Free For Health

Sunday 9 October 2011

Skin Cancer - Melanoma

Melanoma is a form of skin cancer that metastasizes easily making it often fatal if not treated early enough. Bear in mind, however, that all statistics of melanoma come from tissue that has been examined after some form of excisional treatment or biopsy. Melanoma becomes more common with increasing age but it still appears in younger people.
A melanoma can develop in any area of the skin or from an existing mole. A typical melanoma appears as a small darkened area of skin similar in appearance to a mole. It is recognisable as being different to a mole in four different ways known as the ABCDE of melanoma: Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter, Evolving.
Asymmetry: Most early melanomas are asymmetrical: a line through the middle would not create matching halves. Common moles are round and symmetrical.
Border: The edges of melanomas are often uneven and may have scalloped, notched, or blurred edges. A mole has a smooth, well-defined edge.
Color: The pigmentation of a melanoma is often not uniform, with more than one shade of brown, tan, or black. Moles are usually a single shade of brown
Diameter: A melanoma is usually larger than a mole, continues to grow and is often at least the size of a pencil eraser (about 6mm, or 1/4 inch, in diameter).
Evolving: Change in size, shape and color shade.
Types of Melanoma
Melanomas are described according to their appearance and behavior. Those that start off as flat patches (i.e. have a horizontal growth phase) include:
• Superficial spreading melanoma (SSM)
• Lentigo malignant melanoma (sun damaged skin of face, scalp and neck)
• Acral lentiginous melanoma (on soles of feet, palms of hands or under the nails - under the nails is called subungual melanoma)

Saturday 8 October 2011

Colon Cancer - What Are the Causes and Risk Factors?

This cancer starts as small growths on the inside of the colon. There are several factors to determine your chances of getting colon cancer. Some you can change, and some you can't.
The 10 Things That You Cannot Change
Younger adults do get this type of cancer, but as you age, those risks increase. More than 90 percent of the people diagnosed are over the age of 50. If you have a history of colorectal polyps, colorectal cancer, if your polyps are large or if you have had a lot of them, your at an increased risk. Even if you have all the polyps removed, the chances of developing new cancers in other parts of the colon or rectum are greater.
If cancer runs in the family, especially the immediate family, the age when they got it and how many other family members are affected, may also contribute to your chances. If you suffer from IBD, inflammatory bowel disease, then you need to screen more often. There is a 5 percent chance of you getting this disease from an inherited genetic form.
Racial, and ethnic backgrounds, especially among African Americans and Ashkenazi Jews, have the highest incidence. Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, Turcot Syndrome, hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer all contribute to you getting this disease.
Six Things You Can Change
Some things you can do to reduce your chances of getting this disease are simple. A high fat, high calorie, and high protein diet increases your chances. By exercising and eating more fruits and vegetables, you will improve your odds of not getting cancer. If you smoke, stop, and if you drink, have no more than two alcoholic beverages per day. Links to colon cancer have also been made to people who work the night shift or had previous treatments for other cancers.

Cheilitis Glandularis Is a Common Developmental Anomaly

Cheilitis granulomatosa is a chronic granulomatous condition, characterized clinically by soft, painless, nonpitting swelling of the lower lip. In some cases, the lip lesions may also present scaling, fissuring, cracking or vesiculation, etc. Cheilitis granulomatosa is sometimes considered to be the milder form of "Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome".
Microscopy shows a noncascjp graiiuloma with epithelioid cells and Langhan cells, within the connective tissue stroma. Perivasive and paravascular aggregation of lymphocytes, plasma cells and histiocytes are also common. There is no specific treatment for this condition.
Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is characterized by small melanotic patches on the oral mucosa, which are associated with similar lesions around the mouth, nose and eyes, etc. Skin pigmentations usually fade away after puberty but the oral pigmentations persist. The other important feature of the syndrome is the occurrence of multiple intestinal polyps, which may cause pain and obstruction very often.

How Do I Avoid Pancreatic Cancer?

