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Angioedema Treatment

In allergic angioedema, avoidance of the allergen and use of antihistamines may prevent future attacks. Cetirizine is a commonly prescribed antihistamine for angioedema. Some patients have reported success with the combination of a nightly low dose of cetirizine to moderate the frequency and severity of attacks, followed by a much higher dose when an attack does appear. Severe angioedema cases may require desensitization to the putative allergen, as mortality can occur. Chronic cases require steroid therapy, which generally leads to a good response.

20 Nov 2009

Angioedema Pathophysiology

Angioedema is basically swelling of the deeper layers of the skin. This is due to accumulation of fluids caused by an allergic reaction.

20 Nov 2009

What is Angioedema?

Angioedema (BE: angiooedema) is the rapid swelling (edema) of the dermis, subcutaneous tissue, mucosa and submucosal tissues. It is very similar to urticaria, but urticaria, commonly known as hives, occurs in the upper dermis. There is usually no associated itch or urticaria, as it is not an allergic response.

20 Nov 2009

Ankylosing Spondylitis Prognosis

Ankylosing spondylitis is a complex chronic disease that causes inflammation in the spine and other areas of the body. Symptoms of the condition develop gradually over months or years. Some individuals can eventually get better, while others find their condition deteriorates. Although patients are at risk of long-term disability, this can usually be prevented with exercise, physiotherapy and medication.

20 Nov 2009

Ankylosing Spondylitis Treatment

Ankylosing spondylitis has no cure. Most of the treatments aim to relieve symptoms and delay the progress of the disease and prevent the spinal deformities and disability.

20 Nov 2009

Ankylosing Spondylitis Diagnosis

There are no single tests that can confirm the diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis. It is diagnosed mainly on the basis of symptoms as well as some tests.

20 Nov 2009

Ankylosing Spondylitis Pathophysiology

The cause of ankylosing spondylitis is not clearly understood. However, a genetic association is clear. Pathogenesis of this condition has clear associations with the HLA-B27 gene.

20 Nov 2009

Ankylosing Spondylitis Symptoms

The symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis may differ among individual sufferers. Usually the disease is progressive and slow in onset and development.

20 Nov 2009

What is Ankylosing Spondylitis?

Ankylosing spondylitis is a long term painful disease that affects the spine, bones, muscles and ligaments that connect bones. There is presence of joint pain and inflammation akin to arthritis in this condition.

20 Nov 2009

Herpes Simplex History

Herpes simplex is a viral infection that has been known to mankind for centuries. Genital herpes infection is one of the most well known types of herpes and is therefore usually called "herpes" instead of herpes genitalis.

20 Nov 2009

Herpes Simplex Prognosis

After becoming infected with the herpes simplex virus, the epithelial cells of the genitalia and/or oral mucosa are rapidly infiltrated with the virus which quickly replicates within the cells causing their degeneration and necrosis (death).

20 Nov 2009

Herpes Simplex Diagnosis

Most cases of herpes simplex infection are diagnosed on the basis of clinical features and symptoms of the condition, whether the infection is genital herpes or orofacial herpes.

20 Nov 2009

Herpes Simplex Treatment

The treatment of individuals infected with the herpes simplex virus depends on several factors.

