diarrhea

 

Page contents

• What is diarrhea?
• symptoms
• Causes and risk factors
• Multiples
• Diagnosis
• treatment
• protection

Diarrhea This term is used to denote the product of the work of the intestine, ie stools of a watery and loose character. This phenomenon is very common, but it does not pose a threat to life, as most people suffer from diarrhea at the rate of one or two times during one year.

In most cases, diarrhea lasts for two or three days, and diarrhea is generally treated with over-the-counter medications. There are people who suffer from diarrhea caused by irritable bowel syndrome or as a result of a group of other chronic intestinal diseases.

Various cases of diarrhea

Doctors usually divide diarrhea into three groups:

1. Osmotic diarrhea

It means that there is a factor that attracts fluids from the body to the intestines, a common example of this is diarrhea caused by eating diet sweets or chewing gum that contain sugar substitutes such as sorbitol, which is not absorbed by the body and causes the body to secrete fluids in the intestines. diarrhea.

2. Secretory diarrhea

It occurs when the body secretes fluid into the intestines without it being needed. There are many types of infections, medications and various diseases that can cause this type of diarrhea.

3. Exudative or bloody diarrhea

Occurs when there is blood and pus in the stool. This type of diarrhea appears in patients with inflammatory intestinal diseases such as: Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis and in various intestinal infections.

• Diarrhea symptoms
• Symptoms associated with diarrhea can be divided into two parts: mild diarrhea and acute diarrhea. The appearance of severe diarrhea may be an indication and evidence of another, more severe disease.

Symptoms of acute diarrhea can include:

• Abdominal distension or intestinal cramps.
• loose stools;
• Watery stool.
• Urgent feeling that the intestines need to work.
• Feeling sick and vomiting.

In addition to the above, symptoms of acute diarrhea may also include the following side effects and effects:

• The presence of blood, saliva or food that has not been properly digested in the stool.
• Weight loss.
• Fever.

Causes and risk factors for diarrhea

The most common cause of diarrhea is a virus that infects the intestine. This infection generally clears up spontaneously after two or three days and is sometimes called the gut flu, stomach flu, or gastroenteritis.

diarrhea

Diarrhea may be caused by:

• An infection caused by a germ is the main cause of most cases of food poisoning.
• Infections caused by other organisms.
• Eating foods that irritate the digestive system.
• Allergy to certain types of food.
• some medicine.
• Radiation treatments.
• Intestinal diseases such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.
• Intestinal failure, when the body is unable to absorb certain foods effectively.
• Hyperthyroidism.
• Certain types of cancer.
• Misuse of some diarrhea-causing substances.
• Gastrointestinal surgeries.
• Diabetes (Diabetes).

Diarrhea can also occur following constipation, especially in people with irritable bowel syndrome, which is one of the causes of diarrhea that is important to know.

Complications of diarrhea

Persistent diarrhea causes a loss of large amounts of fluids and essential nutrients for the body. If a person has loose, watery stools more than three times a day and does not drink enough fluids, he may become dehydrated, which leads to severe complications that are life-threatening, if not It is processed as it should.

In the event of persistent diarrhea accompanied by any of the following signs and symptoms, the attending physician should be informed:

• Dark colored urine.
• Small amounts of urine when urinating.
• Rapid heart rate.
• headache.
• dryness of the skin;
• Feeling restless and restless.
• confusion.

Diarrhea in children

Diarrhea in children that has led to dehydration may be accompanied by one or more of the following signs and symptoms:

• Dryness in the mouth or in the tongue.
• Two sunken eyes or cheeks.
• Interruption or decrease in the amount of tears.
• A decrease in the amount of wet diapers.
• Restlessness or apathy.
• The skin remains wrinkled after pinching rather than returning to its normal smoothness.

Diarrhea diagnosis

Diagnosis includes the following:

• A blood test A complete blood count can help determine the cause of the diarrhea.
• Stool test Your doctor may recommend a stool test to see if bacteria or parasites are causing the diarrhea.
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy.

Diarrhea treatment

How to treat and prevent diarrhea

• 
  
• Treating or Alleviating Diarrhea When someone has mild to moderate diarrhea they can wait for it to clear up on their own and not try to treat the diarrhea with other means, or diarrhea can be treated with over-the-counter medications.

drug therapy

It includes the treatment that can be obtained in liquid or tablets, and it is important to read the instructions attached to the package of the medicine, as the medicines include the following:

• Pepto Bismol.
• Imodium A - D.
• Kaopectate.

