Contact dermatitis is one of the most common problems seen by the dermatologist. Contact dermatitis can be caused by irritation or from an allergy to something in the environment.
Contact Dermatitis (skin allergy) is the medical term for skin irritations resulting from contact with a foreign substance that you are allergic or sensitive to. Contact dermatitis usually takes several days to resolve and only when you are no longer in contact with the irritant. Poison ivy is the most common example of contact dermatitis. Common symptoms are: itching of the skin, skin redness or inflammation, tenderness, localized swelling, warmth or rash at the site of exposure.
Allergic contact dermatitis, the second most common type of contact dermatitis, is caused by exposure to a substance or material to which you have become extra sensitive or allergic. The allergic reaction is often delayed, with the rash appearing 24 - 48 hours after exposure.
Cause
• Irritant contact dermatitis occurs when chemicals or physical agents damage the surface of the skin faster than the skin is able to repair the damage.
• Irritant contact dermatitis can appear differently according to the conditions of exposure.
• Accidental exposure to a strong irritant such as a strong acid or alkali substance may cause an immediate skin reaction resulting in pain, swelling and blistering.
• Contact with mild irritants such as water and soap or detergent may over a period of weeks cause dryness, itching and cracking of the skin. Eventually sores may appear which form crusts and scales.
• Dribble rash around the mouth or on the chin in a baby, or in older children due to licking; the cause is saliva, which is alkaline. Skin bacteria may contribute to the clinical appearance.
• Napkin dermatitis due to urine and faeces. This can affect elderly incontinent patients as well as babies.
• Chemical burns from strong acids (eg. hydrochloric acid) and particularly alkalis (eg. sodium or calcium hydroxide).
• Housewife's eczema is hand dermatitis caused by excessive exposure to water, soaps, detergents, bleaches and polishes.
• Dermatitis on a finger underneath a ring. Soaps, shampoos, detergents and hand creams may accumulate under the ring and cause irritant contact dermatitis.
• Rubber gloves or the powder or sweat or tiny quantities of chemicals that have been occluded inside them may have a direct irritant action on hands (rubber may also result in latex or rubber antioxidant allergy).
• Fiber glass may cause direct mechanical/frictional damage.
• Dry cold air may cause dry irritable skin (winter itch)
• Cosmetics may irritate sensitive facial skin (especially in rosacea) resulting in immediate stinging, burning and redness followed by itching and dryness. Gels and solutions tend to be more irritating than creams and ointments. In time, the skin may develop some tolerance to mild irritants.
Treatment
• Initial treatment includes thorough washing with lots of water to remove any trace of the irritant that may remain on the skin.
• Treatment for allergic contact dermatitis focuses on prevention, by identifying and avoiding the substance responsible for the symptoms. Treatment for the rash caused by allergic contact dermatitis includes gentle skin cleansing, oatmeal baths, oral antihistamines, and topical or oral corticosteroids. In some cases, treatment with corticosteroid injections or ultraviolet light therapy may be required. Treatment for allergic contact dermatitis may require weeks to months of therapy, depending on the cause.
Blepharitis is a chronic inflammation of the eyelids. A common problem in both children and adults, blepharitis causes swelling, itching and irritation of the eyelids. There are two types of blepharitis: seborrheic and Staphylococcus. The outer layer of the eyelid is composed of skin, while the inside of the eyelid is lined with moist tissue. Muscles and glands are located between the skin and the moist lining. The eyelashes are located on the eyelid margins, the area which come together when the eyelid is closed. Tiny openings from which glands secrete the oily part of tears are also located on the eyelid margin. The eyelid margins are the areas most often affected by blepharitis.
Causes
Blepharitis happens when the minuscule oil glands adjoining the base of the eyelashes stops functioning normally. It is usually a condition that is chronic requiring care that is long-term.
Conditions or diseases that may cause blepharitis consist of:
Bacterial infections,
Dandruff affecting the eyebrows or scalp – known as seborrheic dermatitis,
Rosacea is a condition of the skin categorized by redness in the face,
Oil glands in the eyelids that malfunction,
Eyelash mites.
Allergies such as reactions to eye drugs, contact lens solutions or makeup for the eye.
Blepharitis can also be triggered by a grouping of factors.
If an individual has blepharitis, they can experience:
Problems with eyelash – Cause eyelashes to grow abnormally or fall out.
Skin problems on eyelid – Scarring can happen on the eyelids because of chronic blepharitis.
Stye – This is a contagion which commonly starts adjacent to the base of the eyelashes. It is a lump that is painful located inside of or on the brink of the eyelid. Styes are normally most noticeable on the eyelid surface.
