Epigastric Pain Epigastrium is medically described as central part of the abdomen and is found between the lower portion of the thorax and sub coastal plane. Epigastric pain is felt due to infection or any other diseases on epigastrium. Pain occurs suddenly and sharply in the abdominal region. It might cause continuous pain when this portion becomes defective. This pain can cause compulsive breath exhalation by the affected person. Ulcer or pancreatitis can cause epigastric pain commonly. This pain can be managed by taking proper medication based on the cause of pain. As such epigastric pain is not a disease and is a warning signal of underlying medical condition.
Causes :
Though there are number of causes that produce epigastric pain still some of the common causes are discussed below. It can occur due to indigestion in elderly people and due to infection in healthy adults. Esophagus disease can cause sudden epigastric pain. The patient will feel like vomiting along with heartburn or discomfort in the chest region. It can also cause sore throat and change in voice if the throat region develops inflammation.
Gastric ulcer or peptic ulcer is a chronic problem that can irritate the soft lining of the duodenum. Any problem in the gall bladder can cause pain in the duodenum area. Inflammation of pancreas (pancreatitis) can cause epigastric pain. In addition chronic heart problems or cardiac diseases can affect the esophageal region causing pain on the epigastrium. Infections like cystitis (urinary bladder infection) and urethritis can cause abdominal pain. Inflammatory disease on the pelvic region, proteus mirabilis bacterial infection and diverticulitis (inflammation of diverticulum) can also cause epigastric pain. In some people exact cause of epigastric pain is unknown which is called as idiopathic epigastric pain.
Symptoms :
Epigastrium is the region found on the stomach and hence epigastric pain causes mild to severe abdominal pain, bloated feeling, vomiting/nausea and constipation. Symptoms vary in accordance with the causative factor. If epigastric pain occurs due to pelvic floor infection it can cause fever, vaginal bleeding and intense pain during intercourse.
Diagnosis :
Range of tests is available for detecting the underlying cause of epigastric pain. Endoscopy is the best way to analyze the inner areas of abdomen and intestine. Esophageal cancer and dysplasia can be evaluated by endoscopic procedure. For healthy adults below 45 years endoscopy is the ideal method for detecting epigastric pain. Biopsy of the tissue sample can also be taken during endoscopy to detect tumors or ulcers.
Imaging tests like X-ray will be done for diagnosing problems in liver, kidney and urinary bladder. In addition your doctor may request for blood test, urine analysis, and ultrasound scan to check the functionalities of internal organs. Cardiac test will be done if epigastric pain originates from heart problems.
Treatment :
The method of treatment varies from one person to the other depending on the root cause of epigastric pain. In case of severe pain the treatment would be complicated and extended for long time. Pain killers like Ibuprofen or other drugs of NSAID’s can be taken for managing pain and fever. Prescription drugs include cimetidine (given for symptoms of peptic ulcer) and antacids (given for managing stomach acidity and heartburn).
Histamines H2 receptor agents like ranitidine is given to control stomach acidity and also for peptic ulcer. With right doses of medications, mild to moderate epigastric pain can be easily managed. Only in severe complications like chest pain, fever, breathlessness and choking, you need to seek immediate medical advice. For patients with H pylori infection H2 blocking agents are given.
Lifestyle Changes :
You can easily manage mild epigastric pain by making small changes in your life. Take frequent small meals several times a day to help easy digestion. Avoid taking spicy and hot foods and include only limited portion of oily foods. Do not skip breakfast which can increase stomach acidity. You are not going to lose any pounds by skipping breakfast.
Instead you can always plan the calories consumed daily to fit your weight regimen. Try to manage stressful events and control your emotions since it can affect your stomach and intestine causing intense pain. Be relaxed and practice yoga or meditation each day. Manage your weight by doing aerobic exercises.
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Cold Sores
Cold Sores Cold sores occur commonly in the form of blisters or lesions on the oral cavity. These bumps are red and swollen and are also found on the lips. The blisters contain a clear fluid which may break open after few days. Cold sores do not require any treatment since it would heal on its own within few days. Though body’s immune system will generate antibodies for killing viruses still it is not eliminated in full. For this reason the symptoms may recur after some time. Cold sores are a viral infection caused by HSV herpes simplex virus. The same virus would also cause painful sores on the genitals.
How cold sores occur?
It is the virus herpes simplex that causes cold sores. It will gain entry into the body through small cut or injury on the skin. The disease is also contagious and can easily spread to another person when he touches the infected fluid accidentally. It can spread when a person kisses the affected person, shares razor with him, or through any other fluid connection. The infected mother will easily spread the virus to the children in this manner.