Diarrhea treatment tips

Some methods that can help treat diarrhea include:

• 
  
• You should drink at least six 250-milliliter glasses of fluid per day.
• You can drink juice that does not contain fruit pulp, soft drinks without caffeine, chicken soup without fat, tea with honey and energy drinks.
• Instead of drinking with food, get in the habit of drinking it between meals.
• Drink small amounts of fluids on a daily basis.

Diarrhea prevention

Key measures to prevent diarrhea include:

• Have clean drinking water.
• Wash hands with soap.
• Breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant's life.
• Good personal and food hygiene.
• Health education about how the infection spreads.

Shock states

 

Page contents

• What is shock
• symptoms
• Causes and risk factors
• Multiples
• Diagnosis
• treatment
• protection

Shock is a life-threatening condition following a decrease in the blood supply and a decrease in the amount of oxygen flowing to tissues sufficient to ensure metabolic processes.

Because of it, the work of the cell walls is damaged, they are filled with fluids, and the balance of the concentration of salts inside them is disturbed, and if this happens and this condition continues without treatment, the cells die, the functioning of the organs is disturbed, and systemic failure arises, and it may reach the death of the patient.

Types of shocks

Trauma cases are divided into three main groups:

• Hypovolemic shock.
• Cardiogenic shock.
• Shock on the background of the expansion of the volume of blood vessels.

shock stages

There are three different stages in the state of shock, and they vary in severity and severity, and they are as follows:

1. Pre-traumatic stage

A loss of up to 10% of blood volume accompanied by a rapid heartbeat and a slight decrease in blood pressure.

At this point the body's defense systems are still able to compensate for this loss of volume.

2. Shock stage

Loss of more than 20% of blood volume, or a significant decrease in cardiac output, accompanied by a breakdown in the ability of the defense systems to compensate, and then the appearance of symptoms of shock.

3. Irreversible Trauma

Continuation of the state of shock without treatment causes severe irreversible damage to cells and tissues, failure of bodily functions, and death of the patient.

External shock severity levels

Trauma caused by an external injury is categorized into four levels, according to the severity of the blood volume loss:

• Loss up to 15%.
• Loss between 15% - 30%.
• Loss between 30% - 40%.
• Loss of more than 40% of blood volume.

The greater the blood volume loss, the greater the severity of the symptoms of shock and the risk to the patient's life.

The probability of death due to acute infectious shock ranges from 35% - 45%, while the probability of death from cardiogenic shock ranges between 60% - 90%, and the probability of death due to hypovolemic shock is related to the causative factor of the disease and is directly proportional to the severity of the shock and the speed and effectiveness of treatment.

shock symptoms

Symptoms of shock:

• narrowness.
• confusion of consciousness
• Moisture and coolness of the skin.
• Reduction of Blood pressure.
• fast pulse;
• Decreased amount of urination.
• Accumulation of acids in the blood and cells and failure in body functions.

Causes and risk factors for trauma

The causes and factors for exposure to trauma can be explained by the following:

1. Causes of shock

The causes vary according to the type of trauma, as follows:

1. Causes of hypovolemic shock

They occur against the background of a decrease in blood volume due to severe bleeding or fluid loss, such as: diarrhea, frequent vomiting, or excessive sweating.

2. Causes of cardiogenic shock

It occurs as a result of the following factors:

• Impairment in the ability of the heart muscle to contract, such as: myocardial infarction, myocarditis, and exposure to bites of certain types of animals.
• Arhythmia, such as atrial fibrillation and ventricular fibrillation.
• Mechanical disorders, such as: valvular heart disease and coronary artery rupture.
• Obstructive disturbance of blood flow, such as: large infarction in the lungs, acute pulmonary hypertension.

3. Shock on the background of vascular volume expansion

It may occur as a result of an acute infection, a widespread inflammatory condition, an excessive reaction (anaphylaxis), the effect of vasodilator drugs, injury and damage to the brain or spinal cord (medulla spinalis), or various hormonal disturbances.

2. Risk factors

Factors that increase the risk of shock include:

• Severe allergic conditions.
• Excessive blood loss.
• Myocardial failure.
• Bacterial infection in the blood.
• intoxication;
• burns;
• Drought.

Trauma complications

Untreated shock may result in:

• Impairment of bodily functions.
• death.

trauma diagnosis

The patient is diagnosed clinically based on the following:

• blood pressure.
• heart beats.
• breathing rate.
• Do a urine test.

shock therapy

Treatment of shock cases must be done immediately without any delay in order to prevent the condition from worsening and its damages.