·Dry or excess tearing eye – Atypical secretions that are oily as well as other debris that falls from the eyelid, for instance flaking related to dandruff, may amass in the tear film – the oil, mucus, water solution that creates tears. A tear film which is abnormal impedes the normal lubrication of a healthy eyelids. This causes irritation to the eyes and causes excessive tearing or dry eyes.
·Corneal injury – Any continuous irritation from eyelashes which are misdirected or inflamed can cause an ulcer or sore to form on the cornea. Tearing which is insufficient can predispose an individual to corneal infections.
Treatment
The mainstay of treatment is lid hygiene, using cotton buds and solution.
As blepharitis can affect the tears, lubricants can be used to soothe the eyes and relieve irritation. These can be used 3-4 times a day.
There are a variety of artificial tear preparations to choose from, if the drops are required more than 4 times a day then preservative free drops are recommended.
In rare cases, antibiotic tablets may be needed if the blepharitis is particularly difficult to treat.
Treating related conditions such as seborrhoeic dermatitis, which causes bad dandruff and other kind conditions of the face, such as eczema and acne rosacea may help to ease blepharitis.
In a very few people the blepharitis can be severe and damage the eyelids, and treatment can prevent more damage occurring.
The treatment is aimed at :
unblocking the glands in the eyelid, which may be infected and inflamed, like acne on the face or a tiny boil by Lid Cleaning replacing the tears if the eyes are dry with Lubricants
treating any infection present with Antibiotic Cream antibiotic cream
omega 3's...th long chain type that are in oily fish, are very helpful and important. Shorter molecule omega 3s such as flaxseed oil are probably helpful helpful
to treat infection and reduce the inflammation using Antibiotic tablets.
Steroid creams (only to be used by ophthalmologists/expert professionals)
The treatment should make your eyes more comfortable, but there is no magic cure. Even with treatment your eyes may remain a little sore, but no harm will come to them and there is nothing to worry about.
Start with lid cleaning, use antibiotic cream if this is not helpful. Tablets are for people with very troublesome sore eyes.
Lichen planus is a common inflammatory disease of the skin presenting with characteristic violaceous, polygonal, pruritic papules. The disease may also affect the mucosa, hairs and nails. Lichen planus (LP) occurs worldwide with no racial predilection. Although the aetiology is unknown, immunopathological mechanisms are implicated in the pathogenesis of the dermatosis.
The rash is made up of shiny, 3-5 mm, slightly raised purple-red spots. A close look is needed to see the irregular white streaks that lie on the flat surface of some of them. The spots arise most often on the fronts of the wrists, around the ankles and on the lower back, but can spread more widely. In addition, lichen planus sometimes comes up in lines where the skin has been scratched or cut.
Other types of lichen planus include a thickened ('hypertrophic') lichen planus, which tends to affect the shins, and a ring-shaped ('annular') lichen planus, which usually comes up in the creases such as the armpits. Lichen planus occasionally appears on the scalp where it can cause hair loss, or may damage the nails (thinning and grooving of the nail plate), though this is rare.
Lichen planus is common in the mouth and is present in about 30-70% of those who have it on their skin.
Lichen planus can affect the penis in men, causing purple-coloured or white ring-shaped patches. Unlike other patches of lichen planus, these often do not itch. Lichen planus can affect the genital area in women too, but this is less common.
Lichen planus in most patients clear up within 18 months and usually stay clear, although some have a second episode many years later. Unfortunately some types of lichen planus, such as oral, hair or nail involvement, can last for many years. Even after the active lichen planus has cleared up, pigmented stains in the skin may persist for a long time, particularly in Asian or Afro-Caribbean skin.
Symptom
The symptoms of lichen planus of the skin are:
* purple-red coloured bumps (papules) that are slightly raised and shiny and have a flat top
* the papules usually measure 3-5mm in diameter
* the papules may also have irregular white streaks (Wickham's striae)
* thicker scaly patches can appear, usually around the ankles; this is known as hypertrophic lichen planus
* itchy skin
Lichen planus of the skin often affects the wrists, ankles and lower back, although other parts of the body can also be affected.
Thickened (hypertrophic) lichen planus affects the shins and ring-shaped lichen planus affects creases in the skin, such as the armpits. After the lesions have cleared, the affected area of skin can sometimes become discoloured.
The symptoms of lichen planus of the mouth are:
·a white pattern on the tongue and inner cheeks
·white and red patches in the mouth
·burning and discomfort in the mouth while eating or drinking
·painful, red gums
·recurring mouth ulcers
Mild cases of oral lichen planus do not usually cause any pain or discomfort.