Symptoms :
Some of the common signs of cold sores are swelling of mouth, sore throat, pain on the affected lips, and swollen lymph nodes on the neck or other parts. Many adults would have fever with body pain. The affected person will develop red colored small lesions on the oral cavity which will eventually discharge pus or fluid once it break opens. This is the time when the virus spreads easily to others when they touch the fluid. It would also spread to other parts of the body and the same person would develop painful sores on the hands/legs. Cold sores can be painful for some people but not for all. There are people who may not show any symptoms even if they develop cold sores.
Causes :
It is the HSV virus that causes cold sores. Two types of herpes simplex are known to cause cold sores. Often Type 1 virus is the root cause of cold sores. Any person can get infected with the virus when he kisses or shares person items with the infected person. The infection can easily contracted if the person coughs through which saliva is passed to others. When a person has oral sex with someone who has been infected with herpes simplex virus he can easily get infected.
The virus becomes highly contagious when the blisters break open to discharge yellowish fluid. After few days the lesions are crusted over and eventually disappear within few days. It is interesting to note that you can get HSV from others even when he does not have any symptoms. There are many cases in which the person would not develop painful sores but may still have the virus.
Once the virus gains entry into your body it reaches the nerve cells and move up to ganglion. It is the safe place for the virus to stay for months together and even for years without causing any symptoms. This is called the latent period of the virus where it stays inactive. When the situations become favorable or if the immune system is weakened the virus would become active causing lesions on the lips or oral cavity.
Tests :
Your doctor will examine your body for the above symptoms to find out if you have been infected with virus. He would look for the painful sores on the mouth or on the lips or even other body parts. He would also examine if the blisters are oozing out fluid. No special test is needed for diagnosing cold sores.
Treatment :
Very often cold sores need no treatment since the symptoms will heal in few days. You can consult your doctor if you have painful sores that cause discomfort. Depending on the intensity of cold sores your doctor would prescribe topical ointments or creams. For some people he would give oral pills for getting quick relief from the symptoms. Once you have the initial symptoms of cold sores you need not wait to go to the clinic. You can apply antiviral creams on the mouth/lips or infected area to get relief from the symptoms.
Sometimes cold sores will give burning sensation or tingling feeling on the mouth. You need to apply skin ointment liberally inside the oral cavity several times a day. Alternatively you can also use cold sore patches available over the counter. Apply this patch over the painful blister for quick healing process. In rare cases cold sores can lead to dehydration if the person develops cold sores on his throat. He may not be able to drink anything causing dehydration.
Risk Factors :
Cold sores can develop on any one irrespective of the age and gender. Even children or older adults can have cold sores. But certain factors like weakened immunity, exposure to UV rays of the sun, change in hormones, stressful events and trauma or injury to the skin can trigger the virus to become active causing painful blisters on the skin. Fever or common cold is the topmost factors that can cause cold sores. Once the person gets infected with cold sores the virus would stay in his body for many years.
Pictures of Cold Sores :
Images, Pics, Pictures and Photos of Cold Sores
Prevention :
You can avoid sharing towels, utensils or cups with someone who is suspected to have cold sores. Do not kiss or make direct skin contact with the person who has developed cold sores. Flaring of cold sores occur if you are exposed to harsh sunlight. Hence use sunscreen lotion liberally or avoid going out in hot summer.
The same person can spread the virus to other parts of the body. Hence it is advised not to touch the cold sores anytime once you are infected. It can easily spread to other body parts when you touch your eyes or genitals after touching the painful sores. Wash your fingers consistently before eating food.
How cold sores occur?
It is the virus herpes simplex that causes cold sores. It will gain entry into the body through small cut or injury on the skin. The disease is also contagious and can easily spread to another person when he touches the infected fluid accidentally. It can spread when a person kisses the affected person, shares razor with him, or through any other fluid connection. The infected mother will easily spread the virus to the children in this manner.
Symptoms :
Some of the common signs of cold sores are swelling of mouth, sore throat, pain on the affected lips, and swollen lymph nodes on the neck or other parts. Many adults would have fever with body pain. The affected person will develop red colored small lesions on the oral cavity which will eventually discharge pus or fluid once it break opens. This is the time when the virus spreads easily to others when they touch the fluid. It would also spread to other parts of the body and the same person would develop painful sores on the hands/legs. Cold sores can be painful for some people but not for all. There are people who may not show any symptoms even if they develop cold sores.
