Vasculitis

Vasculitis The walls of the blood vessels can become weak and narrow causing inflammation. This condition is known as vasculitis. The blood vessels may become narrow or thick not allowing enough blood passing through it. This can seriously affect the organs that receive blood supply causing tissue damage. Vasculitis can occur for short term or for long period. It can be treated by proper medications. Vasculitis can develop in any organ but is common in the blood vessels of eye, skin and brain.

Causes :

What factor triggers narrowing of blood vessels is not known till now, but repeated infections can cause inflammation of blood vessels. Virus infection and certain kinds of allergic reaction can cause vasculitis. Certain factors can trigger the immune system of your body causing damage to your blood vessels. The immune system will mistake your own cells of blood vessels as foreign substances to attack and destroy them. When the blood vessels become narrow it will not allow required amount of blood flow thereby causing depletion of oxygen and nutrients to the organs. Having autoimmune disorder for extended period can cause vasculitis.

Complications :

Vasculitis can become life threatening in some cases when the walls of the blood vessels become fragile and ruptures and start bleeding inside. It can bulge overly causing aneurysm and death of tissues. Blood supply to the concerned organ may get totally depleted causing tissue death and organ failure.

Symptoms :

Depending on the organ that is affected by vasculitis, symptoms vary. It can cause skin rash if the underlying blood vessels of the skin gets affected. Vasculitis can affect the nervous system and also the underlying blood vessels of the brain leading to stroke or heart attack. Some of the general symptoms of vasculitis are fever, loss of weight, fatigue, severe muscle/joint pain and loss of appetite. In rare cases, the nerves of the organ can get affected causing numbness of particular organ.

Vasculitis can also cause Behcet’s syndrome (eye inflammation, acne and genital ulcers), Buerger’s disease (inflammation of extremities and ulcers on fingers/toes), Churg Strauss syndrome (inflammation of lungs) and condition called cryoglobulinemia (affecting hands/toes causing nerve damage). For some people vasculitis can cause Kawasaki disease (rash with high fever), Henoch Scholein purpura (affecting joints and skin), polyarteritis nodosa (affecting blood vessels of kidneys or heart), Takayasu’s arteritis and Wegener’s granulomatosis (affecting blood vessels of throat, nose, lungs and kidneys).

Diagnosis :

Your doctor will collect information about your general health condition and look for the above symptoms. He may order for blood test (to check the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation), urine analysis, and imaging tests like X-rays, CT/MRI scanning. Angiogram is done for checking the heart condition. In case he suspects any organ death he would do biopsy by cutting a small tissue of the affected organ and testing it on the laboratory.

Treatment :

Depending on the intensity of vasculitis and the organ it has affected, treatment methods may vary. Corticosteroids like prednisone are prescribed to manage swelling of blood vessels. It can cause side effects if you are taking it for long term. In case vasculitis is caused by weakened immunity medications like cytotoxic drugs are given to control the immune system. This medication is effective in treating vasculitis caused by granulomatosis.

Pictures of Vasculitis :

Images, Pics, Pictures and Photos of Vasculitis

Lifestyle Changes :

Once you are diagnosed with vasculitis you need to accept the condition. Before taking any medication you can get second opinion to confirm the diagnoses. You should understand about the side effects of the medicine you are prescribed fully so that you can tell your doctor if there are any changes. Eat a well balanced diet with plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits. You can take calcium supplement or Vitamin D supplement after consulting your doctor. Practice exercise regularly to prevent thinning of bones and to improve blood circulation.

What Is Osteoporosis

What Is Osteoporosis Osteoporosis is a bone disorder affecting the bones making it weak and vulnerable. Very often, the bones in the wrist or hip or spine area gets affected and become brittle and weak. In this condition even a small cough or mild stress can cause fracture. Normally, the bones are constantly replaced after the death of old bone tissue. But during osteoporosis the new bone may not develop properly after the death of old bone. People who are above 45 years can develop osteoporosis. This condition can be corrected by medications and healthy diet.

Symptoms :

Osteoporosis does not show any signs initially. Once the bone become very weak and vulnerable to fracture it can cause some symptoms like severe back pain, difficulty in walking and standing and sudden fracture. Due to mild fracture the vertebral column can get collapsed which can subsequently cause loss of height. The affected person can stand in a stooped posture. Women who in the period of post-menopause, can consult the doctor if they have any of the above symptoms.

