in the brain. Family support is absolutely necessary for affected people to overcome their inability. Friends should be understanding and cooperative to encourage the person to talk freely to avoid anxiety. They should be instructed to carry paper-pen whenever they go out and carry their identification card. With the help of doctor or therapist you can find some association or support groups.
Causes :
Often the condition of aphasia occurs after a stroke or brain injury. This disorder develops after there is sudden block of blood flow or due to sudden rupture in the major blood vessel of the brain. It causes serious damage to the cells of the brain or cell death that involves in communication and language. A head injury or stroke or a tumor or an infection in the brain cells can be the cause of aphasia.
For some people there will be progressive degeneration of brain cells that controls the language. In later stages the affected person will eventually develop dementia. In some cases there can be temporary aphasia due to uncontrolled seizures or due to transient ischemic attack which disrupts the normal blood flow in the brain. The affected person will regain the verbal skills once the condition is reversed. It is reported that more than 40-50% of the people who develop a stroke will get aphasia.
Types :
There are many types of aphasia and it causes disruption of communication in various degrees.
- Expressive aphasia is one in which the affected person will know exactly what he/she wanted to express but will have difficulty in telling it. It occurs when the cells of language network gets seriously affected in the frontal portion of the brain. In this type often the listener can understand what the person is trying to communicate. This type is also called as Broca aphasia or Non fluent aphasia.
- Fluent aphasia is one where the middle portion of the frontal lobes of the brain is damaged. A person affected with fluent aphasia can speak fluently or read sentences but he cannot understand the meaning of the words. They cannot understand what they are talking and end up talking nonsense. They often use irrelevant words or unrecognizable words and the person who listens cannot understand what they are trying to communicate.
- Anomic aphasia is one in which the person will have problems in finding relevant words while talking. This would cause difficulty in talking and writing.
- Global aphasia is the serious type and most prevalent type which a person develops after a stroke or head injury. Here the person’s ability to speak or read is seriously affected. There will be extensive damage to the language network portion of the brain which leads to severe disability of speech and understanding.
- Primary progressive aphasia is very rare type in which the person’s ability to talk or write will get reduced gradually. Here the affected person will often use gestures to communicate and can improve their verbal skills by speech therapy.
In severe cases aphasia can affect the quality of life of the person causing disturbed relationships or loss of job.
Symptoms :
Aphasia is not a disease but a sign of underlying disorder like stroke or brain infection. Some of the symptoms of aphasia are difficulty in talking, slurred speech, speaking incomplete sentence or using irrelevant words while communicating. The individual will not understand what others are taking or have difficulty in understanding them.
They will use sentences that are not recognized and write words that gives no meaning. The symptoms are not the same for every person since it varies according to the extent of damage caused to the brain. Individuals with mild symptom will struggle while making conversation and have trouble in choosing the right word while talking.
Tests :
The doctor will look for the above symptoms and will make use of informal observation to assess the patient’s condition. He may ask you to name some objects kept in the table or ask you to repeat some words or narrate a story and ask some questions about it or use similar procedures for testing the person’s vocabulary skill. He may order for imaging tests like X-ray, CT scan of the brain to know the exact damage. He will have to find out the root cause of the disease which can be a stroke or head injury or brain infection.
Treatment :
Treatment for aphasia depends on the age, health condition and extent of brain injury of the patient. In case the damage is mild the person can easily recover with the help of speech therapy. If the problem is due to brain tumor, then surgery is to be done for improvement of communication. Underlying problem is to be treated for aphasia. Most of the affected person will show improvement through effective speech therapy. The therapist will teach various other means of communication to overcome the difficulty in language.
Language Rehabilitation :
This is an excellent remedy for people affected with aphasia to recover their language skills. There are people who regain full levels of communication after learning speech therapy. It is necessary that the person should start this therapy in early stages. Drawings, gestures and various other modes of communication is taught during therapy sessions. They will be taught to use books or boards for effective communication when they have trouble to find the right set of words.
Medications like piracetam or memantine are given for people with aphasia to clear the block or to improve the blood flow in the brain. Family support is absolutely necessary for affected people to overcome their inability. Friends should be understanding and cooperative to encourage the person to talk freely to avoid anxiety. They should be instructed to carry paper-pen whenever they go out and carry their identification card. With the help of doctor or therapist you can find some association or support groups.
Apraxia
Apraxia Apraxia is a rare speech disorder that occurs in children causing difficulty in speech. It affects the planning ability for making the right set of speech movement. The child’s brain will not make enough plans for making right movement of jaw or lips while talking resulting in slurred speech. The child with apraxia cannot make accurate movement of his lips or jaws while talking. It is commonly known as CAS (childhood apraxia of speech). Dyspraxia is the term given for mild forms of apraxia.