Cancer is a condition which most people dread. There are certain types of cancer which respond very well to modern chemotherapy and have excellent chances of recovery. Unfortunately, pancreatic cancer is not one of those cancers which is amenable to treatment. In most cases, the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer comes very late, when the disease has already progressed and involved the surrounding organs. This makes prevention a very important part of keeping oneself healthy. This article discuses the answer to the question how can I avoid pancreatic cancer.
To understand how can I avoid pancreatic cancer, the first step is to understand the risk factors for this condition. There are many factors that are associated with an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer. The most important links start with smoking. It has been observed that smoking cigarettes is a very important risk factor which contributes to increased risk of pancreatic cancer. You will want to kick the smoking habit to ensure protection not just against pancreatic but also lung and oral cancers. Being obese or overweight also contributes to an increased susceptibility to cancer of the pancreas. You should maintain the ideal weight for your age and height by embarking on a regular fitness program and sticking to a healthy diet. Diet may also play an important part as pancreatic cancer can be associated with diets which are rich in fats and meat.
Other factors which influence the answer to the question how can I avoid pancreatic cancer come from the family history. You have to check if your family has a positive history of pancreatic cancer. This might be among first or second degree relatives. There is also an influence of conditions like chronic pancreatitis. If you have a history of repeated attacks of inflammation of your pancreas, this increases the risk of developing pancreatic cancer to a great extent. Some families have a predisposition to chronic pancreatitis and this factor must be looked into in detail. One risk factor for pancreatitis itself and indirectly affecting the risk of developing pancreatic cancer is alcohol intake. There is clinical evidence to prove that alcohol induced pancreatitis is positively correlated with a higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer.Alcohol intake is also associated with liver cirrhosis which has been implicated in the development of pancreatic cancer. Family history of genetic syndromes that can increase cancer risk, including a BRCA2 gene mutation, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, Lynch syndrome and familial atypical mole-malignant melanoma (FAMMM).

Carcinoma of the Pancreas

Pancreatic carcinoma has lately become the fourth primary cause of cancer-related death in the Unites States, with an annual incidence and mortality approaching 40,000 instances per 12 months. Delay in diagnosis, relative resistance to chemotherapy and radiation, and intrinsic biological aggressiveness manifested by early metastatic illness all lead to the abysmal prognosis connected with pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
Pancreatic cancer malignancy generally occurs after age 50 many years and increases in incidence with age, with most sufferers diagnosed between 60 and 80 many years of age. It's somewhat more frequent in men than in ladies. Autopsy series document that pancreatic cancer may be determined in as much as 2% of individuals undergoing a postmortem examination.
Many risk factors for pancreatic adenocarcinoma have been determined. Cigarette smoking has the strongest general association and is believed to account for one-quarter of cases diagnosed. The association in between cigarette smoking and pancreatic cancer malignancy is thought to become related to N-nitroso compounds existing in cigarette smoke.
Exposure to these agents leads to pancreatic ductal hyperplasia, a feasible precursor to adenocarcinoma. Other elements connected with an elevated danger of pancreatic adenocarcinoma include a higher dietary intake of saturated fat, exposure to nonchlorinated solvents, and the pesticide dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane (DDT), although the overall contribution of these elements is likely small.
Diabetes mellitus has also recently been determined as a danger element for the illness. Chronic pancreatitis increases the danger of developing pancreatic adenocarcinoma by 10- to 20-fold. The role of other dietary factors (coffee, higher body fat consumption, and alcohol use) is much debated. Diets containing fresh fruits and vegetables are believed to be protective.