The goal of treatment is to improve blood flow and oxygen supply to tissues, and treatment varies according to the causative factor that led to the shock, and includes treating the primary primary cause that led to the shock, improving the tissue supply with oxygen, and treating the failure of body systems resulting from the shock, the following details:

1. Treatment of hypovolemic shock

Care must be taken not to make a strong physical effort in order to reduce fluid loss, and the following is done:

• Introducing fluids into the vein, drop by drop, according to the level of blood pressure and pulse.
• Working to stop active bleeding by applying local pressure to the site of injury, or placing an arterial tourniquet.
• Surgery to stop internal bleeding and leak red blood cells in the event of a large amount of blood loss.

2. Treatment of cardiogenic shock

The treatment is as follows:

• Eternity to rest.
• get oxygen.
• Treating irregular heart rhythms.
• Taking medications that expand the blood vessels in the heart muscle, which reduce pressure on the heart.
• Providing the body with a substance that dissolves the clotted blood that caused the infarction, and opening the blood vessels by inserting a catheter tube.
• An operation in which a valve defect is repaired.

3. Treatment of shock caused by vasodilation

The body must be supplied with liquid by instillation quickly and without any delay, drugs to shrink blood vessels, and a special anti-venom serum should be given.

4. Treatment of anaphylactic shock

Treatment is with fluids, steroids, and adrenaline.

5. Other therapeutic interventions

Among the most important treatments used are:

• Appropriate antibiotics, fluids and vasoconstrictor drugs are administered when the cause of the shock is widespread bacterial contamination.
• Low-dose steroids should be given to the patient if the inflammation is difficult.
• The majority of patients are placed on artificial respiration due to respiratory insufficiency.
• Some of them require hemodialysis.
• Treatment should be by providing the patient with live plasma and coagulation aids when there are problems with blood clotting.
• Substances that prevent the formation of ulcers in the stomach and duodenum and that protect against bleeding in the digestive system should be used.
• Insulin should be given to patients with acute conditions, taking care to maintain a balanced blood sugar level.

shock prevention

To prevent shocks, the following must be taken care of:

• Take all vaccinations to avoid catching the infection.
• Avoid various strikes and injuries.
• Drink fluids to prevent dehydration.

Pericarditis

 

Page contents

• What is pericarditis
• symptoms
• Causes and risk factors
• Multiples
• Diagnosis
• treatment
• protection

Pericarditis is a disease of the pericardium, the inflammation of the pericardium.

The pericardium consists of two adjacent layers, with a small amount of fluid between them.

Pericardium functions

The pericardium has many functions, the main ones being:

• 
  
• Stabilization of the heart and major blood vessels in the rib cage.
• Preventing the spread of infectious diseases and tumors.
• Protecting the heart from harsh contacts with surrounding organs, and other functions.

Despite the important functions of the pericardium, it is possible to live without it, and there are cases with congenital defects, that is, children born without a pericardium and are able to live normally.

Pericarditis symptoms

The most common symptoms of pericarditis are:

• Pain in the rib cage, and the pain is sharp, stinging and appears in the middle of the rib cage or on the left side of it, the pain increases when taking a deep inhale due to the movement of the heart inside the inflamed pericardium, and the pain also increases when eating, or when moving from a sitting position to a sitting position stand up.

• An increase in body temperature.

When the infection is caused by a virus, influenza-like symptoms appear 7-10 days before the onset of symptoms of pericarditis.

Causes and risk factors for pericarditis

Among the causes and factors of pericarditis:

• Viral diseases.
• Tuberculosis.
• Metabolic diseases.
• Myocardial infarction.
• After the heart operation is open.
• Renal failure.
• different tumors;
• Autoimmune diseases.
• Idiopathic inflammation.

Complications of pericarditis

Complications of pericarditis include:

1. Cardiac tamponade

Sometimes the amount of fluid in the pericardium increases dramatically and rapidly, surrounding all the cavities of the heart, the atria, and the ventricles.

This makes the process of filling the heart difficult, and thus difficult to perform, and may develop into an emergency condition called cardiac tamponade, where blood pressure drops sharply, and the patient suffers shortness of breath and sweating.

The emergency requires immediate treatment and fluid aspiration with a needle inserted into the lower border of the rib cage, and the insertion directed by the echo machine.

2. Chronic Pericarditis

A rare complication that is primarily characterized by tuberculosis, tumors, or kidney failure, and is not accompanied by any pain in the rib cage.

In general, thickening of the pericardium appears, including calcification in 50% of cases. In the advanced stages, patients develop symptoms of congestion on the right side, ascites, hepatomegaly, and edema of the feet.

3. Constrictive pericarditis

It is a complication of chronic pericarditis, sometimes for unknown reasons (Idiopathic).

In this case, scar tissue forms in the pericardium, which makes it difficult to expand the heart when it fills with blood, and in difficult cases, surgical intervention is needed to exfoliate the pericardium.