Types :
Basically there are 2 types of apraxia namely acquired and developmental.
Symptoms :
Depending on the severity of the disorder the symptoms of each child with apraxia will differ. Some of the common signs of childhood apraxia are limited number of words and producing only few sounds. Initial symptoms will appear anywhere from 1.5 to 2 years of the child. There can be voicing errors when the child tries to say some words. Most of the children with this problem will have struggle in making their jaw movements and retaining their lips in the right position while pronouncing a word or sound.
With parents support and speech therapy many children can make improved speech within a year or two. Some children will have difficulty in understanding speech or language. Sometimes there can be specific language problems for the child. The affected child will have reduced babbling when he was an infant and will have great difficulty in combining syllables together to form a word. There are children who can say few easy words but have problem while saying complex words.
Such children are tending to use non-verbal cues or gestures for communication rather than using language to express themselves. The same child will say some word correctly at times and may have problem when he/she is asked to repeat the same words. In some children apraxia can be associated along with other cognitive disorders also. The child may develop articulation disorder or phonologic disorder along with apraxia.
Causes :
Exact cause of apraxia is not known till now but there are many theories that explain the root cause of it. It can occur due to neurological disorder, head injury, stroke, brain infection or any other complications in the brain. It can develop due to genetic factor or due to certain syndromes like that of velocardiofacial syndrome. It cannot be said that all children affected with apraxia will have problems or delayed speech. Many children have outgrown this problem as they grow by speech therapy but there can be delay in learning it.
Any abnormality in the genes or gene mutation can increase the risk of developing apraxia in children. It can be due to FOXP2 gene which controls the nerves involved in speech and language. Complications due to apraxia are delayed development of speech, difficulty in understanding speech and reduced vocabulary. There can be reduced motor development and intellectual development and the child can face problems in reading and writing as it grows.
Tests :
The doctor can easily diagnose apraxia by observing the speech of the child. He may ask him to repeat few words as he says or use other means to test his vocabulary. He may refer the child to speech pathologist for assessing his language skills. Tests are developed in varying degrees as per the child’s age and his ability to cooperate. The doctor has to be specific that the child does not have any other speech disorders.
He may ask the child to undergo hearing tests to rule out any hearing problems. He will examine the muscle movement of the lips and jaws to find out if there is any structural abnormality. The speech problem can occur due to tongue tie or due to cleft palate also. The language pathologist will observe and evaluate his speech by paying more attention to the vowels, sounds he produces.
Treatment :
In some children the retarded speech will resolve after some years with the help of continued speech therapy. It is more common in the case of acquired apraxia but for apraxia due to developmental type it takes time to get resolved. The doctor and the speech therapist will devise individual plan for the child according to his age and intellectual capacity. The child will have to attend speech therapy classes almost each day and practice them at home with the help of his parents.
Speech therapist will ask the child to repeat certain words or sounds and will slowly teach the child to combine certain sounds to form a new word easily. They will use touch therapy and visual therapy while teaching. The child will be encouraged to take enough time to tell particular word so that he/she stays relaxed. Very often individual therapy is given to get the best result in each case. It is necessary for the child to get sufficient support from the parent to practice particular words and phrases each day so that he can be ready for the next session of therapy.
The child will be asked to observe carefully when the therapist makes particular sound and how he moves his muscles on the jaw and lips. Good practice is vital for achieving improvement in speech. After few sessions, therapist will gradually increase the number of words and move on to small sentences. Daily practice in real life situations can be easy for the child to learn fast.
In case the child is suffering from severe apraxia the therapist will use alterative communication methods like gestures or telling something through electronic devices. Some children who have associated language disorders with apraxia should be treated with effective approach based on the intensity of the disorder. The child may be asked to attend occupational therapy classes along with speech therapy in flexible timings.
Types :
Basically there are 2 types of apraxia namely acquired and developmental.
- Acquired apraxia is the form that can affect people of any age group. It can affect the normal speaking ability of the person.
- Developmental apraxia is the type that occurs in children. Often, this condition is present from birth and the child with this problem will have struggle in making right movements of lips and jaws while talking. But these children can understand what others are talking. Most of the children will show considerable improvement by therapy.
Symptoms :
Depending on the severity of the disorder the symptoms of each child with apraxia will differ. Some of the common signs of childhood apraxia are limited number of words and producing only few sounds. Initial symptoms will appear anywhere from 1.5 to 2 years of the child. There can be voicing errors when the child tries to say some words. Most of the children with this problem will have struggle in making their jaw movements and retaining their lips in the right position while pronouncing a word or sound.
With parents support and speech therapy many children can make improved speech within a year or two. Some children will have difficulty in understanding speech or language. Sometimes there can be specific language problems for the child. The affected child will have reduced babbling when he was an infant and will have great difficulty in combining syllables together to form a word. There are children who can say few easy words but have problem while saying complex words.
