Category: C

Cold Sore Freedom In 3 Days

Conjunctivitis :

  also referred to as Pinkeye.  Is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, conjunctivitis usually occurs as benign, self-limiting pinkeye.  It may also be chronic, possibly indicating degenerative changes or damage from repeated acute attacks. 

Cause:  Includes bacterial, viral, and chlamydial infection.  Less common causes are parasitic disease, and rarely, fungal infection, allergy, or occupational irritants. 

Symptoms:

Red or Pinkish color to affected eye (hyperemia of the conjunctiva)

Discharge (mucopurulent  (pus with mucous ) with bacterial infection, and minimal with viral infection)

Tearing

pain

Photophobia with corneal involvement

Itching and burning

Sensation of a foreign body in the eye

In children:  an accompanying sore throat or fever is possible.

Treatment:

Treatment of conjunctivitis varies with the cause.

Bacterial conjunctivitis requires topical application of antibiotic or sulfonamide.

Viral conjunctivitis resists treatment, but sulfonamide of broad spectrum antibiotic eyedrops may prevent secondary infection.

Herpes simplex keratitis usually responds to treatment with idoxuridine or vidarabine ointment, but the infection may persist for 2 to 3 weeks.

Vernal (allergic) conjunctivitis includes a vssoconstrictor eyedrops, cold compresses to relieve itching, and occasionally, oral antihistamines.

Instillation of 1% silver nitrate or erythromycin into the eyes of newborns prevents gonococcal or chlamydial conjunctivitis.

Patient teaching:  Proper hand washing technique is important.  Wash hands before and after applying antibiotic drops/ointment to eye.

Do not irrigate the eye; this will spread infection.

Use clean wash cloth.  Do not share towels, washcloth and pillows (as a preventative measure to eliminate the risk of spreading the infection)

Apply warm compresses and therapeutic ointment or drops, as ordered.

Common Cold:  Is cause by many types of
viruses.  Cold infections usually occurs during the ‘cold season’
(in the United States usually during late fall through early spring), because
most people stay indoors more frequently  usually with central heating
which tends to dry  the air and nose which is perfect for harboring
virus infections and people are in close contact with others  which
can increase the spread of cold viruses.

The common cold can infect all age groups.  Common cold symptoms
are triggered by germs or virus when attaches itself to the lining of the
nasal passages or throat.

Common cold symptoms usually last for approximately 3 – 4 days ( at
this time a patient can pass the cold virus to others).  A patient
may still feel congested for a week or more.  Colds are not usually
dangerous, except in newborns and with those with suppress immune system
(may have to seek your health care provider if you are having difficulty
breathing and or you have a high temperature (can be bacterial). and if
newborn has a cold call your Pediatrician promptly)

Cause:  There are more than 200 types of viruses that can
infect your nose and throat which causes the common cold.  It is transferred
by airborne droplets from a person who has the ‘cold’.  Sneezing,
coughing, ‘hand to nose’  ‘hand to mouth’ ‘hand to eyes’ after being
expose to the droplets can introduce the infection through these ways.

Symptoms:

Congestion’s (head and chest)

Runny nose

May have difficulty breathing

Sore throat

Sneezing

Cough

Watery eye and may have burning

Feeling achy all-over

Headache

Treatments:

Common cold is usually cause by a virus which has to run it’s course,
there is no cure for the common cold.

Rest

Drink plenty of water

Over the counter cold remedies may help make you feel comfortable (with
all medication always ask your Pharmacist and or your doctor for proper
usage and those with other medical disorders, call your doctor before taking
medications)

Call your doctor if you have a high fever

Call your doctor if you have asthma and if you have problem breathing

For newborns – call your Pediatrician promptly

Call your doctor if condition worsen

Colitis:  Inflammation of the colon. 
Amebic colitis – colitis due to Entamoeba histolytica; amebic dysentery.
Granulomatous colitis –transmural colitis with the formation of
noncaseating granulomas.
Mucous colitis – a chronic anti-inflammatory
disease marked by excessive secretion of mucus and disordered colonic motility,
with colic, constipation, and or diarrhea with passage of mucus. Regional
colitis  – Segmental colitis  – transmural
or granulomatous inflammatory disease of the colon; regional enteritis
involving the colon.  It may be associated with ulceration, strictures,
or fistulas.  Transumural colitis  – inflammation
of the full thickness of the bowel, rather than mucosal and submucosal
disease, usually with the formation of noncaseating granulomas.  It
may be confined to the colon, segmentally or diffusely, or may be associated
with small bowel disease (regional enteritis).  Clinically, it may
resemble ulcerative colitis, but the ulceration is often longitudinal or
deep, the disease is often segmental, stricture formation is common, and
fistulas, particularly in the perineum, are a frequent complication.
Ulcerative
colitis – chronic ulceration in the colon, chiefly of the mucosa
and submucosa, clinically manifested by cramping abdominal pain, rectal
bleeding, and loose discharges of blood, pus, and mucus with scanty fecal
particles.