Causes :

The process of building of new bones happens in our body constantly. New bones are made as and when old ones become weak and break. As one grows old, this process becomes slow and hence elderly people are at high risk of developing osteoporosis. During the developmental stage, there will be peak bone mass. Hence the higher the bone mass the lower the risk of developing osteoporosis in old age.

Who are at risk?

Women have increased risk of developing osteoporosis than men (post menopause). Old age people, and people of certain race (Asian and white people) are at high risk for getting osteoporosis. Individual with family history of osteoporosis are vulnerable to develop fractures and people with short structure (small body frame) are at high risk for getting osteoporosis. Hormones play a role in osteoporosis. The bones become weak if the levels of sex hormones decreases. Women may not have sufficient estrogen after menopause and hence at high risk. Similarly aged men will have lower level of testosterone are at risk. Increased production of thyroid hormone makes one vulnerable for getting osteoporosis.

Low intake of calcium in your diet will put you in high risk for developing osteoporosis. People with eating disorders like anorexia may not eat well leading to decreased calcium levels. Prolonged intake of corticosteroids can reduce bone density causing osteoporosis. Bad habits like sedentary lifestyle, drinking excess of alcohol and using tobacco makes one prone to develop this condition. Osteoporosis can cause complications like sudden hip fracture or spinal fracture. The bones become very weak and fragile that even a small fall may cause a fracture.

Diagnosis :

After listing to the symptoms of back pain or wrist pain your doctor may check the bones on your hip and lower back by sending low level of X-rays through it. It helps in finding the exact proportion of mineral in the bones.

Treatment :

Bisphosphonates are prescribed for osteoporosis. Drugs like Alendronate, risedronate or zoledronic acid are given. These medications can cause some adverse effects like abdominal cramps and inflammation of esophagus. Drugs are either injected on the vein or given in the form of pills. For some people it can affect the jawbones.

For some women, estrogen therapy is given to maintain bone density. But it makes them prone to breast cancer and endometrial cancer. In men testosterone therapy is recommended for increasing bone density. In rare cases medications like teriparatide or denosumab are prescribed for increasing bone density.

Lifestyle Changes :

You can easily maintain good eating habits to avoid osteoporosis. Quit smoking and drinking. Alcohol can reduce the absorption of calcium by the bones thereby decreasing bone density. Avoid falls by choosing the right pair of shoes and avoid high-heeled shoes.

Prevention :

You can prevent osteoporosis by taking sufficient calcium and vitamin D in your daily diet. An adult requires about 1000 milligrams of calcium each day and as you grow old your requirement of calcium increases. Hence you can include calcium rich diet like dairy products, green vegetables, soy foods and orange in your diet. Vitamin D is freely available in sunlight and also in many food products. Practice regular exercise so that your bones become strong with increased bone mass.

Pinguecula

Pinguecula Pinguecula is the development of extra growth on the eyes causing yellowish patch inside the eyes. Unlike pterygium that grows on the cornea, pinguecula grows in the conjunctiva of the eyes with deposits of fat and protein. It can occur due to eye irritation or over-exposure to sunlight. It is benign (harmless) tumor growth on the eyes forming thin tissue of yellow layer. The growth is projected as slightly raised one from the sclera (white surface) of the eyes. This condition is often seen on elderly people and requires no treatment.

Shape of pinguecula :

A small tumor like growth of pinguecula is mostly triangular in shape. It appears as raised patch growing close to the cornea and lies clearly above the pupil and iris of the eyes. It develops commonly on the corner of the eyes that is close to the nose and rarely on the other corner. The size of pinguecula is small but rarely it can grow big and the growth rate is very slow.

Causes :

Exact cause of pinguecula formation is not known but it is believed to be caused by over exposure to sunlight or dust. As one grows older, there is high risk of development of pinguecula. It is formed due to changes in the tissue of conjunctiva creating a small bump. These patches or bumps are added with fat particles and protein molecules. People working in welding industries are at high risk for developing pinguecula since more of dust particles enter into their eyes. Farmers have increased risk of getting pinguecula because they are prone to dust particles.

Symptoms :

Pinguecula can cause eye irritation and dryness. Sometimes you feel that something has fallen into your eyes giving a gritty feeling. For some people, this can cause inflammation of the eyes and itching. The symptoms of pinguecula vary from one person to the other considerably. For some people, the signs are mild and for others it can be severe. The symptoms depend on the size of bump and its location.