Such children are tending to use non-verbal cues or gestures for communication rather than using language to express themselves. The same child will say some word correctly at times and may have problem when he/she is asked to repeat the same words. In some children apraxia can be associated along with other cognitive disorders also. The child may develop articulation disorder or phonologic disorder along with apraxia.
Causes :
Exact cause of apraxia is not known till now but there are many theories that explain the root cause of it. It can occur due to neurological disorder, head injury, stroke, brain infection or any other complications in the brain. It can develop due to genetic factor or due to certain syndromes like that of velocardiofacial syndrome. It cannot be said that all children affected with apraxia will have problems or delayed speech. Many children have outgrown this problem as they grow by speech therapy but there can be delay in learning it.
Any abnormality in the genes or gene mutation can increase the risk of developing apraxia in children. It can be due to FOXP2 gene which controls the nerves involved in speech and language. Complications due to apraxia are delayed development of speech, difficulty in understanding speech and reduced vocabulary. There can be reduced motor development and intellectual development and the child can face problems in reading and writing as it grows.
Tests :
The doctor can easily diagnose apraxia by observing the speech of the child. He may ask him to repeat few words as he says or use other means to test his vocabulary. He may refer the child to speech pathologist for assessing his language skills. Tests are developed in varying degrees as per the child’s age and his ability to cooperate. The doctor has to be specific that the child does not have any other speech disorders.
He may ask the child to undergo hearing tests to rule out any hearing problems. He will examine the muscle movement of the lips and jaws to find out if there is any structural abnormality. The speech problem can occur due to tongue tie or due to cleft palate also. The language pathologist will observe and evaluate his speech by paying more attention to the vowels, sounds he produces.
Treatment :
In some children the retarded speech will resolve after some years with the help of continued speech therapy. It is more common in the case of acquired apraxia but for apraxia due to developmental type it takes time to get resolved. The doctor and the speech therapist will devise individual plan for the child according to his age and intellectual capacity. The child will have to attend speech therapy classes almost each day and practice them at home with the help of his parents.
Speech therapist will ask the child to repeat certain words or sounds and will slowly teach the child to combine certain sounds to form a new word easily. They will use touch therapy and visual therapy while teaching. The child will be encouraged to take enough time to tell particular word so that he/she stays relaxed. Very often individual therapy is given to get the best result in each case. It is necessary for the child to get sufficient support from the parent to practice particular words and phrases each day so that he can be ready for the next session of therapy.
The child will be asked to observe carefully when the therapist makes particular sound and how he moves his muscles on the jaw and lips. Good practice is vital for achieving improvement in speech. After few sessions, therapist will gradually increase the number of words and move on to small sentences. Daily practice in real life situations can be easy for the child to learn fast.
In case the child is suffering from severe apraxia the therapist will use alterative communication methods like gestures or telling something through electronic devices. Some children who have associated language disorders with apraxia should be treated with effective approach based on the intensity of the disorder. The child may be asked to attend occupational therapy classes along with speech therapy in flexible timings.
Alcoholism
Alcoholism Alcoholism is a chronic disease that can seriously affect your day-to-day activities in total. Unlike popular belief about the habit of drinking, alcoholism is a disease and not to be considered as a symbol of bad behavior or character. Dependence on alcohol has increased rapidly due to the current lifestyle and statistics say that about 14 million people are affected by alcoholism in the USA alone.
The person affected with alcoholism will be preoccupied with alcohol and know very well that it would create serious health problems if he/she continues to use it. They literally become dependent on the quantity of alcohol consumed for getting the desired effect. Binge drinking is described as drinking as high as 5 or 6 drinks in one row can cause alcoholism. This disease is increasingly becoming common in teenagers when they resort to binge drinking due to compulsion of peer pressure.
Excessive drinking of alcohol in spite of the fact that it creates physical as well as mental problem leads to alcoholism. It is impossible to stop/quit drinking without the help of treatment when a person develops alcoholism. Alcohol abuse is not to be considered as bad character but as a progressive disease. Alcohol consumption (in excess) can affect each person differently. Alcoholism has affected more than 25% of men and 10% of women in the America and often it begins during adolescence. More than half of death of teenagers is due to alcohol abuse in America. Most of the people with alcoholism can be treated and cured by comprehensive programs of medications, counseling and from support of family and friends.
Symptoms :
Some of the common symptoms of alcoholism are given below:-
Causes :
There is no clear reason what factor induces a person to develop alcoholism. Drinking alcohol can be the result of too many factors like social status, environmental factors, genetic factors and psychological factor. For some people they start drinking for fun and soon get addicted to alcohol without their knowledge.