Pericarditis diagnosis

Pericarditis can be diagnosed through the following procedures:

• Physical examination. A pericardial rub can be heard.
• Imaging of the rib cage when large amounts of fluid have accumulated, more than 250 cubic centimeters of fluid.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG - electrocardiogram) showing a characteristic picture of pericarditis.
• Differential diagnosis of myocardial infarction.
• Echocardiography.
• Ultrasound is the most accurate and sensitive diagnostic method.
• Examine a small sample of the fluid and repeat the examination as needed.
• Monitoring the amount of fluid in the pericardial space is important in order to ensure early detection of a large amount of fluid that would put the patient at risk.
• Laboratory tests, showing an increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and an increase in the number of white blood cells (leukocytes).

Pericarditis treatment

Treatment is related to the causes of pericarditis, and is determined according to the causative agent of pericarditis, for example if a tumor appears in the pericardium, its primary source must be identified, or if the causative agent of pericarditis is tuberculosis, then anti-tuberculosis therapy is given.

The most important treatments used are:

1. Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

Most patients, especially those with viral infection or inflammation of unknown etiology, respond to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, or other drugs, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

2. Steroids

In only a few cases are steroids recommended, and only for patients who do not respond to anti-inflammatory drugs, or patients with autoimmune diseases such as lupus.

3. Aspiration of pericardial fluid

If the ultrasound shows medium or large amounts of fluid, it is recommended to suction the fluid for diagnosis and treatment.

The fluid is sent to a laboratory for blood cell equilibrium, protein concentration, tuberculosis and microscopic examinations.

If fluid builds up again several times, especially in tumors, then drugs can be injected into the pericardial cavity to cause partial cicatrization of the pericardium and prevent recurrent fluid buildup.

Prevention of pericarditis

There is no way to prevent pericarditis.

pancreatic insufficiency

 

Page contents

• What is pancreatic insufficiency?
• symptoms
• Causes and risk factors
• Multiples
• Diagnosis
• treatment
• protection

The pancreas is a thin gland located in the deep abdominal cavity, located near the stomach and below the liver. It consists of a head, a body, and a tail, and the upper part of its head is connected to the beginning of the small intestine.

The pancreas normally secretes the enzymes needed for digestion, and it also produces some of the body's major hormones.

Pancreatic insufficiency is a state of pancreatic insufficiency that occurs due to damage or deficiency of pancreatic tissue, and if this occurs, the pancreas is unable to secrete or transfer the enzymes responsible for digesting food and breaking it down in the intestine.

Types of pancreatic cells and their functions

There are two main types of pancreas and they are as follows:

1. Exocrine pancreas

These cells manufacture and send digestive enzymes to digest various food components, such as: fats, carbohydrates, and proteins in the small intestine. In most types, these enzymes are ineffective until they reach the small intestine and there they are activated.

It also secretes bicarbonate to neutralize stomach acidity and activate pancreatic enzymes.

2. Endocrine cells in the pancreas

This type of cell produces the hormones insulin and glucagon, which are responsible for regulating sugar in the body.

Symptoms of pancreatic insufficiency

If up to 90% of pancreatic tissue is damaged, it generally does not lead to clinical symptoms. If the disease progresses, the following symptoms may appear:

• Abdominal pain: which is often related to the main factor and not to a deficiency in the work of the pancreas.
• Secretion of digestive juices: As the disease progresses, signs of pancreatic weakness appear in the performance of tasks in the form of external secretions, which is reflected in the disturbance of absorption of nutrients.
• Steatorrhea: This is caused by a lack of absorption of fats.
• Loss of weight and deficiency in fat-soluble vitamins: due to lack of absorption of fats.
• Lack of absorption of proteins and carbohydrates: which contributes to weight loss and the appearance of signs of malnutrition, such as: general weakness, muscle atrophy, and osteoporosis.
• Diabetes: As the damage progresses, the work of internal secretions is also affected, such as: the secretion of hormones, especially insulin, which causes diabetes.

Causes and risk factors for pancreatic insufficiency

Among the main causes and factors that increase the chances of developing pancreatic insufficiency are the following:

• Chronic pancreatitis

Usually, the first and common cause of pancreatic insufficiency is chronic inflammation of the pancreas, as the continuation of pancreatitis causes damage to the cells responsible for secreting digestive enzymes, which stimulates digestion, and eventually causes pancreatic insufficiency.

• Acute pancreatitis

Pancreatitis usually does not cause short-term damage to the cells, but if left untreated, it may develop into chronic inflammation, causing pancreatic insufficiency.

• Autoimmune pancreatitis

If the immune system attacks the pancreas, inflammation may occur in it, causing pancreatic insufficiency.