The symptoms of lichen planus of the penis are:
·purple or white ring-shaped patches on the tip of the penis (glans)
·bumps (papules) that are flat-topped and shiny
·the rash is often not itchy
Lichen planus of the vulva and vagina
The symptoms of lichen planus of the vulva and vagina include:
·soreness, burning and rawness around the vulva
·the vulva may be covered in white streaks and be a red, pink or pale white colour
·if the vagina is affected, sexual intercourse can be painful
·if the outer layers of skin break down, moist, red patches can form
·scar tissue can form, which distorts the shape of the vagina
·a sticky, yellow or green discharge can form, which may be bloodstained
·the opening of the vagina can become narrowed
Treatment
The first line of treatment is represented by oral antihistamines and flourince dermato-corticosteroids;
A second choice therapy is the systemic corticosteroid therapy (0.25 – 0.5 mg / kg Predison) for 3-4 weeks if there are no obvious contraindications, and retinoids, 40-80 mg weekly, in intramuscular injection and triamcinolone acetonide, for 6-8 weeks;
For severe forms of lichen planus, treatment should be intensive, it starts with a topical steroid, then is choosen another treatment option (corticosteroids, cyclosporine, topical and systemic retinoids, immune suppressants).
Conjunctivitis, or pink eye, is an inflammation of the membrane covering the inside of eyelids and the outer part of eye. It is generally not serious but can be highly contagious. Conjunctivitis often feels like something in eye that can't get rid of. The condition can be caused by bacteria or a virus, or by an allergic reaction or exposure to a chemical irritant.
Conjunctivitis is most often the result of viruses, such as those that cause the common cold. Other causes can be bacterial infections, allergies, chemicals, irritation from contact lenses, or eye injury. Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are very contagious. Some studies suggest that the severity of the disease is significantly associated with sun exposure.
Symptom
Conjunctivitis causes the following symptoms in one or both eyes:
Redness and tearing
Itching
Swollen eyelid
Discharge (watery or thick)
Crust that forms overnight
Sensitivity to light
Gritty feeling
Treatment
Conjunctivitis commonly happen during late fall and early spring and usually attends common colds and upper respiratory tract inflections like sore throat and runny nose. Just like common colds, the condition resolves in a few days. 65% of cases subside within 2-5 days even without treatment.
Pinkeye or conjunctivitis generally to not require hospitalization except in rare cases of accidental chemical burns which are treated as medical emergencies that could lead to intraocular damage or severe scarring if not treated immediately. Otherwise, just like common colds, all it takes is a short visit to the doctor and a home medication regimen that simply follows your doctor’s orders that may include prescription antibiotics.
Just like common colds caused by virus, viral conjunctivitis has no known cure and the most that you can do is to relieve the symptoms. The most common relief is achieved though warm compress applied to the eyes. Non-prescriptive artificial tears or eye drops can also provide relief.
Bacterial conjunctivitis also resolves without any treatment but symptomatic relief can be had with antibiotic ointment or eye drops if no improvement happens within 3-4 days. The condition generally subsides in less than 5 days without antibiotics
Allergy-triggered conjunctivitis are best managed with cool or cold water splashed over the face and eyes with head tilted down. The action can constrict blood capiliaries in the eyes and wash out any chemical residue that may have caused the allergy. Artificial tears or eye drops can sometimes provide relief in mild cases but in more server cases, the application of antihistamines or non-steroidal anti—inflammatory ointment as prescribed by your doctor has more efficacies. Topical steroid drops can relieve persistent allergic conjunctivitis.
Conjunctivitis caused by accidental chemical splashes is best treated with irrigating the eyes with Ringer’s lactate of saline solution.
You should never wear your contacts when suffering conjunctivitis.
A swollen eye during the period may encourage you to wear eye make-up when going out, but don’t. Cosmetics around the eyes should be avoided if you still have symptoms of conjunctivitis. A sunglass to cover it up is better.
Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are highly contagious and members of your family can easily catch one. If you are applying ointments to a child or family member, be sure to disinfect and cleanse your hands thoroughly after each session. Refrain from sharing anything with the affected member and it may be good idea to isolate him or her from the rest of the family for the period. Handle his or her laundry separately and disinfect surfaces, sinks, doorknobs, countertops, etc to prevent contamination.
If you plan on traveling overseas, you may not be allowed to enter some countries, or even allowed to enter some public places where people concentration is high to avoid unnecessary spread of the infection.