Drinking in excess can seriously alter the chemical balance in your brain causing impairment in judgmental skills, loss of balance and inability to control the behavior. A person is said to have addiction if he/she craves for alcohol and finds it as the ultimate choice for getting pleasure.
Risk Factors :
Stages :
I stage: In this stage the person will have improved access for alcohol though he actually does not use it. It certainly increases the risk for developing alcohol abuse.
II stage: The person starts drinking for an occasion and shortly switchover to regular drinking (once in a week/month) which suddenly changes to daily drinking.
III stage: From this stage onwards the person gets involved in binge drinking. The person increases the quantity of consumption further and further. This is the beginning of very severe stage of alcoholism.
IV stage: At this stage, the person gets used to increased alcohol consumption and always remains preoccupied with the thoughts of drinking. He may develop severe problems in his life, society, job and family.
V stage: This is the final stage of alcoholism. At this stage the person remains normal only if he consumes heavy alcohol. He may do anything (including stealing or fighting) for getting alcohol.
Consequences of Alcoholism :
First the person may feel like getting stimulated when he takes alcohol for the first time. As he continues to drink he gets addicted. Alcoholism can cause moderate to very serious physical problems like liver disease (alcoholic hepatitis or liver cirrhosis), digestive problems, heart complications, diabetes, sexual dysfunction, and eye problems.
Women who resort to alcohol abuse during pregnancy can give birth to child with serious birth defects. Gradually alcoholism can cause loss of bone density and makes one prone to develop cancer easily. Apart from the above physical problems alcoholism can cause accidents (even death many times) while driving, involving in socially prohibited acts like fighting and raping. It can damage the person’s image seriously disturbing his family and social life altogether.
Diagnoses :
The doctor will ask the person to complete set of questionnaires to know about the drinking pattern and behavior changes due to drinking. He will talk to the family and friends of the concerned person to collect more information about the person.
There are certain criteria given in the DSM of APA (American Psychiatric Association) and a person is said to have alcoholism if he/she fulfills any 3 of the following.
Treatment :
The method of treatment is not the same for all persons affected with alcoholism. It can be in the form of medications, counseling or residential rehab program. Depending on the health condition of the patient, the doctor will devise suitable detoxification schedule which can be for a week or more. During this period, the patient will be given sedating drugs to protect him from withdrawal symptoms. The most crucial part of recovery will be this stage since the patient will have to overcome the ongoing symptoms.
With the help of therapist and specialist the doctor will establish suitable plan to make the desired behavior changes in the affected person. Continued counseling will help one to stick on to the treatment plan. Family support is absolutely essential for speedy recovery after counseling.
Medications are given to abstain one from further drinking. Drugs like disulfiram, revia, camprol and naltrexone are prescribed which produces adverse effects if one starts drinking again. Alcohol dependence can be prevented by taking a shot of vivitrol. Similarly medications are given for overcoming psychological problems like anxiety and depression. The person should attend support group sessions at scheduled time until he is fully recovered. For more severe cases of alcoholism, residential program is given in rehab centers.
Lifestyle Changes :
You can develop healthy eating habits and engage in regular physical exercises which help in speedy recovery. Stay away from friends who are still drinking and avoid situations that tempt one to drink. Join a gym or yoga class which helps in focusing your thought and develop determination not to drink.
Prevention :
Adolescents should be explained about the physical problems of drinking. Early intervention will prevent one from getting into the habit. If you are seeing any behavioral changes with your son/daughter like difficulty in maintaining relations, declining grades at school and loss of interest in personal appearance then it can be due to alcohol abuse. Talk openly with him/her and get involved with his life to start with early treatment.
The person affected with alcoholism will be preoccupied with alcohol and know very well that it would create serious health problems if he/she continues to use it. They literally become dependent on the quantity of alcohol consumed for getting the desired effect. Binge drinking is described as drinking as high as 5 or 6 drinks in one row can cause alcoholism. This disease is increasingly becoming common in teenagers when they resort to binge drinking due to compulsion of peer pressure.
Excessive drinking of alcohol in spite of the fact that it creates physical as well as mental problem leads to alcoholism. It is impossible to stop/quit drinking without the help of treatment when a person develops alcoholism. Alcohol abuse is not to be considered as bad character but as a progressive disease. Alcohol consumption (in excess) can affect each person differently. Alcoholism has affected more than 25% of men and 10% of women in the America and often it begins during adolescence. More than half of death of teenagers is due to alcohol abuse in America. Most of the people with alcoholism can be treated and cured by comprehensive programs of medications, counseling and from support of family and friends.
Symptoms :
Some of the common symptoms of alcoholism are given below:-
- The person cannot control the quantity of alcohol consumption even after repeated attempts.