Iguana Diseases - Looking Out For Your Pet Iguana

Metabolic Bone Disease in Iguanas
Metabolic Bone Disease is the most common iguana disease, which is primarily caused dues to severe malnutrition. Iguanas, which are living in captivity requires a healthy diet made by the combination of dark green vegetables, hibiscus flowers and fruits. However, vitamins and minerals should also be supplemented in their diet in small amount. There is a lot of misinformation among the most of the iguana owners that a diet of iceberg lettuce is a good diet for them. The fact is that it has very low nutritive value. Metabolic Bone disease is developed in the iguanas as a result of consistently feeding them with this low nutritious diet.
Why Iguanas develop calcium deficiency?
Calcium deficiency is another common ailment of iguanas in captivity, which causes injury of their limbs and can even cause paralysis in extreme cases. Iguanas, which are kept in captivity, are less exposed to the sunlight or artificial UV light and this as a result of this, they develop calcium deficiency in them as Vitamin D does not gets synthesized in their body in the required quantity. As a result, their body is not able to absorb calcium from the diet and hence, it becomes calcium deficit.
What causes nose damage in some iguanas?
The enclosures and the cages, in which iguanas live, are very small in size. Therefore, whenever iguanas try to find some space in those small enclosures, they rub their noses with the sides and which leads to noses damage. This can also lead to the mouth rot and other complications, making the iguanas permanently disfigured.
What causes Burn Injuries in some iguanas?
Burn injuries in iguanas are more often caused by the heat lamps which are installed in the enclosures of the iguana for providing artificial UV light and heat. Iguanas generally like to live in the natural habitat where they can bask sufficiently in the sunlight. As they try to bask in the places in captivity so that they could absorb as much UV rays and heat as possible, they get burn injuries. They consider artificial light as the natural sunlight and in captivity try to get closer to the artificial source of light. While basking, as they try to come closer to the heat lamp while, they get themselves burned in this process. We can conclude most of the injuries and diseases in iguanas are caused due to the ignorance of their owners. Therefore, all iguana owners should learn how to take care of iguanas so that they can take care of these exotic and interesting pets in a better way.

Tuesday 4 October 2011

About Malnutrition Information

In the Western world, good, clean food is in ready supply, and there is no real reason why anyone of us should suffer from malnutrition - which is the result of inadequate nutritional intake. However, failure to understand the changing needs of our bodies, for instance, in pregnancy, illness, and as we grow older, land the dismaying lack of nutrition available in our food due to environmental factors, means that cases of malnutrition are on the increase in richer countries. The great Western diet has come up short for many people.
The links between diet and disease are not fully understood as yet, but we do know that malnutrition can cause pathological illness affecting all parts of the body. Some of the most common effects of malnutrition are:
- heart disease and circulatory problems as a result of obesity
- normal headaches or migraine
- night blindness, from a vitamin A deficiency
- bleeding gums, loose teeth and general fatigue resulting from a lack of vitamin C (the body does not store vitamin C and daily requirements vary from person to person)
- anemia from insufficient iron
- lack of motor function in the legs, painful feet, numbness, lesions in the spinal cord, and neurological disease, may all be the result of vitamin B deficiency
- digestive disorders, including diarrhea, nausea, cramps, IBS, pain, and piles, may be a result of inadequate diet
- rashes, itching, allergies, sensitivities and other skin problems may be the result of vitamin deficiencies

Alcoholism Disease and Alcoholism Physical Symptoms

Alcoholism disease and alcoholism physical symptoms should be understood if there's a concern about alcohol abuse. Alcoholism disease can be defined as a drug addiction where alcohol consumption is at a level that interferes with the person's physical and mental health and negatively impacts family, social or work responsibilities.
Because alcohol consumption can involve many organs in the body, long-term heavy drinking puts a person at risk for developing serious health conditions and illnesses. While each of the health conditions listed below can exist for reasons unrelated to alcoholism disease, certain conditions and alcoholism physical symptoms may be indications that alcohol abuse exists and is affecting the health of the person.
Here are examples of health conditions and related alcoholism physical symptoms that may indicate alcoholism disease:
o Liver Inflammation - alcoholism physical symptoms for liver inflammation include abnormal yellowing of the skin, eyeballs and urine, fever and abdominal pain. Since alcohol destroys liver cells and the ability of the liver to regenerate new cells, long term abuse of alcohol can lead to cirrhosis of the liver.