Diagnosis :

Mere examination of the eyes is enough to diagnose pinguecula.

Treatment :

Often, pinguecula does not require any treatment. No pinguecula will become too big affecting the normal vision. Treatment is done only if there is swelling or itching or gritty feeling inside the eyes. Eye ointments/drops are prescribed for getting relief from irritation and dryness. Surgery is the last option for treating pinguecula and it can leave a scar inside your eyes. It is done only if it bothers you very much, it causes great discomfort while wearing contact lenses and it develops severe inflammation even when treated.

Prevention :

One cannot fully prevent development of pinguecula but can avoid the risk factors by following simple rules. Wear sunglasses when you are going out in the sunlight to block UV rays. They are helpful in protecting your eyes from dust and wind. Applying mild steroid eye drops on the eyes is enough to clear any debris built inside. In case you have dryness of eyes you can use artificial tears for keeping it moisturized.

Enlarged Thyroid

Enlarged Thyroid Thyroid gland is found at the base of your neck having butterfly like shape. It is placed below the Adam’s apple in front of the neck. Goiter is the name given for enlarged thyroid. A goiter is normally harmless but sometimes if the size of thyroid gland becomes too big it can cause breathing problems and difficulty in swallowing/drinking.

Enlarged thyroid can be mild or severe and accordingly treatment is done. Iodine insufficiency is the major cause of enlarged thyroid. For some people thyroid gland gets swollen and even small lumps can develop inside it. Two types of hormone T3 and T4 are secreted from the thyroid glands which are needed for body metabolism and right function.

Enlargement of thyroid gland can occur in two ways :

• In the first type (diffused goiter) the entire thyroid gland becomes big in size.


• In the second time (nodular goiter) small lumps are formed in the gland.

Causes :

Even when the thyroid gland gets enlarged still it can carry out its normal activities namely secretion of hormones. But sometime it will produce too much of hormones (hyperthyroidism) or very little hormone (hypothyroidism).

Thyroid gland gets enlarged due to many factors given below:-

Deficiency of Iodine : Iodine is richly found in seawater/salt. In some countries people are still getting enlarged thyroid due to iodine deficiency. Nowadays iodine is added in table salt so that the body can get good supply of iodine easily.

Grave’s Disease : Enlargement of gland occurs due to autoimmune disorder in which the body’s own immune system will attack thyroid gland. This in turn will produce too much of thyroid hormone leading to swelling of gland.

Hashimoto Disease : Here the thyroid gland becomes underactive producing less or almost no hormone.

Enlargement of thyroid gland occurs due to multi nodular goiter, solitary nodule, thyroid cancer and inflammation of glands.

Symptoms :

Enlarged thyroid can produce some of the symptoms like visible swelling in the neck portion, stiffness in the throat region, coughing, difficulty in eating/drinking and hoarseness in your voice.

Who are at risk?

Enlarged thyroid can occur to all people irrespective of their age. Individuals who are not taking enough iodine, aged persons, pregnant women, women in the menopause, intake of certain medications like antiretroviral and exposure to radiation are prone to develop enlarged thyroid gland. In general, women are more prone to get goiter than men. Most of the time, enlarged thyroid will not cause any problem. But in rare cases, it can lead to fatigue, weight gain and insomnia.

Diagnosis :

Physical examination is enough for detecting enlarged thyroid. But your doctor may order for hormone test T3 and T4 for checking its level. Ultrasonogram test and thyroid scan test is done for getting clear picture of the gland. In rare cases biopsy is done for checking the tissue sample of the gland.

Treatment :

The method of treatment varies with the size of enlargement and on the intensity of the symptoms. For small sized goiter no treatment is required. Medications like levothyroxine are given for hypothyroidism. This will eventually reduce the size of the gland producing right amounts of hormone.

Surgery is done if the person has large sized lump in the gland which causes difficulty in eating and breathing. To remove cancerous growth from thyroid gland surgery is the only option. The patient will have to continue using levothyroxine even after surgery to control the secretions. Radioactive iodine is given orally to manage the size of thyroid gland. It will subsequently reduce the size of goiter and sometimes it can reduce the production of hormone also.

Lifestyle Changes :

In case you have developed enlarged thyroid due to deficiency of iodine, you can take iodized salt in your daily diet. Include seafood like sushi and shrimp regularly.