Causes :
It is the HSV virus that causes cold sores. Two types of herpes simplex are known to cause cold sores. Often Type 1 virus is the root cause of cold sores. Any person can get infected with the virus when he kisses or shares person items with the infected person. The infection can easily contracted if the person coughs through which saliva is passed to others. When a person has oral sex with someone who has been infected with herpes simplex virus he can easily get infected.
The virus becomes highly contagious when the blisters break open to discharge yellowish fluid. After few days the lesions are crusted over and eventually disappear within few days. It is interesting to note that you can get HSV from others even when he does not have any symptoms. There are many cases in which the person would not develop painful sores but may still have the virus.
Once the virus gains entry into your body it reaches the nerve cells and move up to ganglion. It is the safe place for the virus to stay for months together and even for years without causing any symptoms. This is called the latent period of the virus where it stays inactive. When the situations become favorable or if the immune system is weakened the virus would become active causing lesions on the lips or oral cavity.
Tests :
Your doctor will examine your body for the above symptoms to find out if you have been infected with virus. He would look for the painful sores on the mouth or on the lips or even other body parts. He would also examine if the blisters are oozing out fluid. No special test is needed for diagnosing cold sores.
Treatment :
Very often cold sores need no treatment since the symptoms will heal in few days. You can consult your doctor if you have painful sores that cause discomfort. Depending on the intensity of cold sores your doctor would prescribe topical ointments or creams. For some people he would give oral pills for getting quick relief from the symptoms. Once you have the initial symptoms of cold sores you need not wait to go to the clinic. You can apply antiviral creams on the mouth/lips or infected area to get relief from the symptoms.
Sometimes cold sores will give burning sensation or tingling feeling on the mouth. You need to apply skin ointment liberally inside the oral cavity several times a day. Alternatively you can also use cold sore patches available over the counter. Apply this patch over the painful blister for quick healing process. In rare cases cold sores can lead to dehydration if the person develops cold sores on his throat. He may not be able to drink anything causing dehydration.
Risk Factors :
Cold sores can develop on any one irrespective of the age and gender. Even children or older adults can have cold sores. But certain factors like weakened immunity, exposure to UV rays of the sun, change in hormones, stressful events and trauma or injury to the skin can trigger the virus to become active causing painful blisters on the skin. Fever or common cold is the topmost factors that can cause cold sores. Once the person gets infected with cold sores the virus would stay in his body for many years.
Pictures of Cold Sores :
Images, Pics, Pictures and Photos of Cold Sores
Prevention :
You can avoid sharing towels, utensils or cups with someone who is suspected to have cold sores. Do not kiss or make direct skin contact with the person who has developed cold sores. Flaring of cold sores occur if you are exposed to harsh sunlight. Hence use sunscreen lotion liberally or avoid going out in hot summer.
The same person can spread the virus to other parts of the body. Hence it is advised not to touch the cold sores anytime once you are infected. It can easily spread to other body parts when you touch your eyes or genitals after touching the painful sores. Wash your fingers consistently before eating food.
Bells Palsy
Bells Palsy Bell’s palsy is a strange condition that causes weakness in the muscles of the face. Weakening of muscles of the face is sudden reaction that may change the appearance of the face. When the affected person smiles it will not be complete smile. One side of his face begins to droop and his eyes would resist closing as he continues to smile. Since the facial muscles are affected due to this problem Bell’s palsy is also known as facial palsy.
This condition can occur at any age with the sudden onset of symptoms. For most of the people the symptoms will automatically be resolved without any treatment. For few others with continued Bell’s palsy medications are prescribed to manage the inflammation of facial muscles. Surgery is also done to correct the compression of the nerve endings on the face. If you have sudden signs of weakness of your face and symptoms of Bell’s palsy you need to consult your doctor immediately since it can be due to more serious causes like stroke or ischemic attack.
Symptoms :
Bell’s palsy is characterized by the sudden appearance of symptoms. It has the peculiar sign of face drooping on one side. It can cause partial or total paralysis of the nerves of your face and development can take place within hours. It becomes difficult for the person to smile and there may be trouble in closing the eyes on one side.
This can cause mild to moderate pain in the jaws and also on the ear of the affected side. Again all these symptoms appear on only one side of the face and not on both sides. In some cases it would cause numbness on the affected side. The affected side of the face becomes sensitive to sound and any movement. Some people will have problems in tasting the food and it can cause reduced secretion of saliva and tears. It can cause eye problems like reduced tears (dryness) or excess of tears on the eye.
