Yellow fever(Toxic phase)

Toxic phase

Although signs and symptoms may disappear for a day or two following the acute phase, 15 percent of those with acute yellow fever then enter a toxic phase. During the toxic phase, acute signs and symptoms return and more severe and life-threatening ones also appear. These can include:

Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice).

Abdominal pain and vomiting, sometimes bloodDecreased urination.

Bleeding from the nose, mouth and eyes.

Heart dysfunction (arrhythmias).

Liver and kidney failure.

Brain dysfunction including delirium, seizures and coma.

About 20 percent to 50 percent of those who enter the toxic phase die of the disease.

The rest usually recover without significant problems.

Yellow fever(symptoms)

Symptoms

During the first three to six days after you've contracted yellow fever — the incubation period — you won't experience any signs or symptoms. After this, the virus enters an acute phase and then, in some cases, a toxic phase that can be life-threatening.Acute phase Once the yellow fever virus enters the acute phase, you may experience signs and

symptoms including:

Fever.

Headache.

Muscle aches, particularly in your back and knees.

Nausea.

vomiting or both

Loss of appetite

Dizziness

Red eyes, face or tongue

These signs and symptoms usually improve and are gone within three to four days.

Yellow fever

What is Yellow fever?

Yellow fever is a hemorrhagic fever caused by a virus spread by a particular species of mosquito. It is most common in areas of Africa and South America, affecting travelers to and residents of those areas. In mild cases, yellow fever causes fever, headache, nausea and vomiting.

But yellow fever can become more serious, causing bleeding (hemorrhaging), heart, liver and kidney problems. Up to 50 percent of those with the more severe form of yellow fever die of the disease.

There is no specific treatment for yellow fever. But getting a yellow fever vaccine before traveling to an area in which the virus is known to exist can protect you from the disease.

HIV/Aids( symptom and treatmen)

Treatment

Therkeeps AIDS patients healthier for longer periods of time. Opportunistic infections are treated when they happen.e is no cure for AIDS at this time. However, a variety of treatments are available that can help keep symptoms at bay and improve the quality of life of those who have already developed Symptoms.

Antiretroviral therapy suppresses the replication of the HIV virus in the body. A combination of several antiretroviral agents, termed highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), has been highly effective in reducing the number of HIV particles in the blood stream, as measured by a blood test called the viral load. Preventing the virus from replicating can help the immune system recover from the HIV infection and improve T-cell counts.

HAART is not a cure for HIV, and people on HAART with suppressed levels of HIV can still transmit the virus to others through sex or sharing of needles. But HAART has been enormously effective for the past 10 years. There is good evidence that if the levels of HIV remain suppressed and the CD4 count remains high (above 200 cells/mL), life can be significantly prolonged and improved.

However, HIV may become resistant to HAART in patients who do not take their medications on schedule every day. Genetic tests are now available to determine whether a particular HIV strain is resistant to a particular drug. This information may be useful in determining the best drug combination for each individual, and adjusting the drug regimen if it starts to fail. These tests should be performed any time a treatment strategy begins to fail, and prior to starting therapy.When HIV becomes resistant to HAART, other drug combinations must be used to try to suppress the resistant strain of HIV. There are a variety of new drugs coming out on the market for the treatment of drug-resistant HIV.

Treatment with HAART has complications. HAART is a collection of different medications, each with its own side effects. Some common side effects are nausea, headache, weakness, malaise (a general sick feeling), and fat accumulation on the back ("buffalo hump") and abdomen. When used for a long time, these medications increase the risk of heart attack by increasing the levels of fat and glucose in the blood.

Anydoctor prescribing HAART should carefully watch the patient for possible side effects associated with the combination of medications the patient takes. In addition, routine blood tests measuring CD4 counts and HIV viral load (a blood test that measures how much virus is in the blood) should be taken every 3-4 months. The goal is to get the CD4 count as close to normal as possible, and to suppress the HIV amount of virus in the blood to an undetectable level.Other antiviral medications are being investigated. In addition, growth factors that stimulate cell growth, such as Epogen (erthythropoetin) and G-CSF are sometimes used to treat anemiaand low white blood cell counts associated with AIDS.

Medications are also used to prevent opportunistic infections (such as Pneumocystis uirovecipneumonia)if the CD4 count is low enough. This

HIV/Aids(causes)

Causes

AIDS is the fifth leading cause of death among people aged 25-44 in the United States, down from number one in 1995. About 25 million people worldwide have died from this infection since the start of the epidemic, and 40.3 million people around the world are currently living with HIV/AIDS

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes AIDS. The virus attacks the immune system and leaves the body vulnerable to a variety of life-threatening infections and cancers.Common bacteria, yeast, parasites, and viruses that ordinarily do not cause serious disease in people with healthy immune systems can cause fatal illnesses in people with AIDS.

