Respiratory illness caused by influenza virus, commonly known as the flu, is often difficult to distinguish from the diseases caused by other respiratory pathogens merely on the basis of signs and symptoms. Sole interpretation by a clinician is therefore not specific, and strict clinical definitions have also shown poor performance in some studies on older patients. Proper treatment of patients […]
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Throughout history, pandemics have posed some of the greatest threats to mankind, claiming more lives than all wars and accidents put together. One well known pandemic is cholera, which was widespread in the 19th century and killed tens of millions of people. Another example is tuberculosis, which killed around one quarter of the European population, also in the 19th century. […]
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Eczema is a skin disorder which results in extreme dryness and itching. Also known as Atopic Dermatitis, it has been seen in babies from the age of two months onwards to before the age of five years. The skin disorder tends to run in families but is not contagious and cannot be passed on to others. Cause and triggers of […]
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Fatty liver disease is also referred to as Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) or Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH). This is a group of conditions where there is accumulation of excess fat deposits over the liver. This fat deposit is also seen among alcoholics. Non alcoholic fatty liver disease is seen in patients who drink little or no alcohol. The commonest form […]
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Gastric bypass surgery is a surgical weight loss procedure that is offered to morbidly obese individuals who have not managed to achieve weight loss using alternative techniques such as improved lifestyle changes, dietary changes, exercise and medication. Morbidly obese individuals are more likely than the general population to suffer from serious health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and arthritis, […]
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Polio is caused by a viral infection. In most cases (95% infections) there are no clinical symptoms and these infections do not need treatment. However, these patients continue to shed the virus in their stools and act as reservoirs of infection. Those with non-paralytic and paralytic forms of polio manifest the disease clinically. Diagnosis of polio involves medical history, physical […]
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The trillions of the cells in the body grow normally, divide, and then die accordingly. Once adulthood is reached cells divide only to replace worn-out or dying cells or to repair injuries. What happens to cells in cancer? Cancer starts when cells in a certain organ or part of the start to grow out of control. Cells become cancer cells […]
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Longitudinal ridging refers to the vertical raised lines present on the nails. There may also be discoloration and thickening of the nails along with the ridging. A certain number of lines are normally found on all fingernails, due to the basic aging process. They do not necessarily signal the presence of a health issue. However deeper ridges, discolored nails and […]
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Lung cancer is a common and very serious form of cancer, with more than 40,000 people diagnosed with the condition each year in the UK. Throughout their cancer journey, most patients will have questions about their condition. This article will attempt to address some of these questions. Billion Photos | Shutterstock Lung cancer does not usually present with symptoms until […]
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In the early stages chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) usually leads to little or no symptoms. The condition is typically slowly progressive and it may take years to develop and manifest symptoms. CML usually affects people between ages 40 and 60 years. It may, however, affect children and persons of any age. Early symptoms of CML Some of the earliest symptoms […]
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