Causes :
What exactly triggers the problem of Bell’s palsy is not fully understood. It is believed to be caused by nerve weakness on the face or due to inflammation of facial muscles. Experts believe that Bell’s palsy occurs due to viral infection. Group of viruses that cause herpes simplex, herpes zoster, adenovirus, Epstein Barr virus, rubella virus and influenza virus can cause Bell’s palsy when the nerve endings of the facial muscles are affected. Actually the nerve endings become swollen affecting the normal movement of the facial muscles.
Who are at risk?
Bell’s palsy can develop on any individual irrespective of age and gender. People who have recently developed infections like flu or common cold affecting the upper respiratory tract are more prone to get Bell’s palsy than others. Pregnant women (III trimester stage) and women who have recently given birth are prone to develop Bell’s palsy.
Complications :
In rare cases Bell’s palsy can cause permanent damage to the facial muscles. In extreme cases this disease can cause partial vision loss when the eyes become overly dry tearing the protective layer.
Diagnosis :
No lab test is available to diagnose Bell’s palsy. But the doctor can easily detect this problem by observing the symptoms and looking at your face. He may ask you to close your eyes or smile or lift your eyebrow to check for normal movements of the facial muscles.
Treatment :
Very often Bell’s palsy symptoms will get cured on its own within few days. However in some cases if the facial muscles become compressed medications can be given for correcting it. Anti-inflammatory drugs like prednisone are prescribed to reduce inflammation of face muscles. The muscles will have to sit properly on the narrow bony path to prevent the partial paralysis of the nerves. These drugs will give the desired effect and cure the symptoms. If the doctor suspect viral infection is the cause of Bell’s palsy he would prescribe antiviral medications like acyclovir or valacyclovir.
Physiotherapy is the next best alternative for treating compressed facial muscles. The therapist will gently massage the muscles on your face to get relief from compression. It would also prevent further shrinkage of the muscles. Surgery is the last choice for treating Bell’s palsy and is done only on severe cases. The surgeon would open the bony corridor on the face on which the nerve passes. He would gently relieve the pressure from the nerve endings on the face. However this type of surgery carries some risk. For some people this can cause deafness and permanent injury on the face.
Pictures of Bells Palsy :
Images, Pics, Pictures and Photos of Bells Palsy
Home Remedies :
In case the compressed face muscle has affected your eye you can use eye-drops for getting relief from dryness. This would keep your eyes moist and will also help in secretion of tears. To get temporary relief from pain beneath the ears due to Bell’s palsy you can take pain killers like Ibuprofen or aspirin. (Children should not be given aspirin without consulting the doctor)
Alternatively you can use hot and cold therapy on the affected eye to get relief from pain and dryness. Apply warm cloth over the affected eye and leave it for some minutes. Repeat this process using soft cloth dipped in ice water. This can be applied on the face also which helps in reducing the inflammation.
This condition can occur at any age with the sudden onset of symptoms. For most of the people the symptoms will automatically be resolved without any treatment. For few others with continued Bell’s palsy medications are prescribed to manage the inflammation of facial muscles. Surgery is also done to correct the compression of the nerve endings on the face. If you have sudden signs of weakness of your face and symptoms of Bell’s palsy you need to consult your doctor immediately since it can be due to more serious causes like stroke or ischemic attack.
Symptoms :
Bell’s palsy is characterized by the sudden appearance of symptoms. It has the peculiar sign of face drooping on one side. It can cause partial or total paralysis of the nerves of your face and development can take place within hours. It becomes difficult for the person to smile and there may be trouble in closing the eyes on one side.
This can cause mild to moderate pain in the jaws and also on the ear of the affected side. Again all these symptoms appear on only one side of the face and not on both sides. In some cases it would cause numbness on the affected side. The affected side of the face becomes sensitive to sound and any movement. Some people will have problems in tasting the food and it can cause reduced secretion of saliva and tears. It can cause eye problems like reduced tears (dryness) or excess of tears on the eye.
Causes :
What exactly triggers the problem of Bell’s palsy is not fully understood. It is believed to be caused by nerve weakness on the face or due to inflammation of facial muscles. Experts believe that Bell’s palsy occurs due to viral infection. Group of viruses that cause herpes simplex, herpes zoster, adenovirus, Epstein Barr virus, rubella virus and influenza virus can cause Bell’s palsy when the nerve endings of the facial muscles are affected. Actually the nerve endings become swollen affecting the normal movement of the facial muscles.
Who are at risk?
Bell’s palsy can develop on any individual irrespective of age and gender. People who have recently developed infections like flu or common cold affecting the upper respiratory tract are more prone to get Bell’s palsy than others. Pregnant women (III trimester stage) and women who have recently given birth are prone to develop Bell’s palsy.
Complications :
In rare cases Bell’s palsy can cause permanent damage to the facial muscles. In extreme cases this disease can cause partial vision loss when the eyes become overly dry tearing the protective layer.
