Ankyloglossia is a congenital condition commonly known of as "tongue-tie," where the thin band of tissue (lingual frenulum) attaching the middle part of the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth is unusually small and tight, hampering free movement of the tongue and restricting the mobility of the tongue tip. The condition may first be noted by […]
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Rabies is a viral disease that is transmitted between animals, most commonly via aggressive behavior such as biting. The virus affects the central nervous system and causes hyperactivity and possible paralysis of limbs due to motor neuron damage. The virus replicates and becomes concentrated in the saliva of infected animals, which explains why the infection is usually transmitted via a […]
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A diagnosis of mastitis is based on the patient’s symptoms and a breast examination. A sample of the patient’s breast milk may also be taken and sent for analysis. Mastitis can often mimic breast cancer and careful examination of any symptoms is therefore required to ensure that no cancer is present in the breast. If a physician is unsure whether […]
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Live probiotic bacteria can be found in yoghurts and other foods fortified with probiotics. These “friendly” bacteria are also available in the freeze-dried form as tablets, sachets and powders, for example. To understand how a probiotic strain is named, Lactobacillus casei DN-114 001 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG can be used as examples. Here, Lactobacillus refers to the genus; casei or […]
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Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder that is associated with a reduction in haemoglobin in red blood cells and, subsequently, insufficient oxygen reaching cells in the body. However, individuals with this condition may actually be at an advantage when it comes to certain diseases, such as malaria, as it may offer a protective effect. Protection from Malaria Malaria is a […]
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Stillbirth refers to the death of a baby before or during delivery and after 24 weeks of pregnancy. If a baby dies before 24 weeks of completed pregnancy, the term “miscarriage” or fetal loss applies instead. In the UK, more than 3,600 babies are stillborn every year and stillbirth is fifteen times more common than cot death. Most stillbirths occur […]
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Cerebrovascular diseases are conditions that affect the blood vessels and cause problems with blood flow to the brain. Cerebrovascular disease is a common cause of cerebrovascular accident or stroke. The symptoms of a stroke include: Dizziness Black out or unconsciousness – Strokes can lead to difficulty breathing and loss of consciousness. A person may also lose consciousness in severe cases […]
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The term neuralgia refers to a combination of two words "neuro" meaning relating to nerves and "algesia" meaning sensitivity to pain. Neuralgia therefore describes pain felt in one or more nerves. The pain sensation may arise without stimulation of pain receptors and instead as the result of abnormal function or structure of nerves. Mechanism of neuropathic pain or neuralgia There […]
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Thalidomide is a drug that used to be given to pregnant women to alleviate morning sickness. However, it was withdrawn from the market in 1961 after it was found to cause severe birth defects in children born to mothers who took it. The drug caused deformity and other birth defects in thousands of babies across more than 46 nations. Thalidomide […]
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Pre-eclampsia can be successfully treated if it is diagnosed early and the patient is closely monitored for symptoms, complications and deterioration. Diagnosis is commonly made during the routine checkups that are carried out while a woman is pregnant called antenatal checks. In the case of pre-eclampsia, high blood pressure is usually identified and urine is found to contain protein. Diagnosis […]
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