Colitis is an infectious ailments of the lower intestine, such 
disorders  such as:  ulcerative colitis, infectious diarrhea,
radiation colitis, Crohn’s disease, and chronic ulcerative proctitis. 
Ischemic colitis is an intestinal disorder that usually affects the elderly. 
One of the most serious and chronic colitis is ulcerative colitis, which
needs close medical attention.  It is characterize with attacks of
bloody stools or diarrhea that may be painful, the colon develops tiny
ulcers and other inflammations that flare up periodically.  In Crohn’s
disease, it can happen anywhere within the intestinal tract, but most commonly
occurs in the colon.  It may be associated with various other disorders
from eye problems to arthritis in the arm and leg joints to skin rashes. 
Attacks of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease tend to recur, and the
risk of colorectal cancer increases rapidly 8 to 10 years after onset. 
With regular medical treatment, this disease is rarely fatal, and most
patients can lead fairly normal lives with fewer, less severe attacks. 
Symptoms range from several levels of severity. (see symptoms below)

Cause:  Exact cause is unknown.  Bacterial and parasitic
infections, such as salmonella poisoning has been known to cause colitis. 
Temporary colitis like symptoms has been link with patient who have taken
certain antibiotics, such as ampicillin , ampicillin, cephalosporins, chloramphenicol,
clindamycin, lincomycin, penicillin, tetracycline, and or trimethoprim. 
When the medication is discontinued, the symptoms tend to disappear.

Symptoms:

Mild case:  Up to 4 loose stools per day, possibly bloody, which
may temporally relieve abdominal pain.

Cramping – mild

Moderate case:  Abdominal pain, 4 to 8 bloody stools daily.

Low grade fever

Weight loss

Severe case:  6 or more bloody stools or diarrhea daily and during
the night.

Fever (up to 103 degrees F or even higher)

Weight loss

Symptoms of anemia

Treatment:

Hospitalization may be needed

Controlling inflammation and stopping diarrhea

In severe cases surgery may be needed to remove the colon

When stable, your doctor may prescribed high fiber lactose free diet

Medication therapy to keep colitis under control

*  Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative colitis are among the most serious
systemic disorders.  If left untreated, it can lead to serious complications
in other body systems and may be potentially fatal.  If you have any
of the above symptoms, prompt diagnosis and appropriate medical treatment
is important.  Diarrhea in infants and young children is always a
serious matter and must be treated immediately.  Seek medical treatment 
promptly.

Colic:  Acute paroxysmal abdominal pain;
pertaining to the colon.  Colic affects infants and is usually benign
and most always ends by the time a child is four months old.  It is
characterize by spates of crying that can go on for hours for no apparent
reason, and can be emotionally and physically draining for parents. 
Though colic is not a disease, doctors will diagnosis it colic if an otherwise
healthy infant up to three months old exhibits and infant who cries for
3 hours or longer that last for days to even weeks. (see symptoms)

Cause:  The exact cause of colic is unknown.  Doctors
attribute it to any number of things form hormones in breast milk and overfeeding,
allergies, and an infant’s immature digestive system.

Symptoms:

Loud crying that can last for hours, lasting anywhere from days to weeks

While crying the baby may draw his legs to his abdomen and clenches
his hands and curls his toes.  – Prolong crying usually between 6
pm and midnight (after he has been fed) 

Crying that may begin or end with a bowel movement or the passing of
gas 

Treatment:

Unfortunately there is no cure for colicky baby. 

If you suspect your baby to have colic, call your Pediatrician promptly

Comfort your baby, your doctor may advise you to feed him less frequently

Parents, rest is imprortant for you, so ask friends and family for assistance
with care.

Never punish your colicky baby, be calm and talk softly to him.