HIV has been found in saliva, tears, nervous system tissue and spinal fluid, blood, semen (including pre-seminal fluid, which is the liquid that comes out prior to ejaculation), vaginal fluid, and breast milk. However, only blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and breast milk generally transmit infection to others.

The virus can be transmitted:Through sexual contact -- including oral, vaginal, and anal sexThrough blood -- via blood transfusions (now extremely rare in the US) or needle sharingFrom mother to child -- a pregnant woman can transmit the virus to her fetus through their shared blood circulation, or a nursing mother can transmit it to her baby in her milkOther transmission methods are rare and include accidental needle injury, artificial insemination with infected donated semen, and organ transplantation with infected organs.

HIV infection is not spread by casual contact such as hugging, by touching items previously touched by a person infected with the virus, during participation in sports, or by mosquitoes.It is NOT transmitted to a person who DONATES blood or organs. Those who donate organs are never in direct contact with those who receive them. Likewise, a person who donates blood is not in contact with the person receiving it. In all these procedures, sterile needles and instruments are used.However, HIV can be transmitted to a person RECEIVING blood or organs from an infected donor.

To reduce this risk, blood banks and organ donor programs screen donors, blood, and tissues thoroughly.People at highest risk for getting HIV include: Intravenous drug users who share needlesInfants born to mothers with HIV who don't receive HIV therapy during pregnancyPeople engaging in unprotected sexPeople who received blood transfusions or clotting products between 1977 and 1985 (prior to when standard screening for the virus began)Sexual partners of those who participate in high-risk activities (such as anal sex)AIDS begins with HIV infection.

People infected with HIV may have no symptoms for 10 years or longer, but they can still transmit the infection to others during this symptom-free period. Meanwhile, if the infection is not detected and treated, the immune system gradually weakens, and AIDS develops.Acute HIV infection progresses over time (usually a few weeks to months) to (no symptoms) and then to early symptomatic (some symptoms) HIV infection. Later, it progresses to AIDS (very advanced HIV infection with T-cell count below 200).Almost all people infected with HIV, if not treated, will develop AIDS.

There is a small group of patients who develop AIDS very slowly, or never at all. These patients are called nonprogressors, and many seem to have a genetic difference that prevents the virus from damaging their immune system

HIV/Aids(symptoms)

Symtopms.

The symptoms of AIDS are primarily the result of infections that do not normally develop in individuals with healthy immune systems. These are called opportunistic infections.People with AIDS have had their immune system depleted by HIV and are very susceptible to these opportunistic infections. Common symptoms are fevers, sweats (particularly at night), swollen glands, chills, weakness, and weight loss. See the signs and tests section below for a list of common opportunistic infections and major symptoms associated with them.

Note: Initial infection with HIV can produce no symptoms. Some people, however, do experience flu-like symptoms with fever, rash, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes, usually 2 weeks after contracting the virus. Some people with HIV infection remain without symptoms for years between the time the are exposed to the virus and when they develop AIDS.

Aids(defination,basic info.)

What is AIDS

AIDS is a frightening diagnosis - like cancer, it used to mean a death sentence. It is caused by a virus - human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) but the full blown disease does not take hold until five to ten years after initial infection

Basic Info

Symptoms.

Causes.

Tests.

Treatments.

Drugs.

Supplements.

Alternative Therapies.

Risk Factors.

Complications.

Prevention.

Doctor Specialties.

Prostate Cancer (causes,incidence,risk factors)

Causes, incidence, and risk factors



The cause of prostate cancer is unknown, although some studies have shown a relationship between high dietary fat intake and increased testosterone levels. When testosterone levels are lowered either by surgical removal of the testicles (castration, orchiectomy) or by medication, prostate cancer can slowly get better.

There is no known association with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).Prostate cancer is the third most common cause of death from cancer in men of all ages and is the most common cause of death from cancer in men over 75 years old. Prostate cancer is rarely found in men younger than 40.Men at higher risk include African-America men older than 60, farmers, tire plant workers, painters, and men exposed to cadmium.

The lowest number of cases occurs in Japanese men and those who do not eat meat (vegetarians).Prostate cancers are grouped according to how quickly they spread and how different they are from the surrounding prostate tissue. This is called staging.

There are several different ways to stage tumors, a common one being the A-B-C-D staging system, also known as the Whitmore-Jewett system:



Stage A: Tumor is not felt on physical examination, and is usually detected by accident after prostate surgery is done for other reasons.