Diagnosis :
No lab test is available to diagnose Bell’s palsy. But the doctor can easily detect this problem by observing the symptoms and looking at your face. He may ask you to close your eyes or smile or lift your eyebrow to check for normal movements of the facial muscles.
Treatment :
Very often Bell’s palsy symptoms will get cured on its own within few days. However in some cases if the facial muscles become compressed medications can be given for correcting it. Anti-inflammatory drugs like prednisone are prescribed to reduce inflammation of face muscles. The muscles will have to sit properly on the narrow bony path to prevent the partial paralysis of the nerves. These drugs will give the desired effect and cure the symptoms. If the doctor suspect viral infection is the cause of Bell’s palsy he would prescribe antiviral medications like acyclovir or valacyclovir.
Physiotherapy is the next best alternative for treating compressed facial muscles. The therapist will gently massage the muscles on your face to get relief from compression. It would also prevent further shrinkage of the muscles. Surgery is the last choice for treating Bell’s palsy and is done only on severe cases. The surgeon would open the bony corridor on the face on which the nerve passes. He would gently relieve the pressure from the nerve endings on the face. However this type of surgery carries some risk. For some people this can cause deafness and permanent injury on the face.
Pictures of Bells Palsy :
Images, Pics, Pictures and Photos of Bells Palsy
Home Remedies :
In case the compressed face muscle has affected your eye you can use eye-drops for getting relief from dryness. This would keep your eyes moist and will also help in secretion of tears. To get temporary relief from pain beneath the ears due to Bell’s palsy you can take pain killers like Ibuprofen or aspirin. (Children should not be given aspirin without consulting the doctor)
Alternatively you can use hot and cold therapy on the affected eye to get relief from pain and dryness. Apply warm cloth over the affected eye and leave it for some minutes. Repeat this process using soft cloth dipped in ice water. This can be applied on the face also which helps in reducing the inflammation.
Geographic Tongue
Geographic Tongue Normally the tongue has an extra layer of covering with fine hair like structures called papillae. But people with geographic tongue will not have these papillae thus exposing the patches on the tongue. These patches will sometime look like small islands with clear defined border resembling a country’s map. For this reason it is called as geographical tongue. In medical terms it is called as erythema migrans or migratory glossitis.
These irregular patches on the tongue will not remain on the same place. It would heal within weeks just to reappear on the other surface of the tongue. Hence for this reason they are called migratory glossitis. As such geographic tongue do not possess any problem and are benign (harmless) in nature.
Symptoms :
Geographic tongue is not the same for all people since the symptoms differ from one person to the other. The size and shape of the patches vary widely. For some people it would appear on one corner of the tongue which would disappear to re-appear on the other area. The map like appearance on the tongue will have defined border which is white in color. It would create red patches on the tongue with defined borders.
The map like shape on the tongue will disappear within days or weeks for some people but for others it would not go even for months or years. For some people it would cause mild pain and discomfort while eating hot and spicy foods. Smoking can aggravate the pain if an individual is having geographic tongue. It affects about 1-3% of people and it develops on elderly people often. Geographic tongue is harmless and does not require any treatment and in case of any pain it can be managed by over the counter pain killers.
Causes :
The main cause for geographic tongue is the missing layers of papillae on the tongue. They are small bumps found in several layers on the tongue and some people may lack papillae giving rise to geographic tongue. But what exactly accounts for missing layers is not known. It is believed that geographic tongue runs in families. Again this problem is more likely to occur for people with psoriasis and other skin infection. An individual with fissured tongue is more prone to develop geographic tongue than others.
Diagnosis :
Geographic tongue can be easily diagnosed by simple examination of the tongue. Your dentist/doctor will use a small lighted torch to illuminate your oral cavity and identify small patches on the tongue. He would ask you to move the tongue in sideways to assess for more number of patches.
Pictures of Geographic Tongue :
Images, Pics, Pictures and Photos of Geographic Tongue
Treatment :
As such geographical tongue needs no treatment if the person has no discomfort. The symptoms will often subside within few weeks but for some it may appear on other surface of the tongue. To get relief from pain/discomfort you can take over the counter pain killers. Your dentist would recommend an anesthetic mouth wash to prevent any infection on the tongue. In case of any inflammation antihistamines can be taken.
In severe cases topical creams that contain corticosteroid is prescribed. You can manage the discomfort by avoiding hot and spicy foods if you have geographic tongue. Quit smoking or taking tobacco in any form. Do not change your toothpaste often and avoid toothpaste with heavy flavor since it may worsen the problem.