• Diabetes

Most diabetics face the problem of pancreatic insufficiency. In fact, scientists do not know what is the reason behind this? But it is believed to be caused by a hormonal imbalance caused by diabetes.

• pancreatic surgery

Pancreatic insufficiency is a common side effect of pancreatectomy, accounting for 80% of cases resulting from pancreatectomy.

• genetic diseases

Among the most prominent genetic genetic diseases: Cystic Fibrosis, which causes mucus to form on a large number of organs, such as: the lung and the digestive system, and leads to pancreatic insufficiency.

Also, Schwachman Diamond syndrome is a rare syndrome that affects the patient's bones and pancreas and causes pancreatic insufficiency from a young age.

• Celiac disease

It is a disease in which the patient suffers from an inability to absorb gluten.

Although some people follow a diet and stay away from gluten, some of them still suffer from diarrhea, and it is believed that the reason is the presence of pancreatic insufficiency, along with celiac disease.

• Pancreas cancer

Pancreatic insufficiency is one of the side effects of pancreatic cancer.

• inflammatory bowel disease

Most notably, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

Complications of pancreatic insufficiency

The most common complications of pancreatic insufficiency are:

• Osteoporosis caused by poor nutrition.
• Anemia caused by malnutrition.
• Having diabetes.

Diagnosis of pancreatic insufficiency

The disease is diagnosed by the following:

1. Physical examination

The doctor asks the disease to describe its condition, the aches that afflict it, its location in the beginning, and the most important symptoms. He also asks the doctor about the smell of stool.

2. Stool examination

The patient is asked to perform a stool examination for three consecutive days to determine the amount of fat present in the stool.

Usually different packages are used to collect the stool in this case.

3. Imaging examinations

Among the most important imaging tests are the following:

• X-ray imaging.
• Computerized tomography (CT) scan.
• Ultrasound imaging.

Calcification usually appears within the pancreas with the disappearance of healthy pancreatic tissue, or the presence of inflammation in it.

Sometimes it is difficult to show signs of pancreatic damage in routine imaging tests, so there is a need to use advanced imaging tests, or internal examinations, such as:

• Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS).
• Endoscopy of the gallbladder and pancreatic ducts (ERCP).

pancreatic insufficiency treatment

Treatment of pancreatic insufficiency includes several stages:

1. Treatment of the primary disease causing damage

This is done through:

• Treatment of pancreatitis mainly if present.
• Quit drinking alcohol.
• Anti-pain treatment with pain relievers.

2. Treatment of Absorption Disorder

Oral administration of pancreatic enzymes. Today, many drugs are available that contain the majority of pancreatic enzymes necessary for digestion and absorption, such as: Pancrease.

These medications are taken with meals, allowing the proper absorption of most nutrients in an almost normal manner.

The lack of absorption can be alleviated by the administration of fats with short fatty acids and the addition of vitamins.

3. Treatment of complications of the disease

Malnutrition is treated by giving the patient the necessary vitamins and elements, such as:

• Vitamin A.
• Vitamin K.
• Vitamin D.
• Vitamin E
• vitamin C.
• zinc;
• Calcium.

As for the treatment of diabetes, it is done in the usual ways through following the diet, and taking medication to treat high blood sugar, which may be oral, or through insulin.

Prevention of pancreatic insufficiency

In a number of cases resulting from some genetic diseases, such as: cystic fibrosis, or those diseases that are incurable, such as: diabetes, or pancreatic cancer, it is not possible to prevent pancreatic insufficiency.

But in some cases, we may find ways to prevent infection, such as:

• Cut back on alcohol.
• Quit Smoking.
• Reduce the intake of fatty foods.

measles

 

Page contents

• What is measles?
• symptoms
• Causes and risk factors
• Multiples
• Diagnosis
• treatment
• protection

It is primarily an infection of the respiratory airways caused by a very contagious virus, measles can be so serious that it can cause death in very young children, and it is estimated that about 30-40 million cases of measles occur annually around the world and about one million Each year, people die from measles.

Measles Vaccine

The measles vaccine is very effective and prevents the emergence of measles, but many vaccination programs suffer from serious shortcomings in different parts of the world, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports a continuous rise in the number of cases of measles. New measles infection.

This is despite the fact that measles spreads very quickly among people who have not been vaccinated against measles.

Symptoms of measles

Symptoms of measles include:

• fever.
• dry cough;
• Cold and profuse mucus secretions from the nose.
• conjunctivitis.
• Excessive sensitivity to light.
• Small white dots with a white center appear.
• The appearance of a rash on the skin consisting of large red spots that sometimes overlap each other.
• Eye irritation and redness.
• Sore throat.