Lupus is a disease that is unfamiliar to many. It's difficult to diagnose and often misunderstood.
Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that can target your joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, heart and lungs. The great majority of people affected are women. For reasons that aren’t clear, lupus develops when the immune system attacks your body’s own tissues and organs.
Three main types of lupus exist — systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), discoid lupus erythematosus and drug-induced lupus.
Of these, SLE is the most common and serious form of the disease, frequently causing swollen, painful joints, skin rash, extreme fatigue and kidney damage.
In a normal immune system, antibodies stave off germs and viruses. With lupus, the immune system does not function properly, becoming instead an autoimmune system unable to differentiate between healthy tissue and bacteria. Autoantibodies generated by the autoimmune system attack healthy tissue, destroying it and causing pain and discomfort throughout the body.
Symptoms
The symptoms of lupus are both internal and external and imitate those of other diseases and disorders, such as fibromyalgia, Lyme disease, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes. Because of its similarity to other diseases, additional testing, including blood and urine, are needed to aid the doctor in properly diagnosing the disease.
Symptoms may show up quickly or gradually. The length of an episode or flare can range from short to long periods and the intenseness of the effects during that period ranges from mild to severe.
Episodes fluctuate so there are times when the disease subsides and there are no adverse affects.
External Effects
External symptoms involve the skin, scalp, joints, fingers and toes. Exposure to the sun or bright light can exasperate the disease causing a rash or lesions on the skin. Joints may become swollen and stiff, fingers and toes may become discolored during bouts of cold or during a stressful episode, skin may acquire scaly, raised patches and hair loss may occur.
Internal Effects
Because the immune system is affected, infections can easily occur. Additionally, nasal and mouth sores may appear, inflammation to vital organs occurs and headaches, dizziness, anemia and bruising may be experienced.
Treatment
Doctors who treat Lupus most often are Rheumatologists. Dermatologists, Internists, Nephrologists, Neurologists, Cardiologists, and Psychiatrists may also be involved in Lupus treatment depending on which organs are affected.
A natural treatment for lupus rashes is usually avoiding direct exposure to sunlight. While this might sound easy during the cold season, it becomes incredibly hard to conform to during the summer months. This is why corticosteroids treatment is used for the rash. Corticosteroid creams can be prescribed by dermatologists or lupus specialists and they can be found in pharmacies. Applied to the affected areas, these creams reduce the pain and remove the unsightly redness of the skin.
Giving up certain pills also constitutes a simple, natural treatment of lupus. However, treating drug-induced lupus requires professional assistance; therefore it is recommended to consult your physician for clear indications on what pills you should leave out of your current treatment or which medication can be changed for a more efficient one.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a frequent component of the lupus treatment. Their inhibitory features help maintaining the normal functionality of several internal organs, especially the kidneys. This aspect is very important, since kidney disease is a common symptom in male lupus patients. Ibuprofen and naproxen are probably the most popular NSAIDs used largely world-widely.
Since lupus is best described as an autoimmune condition, immuno-modulating drugs are also used in the SLE treatment. These drugs (Cellcept, Cytoxan, etc.) prevent the autoimmune behavior of the immune system. Another benefit of this treatment would be that it helps doctors reduce the use of corticosteroids in some lupus treatments.
It is important to understand that surgery is rarely recommended as one of the lupus treatment options. However, when kidney failure occurs in a lupus patient or if one of the hips is affected by avascular necrosis (a mass amount of cells die due to circulation problems caused by lupus), surgery is required. Between 5 and 10% of the lupus sufferers are listed for splenectomy. This surgical intervention consists in the partial or complete removal of the spleen and in some cases it’s the only option available to avoid further complications caused by lupus.
For now, lupus remains an autoimmune disease with unknown causes or cures. It affects one in one thousand people, most of whom are women. It is not a contagious disease and its symptoms can remain dormant for varying periods of time before manifesting again in flare-ups.
Pneumonia is an infection within one or both lungs. It can be caused by a number of germs, including bacteria, viruses, or, in rare cases, fungi or parasites.
Pneumonia is a common infection. It is more common in men than women and in smokers compared to non-smokers. It is also potentially serious and even life-threatening
Causes
·Bacterial infection - which can develop following an upper respiratory track infection like a cold, sore throat or the flu. Bacteria is the cause of 50% of pneumonias, most commonly a streptococcus bacteria known as pneumococcus
·Virus - this tends to happen more in the winter and can be serious in people with heart or lung disease
·Chlamydia - more common in school children. This is a different bacteria than the one that causes the sexually transmitted disease
·Mycoplasma – a tiny bacteria which tends to spread in child care centres and schools
·Pneumocystis carinii – which occurs in people with suppressed immune infections, such as those who are undergoing chemotherapy, have had organ transplants, people with AIDS and those being treated with corticosteroids
·Other causes of pneumonia include fungi, parasites, chemical or physical injury to the lungs, tuberculous, lung cancer, alcohol abuse.
·SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) is a particularly contagious and dangerous type of pneumonia.
Symptoms
Common symptoms of this condition can vary from mild to severe. They include:
A cough that produces green or yellow phlegm
Trouble breathing
Chest pain when breathing or coughing
A rapid heart rate and breathing rate
Fever (temperature greater than 100.5ºF or 38ºC)
Chills.
Symptoms may also include nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Most cases of pneumonia can be treated without hospitalization. Typically, oral antibiotics, rest, fluids, and home care are sufficient for complete resolution. However, people with pneumonia who are having trouble breathing, people with other medical problems, and the elderly may need more advanced treatment. If the symptoms get worse, the pneumonia does not improve with home treatment, or complications occur, the person will often have to be hospitalized.
Bacterial pneumonia
Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial pneumonia. In contrast, antibiotics are not useful for viral pneumonia, although they sometimes are used to treat or prevent bacterial infections that can occur in lungs damaged by a viral pneumonia. The antibiotic choice depends on the nature of the pneumonia, the most common microorganisms causing pneumonia in the local geographic area, and the immune status and underlying health of the individual. Treatment for pneumonia should ideally be based on the causative microorganism and its known antibiotic sensitivity. However, a specific cause for pneumonia is identified in only 50% of people, even after extensive evaluation. Because treatment should generally not be delayed in any person with a serious pneumonia, empiric treatment is usually started well before laboratory reports are available.
Antibiotics for hospital-acquired pneumonia include third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins, carbapenems, fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides, and vancomycin. These antibiotics are usually given intravenously. Multiple antibiotics may be administered in combination in an attempt to treat all of the possible causative microorganisms.
People who have difficulty breathing due to pneumonia may require extra oxygen. Extremely sick individuals may require intensive care, often including endotracheal intubation and artificial ventilation.
Viral pneumonia
Viral pneumonia caused by influenza A may be treated with rimantadine or amantadine, while viral pneumonia caused by influenza A or B may be treated with oseltamivir or zanamivir. These treatments are beneficial only if they are started within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. Many strains of H5N1 influenza A, also known as avian influenza or "bird flu," have shown resistance to rimantadine and amantadine. There are no known effective treatments for viral pneumonias caused by the SARS coronavirus, adenovirus, hantavirus, or parainfluenza virus.
Aspiration pneumonia
There is no evidence to support the use of antibiotics in chemical pneumonitis without bacterial infection. If infection is present in aspiration pneumonia, the choice of antibiotic will depend on several factors, including the suspected causative organism and whether pneumonia was acquired in the community or developed in a hospital setting. Common options include clindamycin, a combination of a beta-lactam antibiotic and metronidazole, or an aminoglycoside.
Corticosteroids are commonly used in aspiration pneumonia, but there is no evidence to support their use either. Viral pneumonia may last longer, and mycoplasmal pneumonia may take four to six weeks to resolve completely. In cases where the pneumonia progresses to blood poisoning (bacteremia), just over 20% of sufferers die.
Here are some natural remedies for pneumonia that you can follow at home to treat pneumonia effectively. These home remedies are simple, easy to prepare and easy to follow.
1. Fenugreek Seeds: Having an herbal with tea with black pepper and fenugreek seeds helps to treat pneumonia symptoms in early stages. You can take up to 4 cups of this herbal tea daily which can be gradually reduced as condition improves. A little honey or lemon juice can be added to improve the flavor. This home remedy is helpful in getting rid of fever that comes with pneumonia and also eliminates the sharp pains experienced by those suffering from pneumonia.
2. Beet Juice: The soothing and healing properties of beets help to ease the pain that comes with pneumonia. Beet Juice can help clear phlegm from the lungs that could be hindering proper breathing, making it one of the best home remedies for pneumonia treatment. You can add carrot or cucumber juice with beet juice and drink twice a day for better results.
3. Sesame Seeds: Sesame seeds contains antibacterial and anti inflammatory properties making it one of the best home remedies for pneumonia treatment. A hot infusion of this herb can be prepared by steeping 15 gm of seeds in 250 ml water. Add 1 teaspoon of honey, 1 tablespoon of linseed, and a pinch of common salt in this mixture. Consume this mixture everyday. It will aid in removing phlegm from the bronchial tubes.