20 Nov 2009

Herpes Simplex Mechanism

The herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a common virus that causes episodes of small, fluid-filled blisters on the mouth, lips, skin, eyes, and/or genitals. This very contagious infection is spread through skin-to-skin or sexual contact with an individual who is infected with the virus. It can be spread through direct contact with the blister, which allows the virus to access the body or sometimes through contact with the affected area, even when no blisters are present. Genital herpes is primarily spread through sexual contact. It is less likely that sharing towels, utensils and cutlery carries a risk of transmission because the virus dies quickly once it is outside of the body, but avoiding contact with such items is advised if a person is known to be having an outbreak of symptoms. After initial infection, the virus lies dormant in the body and may be reactivated later, sometimes several times a year. Herpes cannot be cured, but antiviral drugs can be used to ease symptoms and help reduce the risk of infection to others. HSV types There are two types of HSV and these include: HSV-1: This form of the virus usually causes cold sores on the lips, referred to as herpes labialis and blisters on the cornea of the eye, referred to as herpes simplex keratitis. HSV-1 can also be spread to the genital area through oral sex. HSV-2: This is the virus that usually causes genital herpes and it is spread through both skin-to-skin contact and sexual contact. This virus is highly contagious whether sores are present or not. Recurrence is much more common with HSV-2 compared with HSV-1. The lesion seen in herpes contains a clear fluid in which the infective viral particles are present. The body develops antibodies to the herpes simplex virus within weeks after acquiring the infection, and these antibodies can be detected on laboratory investigations. In a person who has transmitted oral HSV 1 infection, antibodies may take around 6 weeks to develop. Pathophysiology HSV-1 and HSV-2 typically access the body via the genital or oral mucosa and then replicate in the stratified squamous epithelium, where they are then taken up by ramifying unmyelinated sensory nerve fibers. Next, they undergo retrograde microtubule-associated transport to the neuronal cell bodies in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) near the spinal cord, where acute infection is followed by lifelong latent infection. The virus remains in a dormant state within this collection of nerve cells. Periodically, the virus becomes reactivated and travels via anterograde microtubule-associated transport back into the stratified squamous epithelium of skin or mucosa, where replication occurs and the virus is shed into genital or oral secretions. The cycle of infection is controlled by the immune system on several levels. On entering the body, innate and adaptive immune processes regulate the degree of replication that takes place in the mucosa. This determines how much of the virus accesses the DRG, becomes latent and then becomes reactivated. At the DRG level, latency and reactivation is subject to immune control. After the virus has been transported to the axon terminals, the level of replication is determined by adaptive immune mechanism at the interface with epithelial cells in the mucosa. This also determines whether clinical disease or asymptomatic shedding takes place. Reactivation and recurrence can occur many times and can be triggered by various factors including fever, stress, menstruation or immune suppression. Physical trauma such as excess exposure of the lips to the sun or a dental procedure can also trigger the development of cold sores. However, in most cases, the trigger is not known. In nearly half of individuals infected with the virus who do not have symptoms, shedding of the virus can occur more than a week before or after symptoms present. In addition, if other infections are present, the risk of transmission in the absence of overt symptoms is higher still. Sources http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Genital-herpes/Pages/Introduction.aspx www.hawaii.edu/.../...erpes%20Simplex%20Virus%20(HSV)%20Infections.pdf http://www.ndhealth.gov/disease/Documents/faqs/Herpes%20Simplex.pdf http://www.health.arizona.edu/health_topics/sexual_health/simplex.pdf http://arc.sdsu.edu/wellness/brochures/BROCHURES/Herpes.pdf http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/genital-herpes/basics/causes/con-20020893 http://jid.oxfordjournals.org/content/194/Supplement_1/S11.full http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/infections/viral-infections/herpes-simplex-virus-infections [Further Reading:Herpes Simplex]

20 Nov 2009

Herpes Simplex Symptoms

The herpes simplex virus (HSV) leads to distinctive symptoms when it infects different parts of the body. The most common sites of infection include the skin and mucous membranes of the face. This is termed orofacial herpes. The second most common type of herpes infection affects the genitalia and is known of as genital herpes.

20 Nov 2009

What is Herpes Simplex?

Herpes simplex is a virus that belongs to the family herpesviridae, which includes many DNA viruses that affect animals, including humans. The family includes the following 8 types of viruses.

20 Nov 2009

Hepatitis A Diagnosis

20 Nov 2009

Hepatitis A Prevention

Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver that is transmitted via the “feco-oral route.” This means the infection is acquired when a person consumes water or food that has been contaminated with feces containing hepatitis A. It is mainly transmitted in areas where poor hygiene, inadequate sanitation and contaminated water are a problem.

20 Nov 2009

What is Hepatitis A?

Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver. It is mainly transmitted in areas where poor hygiene, inadequate sanitation and contaminated water are a problem.

20 Nov 2009