Stage B: Tumor is only in the prostate and usually detected during a physical exam or with a blood test (PSA test).

Stage C: Tumor has spread beyond the prostate but is not in the lymph nodes.

Stage D: Tumor has spread (metastasized) to lymph nodes or other parts of the body, such as the bone and lungs.This system also contains several substages.

Prostate Cancer(symptoms)

Symptoms

With the advent of PSA testing, most prostate cancers are now found before they cause symptoms. Additionally, while most of the symptoms listed below can be associated with prostate cancer, they are more likely to be associated with non-cancerous conditions.

Urinary hesitancy (delayed or slowed start of urinary stream)Urinary dribbling, especially immediately after urinatingUrinary retentionPain with ejaculationLower back painPain with bowel movementAdditional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

Excessive urination at nightIncontinenceBone pain or tendernessHematuria (blood in the urine)Abdominal painAnemiaUnintentional weight .

Prostate Cancer (defination,signs and tests)

Prostate Cancer is cancer that grows in prostate gland. The prostate is a small, walnut-sized structure that makes up part of a man's reproductive system. It wraps around the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body

Alternative Names .

Cancer - prostate

Signs and tests A rectal exam often reveals an enlarged prostate with a hard, irregular surface. A number of tests may be done to confirm the diagnosis of prostate cancer.PSA test may be high, although non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate can also increase PSA levels.

Free PSA may help tell the difference between BPH and prostate cancer.Urinalysis may show blood in the urine.Urine or prostatic fluid cytology may reveal unusual cells. Prostate biopsy confirms the diagnosis.CT scans may be done to see if the cancer has spread.A bone scan may be done to see if the cancer has spread.Chest x-ray may be done to see.

Acne(Defination,Signs and Tests)

What is Acne?
Acne vulgaris (commonly called acne) is a skin disease caused by changes in the pilosebaceous units (skin structures consisting of a hair follicle and its associated sebaceous gland). Severe acne is inflammatory, but acne can also manifest in noninflammatory forms. Acne lesions are commonly referred to as pimples, spots, or zits.

Alternative Names
acne vulgaris; Cystic acne; Pimples; Zits

Signs and tests

Your doctor can diagnose acne based on the appearance of the skin.

Acne(Causes,Incidence,and Risk factors)

Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Acne occurs when tiny holes on the surface of the skin, called pores, become clogged. Each pore is an opening to a canal called a follicle, which contains a hair and an oil gland. Normally, the oil glands help keep the skin lubricated and help remove old skin cells. When glands produce too much oil, the pores can become blocked, accumulating dirt, debris, and bacteria. The blockage is called a plug or comedone.

The top of the plug may be white (whitehead) or dark (blackhead). If it ruptures, the material inside, including oil and bacteria, can spread to the surrounding area and cause an inflammatory reaction. If the inflammation is deep in your skin, the pimples may enlarge to form firm, painful cysts.

Acne commonly appears on the face and shoulders, but may also occur on the trunk, arms, legs, and buttocks.Acne is most common in teenagers, but it can happen at any age, even as an infant. Three out of four teenagers have acne to some extent, probably caused by hormonal changes that stimulate oil production. However, people in their 30s and 40s may also have acne.

Acne tends to run in families and can be triggered by:Hormonal changes related to menstrual periods, pregnancy, birth control pills, or stressGreasy or oily cosmetic and hair productsCertain drugs (such as steroids, testosterone, estrogen, and phenytoin)High levels of humidity and sweatingDespite the popular belief that chocolate, nuts, and other foods cause acne, this does not seem to be true.SymptomsBlackheads .Crusting of skin eruptions .Cysts .Inflammation around the skin eruptions .Pustules .Redness around the skin eruptions .Scarring of the skin .Whiteheads.

Phototherapy
'Blue' and red light
It has long been known that short term improvement can be achieved with sunlight. However, studies have shown that sunlight worsens acne long-term[citation needed]. More recently, visible light has been successfully employed to treat acne (phototherapy) - in particular intense violet light (405-420nm) generated by purpose-built fluorescent lighting, dichroic bulbs, LEDs or lasers. Used twice weekly, this has been shown to reduce the number of acne lesions by about 64% and is even more effective when applied daily.

The mechanism appears to be that a porphyrin (Coproporphyrin III) produced within P. acnes generates free radicals when irradiated by 420nm and shorter wavelengths of light.Particularly when applied over several days, these free radicals ultimately kill the bacteria.Since porphyrins are not otherwise present in skin, and no UV light is employed, it appears to be safe, and has been licensed by the U.S. FDA.

