Diseases List

You wake up one morning with an enormous headache. You feel like you slept for maybe an hour all night. Or two, at the most. You’re that exhausted. You drag yourself out of bed, and run that scanner-thermometer thing across your forehead. It registers 100.3. Not earth-shattering, but still, it IS a fever.

Then you look down at your hand, at that almost-healed tiny wound. You didn’t think much of it when your son’s chameleon sunk his teeth into your flesh and wouldn’t let go. But now, for some reason, you panic.

Is the lizard rabid? Did it give me rabies?

Relax, you have nothing to fear. Reptiles don’t spread rabies. Reptiles don’t even get rabies. Neither do birds or fish. Rabies is strictly a disease of mammals. And while most mammals can contract rabies, not very many spread the disease.

If you’d been bitten by a raccoon, a skunk, a bat, or a coyote or fox, then your symptoms might be something to worry about. These animals do spread rabies. It is important to remember, though, that any infected animal can pass the virus on to a person or another animal by means of a bite. If a wild animal, or a pet or domestic animal has been exhibiting strange or unusual behavior, it would be wise to consider the possibility of rabies.

Rabies is a virus. It is usually contracted when bitten by an animal who is already infected with the disease. While it is possible to be exposed to the rabies virus without being bitten, it is very rare. Human-to-human transmission of the disease is also considered very rare.

Rabies attacks the brain of the infected person or animal, causing encephalitis (severe inflammation). Ultimately, the virus causes death. After the onset of rabies symptoms, there is no cure. There has been only one recorded case of a person surviving rabies after the onset of symptoms.

Fever, headache, a general feeling of tiredness, and numbness or discomfort at the site of a bite from a rabid animal can be early symptoms of rabies. The incubation period (the time between being infected and the onset of early symptoms) is typically thirty to ninety days. This period, however, can vary from anywhere between a few days and a few years.

As the virus progresses, it causes other, more severe symptoms. Neurological symptoms emerge. These can include partial or slight paralysis, confusion, agitation, hallucinations, insomnia, anxiety, excitation, and a fear of water (hydrophobia). A person at this stage may also develop difficulty swallowing, or excessive saliva.

Though rabies is a fatal disease, it is also a preventable one. If you believe you may have been exposed to rabies, it is important to consult a physician for evaluation. If it is determined that there is a risk, treatment will be started. The treatment consists of a dose of rabies immune globulin (which contains antibodies from donors who have previously received the rabies treatment) and five doses of the rabies vaccine. Thousands of people successfully receive this treatment each year. While there are a few deaths annually from rabies, these deaths are usually attributed to a lack of medical advice after exposure.

Inflammation of the colon is referred to as colitis. This condition results from prolonged inflammation and irritation of the membrane lining of the inner walls of the colon. When the condition is in a severe state, prolonged inflammation of the large bowel or the colon occurs and is known as ulcerative colitis with ulcers forming on the walls of the colon. Finding a colitis cure can offer freedom from these painful symptoms. Ulcerative colitis or UC is diagnosed in people from the ages of 16 to 50 but can affect people of all ages and it appears to be hereditary.

Some think it is cause by the immune system reacting abnormally to the bacteria in the digestive tract. It is a result of food that is not properly digested and forms hard fecal matter that never properly leaves the colon causing irritation. Chronic constipation results and people will take purgatives that only increase the irritation.

People will feel a sense of bloating, have alternating diarrhea and constipation with pain radiating from their lower bowel up. They can experience cramping and have bloody stools. The rectum gets strained and the bowel movements become more frequent and watery. Loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, weakness and fever accompany the symptoms. Patients can be malnourished and underweight and have insomnia and a feeling of bloating.

A physical examination and blood tests will need to be done to determine the severity of the disease. Inflammation in the body will be seen through a high white blood cell count. Stool samples can reveal ulcerative colitis or inflammatory disease. Parasite, virus and bacteria could also cause the symptoms.

A sigmoidoscopy or a colonoscopy are the most accurate ways to diagnose the disease and rule out other conditions such as Crohn’s disease, cancer or diverticular disease. It is advised that for both of these tests endoscopy is employed. X-rays, a CT scan or a barium enema are also used to diagnose the disease.

Conventional treatment methods include drug therapy to put the disease in a remission state. Some of the drugs used to control inflammation are corticosteroids, aminosalicylates and immunomodulators which are processed through the immune system. Other drugs are used as well to eliminate infection, diarrhea and relieve pain. Periods of remission can last from months to years but many patients report their symptoms returning.

In severe cases hospitalization may be required to stabilize the patient if they have diarrhea and are dehydrated or have a large loss of blood and fluids. A special diet may be administered intravenously along with medicines. Surgery is done in 25 to 40 percent of patients. Colons that rupture, have massive bleeding or patients at a risk of cancer will have their colons and rectum removed with a proctocolectomy procedure. An Ileostomy will be performed to collect waste externally in a pouch and will require emptying by the patient. An Ileoanal anastomosis procedure allows the patient normal bowel movements.

Taking a natural approach offers quick relief and corrects the associated immunological and pathological factors. Homeopathic, Ayurvedic herbals, nutraceutical remedies and modern biotechnology provide the body with a natural and safe way for lasting colitis relief. Colitis treatment will also require diet modification by eating small meals of soft cooked food eaten slowly and chewed well.

You wake up one morning with an enormous headache. You feel like you slept for maybe an hour all night. Or two, at the most. You’re that exhausted. You drag yourself out of bed, and run that scanner-thermometer thing across your forehead. It registers 100.3. Not earth-shattering, but still, it IS a fever.

