OUR LIFE, OUR STYLE

Malaria ntangakeneth.blogspot.com Definition Malaria is one of the major public health problems of the country. Around 1.5 million confirmed cases are reported annually by the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), of which 40–50% is due to  Plasmodium falciparum . Malaria is curable if effective treatment is started early. Delay in treatment may lead to serious consequences including death. Prompt and effective treatment is also important for controlling the transmission of malaria. Epidemiology 2 billion people live in areas at risk of malaria transmission in 106 countries and territories. The World Health Organization estimates that in 2016 malaria caused 216 million clinical episodes and 445,000 deaths. Types Parasites of the genus Plasmodium cause malaria. Although there are many species of Plasmodium, only five infect humans and cause malaria. P. falciparum :  Found in tropical and subtropical areas; major contributor to dea...

                      Pneumothorax Definition Pneumothorax is generally a collapsed lung. Normally, the pressure in the lungs is greater than the pressure in the pleural space surrounding the lungs. If air enters the pleural space, the pressure in the pleura then becomes greater than the pressure in the lungs, causing the lung to collapse partially or completely. Pneumothorax can be caused spontaneously or because of unfortunate trauma. If the cause of pneumothorax is unknown, it is called spontaneous pneumothorax. Such condition often strikes the thin, tall men between 20 – 40 ages. Pneumothorax may also be described as either a simple pneumothorax, without effects on the heart or mediastinal structures, or as a tension pneumothorax, which is a life-threatening condition. Tension pneumothorax can occur as a result of trauma, lung infection, or medical procedures, such as high-pressure mechanical ventilation, chest com...

Ramsay hunts syndrome (RHS) Description Ramsay hunts syndrome (RHS) is a very rare disorder caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It is the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles. RHS is the outbreak of shingles which occurs on the facial nerves that are near the inner ear. After this, the facial nerve becomes swollen, irritated and finally causing facial weakness or paralysis. In additional cases, a red, painful rash with blisters is found in the ear canal, eardrum and sometimes the mouth. In some patient, poly-cranial neuropathy may occur which cause sensorineural hearing loss, balance dysfunction, abnormalities in facial sensation, vocal cord paralysis and even tongue weakness. Pathophysiology During the primary infection of VZV, it invades the geniculate ganglia. The virus remains dormant in the ganglia without producing another disease. In some individuals these dormant virus reactivates and pass along the pathways of geniculate ganglion, producing the pain ...

Norovirus infection Definition Norovirus infection is the most common cause of infection in gastrointestinal outbreaks. It causes sudden onset of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.  Sometimes it may also cause stomach cramping. In addition, the person may feel tired, muscle ache, headache, and low-grade fever. Norovirus is a very contagious virus that can affect anyone. You can get it from the infected person or by touching contaminated surfaces. These symptoms can be serious for some people, especially young children, and older adults.   Norovirus infection occurs most frequently in closed and crowded environments such as hospitals, nursing homes, child care centers, schools and cruise ships. History 1929-  Gastroenteritis, that was probably due to norovirus, was first described by Zahorsky. The outbreak had occurred in  1968  at a school in Norwalk, Ohio, US, with a high attack rate of illness among students and teachers. The illness was char...

                Mesothelioma Definition Mesothelioma is the type of cancer that occurs in the layer of the tissue that covers the internal organs in the body. It mainly occurs in the lining of heart, lungs, and abdomen. But it usually forms in the lungs of those who have been exposed to this deadly toxin, but sometimes occurs in the abdominal area or the area around the heart. There are a number of therapies available that can help prolong survival and minimize symptoms and discomfort, but in most cases, the cancer is too aggressive and too advanced at the time of diagnosis to be cured. It is caused by Caused by asbestos, mesothelioma has no known cure and has a very poor prognosis. History According to medical literature, the earliest mention of a tumor in the lining of the lungs (pleura) was made in 1767 by Joseph Lieutaud, the founder of pathologic anatomy in France In 1819, René-Théophile-Hyacinthe Laennec, the French phy...

Celiac disease Definition Celiac disease is the genetic autoimmune disease. The body immune system attacks the villi- the tiny, finger-like protrusions lining of the small intestine due to the intake of gluten ( a protein which is found in wheat, barley and rye. If the people have celiac disease, eating gluten will trigger the immune system and it responds by damaging finger-like villi in the small intestine. If the villi become damaged, it will not absorb nutrient into the bloodstream, which can lead to malnourishment. This damage causes diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, bloating and anemia, and can lead to serious complications. History Before World War II, Doctors and researchers thought that celiac disease affects mostly children, and had a death rate about 30%. During the war, a doctor noticed the death rate of celiac disease was zero. It is because of limited usage of wheat. Instead of wheat flour, people used potato starch as flour. The reason was found! Until 19...

Herpes zoster Definition Herpes zoster is also called as shingles. It is a Greek word herpein meaning to creep, and zoster meaning girdle or belt. It is an acute viral infection mainly affecting the skin and nerves, manifested by small blisters appearing along the important nerve segments. Herpes zoster is caused by the same virus as that of chicken pox; it probably constitutes the response of the partially immune person, resulting from the reactivation of a latent varicella-zoster virus, whereas chicken pox is the response of the non-immune host.   Herpes zoster is contagious if blisters have burst and the person with whom the virus comes into contact has not been previously affected by chicken pox (a contagious spread causes chicken pox rather than herpes zoster). Pathophysiology VZV is certainly transmissible through the airborne route, but not with any close personal contact. The virus is thought to gain entry via the respiratory tract and spreads shortly afte...

Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome Definition Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome is the serious life-threatening disease which response to a toxin produced by a  Staphylococcal aureus  infection. It is more common in infants than adults. This disease leads to peeling of outer layer skin to blister or it looks like burned by hot liquid. It is caused by the release of exotoxins A and B from  Staphylococcus aureus . Desmosomes are the part of the skin cell responsible for adhering to the adjacent skin cell. The toxins bind to a molecule within the desmosome called Desmoglein 1 and break it up so the skin cells become unstuck. It mostly occurs during summer and fall seasons. Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome History The connection between SSSS and  Staphylococcus aureus  (  aureus ) was initially proposed in 1891 It was not until 1956 that Alan Lyell, an eminent British dermatologist, described four patients with ‘a toxic eruption, whi...