4. Ginger: You can consume 10 ml fresh ginger juice, or dried ginger powder 3 gm mixed with 2 teaspoons of honey twice or thrice a day for destroying bacterial infection in respiratory tract and lungs. Ginger may also help reduce fever associated with pneumonia.
5. Garlic: It is considered to be effective home remedy for pneumonia. Either fresh raw or lightly cooked garlic is most accessible for pneumonia cure. To get relief from chest pain and discomfort, take a teaspoonful of garlic juice. The curative properties found in garlic work in treating pneumonia by bringing down the high temperatures and speeding up the healing process.
6. Parsnip Juice: Parsnip juice has chlorine and phosphorus which help in clearing the bronchial system thereby getting rid of infection. A dosage of 250 ml per day is recommended. The leaves can also be steeped in water and placed onto the chest area as a way of getting rid of the pain that comes with pneumonia.
7. Carrot Juice: Carrot contains essential nutrients that aid in proper healing in cases of pneumonia. It works by getting rid of toxins thereby treating the underlying problem. The juice happens to be very strong and therefore should be mixed with other vegetable juices and taken with or after meals.
8. Turpentine Oil: This is also a great remedy for pneumonia. Massaging turpentine oil on the rib cage and keeping the area covered with warm cotton wool will help in reducing the pain of Pneumonia.
9. Dandelion: Dandelion contains anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties making it one of the best home remedies for pneumonia. It gets rid of the pain and inflammation that comes with pneumonia thereby offering a complete cure. Take the leaves of dandelion and add in boiling water to make a decoction. The roots of the plant can also be used in the water and then taken on a daily basis as treatment for the condition. The dried root of dandelion can be ground into powder and then a paste made and applied onto the chest to offer proper treatment from the condition.
10. Holy Basil: Holy basil contains essential minerals and compounds which are helpful to get relief from pneumonia. Take the juice of few fresh leaves of holy basil. Add a pinch of ground black pepper to this juice and consume at six hourly intervals.
Drink lots of water as it will help to flush toxins. Fluids are also important because they help prevent dehydration and help loosen mucus in your lungs
Avoid alcoholic drinks and carbonated drinks as well as cold drinks which are known to make the pneumonia symptoms worse.
Avoid foods that may not be well-digested. It may aggravate pneumonia symptoms.
The patient should be kept in a clean, hot and healthy room. Make sure that sunshine enters in the patient room.
Try to keep the chest and the feet of the patient warmer than the other parts of the body.
Get plenty of rest, even if you don’t really feel like it.
Miscarriage (sometimes called "spontaneous abortion") is the loss of a baby in the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. Sadly, it is a common event. Although it's difficult to give an exact figure, about 15 per cent of known pregnancies end in miscarriage. Often, a woman miscarries before she realizes she's pregnant. Perhaps as many as three-quarters of all fertilized eggs are lost in the very earliest stages of pregnancy. About 98 per cent of women who miscarry do so in the first 13 weeks but occasionally, a woman will miscarry much later.
Causes
Most early miscarriages are caused by a chromosomal abnormality. This means that during development the feotus has not grown correctly, this is often due to a faulty egg or sperm. The cause of this is unknown. When the egg starts to divide and develop, (once it has been fertilised by the sperm), it doesn’t develop correctly. The body knows when the foetus is not developing and we then miscarry. These issues are not caused by either parent and do not mean that you are unhealthy or couldn’t have a successful pregnancy in the future. There are other issues which we will look in Infrequent Conditions.
Other Causes
Lifestyle – Drug Use, Alcohol, Smoking etc
Hormonal Issues or Immune System Challenges.
Mothers over the age of 35 years.
Any deep life or emotional traumas
Infection or Infectious Diseases
Underlying uncontrolled disease e.g. Diabetes.
Any uterine or cervical problems, e.g. a short cervix.
As mentioned above, women who are 35 years or over are at increased risk of miscarriage, in fact a 20% risk. At 40 years the risk increases to 40% and by the age of 45 years it can be as high as 80%.
Women who have had 2 or more miscarriages have been shown to have an increased risk of further events. Although having one miscarriage does not put you at any further a risk than a woman who has miscarried at all.
There is some debate over other possible contributors e.g. caffeine. Again it is best to speak with your Health Care Professional if you think you could be at increased risk.
Warning Signs
There are some general signs and symptoms of miscarriage, if you have any of the below you need to contact a doctor immediately.