Kidney Pain Causes

Kidney pain can be brought on by a number of different medical reasons. Some of the possible underlying causes are mentioned in this article. First of all, let's give kidney pain a bit of a description. Are you aware of how and where it presents? Typically, it is experienced in the upper area of one's back. If it is in the middle section, or the lower area, then the discomfort that is being experienced may be due to some other reason. Additionally, it is not normally a dull sensation, but more sharp in nature. Let's move on now, by looking at some of the medical causes that can be behind kidney pain.
Renal cancer
This is where there is a malignancy in the organ(s). There are many forms of cancer that can occur in the kidneys. One of the most frequently found ones is renal cell carcinoma. Urothelial cell carcinoma is also amongst the most common forms. When someone has cancer here, there may be some symptoms that show up. One possibility is a mass that can be felt in the abdomen. Hydronephrosis is another issue that may occur. Blood can also show up in the patient's urine.
Stones
You may be aware of some information about this painful condition: kidney stones. This happens when crystals separate from the person's urine, and develop into something hard and sizable. They can lead to a blocked flow of urine. As with renal cancer, blood may appear in the urine. There may also be a burning sensation when the person urinates. Nausea is one of the other potential symptoms. A number of medical reasons can contribute to the development of these stones. Crohn's disease is one possibility. Hyperparathyroidism can also have an effect on their development. A variety of treatment methods exist for this medical reason for kidney pain, and based on certain factors one may be more appropriate than another for a particular case.
Urinary tract infection
Such an illness is also known as a UTI for short. This cause of kidney pain can occur when bacteria gets into the urinary tract. Once again, urine that contains blood may be released. Protein and pus can also be found in the urine in some instances. Night sweats might show up in a person with a UTI. There may be particularly significant levels of fatigue. Do keep in mind that some UTIs do not lead to noticeable symptoms. A urine culture is commonly used as a method to try to confirm a diagnosis of a urinary tract infection.

Kidney Pain Causes

Renal Cancer Survival Rate

Since the kidneys are amongst the most vital organs of the body, cancer growing in these parts is also quite dangerous. Amidst the growing number of studies conducted to combat the progression of this disease, the over-all average renal cancer survival rate has only slightly improved in the recent years. As per the latest studies conducted by the cancer research societies, the renal cancer survival rate in the United States is still around 60-65%.
A 5 year renal cancer survival rate refers to the percentage or number of patients who were able to remain living five years after they were diagnosed with cancer of the kidneys. These patients are all treated and have undergone surgery as well.
As we all know, we have 2 kidneys in our body. In some renal cancer cases, only one kidney may be affected of the cancer while the other wouldn't. In these cases, removal of the affected part may be recommended since the functioning kidney will still be able to continually do its work alone.
If the cancer is detected as early as stage 1, the better the prognosis. Patients diagnosed at this stage have more than 90% chances of surviving so long as recommended treatment is properly given.
As the cancer remains adamant on its progression, the more the prognosis may become quite low. Once the cancer moves outward and invades the surrounding tissues, the more difficult to control and remove it through surgery. At the last stage, once the cancer starts eating up vital organs near the kidneys, the rate of survival was reported to be at 10% - meaning 1 out of 10 patients reaches 5 years after being diagnosed.

Recognize and Prevent Kidney Failure

Kidney failure is a disease in which kidney function has decreased until finally no longer able to work to filter waste body electrolytes, maintain fluid balance and body chemicals such as sodium and potassium in the blood or urine production.
Kidney failure can be divided into acute and chronic renal failure. Acute renal failure will occur suddenly in a matter of days and weeks. If done right treatment would be cured. Chronic renal failure arises slowly in a long time and not curable. This disease must undergo lifelong treatment.
The occurrence of renal failure caused by several serious illnesses suffered by the body and gradually affects the kidney organ damage.
#1. High blood pressure.
#2. Diabetes mellitus.
#3. Blockage of the urinary tract (stones, tumors, narrowing / stricture).
#4. Autoimmune disorders, such as systemic lupus erythema.
#5. Suffering from cancer.
#6. Kidney disorders, where there has been a development of many cysts on the kidney itself.
#7. Damage to filters in the kidney cells either by infection or inflammation due to the impact of high blood pressure.
#8. Other diseases that can cause renal failure and if not quickly addressed will suddenly lose a lot of fluid (vomiting, bleeding, burns) as well as other diseases such as tuberculosis, syphilis, malaria, hepatitis, and drugs.