Measles often begins with the appearance of a simple to moderate fever accompanied by other symptoms such as: persistent cough, cold, itchy and red eyes, and sore throat. After two or three days, Koplik spots begin to appear, which is the most obvious sign of measles.

After that, the body temperature rises more, sometimes reaching 40 or 40.5 degrees Celsius, in contrast, a rash of large red spots begins to appear, usually starting in the face area along the hairline and behind the ears.

Then the rash provokes a slight itch that begins to descend down the chest area and back and eventually to the under the thigh and even to the soles of the feet. After a week, the sensitivity begins to disappear in the same path that it came from.

Causes and risk factors for measles

The measles virus is a virus. The measles virus is so contagious that if someone is infected with this virus, they will transmit measles to approximately 90% of those around them who are not vaccinated against the virus and will develop measles.

This virus lives in the sinuses and mouth of a child or adult with measles, as a person with measles can transmit it to those around him from four days before the rash appears up to four days after it appears.

When a person with measles coughs, sneezes or talks, small droplets of virus-carrying saliva are released into the air, so that everyone in the same place can inhale them.

These virus-carrying droplets can also fall on the surfaces of places surrounding the infected person, where the virus remains active and contagious for up to 4 hours, and thus infection with the virus can occur by inserting fingers into the mouth or nose after touching the surface contaminated with the virus.

When the virus enters the body, it begins to multiply in the cells of the mucous tissue in the throat and lungs, after which the virus spreads throughout the body, including the respiratory system and the skin.

Measles is very contagious. Any contact with a person carrying the virus can cause measles in people who are not vaccinated against the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States of America confirms that the number of measles cases is constantly increasing, especially among people who are not vaccinated against the virus.

If someone has had measles in the past, their body produces antibodies in the immune system to fight the infection, which means they cannot get measles again.

Measles is more prevalent in developing countries, especially in societies that are deficient in vitamin A due to malnutrition.

Complications of measles

Measles infection lasts from 10 to 14 days. In certain regions of the world, measles is so severe that it can be fatal. In developed countries, the situation is completely different, as people with measles are severely ill but recover completely.

Complications of measles usually include:

1. Ear infection

Measles causes ear infections in one in 10 children who get it.

2. Meningitis

Approximately one in every 1,000 people infected with measles may develop meningitis, an inflammation of the brain caused by a viral infection that causes vomiting, convulsions and convulsions and, in rare cases, may lead to coma.

Meningitis may appear shortly after the onset of measles and may appear a few years later in the teenage years as a result of a slow viral infection. Meningitis that develops later, called Dawson's encephalitis, is a very rare phenomenon.

3. Pneumonia

One in 15 people infected with measles will develop pneumonia, which can be fatal.

4. Diarrhea and vomiting

Complications like these are more common in children and infants.

5. Bronchitis, pharyngitis or diphtheria

Measles may cause laryngitis, or inflammation of the mucous membranes on the inner sides of the main bronchi in the lungs.

6. Pregnancy disorders

Pregnant women should be very careful with everything related to measles and be very careful not to be exposed to the virus, as this may lead to miscarriage or the birth of low birth weight babies.

7. Low blood platelet count

Measles can lead to a decrease in the number of platelets, which are blood cells necessary for blood clotting.

Diagnosis of measles

The treating doctor can diagnose measles according to the obvious symptoms that accompany measles, such as a rash, white dots with a white center on the inside of the mouth on the inner side of the cheek, also called Koplik's spots.

Sometimes your doctor may need to check a sample of your blood to confirm that the rash is really measles.

Measles treatment

There is no treatment to eliminate measles when the measles disease is in its active stage, but unvaccinated infants can be given the vaccine about 72 hours after exposure to the virus in order to provide them with the necessary immunity against the virus.

Pregnant women, children and people with compromised immune systems who have been exposed to the measles virus can get injections of proteins that may help fight the virus. The vaccine is called a globulin-based immune serum. This injection is given over 6 days from the moment of exposure to the measles virus. These antibodies can help prevent measles or reduce symptoms associated with measles.

If the measles infection is also accompanied by a bacterial infection, such as pneumonia or an ear infection, the treating doctor may decide to treat with antibiotics. Children who have to stay in the hospital due to measles will get better as soon as they take a medicine rich in vitamin A. .

Because measles is very contagious, isolating the person infected with it can constitute an additional therapeutic measure in the face of measles, as the patient is isolated for a period extending from 4 days before the appearance of the rash to 4 days after its appearance, and it is preferable that people with measles not work near other people during this period timeline.