Brown or bright red vaginal bleeding, with or without cramping. It is important to use a sanitary pad and not a tampon to be able to assess the amount of bleeding. Also refrain from sexual intercourse during this time.
Cramps or low back ache, similar to, or more intense than a period. Abdominal pain that is dull, sharp or cramping.
Contractions, these are more painful than period cramping and can last for sometime. You will need to note the frequency for you medical consultation.
A feeling that the signs of pregnancy are decreasing e.g. less nausea or breast tenderness.
Tissues with clots passing from the vagina. This is another reason to use a sanitary pad and the physician may want to assess the contents.
Some women who miscarry can develop an infection in their uterus. If you have any symptoms of fever, chills, body ache or an unusual discharge you must seek medical help.
One of the most obvious and worrisome signs of a possible miscarriage is always bleeding. To put this into perspective, the incidence of vaginal bleeding is quite high in the first 3 months at around 20-30%. As many as 50% of women go on to have a normal birth. Most miscarriages can’t be prevented, as this is the body’s way of recognizing that something is wrong. Bleeding during the first 3 month can be caused by various reasons, from implantation bleeding to types of infection to intercourse.
Treatment
Treatment for miscarriage in early pregnancy includes a procedure to remove the fetus and other tissues if they have not all been naturally passed. The procedure is called a surgical evacuation of the uterus, or a dilatation and curettage (D&C). Anesthesia is used, as the procedure can be painful to the mother. The cervical opening is dilated (opened) and either suction or an instrument called a curette is used to remove all the pregnancy tissues inside the uterus (called products of conception). These tissues may be sent to the laboratory for culture or testing for genetic or chromosomal abnormalities.
Vitiligo (vit-ill-eye-go) is a pigmentation disorder in which melanocytes (the cells that make pigment) in the skin, the tissues that line the inside of the mouth and nose and genital and rectal areas (mucous membranes), and the retina of the eyes are destroyed. As a result, white patches of skin appear on different parts of the body. The hair that grows in areas affected by vitiligo may turn white.
The cause of vitiligo is not known, but doctors and researchers have several different theories. One theory is that people develop antibodies that destroy the melanocytes in their own bodies. Another theory is that melanocytes destroy themselves. Finally, some people have reported that a single event such as sunburn or emotional distress triggered vitiligo; however, these events have not been scientifically proven to cause vitiligo.
Vitiligo seems to be more common in people with certain autoimmune diseases (diseases in which a person's immune system reacts against the body's own organs or tissues). These autoimmune diseases include hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid gland), adrenocortical insufficiency (the adrenal gland does not produce enough of the hormone called corticosteroid), alopecia areata (patches of baldness), and pernicious anemia (a low level of red blood cells caused by failure of the body to absorb vitamin B12). Scientists do not know the reason for the association between vitiligo and these autoimmune diseases. However, most people with vitiligo have no other autoimmune disease.
Vitiligo may also be hereditary, that is, it can run in families. Children whose parents have the disorder are more likely to develop vitiligo. However, most children will not get vitiligo even if a parent has it, and most people with vitiligo do not have a family history of the disorder.
Types of Vitiligo
There are three main types of vitiligo:
Generalized Pattern Vitiligo
Segmental Pattern Vitiligo
Focal Pattern Vitiligo
Generalized Pattern Vitiligo
The skin disorder, Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease that can happen to anyone, regardless of age, gender, and ethnicity. In this pigmentation disorder, the melanocytes (cells that make pigment) in the skin are destroyed, causing white patches to appear on the skin. These patches can appear anywhere on the body, especially on areas that are more exposed to the sun, such as hands, arms, feet, face and neck. There are mainly three patterns of Vitilgo, and the most common one is Generalized Pattern Vitiligo. Generalized Pattern Vitiligo is listed as a type, and is proportional on both sides of the body.
Segmental Pattern Vitiligo
Vitiligo is a skin condition which is caused by the malfunctioning or loss of cells, called melanocytes, which give color to the skin. The loss of melanocytes results in smooth, white patches in the middle of normally pigmented skin. Vitiligo, or leucoderma, is a common skin disorder, which is usually inherited, and can affect anyone anywhere. There are two main types of vitiligo patterns: segmental and non-segmental (generalized). The non-segmental pattern of vitiligo is very common among people and causes depigmentation to occur symmetrically on both sides of the body, whereas in Segmental Pattern Vitiligo, depigmented patches develop on only one side of the body.