Emphysema

Emphysema Emphysema belongs to group of diseases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Smoking is the major cause of emphysema and most of the time the damages done to the lungs are irreversible. Emphysema cannot be cured and only some of the symptoms are treated. Medications and oxygen supplements are effective methods of treating emphysema. Emphysema is a chronic disorder affecting the quality of life for long-term.

How it happens?

As a person smokes, nicotine in the cigar reaches the lungs to cause damage to the air sacs or alveoli. As more and more of nicotine damages the air sacs the soft tissues are destroyed forming big spaces inside. Now air gets trapped in this space leading to enlargement of lungs building more pressure inside (pulmonary hypertension). The air sacs called alveoli are continuously damaged in the lungs leading to shortness of breath. Inner walls of these sacs are weakened and subsequently they will rupture forming a big space inside the lungs.

This will reduce the total area of the lungs which would have a direct effect on oxygen consumption. The lungs may not be able to breathe properly since it cannot get oxygenated air as before. To compensate the loss of oxygen the body automatically increases the breathing rate. After some days or weeks, increased rate of breathing is not enough to maintain the required oxygen consumption. Subsequently the lungs get narrowed leading to pulmonary hypertension.

Symptoms :

There are lots of people who may not have any symptoms for years together but still the process of emphysema is slowly happening inside the lungs. It causes shortness of breath and choking. But even at this stage the person will avoid doing certain activities that require more of oxygen and hence he may ignore the symptom. The problem will get noticed when the affected person have difficulty in managing daily tasks. For some people due to loss of oxygenated blood, fingernails will become blue in color. Even their mental stability will get diminished.

Causes :

Smoking is the main cause of emphysema. In addition, air pollution, long time exposure to tobacco smoke (passive smoking) and workplace related smoke like fumes can also cause emphysema. In rare cases emphysema is inherited due to protein deficiency.

Risk Factors :

Smoking of any kind, old age, over exposure to any kind of smoke and workplace related fumes are the major risk factors for emphysema. In severe case, emphysema can collapse the lungs leading to life threatening situations. It can also cause heart problems.

Tests :

After collecting the medical history the doctor would ask for the symptoms of shortness of breath and choking. He would request for imaging test like chest X-ray to check how far the disease has advanced. Blood test is done for checking the capacity of lungs to transfer the oxygen into the body. Special lung function test can also be done to measure the functionality of the lungs.

Treatment :

The damage caused by emphysema is irreversible. Some of the symptoms can be managed by effective medications and therapy. Bronchodilators and corticosteroid drugs are largely used for managing shortness of breath. To treat bacterial infection on the lungs, antibiotics are prescribed.

Therapies like pulmonary rehabilitation are helpful in learning various breathing exercises. In addition the affected person will be asked to take nutritious food to manage the right weight. For some people supplementary oxygen is needed at home and workplace. Surgery is done only if the symptoms are severe. Lung transplantation is done only if there is no other option. For some people, small volumes of the lungs that are badly damaged are removed by surgery.

Lifestyle Changes :

To begin with the person has to quit smoking to prevent further damage. Avoid working in allergy prone environment like fumes and automobile smoke. Stay away from strong perfumes and incense sticks. Do your exercise regularly which helps in getting rid of breathing problems. Keep your home clean and pollution free. Take precautions during winter by wearing scarf to protect your lungs from cold air. Use face mask when you need to mingle with people since you may get infection from them.

Pictures of Emphysema :

Images, Pics, Pictures and Photos of Emphysema

Coping :

Even the daily routine activities can become tiresome for you, if you cannot breathe properly. You can no longer take place in long time entertainment. Accept this change and join a support group to express your feelings.

Prevention :

Avoid smoking completely and do not get involved even with passive smoking. This can only prevent you from emphysema.

Menieres Disease

Menieres Disease Meniere’s disease affects the inner ear causing ear fullness, ringing and loss of hearing. There will be constant spinning motion inside the ears and pressure on the inner ear. The flow of fluids will not be at normal rate for the person affected with Meniere’s disease. Very often, it affects only one ear. Though this disease can develop on people of any age, it occurs largely on adults of 40-50 years. Medications are available for controlling the symptoms and many times diet and little changes in lifestyle can help you to overcome the symptoms. In rare cases, surgery is the option.