The treatment apparently works even better if used with red visible light (660 nanometer) resulting in a 76% reduction of lesions after 3 months of daily treatment for 80% of the patients; and overall clearance was similar or better than benzoyl peroxide. Unlike most of the other treatments few if any negative side effects are typically experienced, and the development of bacterial resistance to the treatment seems very unlikely.

After treatment, clearance can be longer lived than is typical with topical or oral antibiotic treatments; several months is not uncommon. The equipment or treatment, however, is relatively new and reasonably expensive to buy initially, although the total cost of ownership can be similar to many other treatment methods (such as the total cost of benzoyl peroxide, moisturiser, washes) over a couple of years of use

Retinoids for Acne(Typical)

Tpical retinoids

A group of medications for normalizing the follicle cell lifecycle are topical retinoids such as tretinoin (brand name Retin-A), adapalene (brand name Differin), and tazarotene (brand name Tazorac). Like isotretinoin, they are related to vitamin A, but they are administered as topicals and generally have much milder side effects.

They can, however, cause significant irritation of the skin. The retinoids appear to influence the cell creation and death lifecycle of cells in the follicle lining. This helps prevent the hyperkeratinization of these cells that can create a blockage. Retinol, a form of vitamin A, has similar but milder effects and is used in many over-the-counter moisturizers and other topical products.

Effective topical retinoids have been in use over 30 years but are available only on prescription so are not as widely used as the other topical treatments. Topical retinoids often cause an initial flare up of acne and facial flushing.

Retinoids for Acne(Oral)

Oral retinoids

inoidsdaily oral intake of vitamin A derivative isotretinoin (marketed as Accutane, Amnesteem, Sotret, Claravis) over a period of 4-6 months can cause long-term resolution or reduction of acne. It is believed that isotretinoin works primarily by reducing the secretion of oils from the glands, however some studies suggest that it affects other acne-related factors as well.

Isotretinoin has been shown to be very effective in treating severe acne and can either improve or clear well over 80% of patients. The drug has a much longer effect than anti-bacterial treatments and will often cure acne for good.

The treatment requires close medical supervision by a dermatologist because the drug has many known side effects (many of which can be severe). About 25% of patients may relapse after one treatment. In those cases, a second treatment for another 4-6 months may be indicated to obtain desired results.

It is often recommended that one lets a few months pass between the two treatments, because the condition can actually improve somewhat in the time after stopping the treatment and waiting a few months also gives the body a chance to recover. Occasionally a third or even a fourth course is used, but the benefits are often less substantial. The most common side effects are dry skin and occasional nosebleeds (secondary to dry nasal mucosa).

Oral retinoids also often cause an initial flare up of acne within a month or so, which can be severe. There are reports that the drug has damaged the liver of patients. For this reason, it is recommended that patients have blood samples taken and examined before and during treatment. In some cases, treatment is terminated or reduced due to elevated liver enzymes in the blood, which might be related to liver damage.

Others claim that the reports of permanent damage to the liver are unsubstantiated, and routine testing is considered unnecessary by some dermatologists. Blood triglycerides also need to be monitored. However, routine testing are part of the official guidelines for the use of the drug in many countries. Some press reports suggest that isotretinoin may cause depression but as of September 2005 there is no agreement in the medical literature as to the risk.

The drug also causes birth defects if women become pregnant while taking it or take it while pregnant

For this reason, female patients are required to use two separate forms of birth control or vow abstinence while on the drug. Because of this, the drug is supposed to be given to females as a last resort after milder treatments have proven insufficient. Restrictive rules (see iPledge program) for use were put into force in the USA beginning in March 2006 to prevent misuse, causing occasioned widespread editorial comment.

Harmonal Treatment for Acne

Hormonal treatments

In females, acne can be improved with hormonal treatments. The common combined oestrogen/progestogen methods of hormonal contraception have some effect, but the antiandrogen, Cyproterone, in combination with an oestrogen (Diane 35) is particularly effective at reducing androgenic hormone levels. Diane-35 is not available in the USA, but a newer oral contraceptive containing the progestin drospirenone is now available with fewer side effects than Diane 35 / Dianette. Both can be used where blood tests show abnormally high levels of androgens, but are effective even when this is not the case.

Along with this, treatment with low dose spironolactone can have anti-androgenetic properties, especially in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome.If a pimple is large and/or does not seem to be affected by other treatments, a dermatologist may administer an injection of cortisone directly into it, which will usually reduce redness and inflammation almost immediately.

This has the effect of flattening the pimple, thereby making it easier to cover up with makeup, and can also aid in the healing process. Side effects are minimal, but may include a temporary whitening of the skin around the injection point; and occasionally a small depression forms, which may persist, although often fills eventually. This method also carries a much smaller risk of scarring than surgical removal.