These irregular patches on the tongue will not remain on the same place. It would heal within weeks just to reappear on the other surface of the tongue. Hence for this reason they are called migratory glossitis. As such geographic tongue do not possess any problem and are benign (harmless) in nature.
Symptoms :
Geographic tongue is not the same for all people since the symptoms differ from one person to the other. The size and shape of the patches vary widely. For some people it would appear on one corner of the tongue which would disappear to re-appear on the other area. The map like appearance on the tongue will have defined border which is white in color. It would create red patches on the tongue with defined borders.
The map like shape on the tongue will disappear within days or weeks for some people but for others it would not go even for months or years. For some people it would cause mild pain and discomfort while eating hot and spicy foods. Smoking can aggravate the pain if an individual is having geographic tongue. It affects about 1-3% of people and it develops on elderly people often. Geographic tongue is harmless and does not require any treatment and in case of any pain it can be managed by over the counter pain killers.
Causes :
The main cause for geographic tongue is the missing layers of papillae on the tongue. They are small bumps found in several layers on the tongue and some people may lack papillae giving rise to geographic tongue. But what exactly accounts for missing layers is not known. It is believed that geographic tongue runs in families. Again this problem is more likely to occur for people with psoriasis and other skin infection. An individual with fissured tongue is more prone to develop geographic tongue than others.
Diagnosis :
Geographic tongue can be easily diagnosed by simple examination of the tongue. Your dentist/doctor will use a small lighted torch to illuminate your oral cavity and identify small patches on the tongue. He would ask you to move the tongue in sideways to assess for more number of patches.
Pictures of Geographic Tongue :
Images, Pics, Pictures and Photos of Geographic Tongue
Treatment :
As such geographical tongue needs no treatment if the person has no discomfort. The symptoms will often subside within few weeks but for some it may appear on other surface of the tongue. To get relief from pain/discomfort you can take over the counter pain killers. Your dentist would recommend an anesthetic mouth wash to prevent any infection on the tongue. In case of any inflammation antihistamines can be taken.
In severe cases topical creams that contain corticosteroid is prescribed. You can manage the discomfort by avoiding hot and spicy foods if you have geographic tongue. Quit smoking or taking tobacco in any form. Do not change your toothpaste often and avoid toothpaste with heavy flavor since it may worsen the problem.
Papilledema
Papilledema Papilledema is the medical term denoting swelling of optic disc. It can develop due to intracranial pressure, infections, or inflammation developed on the optical disc. One should not confuse papilledema with disc atrophy (that occurs due to loss of nerve fiber on the optical nerve). This condition can produce symptoms like headache, nausea and vomiting also apart from affecting the normal vision. Papilledema can cause blurred vision or flickering vision.
Symptoms :
The prominent symptom of papilledema is optical swelling due to intracranial pressure. In addition, it can cause headache (more when the person wakes up in the morning), nausea and vomiting and rarely loss of consciousness. Some people would have blurred vision, flickering vision and decreased perception of color due to this problem. In some cases diplopia is seen if the sixth nerve palsy is affected.
The symptoms are not found in all the cases. For many people papilledema is found only on routine eye examination. Some of the early signs of papilledema are disc hyperemia, swelling of nerve fiber layer, and small hemorrhages in the nerve fiber layer. Spontaneous pulsation will be missing in many individuals if the intracranial pressure is above 200mm of water. As the disease continues to progress, it can cause swelling of nerve fiber layer with venous congestion.
Causes :
Papilledema develops due to intracranial pressure on the optical disc. Presence of any tumor or lesions on the CNS and cerebral edema can cause this problem. Infectious diseases like meningitis, venous sinus thrombosis and hemorrhage in subarachnoid membrane can cause papilledema. Intake of strong medications like tetracycline, lithium, and corticosteroids can also cause this problem.
Diagnosis :
Neuroimaging tests are highly effective in detecting papilledema. The degree of swelling of optical disc will be assessed using several ophthalmologic tests. Optical coherence tomography will be done to keep track of the changes in the optical disc. If papilledema occurs due to other causes like ischemic optical neuropathy or optic neuritis or retinal vein occlusion then complete ophthalmologic evaluation is to be done. MRI scan will be done to rule out any other clinical causes like venous sinus thrombosis or lesions on the central nervous system.
Stages :
Some experts use staging system to categorize papilledema.
Early Stage : In this stage, the retinal veins will be distended and disc capillaries will be dilated.
Acute Stage : There will be internal hemorrhage looking like small red spots inside. In addition the retinal vessels will be hidden due to swelling.