Symptoms :

Vertigo Episodes :

There will be a sensation of spinning movement inside the ears. It is very much like the feeling you get when you stop suddenly after spinning for several times. It causes loss of balance and it occurs almost suddenly without any warning. This episode may last for few minutes or even hours. It can cause vomiting/nausea.

Hearing loss :

Loss of hearing is not certain in all the people affected with Meniere’s disease and it depends on the intensity of the disease. It can cause certain degree of hearing loss and for some it can be permanent.

Tinnitus :

It is a feeling of constant ringing sound in the ear and many people complain this as roaring sound or whistling sound inside the ears. In addition, there will be fullness feeling in the ear due to increased pressure caused by flow of fluids. First it starts with fullness feeling followed by tinnitus followed by vertigo. The entire episode may occur for 20-30 minutes or even more. Since there is variation in the duration of the episodes, it can cause mild to severe disturbance in hearing.

Causes :

Exact cause of Meniere’s disease is not known. It is believed to develop due to excess flow of fluids in the inner ear. If you look into the inner ear, you can see a group of cavities and passages. The outer part of inner ear is made of bony labyrinth and inner portion is called as membrane labyrinth. This membrane portion contains endolymph (a special fluid) and has a lining of hairy structures which respond to fluid movements. For these sensors of hairy structures to function properly, the fluid should maintain constant volume and pressure. However if there is excess of fluid pressure it can lead to Meniere’s disease. Certain factors like migraine, abnormal immunity, improper fluid drainage and viral infection can affect the fluid quantity and pressure.

Diagnosis :

Based on the symptoms your doctor will refer the case to ENT specialist who will do hearing assessment. Audiometry test will be done for checking the functionality of the ears and how far you can hear different pitches. Quality of hearing can be assessed by this test and your doctor will also able to tell you if the problem is due to nerve of the inner ear or due to Meniere’s disease.

For testing the balance function, VNG videostagmography test is done during which warm/cool water or cool air is sent into the inner ear and subsequently your eye movements are recorded using special goggles. Any abnormality in this test is a clear sign of problem in the inner ear. Alternatively rotary chair test or VEMP test or posturography test is done for checking the inner ear function. Sometimes you will be asked to undergo various imaging tests like MRI or CT scan to rule out other problems in the brain.

Treatment :

There is no cure for Meniere’s disease but there are solutions for managing the symptoms. The condition of vertigo episodes can be controlled by medications like meclizine which would reduce the rotating sensation inside the inner ear. Drugs like promethazine are given to control nausea/vomiting sensation due to vertigo. Fluid retention is managed by several effective medications like Dyazide or Maxzide. It helps in reducing the body fluid which in turn would control the flow of fluid inside the ears. These drugs are effective diuretic. But you need to check for fluid balance regularly since it may cause depletion of some important minerals due to frequent urination.

Some kinds of non-invasive therapies like rehab therapy and hearing aid are effective in managing Meniere’s disease. Vestibular rehab therapy is ideal to attain the right balance easily. Your brain and body will effectively regain the balancing ability by practicing certain exercises. Hearing aid is recommended for restoring the loss of hearing. For some people, meniett device is used to apply pressure on the middle ear which can improve fluid transfer.

An injection like gentamicin is injected into the middle ear and for some people steroids like dexamethasone is given to reduce the vertigo episodes and to attain balance. Surgery is the last option for this disease and is done only if the symptoms are severe and other therapies are ineffective. Endolymphatic procedure or vestibular nerve procedure is done for decreasing the vertigo and for retaining fluid balance. For some people labryinthectomy is done during which the affected portion of the ear is removed and is done only if the patient has lost his hearing in that particular ear.

Lifestyle Changes :

You cannot solve the symptoms by home remedies but you can reduce its impact very well. If you are feeling dizzy due to vertigo episode you should sit down calmly when you get the first sign. Avoid seeing bright lights or watching television during that time. Take some rest after you have got an episode to restore your balance. Illuminate your house properly so that you may not fell down when you get up during nights. People having frequent vertigo should avoid driving motorcycle or car to prevent any accidental injury.

Adjust your eating pattern such that you are getting enough food/drinks throughout the day. You can opt for 5-6 small meals instead of 3 hefty meals. Reduce the salt intake to prevent fluid retention. You need to avoid taking coffee since it can make the ringing sound worse. Quit smoking and drinking and reduce your stress by joining yoga class. You can avoid allergy causing agents and stay away from them since it can aggravate the symptoms. The only worst part of Meniere’s disease is sudden episodes of vertigo and tinnutis. Under such circumstances the person should take break from his workplace to lie down quietly. He cannot have entertainment during such episodes. Some people can get depressed or feel anxious because of this episode and cannot take part in leisure activities.