- Presence of strong urge to drink alcohol.
- Gradually the person will develop tolerance which compels him to take more alcohol for getting the desired effects.
- Presence of physical withdrawal signs like sweating, shaking of body and nausea when the person does not drink.
- Inability to remember conversations leading to “black out”.
- Gets irritated easily when the time of drinking gets closer.
- Drinking more quantity than usual or involving in gulp drinking to get the “good” feeling.
- There will not be any pleasure or interest in other activities as before.
Causes :
There is no clear reason what factor induces a person to develop alcoholism. Drinking alcohol can be the result of too many factors like social status, environmental factors, genetic factors and psychological factor. For some people they start drinking for fun and soon get addicted to alcohol without their knowledge.
Drinking in excess can seriously alter the chemical balance in your brain causing impairment in judgmental skills, loss of balance and inability to control the behavior. A person is said to have addiction if he/she craves for alcohol and finds it as the ultimate choice for getting pleasure.
Risk Factors :
- Binge drinking (drinking too much) can make one dependent for alcohol over a period of time.
- It is the teenagers who are at risk for developing alcoholism and often they develop physical dependence.
- A person with family history of alcoholism is more prone to develop alcohol abuse than others.
- An individual with various range of mental illness is at high risk for developing this disease. Some people are in the habit of mixing drugs with alcohol for getting “good” feeling which can be dangerous and life threatening.
Stages :
I stage: In this stage the person will have improved access for alcohol though he actually does not use it. It certainly increases the risk for developing alcohol abuse.
II stage: The person starts drinking for an occasion and shortly switchover to regular drinking (once in a week/month) which suddenly changes to daily drinking.
III stage: From this stage onwards the person gets involved in binge drinking. The person increases the quantity of consumption further and further. This is the beginning of very severe stage of alcoholism.
IV stage: At this stage, the person gets used to increased alcohol consumption and always remains preoccupied with the thoughts of drinking. He may develop severe problems in his life, society, job and family.
V stage: This is the final stage of alcoholism. At this stage the person remains normal only if he consumes heavy alcohol. He may do anything (including stealing or fighting) for getting alcohol.
Consequences of Alcoholism :
First the person may feel like getting stimulated when he takes alcohol for the first time. As he continues to drink he gets addicted. Alcoholism can cause moderate to very serious physical problems like liver disease (alcoholic hepatitis or liver cirrhosis), digestive problems, heart complications, diabetes, sexual dysfunction, and eye problems.
Women who resort to alcohol abuse during pregnancy can give birth to child with serious birth defects. Gradually alcoholism can cause loss of bone density and makes one prone to develop cancer easily. Apart from the above physical problems alcoholism can cause accidents (even death many times) while driving, involving in socially prohibited acts like fighting and raping. It can damage the person’s image seriously disturbing his family and social life altogether.
Diagnoses :
The doctor will ask the person to complete set of questionnaires to know about the drinking pattern and behavior changes due to drinking. He will talk to the family and friends of the concerned person to collect more information about the person.
There are certain criteria given in the DSM of APA (American Psychiatric Association) and a person is said to have alcoholism if he/she fulfills any 3 of the following.
- The body gets used to tolerance demanding more of alcohol to get the necessary toxic effect
- Getting severe withdrawal symptoms like tremors, sleeping sickness and anxiety when the person quits drinking.
- The person will start drinking more quantity than he/she intends to drink over time
- He/she will have increased urge to reduce the quantity they drink, but cannot succeed in it
- Drinking will compel the person to reduce or stop other social activities
- Though the person is aware of the increasing physical and mental problems, still he is unable to stop drinking
Treatment :
The method of treatment is not the same for all persons affected with alcoholism. It can be in the form of medications, counseling or residential rehab program. Depending on the health condition of the patient, the doctor will devise suitable detoxification schedule which can be for a week or more. During this period, the patient will be given sedating drugs to protect him from withdrawal symptoms. The most crucial part of recovery will be this stage since the patient will have to overcome the ongoing symptoms.
With the help of therapist and specialist the doctor will establish suitable plan to make the desired behavior changes in the affected person. Continued counseling will help one to stick on to the treatment plan. Family support is absolutely essential for speedy recovery after counseling.
Medications are given to abstain one from further drinking. Drugs like disulfiram, revia, camprol and naltrexone are prescribed which produces adverse effects if one starts drinking again. Alcohol dependence can be prevented by taking a shot of vivitrol. Similarly medications are given for overcoming psychological problems like anxiety and depression. The person should attend support group sessions at scheduled time until he is fully recovered. For more severe cases of alcoholism, residential program is given in rehab centers.