Chronic Stage : Papilledema will be progressing gradually without any acute signs. In the later stage the optical disc will become pale with prominent swelling.
Treatment :
The aim of treatment to papilledema is to reduce the intracranial pressure and inflammation developed on the optical disc. Depending on the intensity of the disorder and the urgency of underlying medical condition, either medical therapy or surgical procedure is initiated. Several factors like age, health condition of the patient is considered before proceeding for surgery. Diuretic drugs like acetazolamide or anhydrase inhibitor medications are prescribed to reduce intracranial pressure in case the underlying cause of papilledema is not known.
For optical disc swelling due to venous sinus thrombosis hematologist is to be consulted. In case the individual has developed intracranial pressure due to increased weight then the doctor may consider bariatric surgery for weight reduction. In most of the cases other weight loss methods like restricted diet and exercise are recommended. For people who have developed inflammatory disorders corticosteroids like prednisone are prescribed in low doses.
Surgery is the last option for papilledema when no other therapeutic methods are effective. Tumors or mass lesions on the eyes are removed surgically. For people with intracranial hypertension lumboperitoneal shunt is provided by surgery. In case no other treatments can improve the ocular symptoms optical nerve sheath decompression surgery is to be done. In most of the surgical cases the patient should also consult a neurologist in addition to an ophthalmologist.
Symptoms :
The prominent symptom of papilledema is optical swelling due to intracranial pressure. In addition, it can cause headache (more when the person wakes up in the morning), nausea and vomiting and rarely loss of consciousness. Some people would have blurred vision, flickering vision and decreased perception of color due to this problem. In some cases diplopia is seen if the sixth nerve palsy is affected.
The symptoms are not found in all the cases. For many people papilledema is found only on routine eye examination. Some of the early signs of papilledema are disc hyperemia, swelling of nerve fiber layer, and small hemorrhages in the nerve fiber layer. Spontaneous pulsation will be missing in many individuals if the intracranial pressure is above 200mm of water. As the disease continues to progress, it can cause swelling of nerve fiber layer with venous congestion.
Causes :
Papilledema develops due to intracranial pressure on the optical disc. Presence of any tumor or lesions on the CNS and cerebral edema can cause this problem. Infectious diseases like meningitis, venous sinus thrombosis and hemorrhage in subarachnoid membrane can cause papilledema. Intake of strong medications like tetracycline, lithium, and corticosteroids can also cause this problem.
Diagnosis :
Neuroimaging tests are highly effective in detecting papilledema. The degree of swelling of optical disc will be assessed using several ophthalmologic tests. Optical coherence tomography will be done to keep track of the changes in the optical disc. If papilledema occurs due to other causes like ischemic optical neuropathy or optic neuritis or retinal vein occlusion then complete ophthalmologic evaluation is to be done. MRI scan will be done to rule out any other clinical causes like venous sinus thrombosis or lesions on the central nervous system.
Stages :
Some experts use staging system to categorize papilledema.
Early Stage : In this stage, the retinal veins will be distended and disc capillaries will be dilated.
Acute Stage : There will be internal hemorrhage looking like small red spots inside. In addition the retinal vessels will be hidden due to swelling.
Chronic Stage : Papilledema will be progressing gradually without any acute signs. In the later stage the optical disc will become pale with prominent swelling.
Treatment :
The aim of treatment to papilledema is to reduce the intracranial pressure and inflammation developed on the optical disc. Depending on the intensity of the disorder and the urgency of underlying medical condition, either medical therapy or surgical procedure is initiated. Several factors like age, health condition of the patient is considered before proceeding for surgery. Diuretic drugs like acetazolamide or anhydrase inhibitor medications are prescribed to reduce intracranial pressure in case the underlying cause of papilledema is not known.
For optical disc swelling due to venous sinus thrombosis hematologist is to be consulted. In case the individual has developed intracranial pressure due to increased weight then the doctor may consider bariatric surgery for weight reduction. In most of the cases other weight loss methods like restricted diet and exercise are recommended. For people who have developed inflammatory disorders corticosteroids like prednisone are prescribed in low doses.
Surgery is the last option for papilledema when no other therapeutic methods are effective. Tumors or mass lesions on the eyes are removed surgically. For people with intracranial hypertension lumboperitoneal shunt is provided by surgery. In case no other treatments can improve the ocular symptoms optical nerve sheath decompression surgery is to be done. In most of the surgical cases the patient should also consult a neurologist in addition to an ophthalmologist.