Focal Pattern Vitiligo
Focal Pattern Vitiligois the most rare pattern form of the skin disorder called Vitiligo, or leucoderma. This skin disorder causes smooth white patches to appear on the skin due to the malfunctioning or the loss of melanocytes (cells that make pigment). In Focal Pattern Vitiligo, the depigmentation of skin is limited to one or only a few areas. The Focal Pattern Vitiligoand segmental vitiligo do not spread and remain localized to one part of the body, whereas generalized vitiligo is likely to spread over different parts of the body. There is no such cure for Vitiligo, however, herbal treatments have proved to be fruitful over the years.
Vitiligo patches often occur symmetrically across both sides on the body. Occasionally small areas of the body may repigment as they are recolonised by melanocytes. Vitiligo may also be caused by stress that affects the immune system. The disturbed immune system may lead the body to react and start losing skin pigment. Vitiligo on the scalp may affect the color of the hair, leaving white patches or streaks and so affect facial and body hair.
Most people with vitiligo are in good general health. But, it may occur with other autoimmune diseases such as thyroid disease. The duration and severity of pigment loss differ with each person. Light-skinned people usually notice the contrast between vitiligo affected areas and suntanned skin in the summer. There is no way to predict how much pigment an individual will lose; however, those with severe cases can lose pigment all over the body.
Treatment
Topical steroid therapy
Topical psoralen photochemotherapy
Oral psoralen photochemotherapy
Depigmentation
Autologous skin grafts
Skin grafts using blisters
Micropigmentation (tattooing)
Autologous melanocyte transplants
Sunscreens
Cosmetics
Counseling and support
Self Care
Here are some points that Vitiligo patients can put to good use:
Exposing the affected areas to early morning sunlight just after sunrise is known to stimulate pigment forming cells. However, patients must avoid strong sunlight especially between 10 am to 4 pm. If necessary to move out during such hours, patients must opt for a sunscreen with SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of more than 15.
Regular use of sun screen also guards against sunburn and long term damage
Use mild soap for bathing and avoid rubbing skin vigorously after a bath (fiction can trigger new patches)
Wear clothing that adequately covers the skin (e.g. full sleeved shirt) - this protects the skin from any kind of external trauma
Avoid direct contact with deodorants, perfumes - spray on clothes rather than directly on skin
Avoid mental stress - take effective steps to identify and tackle with stress, if it exists
Diet rich in copper is suggested for Vitiligo patients since scientific studies have shown low serum copper levels in patients suffering from Vitiligo. Green leafy vegetables and sesame are good sources of copper.
Supplementation with vitamin B12, folic acid and pantothenic acid has been seen to have beneficial effects in Vitiligo patients (it has been credited with the formation of new melanin). Patients should include adequate lentils, eggs and yogurt in their daily diet for the same.
Nausea is the sensation that there is a need to vomit. Nausea can be acute and short-lived, or it can be prolonged. When prolonged, it is a debilitating symptom. Nausea (and vomiting) can be psychological or physical in origin. It can originate from problems in the brain or organs of the upper gastrointestinal tract (esophagus, stomach, small intestine, liver, pancreas, and gallbladder). It also may be caused by pain, motion, medications and diseases of many non-gastrointestinal organs of the body. Therefore, the diagnosis of the cause of prolonged nausea may not be easy. All stimuli that cause nausea work via the vomiting center in the brain which gives rise to the sensation of nausea and coordinates the physical act of vomiting.
Causes of nausea include, but are not limited to:
Acute HIV infection
Addison disease
Alcohol
Anxiety
Appendicitis
Brain tumor
Caffeine
Cancer
Chicken Pox
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Concussion
Crohn's disease
Depression
Diabetes
Dizziness
Drugs, whether the drug in use is for reasons that are medicinal, recreational, intentional, and/or unintentional.
Exercise
Influenza (rarely in adults, more commonly in children; not to be confused with "stomach flu" Gastroenteritis)
By mouth - Some tablets can be swallowed with plenty of water, while others can be placed under the tongue (sublingually) to dissolve.
Into a vein by drip - Some anti-emetics can be diluted in a fluid and given through a small tube (cannula) inserted into the vein (intravenously).
Into the muscle - The drugs are given by injection into a muscle (intramuscular injection).
Into the fatty tissue under the skin (subcutaneously) - The drugs are either injected using a syringe or given slowly over several hours, using a pump attached to a small needle that is placed just under the skin.
Suppositories - These are put into the back passage (rectum), where they dissolve and are absorbed into the bloodstream through the lining of the gut.
Skin patches - Some anti-emetic drugs can be absorbed through the skin (transdermally) from a small patch that is changed every three days.