Then you look down at your hand, at that almost-healed tiny wound. You didn’t think much of it when your son’s chameleon sunk his teeth into your flesh and wouldn’t let go. But now, for some reason, you panic.

Is the lizard rabid? Did it give me rabies?

Relax, you have nothing to fear. Reptiles don’t spread rabies. Reptiles don’t even get rabies. Neither do birds or fish. Rabies is strictly a disease of mammals. And while most mammals can contract rabies, not very many spread the disease.

If you’d been bitten by a raccoon, a skunk, a bat, or a coyote or fox, then your symptoms might be something to worry about. These animals do spread rabies. It is important to remember, though, that any infected animal can pass the virus on to a person or another animal by means of a bite. If a wild animal, or a pet or domestic animal has been exhibiting strange or unusual behavior, it would be wise to consider the possibility of rabies.

Rabies is a virus. It is usually contracted when bitten by an animal who is already infected with the disease. While it is possible to be exposed to the rabies virus without being bitten, it is very rare. Human-to-human transmission of the disease is also considered very rare.

Rabies attacks the brain of the infected person or animal, causing encephalitis (severe inflammation). Ultimately, the virus causes death. After the onset of rabies symptoms, there is no cure. There has been only one recorded case of a person surviving rabies after the onset of symptoms.

Fever, headache, a general feeling of tiredness, and numbness or discomfort at the site of a bite from a rabid animal can be early symptoms of rabies. The incubation period (the time between being infected and the onset of early symptoms) is typically thirty to ninety days. This period, however, can vary from anywhere between a few days and a few years.

As the virus progresses, it causes other, more severe symptoms. Neurological symptoms emerge. These can include partial or slight paralysis, confusion, agitation, hallucinations, insomnia, anxiety, excitation, and a fear of water (hydrophobia). A person at this stage may also develop difficulty swallowing, or excessive saliva.

The Inaccurate Belief

When people hear the word tuberculosis their initial description for it would be: a disease that affects the lungs. This however is not an accurate definition. As there are many different types of tuberculosis just like there are many different types of cancer. Below is a short list of some of the different types of tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis Meningitis

Tuberculosis meningitis is a TB infection of the brain and the spinal cord. The initial symptoms can be irritability and restlessness. Later the patient may develop other symptoms such as a stiff neck, headaches, vomiting, variations in mental behaviour, seizures, or coma.

Gastrointestinal Tuberculosis

Gastrointestinal tuberculosis is TB of the gastrointestinal tract: mouth, oesophagus, stomach, small and large intestine, and the anus. The symptoms are abdominal pain, fever, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, change in bowel habits.

Tuberculosis Lymphadenitis (Scrofula)

Tuberculosis lymphadenitis is TB of the lymph nodes, usually along the neck. The symptoms are the formation of masses along the neck, and if the disease is advanced the mass may burst and form a draining sinus.

Cutaneous Tuberculosis

Cutaneous tuberculosis is TB of the skin or mucous membrane from an external source of mycobacteria. There are several types of cutaneous tuberculosis: Lupus vulgaris, tuberculosis verrucosa cutis and milary tuberculosis.

• Lupus vulgaris is a persistent type of cutaneous TB. The symptoms are small reddish brown lesions that are found on the face, eyelids, around the nose, cheeks, and ears.
• Tuberculosis verrucosa cutis is only contracted through direct skin inoculation when an individual had been previously exposed to mycobacteria. This type of cutaneous TB can last for years. The symptoms are reddish brown wart-like growths on the body, skin lesions on hands, feet, buttocks, elbows and knees. Sometimes pus will seep through the fissures present in the lesions.
• Milary tuberculosis is a cutaneous TB that starts off as a pulmonary TB infection which then travels through the bloodstream. The symptoms are small red spots on the skin (which are sometimes concentrated to the trunk of the body), necrosis of infected areas, and the development of ulcers or abscesses on the skin.

Osteo-articular Tuberculosis

Osteo-articular tuberculosis is TB of the joints: knees, hips, ankles, wrists, shoulders, and elbows. It usually only affects one joint. The symptoms are similar to those experienced by individuals with arthritis and pain or stiffness is only felt in the infected area.

Genitourinary Tuberculosis

Genitourinary tuberculosis is TB that initially begins as a pulmonary TB infection which then travels through the bloodstream to the genitourinary tract. The genitourinary tract includes the urinary tract and the reproductive system. The symptoms are blood present in urine, painful or uncomfortable urination, and experiencing pain on one side of the body between the upper abdomen and back.

Drug-resistant Tuberculosis

Drug-resistant tuberculosis is exactly that. A TB infection that does not respond to the drug treatment used to fight TB infection. This type of TB occurs due to the poor management of TB care or the individual was infected by bacteria that was already drug-resistant. There are two types of drug-resistant tuberculosis: multiple drug-resistant tuberculosis and extensive drug-resistant tuberculosis.

• Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is resistant to no less than two of the first-line of drugs used to fight TB infection.
• Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) is resistant to three or more of the second-line of drugs used to fight TB infection. This makes it the worst kind of TB infection as treatment for the TB infection is drastically reduced.

The symptoms for MDR-TB and XDR-TB are similar to the symptoms experienced by individuals suffering with pulmonary TB. These symptoms are weight loss, fever, night sweats, coughing and/or coughing up blood, fatigue, and chest pain.

It is advisable that you seek the attention of a health professional as soon as possible if you have come into contact with an individual infected with TB and are now experiencing any of these symptoms. TB is a curable disease when medication is taken as prescribed by a health care professional.