Pyoderma Gangrenosum
Pyoderma Gangrenosum Pyoderma gangrenosum is a condition that causes large bumps or ulcers on the legs. The painful sores can develop anywhere on the skin but it largely occurs on the legs. It is believed to be caused by abnormal immune system where the body’s own immunity will destroy and damage the skin surface causing blisters. People with preexisting chronic disorders like rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease are more likely to develop this disorder. Painful ulcers can be controlled using powerful medications and by using anti-suppressing agents. However it is a rare disorder affecting only few people.
Symptoms :
Pyoderma gangrenosum is marked by the formation of painful sores or blisters on the skin. The bumps are red in color with the shape of spider bite. Within few days the bumps will grow in size forming large blisters. Very often it develops on the legs. For some people several small ulcers will unite to form large blister causing chronic pain.
Causes :
Exact cause of pyoderma gangrenosum is not known. It can be an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s own immune system will produce antibodies for attacking the skin causing blisters.
Who are at risk?
Adults of age group 40-50 years are likely to develop this skin problem. A person having chronic disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, myeloid blood dyscrasias, ulcerative colitis and Chrohn’s disease is likely to develop this disorder later.
Diagnosis :
Your doctor will look into the bumps on the legs to identify pyoderma gangrenosum. He would request for blood sample to rule out any infectious diseases on the liver or kidney. He would do a biopsy to remove a small tissue from the bumps to test it on the lab.
Pictures of Pyoderma Gangrenosum :
Images, Pics, Pictures and Photos of Pyoderma Gangrenosum
Treatment :
Often it takes time for the lesions to heal completely. Two possibilities are there for managing the symptoms. One is to suppress the immune system and the second is to heal the blister directly through medications. Corticosteroid like prednisone is given for managing chronic pain from lesions. It can cause adverse effect and hence you should follow the instructions of your doctor in dosage. After few months your doctor would give cyclosporine or any other relevant drug to reduce the corticosteroid dosage.
Topical creams that contain sulfadiazine can improve healing process. Anti-inflammatory drugs like dapsone give quick relief. For some people compression bandage is done on the legs to reduce the pain. Immuno-suppressant drugs like tacrolimus cream are prescribed to control the immune system if that are the culprit causing blisters and bumps on the skin. Surgery will be done for treating chronic pain arising from large ulcerous blisters. Skin grafting is another method in which piece of artificial skin is grafted to the affected area after completely removing the ulcers.
Prevention :
You can do nothing to prevent pyoderma gangrenosum since exact cause of this skin disease is not known. Avoid cuts, injury on the skin since it can trigger formation of new ulcers.
Symptoms :
Pyoderma gangrenosum is marked by the formation of painful sores or blisters on the skin. The bumps are red in color with the shape of spider bite. Within few days the bumps will grow in size forming large blisters. Very often it develops on the legs. For some people several small ulcers will unite to form large blister causing chronic pain.
Causes :
Exact cause of pyoderma gangrenosum is not known. It can be an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s own immune system will produce antibodies for attacking the skin causing blisters.
Who are at risk?
Adults of age group 40-50 years are likely to develop this skin problem. A person having chronic disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, myeloid blood dyscrasias, ulcerative colitis and Chrohn’s disease is likely to develop this disorder later.
Diagnosis :
Your doctor will look into the bumps on the legs to identify pyoderma gangrenosum. He would request for blood sample to rule out any infectious diseases on the liver or kidney. He would do a biopsy to remove a small tissue from the bumps to test it on the lab.
Pictures of Pyoderma Gangrenosum :
Images, Pics, Pictures and Photos of Pyoderma Gangrenosum
Treatment :
Often it takes time for the lesions to heal completely. Two possibilities are there for managing the symptoms. One is to suppress the immune system and the second is to heal the blister directly through medications. Corticosteroid like prednisone is given for managing chronic pain from lesions. It can cause adverse effect and hence you should follow the instructions of your doctor in dosage. After few months your doctor would give cyclosporine or any other relevant drug to reduce the corticosteroid dosage.
Topical creams that contain sulfadiazine can improve healing process. Anti-inflammatory drugs like dapsone give quick relief. For some people compression bandage is done on the legs to reduce the pain. Immuno-suppressant drugs like tacrolimus cream are prescribed to control the immune system if that are the culprit causing blisters and bumps on the skin. Surgery will be done for treating chronic pain arising from large ulcerous blisters. Skin grafting is another method in which piece of artificial skin is grafted to the affected area after completely removing the ulcers.
Prevention :
You can do nothing to prevent pyoderma gangrenosum since exact cause of this skin disease is not known. Avoid cuts, injury on the skin since it can trigger formation of new ulcers.
Thursday, July 17, 2014
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.
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.
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