Disease

ONYCHOMYCOSIS

Introduction: Onychomycosis (onycho means nails and mycosis means fungal infection) is a fungal infection of the fingernails or toenails. The actual infection is of the bed of the nail and of the plate under the surface of the nail. Onychomycosis is also known as Dermatophytic onychomycosis, Ringworm of the nail, and Tinea unguium. Prevalence: This condition may affect toenails or fingernails, but toe-nail infections are particularly common. The prevalence of onychomycosis is about 6-8% in the adult population. Causes: Onychomycosis is caused by three [...]

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OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE NEUROSIS (OCD)

Introduction Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD (OCN) is an anxiety disorder where the patient experiences intrusive irresistible thoughts (obsession) that produces anxiety, fear, uneasiness. Patient ends up doing repetitive behavior (compulsion). Patient may realize that their thoughts and actions are irrational and may become further distressed. It is also called Obsessive Compulsive Neurosis (OCN). Prevalence It is fourth most common mental disorder. OCD may affect children, adolescent as well as adults. One in 60 adults all over world has OCD. Causative factors Hereditary – OCD in [...]

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OBESITY/ WEIGHT-GAIN

Obesity means an excess fat collection in the body. There is always an optimal weight for every age and sex. In obesity, this weight exceeds the upper limit of normal by 30%. Morbid obesity is a condition wherein people are overweight by 45 kilos to what is normal for their age and sex. The prevalence of obesity has increased sharply since the mid-seventies especially in the developed countries. In fact, obesity has become so rampant that more children and teenagers are obese [...]

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NUTRITIONAL ANEMIA

Anemia is the most common of all blood disorders. The term anemia (derived from Greek) means a deficiency of blood. Anemia results from reduced red blood cell production in the bone marrow. Hemoglobin is the oxygen carrying protein in blood. It is a major component of all red blood cells and gives them their red color. This protein picks up oxygen from the lungs, carries it throughout the body and delivers it to all your cells. In addition, hemoglobin also [...]

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NON HEALING ULCERS

Definition: Any Non-healing wound or ulcer on skin that has been present for 3-4 weeks duration, without healing is called Non-healing ulcer. Causes: Some of the major causes are listed under: Vascular congestion Infection (mostly due to resistant bacteria) Poor nutritional Diabetes mellitus Some systemic disease such as SLE (Systemic Lupus) Unknown causes Types of Non-Healing Ulcers There are a few types of Non-healing ulcers: Pressure ulcers Venous stasis ulcer Diabetic Ulcer Arterial ulcer Pyoderma gangrenosum Marjolin’s ulcer Pressure Ulcers: Pressure ulcers are formed when skin and tissue are compressed leading to decrease in circulation and oxygen to [...]

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NEUTROPHILIC VASCULITIS

Neutrophilic Vasculitis is an uncommon skin disease occurring one in 10-30 million people. It is also called Cutaneous Vasculitis. It causes an immunological and degenerative swelling of the small (arteries) vessels, present just beneath skin. It is mediated by white blood cells called Neutrophils. Neutrophilic vasculitis is one of the type of Leukocytoclastic vasculitis. (LCV) It may occur at any age. Affects men and women in equal proportion. Neutrophilic vasculitis can be self-limiting localized skin ulcer to rapidly progressive disease affecting multiple [...]

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NEUROFIBROMATOSIS

Definition: Neurofibromatosis, also called as von Recklinghausen’s disease, is a genetically inherited disease of nerve tissue. It causes tumors to grow on nerves (neurofibromas) that lie on or under the skin anywhere in the body. It affects the development and growth of nerve cell tissues. The tumors are usually benign (non cancerous). Even so, in some cases they can be disfiguring. They tend to grow in many numbers and varying size, over the period of years. Types of Neurofibromatosis: There are two [...]

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NEURITIS

Optic Neuritis Optic neuritis is inflammation or swelling of the optic nerve which is the nerve supplying the eye from the brain that may cause complete or partial blindness. It destroys the outer lining or sheath of the nerve. Causes: Multiple Sclerosis, almost 50% of the patients with multiple sclerosis develop this disease Herpes Zoster virus Autoimmune disorders like Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Chloremphenicol, an antibiotic used to treat typhoid Inflammation of blood vessels supplying the nerve Ethambutol, an anti-tubercular drug Symptoms: 01 Sudden blurred vision 02 Loss of colored vision 03 Pain in the [...]

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NASAL POLYPS

Definition: A polyp is a swelling of the lining (mucosa) of the nose and the para-nasal sinuses. Polyps generally occur due to long-standing inflammation of the lining of the nose and of the sinuses surrounding the nasal cavity (para-nasal sinuses). Symptoms: Polyps look like small grapes deep inside the nasal cavity and can appear singly or in clusters. They are collections of inflammatory cells, fluid and tissue. Common symptoms associated with polyps are: Nose-block forcing an individual to breathe through the mouth Runny nose and [...]

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MYASTHENIA GRAVIS

What is Myasthenia Gravis (MG)? The term Myasthenia gravis means ‘grave muscle weakness’. MG is a chronic progressive auto-immune disorder causing muscle weakness. What happens in MG? In MG, there is weakness of voluntary muscles (those controlled by will) and easy fatigability. This weakness comes up during periods of exertion and improves after rest. MG is an abnormality of the transmission of signals at the Neuro-Muscular Junction (NMJ). (Signals travel from brain to muscles via the nerves and the place where nerve [...]

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