It is also preferable to keep the measles patient away from surrounding people such as: brothers and sisters who are not vaccinated against the measles virus.

Measles prevention

The measles vaccine is generally given as a combined vaccine in a “triple vaccination that also includes two vaccines against rubella and mumps.”

This vaccine is the most effective and safe combination of each of these vaccines. The vaccine is produced by taking the virus responsible for the emergence of measles from the throat of a person infected with measles and making it multiply in the cells of the chicken fetus in the laboratory.

When a rejuvenated measles virus is given to a child as part of the DTP vaccination, it multiplies, causing a harmless infection even before the immune system tries to eliminate it. This harmless infection leads to lifelong immunity to the measles virus in 95% of children.

It is preferable to give a second dose of the vaccine a second time in order to vaccinate others who were not immune in the first vaccination and to stimulate the immune system against measles in the other 95%.

Vaccination side effects

The vast majority of those who get the measles vaccine do not experience any side effects, but symptoms include:

• 10% of those who get the vaccine usually have a fever for 5-12 days after receiving the vaccine.
• Approximately 5% develop a mild rash.
• Less than one person in a million can have an allergic reaction to the vaccine.

In the past, it was believed that people who are allergic to eggs cannot receive the vaccine that comes from the chicken embryo, such as the measles vaccination, but this belief has been proven incorrect, as people who are allergic to eggs can safely receive the measles and the triple vaccine.

autism

 

Page contents

• what is autism
• symptoms
• Causes and risk factors
• Multiples
• Diagnosis
• treatment
• protection
• Alternative therapies

Autism or autism is one of the disorders belonging to a group of developmental disorders called Autism Spectrum Disorders - ASD, which appears in infancy, usually before the child reaches the age of three years.

Although the severity and symptoms of autism vary from case to case, all autism disorders affect a child's ability to communicate with those around him and develop mutual relationships with them.

Estimates show that 6 out of every 1,000 children in the United States have autism and the number of diagnosed cases of the disorder is constantly increasing.

It is not yet known if this increase is the result of better effective detection and reporting of cases, or an actual and real increase in the number of people with autism, or the result of these two factors together.

Although there is no cure for autism yet, intensive treatment and early diagnosis can make a significant and significant change in the lives of children with this disorder.

The main difficulties faced by autistic patients

Children with autism also almost certainly have difficulties in three basic developmental areas:

• Mutual social relations.
• the language.
• the behavior.

As children progress towards adulthood, some of them may become more able and willing to mingle and integrate into the surrounding social environment, and they may show fewer behavioral disturbances than those characteristic of autism, and some may even succeed in leading a normal life or lifestyle soon From normal and normal.

On the other hand, others continue to have difficulties in language skills and in social interactions, to the extent that adulthood worsens their behavioral problems.

Some children are slow in learning new information and skills, and others have normal intelligence, or even higher than other normal people. These children learn quickly but have communication problems in applying things they have learned in their daily lives and in coping with different situations.

A very small proportion of children with autism are self-educated and have unique exceptional skills, especially in a particular field, such as: art, mathematics or music.

Autism symptoms

Because the signs and symptoms of autism vary from patient to patient, two different children with the same medical diagnosis are likely to behave in very different ways and to have entirely different skills.

But severe autism cases are characterized in the majority of cases by the absolute inability to communicate, or to establish reciprocal relationships with other people.

Most children develop symptoms of autism in infancy, while other children may arise and develop completely normally during the first months or years of life but suddenly become withdrawn, hostile, or lose the language skills they have acquired until then.

Although every child has symptoms of autism, and shows its own temperament and patterns, the following symptoms are the most common for this type of disorder:

1. Disorders in social skills

Symptoms appear on the patient as follows:

• He does not respond to his name being called.
• No more direct eye contact.
• It seems he can't hear him.
• Refuses to hug or shrinks in on himself.
• It seems that he is not aware of the feelings and feelings of others.
• He seems to like to play alone, expecting his own person in his world.

2. Problems with language skills

The following are the main symptoms of language skills difficulties:

• Begins to speak at a later age compared to other children.
• He loses the ability to say certain words or sentences he was previously familiar with.
• Makes eye contact whenever he wants something.
• Speaks in a strange voice or with different tones and rhythms, or speaks using a singing voice, or in a voice similar to that of a robot.
• Cannot initiate a conversation or continue an existing conversation.
• May repeat words, phrases, or terms but does not know how to use them.