Gaucher Disease

Gaucher Disease Gaucher disease is characterized by the accumulation of fat particles in excess in the vital organs like liver, lungs, spleen and bone marrows. This collection of harmful fatty molecules can cause intense bone pain and organ swelling. This condition occurs due to the shortage of enzyme glucocerebrosidase and hence this disease is also called as glucocerebrosidase deficiency. Gaucher disease can develop in all age groups and often seen in Jewish people of Central Europe and Eastern European countries.

Symptoms :

Symptoms of Gaucher disease vary as per the age, health condition and type of the disease. It is possible that even identical twins can have different range of symptoms.

There are 3 types of Gaucher’s disease as given below :

Type 1 :

Type 1 is the mildest form of this disease and is the most common variety. This type largely occurs in adults. Some of the signs of Type 1 disease are thinning of bones, intense pain on the bones, liver enlargement (hepatomegaly) or enlargement of spleen, reduced production of red blood cells (anemic condition), extreme tiredness, reduced blood platelets (causing bruises often), delay in puberty and yellow patches on the eyes. Often, this type does not affect the brain.

Type 2 :

This type is very rare and is severe when compared with the other two types. Initial symptoms begin as early as 3 months of age and the babies will have intense brain damage as the disease progresses. The symptoms are very severe like that of first type and in addition the affected baby can develop seizures, brain problems and stiffness. Often, the baby is diagnosed for mental retardation.

Type 3 :

Type 3 is also very rare and occurs in childhood. This type is chronic and slow progressing in nature. It also affects the brain as the Type 2 but the damage is milder than type 2. Apart from the symptoms mentioned in Type 1, the affected child may develop brain problems (in slower rate), lack of muscle coordination and may show abnormal eye movements.

Causes :

Gaucher disease is caused by deficiency of glucocerebrosidase enzyme. This enzyme is essential for breaking up of fatty particles and due to shortage of enzyme fatty substances get accumulated in various organs and brain and even on the bone marrow. It can be inherited on the basis of autosomal recessive pattern. For a child to inherit this disease, both the father and the mother should be carriers of mutated gene. Even then the child can develop this disease only on chances. There is 25% chance for inheriting the carrier genes, 25% chance for developing Gaucher disease and 50% chance for not inheriting the carrier genes/and not this disease.

Who are at risk?

People belonging to Ashkenazi Jewish race of Central Europe or Eastern Europe have increased risk of getting this disease. In rare cases, this disease can cause complications like severe bone pain, fractures, internal bleeding, and multiple myeloma (a type of cancer). Developing seizures are common if the child gets Type 2 disease and some children having Type 3 can develop heart problems due to calcification of valves.

Diagnosis :

Diagnosis can be made right before the child-birth if the parents are carriers of mutated gene. The doctor will measure the levels of enzyme glucocerebrosidase and very low level indicates the presence of disease and intermediate level can be a sign of carrier. Genetic mutation test is done to identify the type of Gaucher disease.

It is necessary to monitor the disease once your child is diagnosed with this disease. On such cases, MRI scanning and dual energy X-ray tests are done as per the symptoms. Prenatal screening is done for the pregnant women if she belongs to Ashkenazi race. Genetic counseling is the best solution to avoid pregnancy among both carrier genes.

Treatment :

People with Type 1 symptoms may not require any treatment if they do not have any discomfort. No treatment is available for Type 2 and 3. Only the symptoms are managed by therapies. Enzyme replacement is done to improve the deficiency of glucocerebrosidase. High dosage of enzyme is injected intravenously for every 2 weeks until the symptoms disappear. This approach can certainly prevent enlargement of spleen/liver. It can also improve bone density preventing fractures. In severe cases transplantation of bone marrow can be done but it carries certain risk. Medications like miglustat are prescribed for adults with Gaucher disease. But this drug can cause diarrhea and weight loss.

Prognosis :

If the disease develops in adulthood it may not cause severe complications and the affected person can lead normal life. But infants and children having this disease cannot survive more than 2 years. An individual developing this disease on his teens have chances of survival like other adults. It is a very rare disease affecting only a few people of specific race.