Lifestyle Changes :
You can develop healthy eating habits and engage in regular physical exercises which help in speedy recovery. Stay away from friends who are still drinking and avoid situations that tempt one to drink. Join a gym or yoga class which helps in focusing your thought and develop determination not to drink.
Prevention :
Adolescents should be explained about the physical problems of drinking. Early intervention will prevent one from getting into the habit. If you are seeing any behavioral changes with your son/daughter like difficulty in maintaining relations, declining grades at school and loss of interest in personal appearance then it can be due to alcohol abuse. Talk openly with him/her and get involved with his life to start with early treatment.
Monday, May 5, 2014
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Rocky Mountain fever is caused by Rickettsia rickettsii bacterium which is carried by tick. This disease was widespread in North and South America affecting many people. It damages the cells present in the lining of blood vessels causing leakage of blood. This becomes very serious when internal organs like kidneys are damaged. This fever can be cured completely by prompt treatment but it can become fatal if it gets complicated causing death.
Symptoms :
Initial symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever begin within 2 days of getting bitten by tick. Many people don’t even remember getting bitten by tick at some point in their body. It begins as sudden high fever, headache which is followed by skin rash. More than 90% of affected people will develop skin rash with fever. Some people may feel nauseated and drowsy after few days. For some people it can cause abdominal pain (very severe) which is often misinterpreted for appendicitis. In rare cases eyes may become reddish due to conjunctivitis.
However not all the symptoms given above are seen in all the people infected with RMSF The intensity of signs varies from person to person. Since the symptoms are often confusing for other fever RMSF may not be diagnosed properly. Some people may have severe symptoms requiring hospitalization on intensive care. Distinctive ashes are seen as small pink colored papules on the wrists and forearms which would eventually spread till the trunk. These rashes will not cause itching unlike normal rashes. Rashes begin to appear within 3-5 days of getting infected. One should not delay the treatment after the development of rash.
Complications :
The bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii causes infection on the endothelial cell lining of the blood vessel thus damaging them. The process of damaging the blood vessel is known as “Vasculitis” and internal bleeding may occur in any vital organ like heart or brain. It may cause loss of circulation to the hands and legs thus causing severe damage. On account of this, some people may suffer from severe long-term damage due to vascular damage. It may take several weeks or even months to recover fully.
When the blood vessels starts leaking inside it can affect your brain causing seizures. It can damage your lungs or heart causing lung failure/cardiac arrest. It can damage the normal functions of your kidneys causing renal failure/death. In rare cases if the blood circulation gets interrupted in the fingers/toes it may cause gangrene (death of tissue) leading to amputation of fingers/toes. The symptoms may progress rapidly and can become life threatening for some people. So it is necessary to see your doctor if you have fever with rash.
Causes :
RMSF is caused by bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii which is carried by a tick. When the ticks bite you subsequently it attaches with your skin to suck your blood thus transferring the bacterium to your bloodstream. This fever is caused primarily due to tick bites more particularly during warm weather.
Who are at risk?
This disease is common in North and South American states. People who spend more time on garden, particularly on grassy areas without wearing long sleeves are exposed to tick bites. If you happen to live in an area which is more prone to RMSF than other regions you are likely to catch this infection.
Tests :
RMSF is difficult to be diagnosed by your health care provider since most of the early symptoms are common for other diseases. Based on your symptoms, your doctor may order for complete blood profile and biopsy of the skin (rash specimen). He would inspect your body for identifying tick bite to begin early treatment. In most of the cases, your doctor will put you on antibiotics even before the test results are ready to avoid any complication.
Treatment :
It is very much necessary to take antibiotics within 5 days of getting infected with bacterium. Doxycycline is an effective drug given for RMSF for children and adults. Treating the patients with other drugs can cause complication. Doxycycline is considered to be the first line drug to prevent death and should be given within few days of symptoms. This drug can be given based on clinical suspicion itself not waiting for the outcome of the results.
Fever will reduce considerably after taking doxycycline. The treatment should be continued for 2 weeks or even more as per your doctor’s advice. If the symptoms do not improve with this drug then it might not be RMSF. For severe cases the patient should be hospitalized to prevent damage of internal organs.
Pictures of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever :
Images, Pics, Pictures and Photos of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Prevention :
In case you are living in tick prone area, it is better to avoid going to grassy areas for long time. Wearing long pants/sleeves would prevent tick bites. Consider using DEET or any other good insect repellents. Clean the garden thoroughly so that ticks may not live there.
Symptoms :
Initial symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever begin within 2 days of getting bitten by tick. Many people don’t even remember getting bitten by tick at some point in their body. It begins as sudden high fever, headache which is followed by skin rash. More than 90% of affected people will develop skin rash with fever. Some people may feel nauseated and drowsy after few days. For some people it can cause abdominal pain (very severe) which is often misinterpreted for appendicitis. In rare cases eyes may become reddish due to conjunctivitis.