3. Behavioral problems

The following are the main symptoms of behavioral problems in autistic patients:

• Performs repetitive motions, such as rocking, spinning in circles, or waving hands.
• Develops habits and rituals that he repeats all the time.
• He loses his calm when there is any change, even the simplest or smallest change, in these customs or rituals.
• be constantly moving.
• Being amazed and fascinated by certain parts of the objects, such as: a wheel spinning in a toy car.
• Being overly sensitive to light, sound, or touch, but unable to feel pain.
• Young children have difficulties when asked to share their experiences with others.

Causes and risk factors for autism

There is no single, single factor known as a conclusively confirmed cause of autism.

However, given the complexity of the disease, the extent of autistic disorders, and the fact that two autistic states do not match, that is, between two autistic children, it is likely that there are many factors that cause autism.

Causes of autism

Among the most important causes that may lead to autism:

1. Hereditary disorders

Researchers have discovered several genes likely to play a role in causing autism, some of which make a child more susceptible to the disorder, while others affect brain growth and development and the way brain cells communicate with each other.

Any genetic defect by itself and alone may be responsible for a number of cases of autism, but it seems in a holistic view that genes in general have a very central or even decisive influence on autism, and some genetic disorders may be transmitted genetically, while others may appear spontaneously (Spontaneous). ).

2. Environmental factors

A large part of health problems are the result of genetic and environmental factors combined together, and this may be true in the case of autism.

Recently, researchers are examining the possibility that a viral infection or environmental pollution may be a motivating factor for the development of autism.

3. Other factors

There are other factors that are being researched and studied recently, including: problems during childbirth, and the role of the immune system in everything related to autism.

Some researchers believe that damage to the amygdala, a part of the brain that acts as a risk detector, is one factor in triggering the onset of autism.

autism

Autism risk factors

Autism may appear in any child of any origin or nationality, but there are known risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing autism, and these factors include:

1. Baby's gender

Research has shown that male children are three times more likely to develop autism than female children.

2. Family history

Families that have a child with autism have a higher probability of giving birth to another child with the disease, and it is known and common that parents or relatives who have a child with autism suffer from certain disorders themselves in some developmental skills, or development, or even from autistic behaviors specific.

3. Other disorders

Children with certain medical problems are more likely to develop autism. These medical problems include:

• Fragile x syndrome, an inherited syndrome that leads to mental disorders.
• Tuberous sclerosis, which leads to the formation and development of tumors in the brain.
• A neurological disorder known as Tourette syndrome.
• Epilepsy that causes seizures.

4. Parent's age

Researchers tend to believe that parenting at a later age may increase the likelihood of developing autism.

Very comprehensive research has shown that children born to men over the age of 40 are 6 times more likely to develop autism than children born to fathers under the age of 30, and the research shows that mother's age has a marginal effect on the likelihood of autism.

Complications of autism

Complications of autism include the following:

• Inability to succeed in studies.
• Social isolation.
• Inability to live independently.
• Stress.
• Abuse and violent dealing with them.

Autism diagnosis

The treating pediatrician performs regular growth and development checks to detect a developmental delay in the child.

If the child has symptoms of autism, he can go to a doctor who specializes in treating autism, who, in cooperation with a team of other specialists, will conduct an accurate assessment of the disorder.

Since autism ranges from so many degrees of severity and severity of symptoms, diagnosing autism can be a complex and complex task, as there is no specific medical examination to detect an existing autism.

disease diagnosis

The formal assessment of autism includes the following:

• Consultation of the child's specialist doctor.
• Conversation with parents about the child's social skills, language abilities, and behavior, and about how and to what extent these factors change and develop over time.
• Subjecting the child to several examinations and tests to assess his speech and language abilities and to examine some psychological aspects.

Although the initial symptoms of autism appear before the age of 18 months, the final diagnosis is sometimes made when the child reaches the age of two or three years only, when there is a defect in development, a delay in the acquisition of language skills, or a defect in interpersonal social relations.

Early diagnosis is very important, because early intervention, especially before the child reaches the age of three years, is a very important element in achieving the best possibilities and opportunities for an improvement in the situation.

Autism treatment

To this day, no single treatment is available for everyone with the same amount, and in fact the range of treatments available for autistic patients that can be adopted at home or at school is surprisingly very diverse.

Autism treatment includes:

• Behavioral therapy.
• Speech language pathology therapies.
• Didactic and educational therapy.
• drug therapy.

Autism prevention

There is no way to prevent autism, but early diagnosis can improve the behavior of a person with autism.

Alternative therapies

Since autism is a very difficult and incurable condition that does not have a cure, many parents resort to solutions provided by alternative medicine.

Although some families have reported positive results after treating autism with a special diet and other alternative therapies, researchers cannot confirm or deny the effectiveness of these various treatments in autistic patients.

Some very popular alternative treatments include:

New creative treatments.

Follow their own diet.