However not all the symptoms given above are seen in all the people infected with RMSF The intensity of signs varies from person to person. Since the symptoms are often confusing for other fever RMSF may not be diagnosed properly. Some people may have severe symptoms requiring hospitalization on intensive care. Distinctive ashes are seen as small pink colored papules on the wrists and forearms which would eventually spread till the trunk. These rashes will not cause itching unlike normal rashes. Rashes begin to appear within 3-5 days of getting infected. One should not delay the treatment after the development of rash.
Complications :
The bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii causes infection on the endothelial cell lining of the blood vessel thus damaging them. The process of damaging the blood vessel is known as “Vasculitis” and internal bleeding may occur in any vital organ like heart or brain. It may cause loss of circulation to the hands and legs thus causing severe damage. On account of this, some people may suffer from severe long-term damage due to vascular damage. It may take several weeks or even months to recover fully.
When the blood vessels starts leaking inside it can affect your brain causing seizures. It can damage your lungs or heart causing lung failure/cardiac arrest. It can damage the normal functions of your kidneys causing renal failure/death. In rare cases if the blood circulation gets interrupted in the fingers/toes it may cause gangrene (death of tissue) leading to amputation of fingers/toes. The symptoms may progress rapidly and can become life threatening for some people. So it is necessary to see your doctor if you have fever with rash.
Causes :
RMSF is caused by bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii which is carried by a tick. When the ticks bite you subsequently it attaches with your skin to suck your blood thus transferring the bacterium to your bloodstream. This fever is caused primarily due to tick bites more particularly during warm weather.
Who are at risk?
This disease is common in North and South American states. People who spend more time on garden, particularly on grassy areas without wearing long sleeves are exposed to tick bites. If you happen to live in an area which is more prone to RMSF than other regions you are likely to catch this infection.
Tests :
RMSF is difficult to be diagnosed by your health care provider since most of the early symptoms are common for other diseases. Based on your symptoms, your doctor may order for complete blood profile and biopsy of the skin (rash specimen). He would inspect your body for identifying tick bite to begin early treatment. In most of the cases, your doctor will put you on antibiotics even before the test results are ready to avoid any complication.
Treatment :
It is very much necessary to take antibiotics within 5 days of getting infected with bacterium. Doxycycline is an effective drug given for RMSF for children and adults. Treating the patients with other drugs can cause complication. Doxycycline is considered to be the first line drug to prevent death and should be given within few days of symptoms. This drug can be given based on clinical suspicion itself not waiting for the outcome of the results.
Fever will reduce considerably after taking doxycycline. The treatment should be continued for 2 weeks or even more as per your doctor’s advice. If the symptoms do not improve with this drug then it might not be RMSF. For severe cases the patient should be hospitalized to prevent damage of internal organs.
Pictures of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever :
Images, Pics, Pictures and Photos of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Prevention :
In case you are living in tick prone area, it is better to avoid going to grassy areas for long time. Wearing long pants/sleeves would prevent tick bites. Consider using DEET or any other good insect repellents. Clean the garden thoroughly so that ticks may not live there.
Tularemia
Tularemia Tularemia or rabbit fever is an infectious disease affecting animals. The bacteria will get transmitted into humans when they come in contact with infected animals. The infection spreads easily by inhalation of spores, by eating uncooked meat or by drinking contaminated water. The disease causes high fever, headache and swelling of lymph nodes. If left untreated rabbit fever can become severe and cause death. It was Edward Francis when he was working in Tulare, California discovered that the fever can spread through bacteria and hence the name Tularemia was given.
Symptoms/Types :
There are different kinds of tularemia and each one produces different symptoms. Often the symptoms appear within 2-5 days of getting infected with bacteria. The bacterium will enter your body through skin contact or in rare cases they can be inhaled or eaten (uncooked food).
Tularemia Ulceroglandular :
This is the most common type of tularemia causing skin ulcer (at the site of infection), swollen lymph glands, fever, headache, chills, and fatigue.
Tularemia glandular :
The symptoms are the same as above but the affected person will not have skin ulcer.
Tularemia Oculoglandular :
Eyes are largely affected in this type causing red coloration of the eyes, swelling of eyes, whitish discharge from the eyes and eye pain. For some people ulcer may be formed inside the eyes.
Tularemia Oropharyngeal :
This type of tularemia occurs for people who eat contaminated food or undercooked meat. It affects the digestive tract of your body causing nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever and sore throat.
Pneumonic tularemia :
This type of tularemia affects your lungs causing irritant cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, and lung infection.
Typhoidal tularemia :
It is a rare type causing high fever, pneumonia, diarrhea and enlargement of spleen/liver.
Causes :
Tularemia is contracted from infected animals and birds. The bacterium by name Francisella tularensis infects animals. Such animals are bitten by insects/mosquitoes/ticks which carry these bacteria. Humans contract this disease when they come into direct skin contact with animals or if they are bitten by infected insects.
How it is transmitted?
Tularemia has several methods of transmission. When you are bitten by infected insects like ticks/mosquitoes you are likely to get tularemia. When you are handling infected animals, bacterium can enter your body through cut/injury. Ocular tularemia occurs when a person accidentally rubs his eyes after touching the infected animals. In rare cases, tularemia bacteria can be inhaled when people are engaged in gardening or construction work. When you eat or drink contaminated food/water you are likely to get tularemia.
Who are at risk?
Living in areas like Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas makes one prone to develop tularemia. A person engaged in hunting or in the habit of eating raw flesh can develop this disease. Pneumonic tularemia can affect people who work as gardeners/landscapers.
Complications :
Tularemia can cause death if not treated promptly. It can cause pneumonia causing respiratory failure, meningitis (brain infection), pericarditis (heart infection) and osteomyelitis (bone infection).
Tests :
Tularemia is difficult to be identified by doctors. Your doctor will closely observe the symptoms and order for blood test to check for the presence of F. tularensis in your blood sample. He would also check if the level of antibodies has increased considerably in your sample of blood indicating the presence of bacterium.
Treatment :
Antibiotics like gentamycin, streptomycin are effective for treating tularemia. It can be given in the form of oral pills or by infection depending on the intensity of symptoms. For more severe cases, doxycycline is prescribed. Based on the symptoms the treatment may differ widely.
Prevention :
There is no vaccination discovered for tularemia. You need to take precautions while working in garden and handling infected animals. Using insect repellants is a wise choice. Keep your pets well protected from getting infection.
Symptoms/Types :
There are different kinds of tularemia and each one produces different symptoms. Often the symptoms appear within 2-5 days of getting infected with bacteria. The bacterium will enter your body through skin contact or in rare cases they can be inhaled or eaten (uncooked food).
Tularemia Ulceroglandular :
This is the most common type of tularemia causing skin ulcer (at the site of infection), swollen lymph glands, fever, headache, chills, and fatigue.
Tularemia glandular :
The symptoms are the same as above but the affected person will not have skin ulcer.
Tularemia Oculoglandular :
Eyes are largely affected in this type causing red coloration of the eyes, swelling of eyes, whitish discharge from the eyes and eye pain. For some people ulcer may be formed inside the eyes.
Tularemia Oropharyngeal :
This type of tularemia occurs for people who eat contaminated food or undercooked meat. It affects the digestive tract of your body causing nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever and sore throat.
Pneumonic tularemia :
This type of tularemia affects your lungs causing irritant cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, and lung infection.
Typhoidal tularemia :
It is a rare type causing high fever, pneumonia, diarrhea and enlargement of spleen/liver.
Causes :
Tularemia is contracted from infected animals and birds. The bacterium by name Francisella tularensis infects animals. Such animals are bitten by insects/mosquitoes/ticks which carry these bacteria. Humans contract this disease when they come into direct skin contact with animals or if they are bitten by infected insects.
How it is transmitted?
Tularemia has several methods of transmission. When you are bitten by infected insects like ticks/mosquitoes you are likely to get tularemia. When you are handling infected animals, bacterium can enter your body through cut/injury. Ocular tularemia occurs when a person accidentally rubs his eyes after touching the infected animals. In rare cases, tularemia bacteria can be inhaled when people are engaged in gardening or construction work. When you eat or drink contaminated food/water you are likely to get tularemia.
Who are at risk?
Living in areas like Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas makes one prone to develop tularemia. A person engaged in hunting or in the habit of eating raw flesh can develop this disease. Pneumonic tularemia can affect people who work as gardeners/landscapers.
Complications :
Tularemia can cause death if not treated promptly. It can cause pneumonia causing respiratory failure, meningitis (brain infection), pericarditis (heart infection) and osteomyelitis (bone infection).
Tests :
Tularemia is difficult to be identified by doctors. Your doctor will closely observe the symptoms and order for blood test to check for the presence of F. tularensis in your blood sample. He would also check if the level of antibodies has increased considerably in your sample of blood indicating the presence of bacterium.
Treatment :
Antibiotics like gentamycin, streptomycin are effective for treating tularemia. It can be given in the form of oral pills or by infection depending on the intensity of symptoms. For more severe cases, doxycycline is prescribed. Based on the symptoms the treatment may differ widely.
Prevention :
There is no vaccination discovered for tularemia. You need to take precautions while working in garden and handling infected animals. Using insect repellants is a wise choice. Keep your pets well protected from getting infection.
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