Recognize and Prevent Kidney Failure

Monday 3 October 2011

Lung Cancer and Nodules

There are few symptoms of lung nodules. Frequently they're spotted on an X-ray as an incidental result, or something not linked to the reason for the X-ray. If they are malignant or cancerous, they will enlarge and develop over time and may begin to cause symptoms like shortness of breath or chest pain.
Your doctor may evaluate your current chest X-ray or CT scan with a preceding one. If the nodule emerges in earlier images and hasn't altered in size, shape or appearance, it's maybe noncancerous. Causes of noncancerous lung nodules comprise histoplasmosis, hematoma, vascular abnormalities, tuberculosis, and lung cysts. The noncancerous nodules typically need no treatment; however, your doctor will possibly monitor the nodule for alterations making use of periodic imaging tests. Even though the majority lung nodules are noncancerous, some stand for early-stage lung cancer.
As concerns radiation therapy, it consists of high-energy X-ray beams aimed at the nodule. The purpose is to minimize the tumor and lessen the symptoms. Effectiveness relates to the kind of delivery and the other treatments performed in combination with the radiation. Side effects of radiation consist of the tendency to tire easily, loss of appetite, inflammation in the lungs, loss of hair on the chest, and skin irritation.

Abdominal Pains Caused By Pancreatic Cysts

Abdominal pains can also arise when you have got large pancreatic cysts. They may even become visible to you when you notice firm, rounded swelling in the upper abdomen. In the beginning, the cysts may sound resonant, like a drum. The sounds are as such due to loops of gas-filled intestine fronting its location; eventually the mass sounds dull. Cysts may form within your pancreas if you have cystic fibrosis. It is not just adults that can develop cysts. Cystic pancreatic lesions have also been reported in children.
Even though your pancreas may be small, it has many functions. Your pancreas is responsible for producing several hormones needed in your digestion and bodily functions, including insulin that helps control your blood sugar. Though hidden behind your stomach, the pancreas can be affected by pancreatic cysts. These cysts are normally benign but can sometimes be cancerous. For this reason, it is good to know something about them.
Pancreatic cysts are made up of fluids and are located in the pancreas. They are mainly of two types: true cysts (lined with epithelial cells) and false or pseudo-cysts (lined with fibrous tissue). True pancreatic cysts are less common (only 20% of incidence) and include congenital polycystic disease of the pancreas, among others. A pseudocyst (80% of incidence) is a collection of fluid in the lesser sac. It usually develops due to trauma to the pancreas, or following acute or chronic pancreatitis (of which alcoholism is a significant cause), or due to perforation of a posterior gastric ulcer (which is rare).

Types of Scoliosis

The most common type of scoliosis based on age is idiopathic scoliosis. As the word indicates, the cause is unknown. It affects about 4% of the population, commonly females. The reasons may include differences in leg length, hereditary conditions, injury, infections and tumors.
Idiopathic scoliosis is subdivided into three categories: infantile, juvenile and adolescent. Infantile scoliosis extends from birth to age three. Juvenile scoliosis is caused between the ages three and nine. As the child grows, there is a possibility to slow down the curve progression. Adolescent scoliosis extends from 10 to 18. It is the most common type of idiopathic scoliosis in the United States and can be discovered and treated in childhood or adolescence. It occurs in teenagers just at the growth spurt of puberty.
Other types of scoliosis are congenital, neuromuscular and degenerative. Congenital scoliosis is a rare type of scoliosis caused by an abnormally shaped bone that presents at birth. It occurs throughout the fetal development. Absence of vertebrae, partially formed vertebrae, failure of the vertebrae to form normally and the lack of separation of vertebrae are considered to be the reasons behind this condition. Neuromuscular scoliosis is a lateral curvature of the spine occurring due to muscular weakness or neuromuscular disease such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, paralytic conditions, spinal cord tumors, neurofibromatosis and muscular dystrophy. Degenerative scoliosis happens in adults due to weakening of the spine with aging.

Autism - Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

AUTISM
Autism starts before a child turns to three years. It is a disorder in the brain development which weakens the social interaction and communication. Autism causes restricted and repetitive behavior. Autism is a hereditary disorder even though the genetics of autism are complex and it is unclear which genes are responsible. Autism is associated with agents which cause birth defects in rare cases. Other possible causes of autism are childhood vaccines which are controversial and the vaccine hypotheses lack convincing scientific evidence. According to the experts out of 1000 children 3-6 children will have autism. Male are four times more to have autism than females.
Symptoms
The occurrence of autism is not known and it affects many parts of the brain. In the first two years of the child's life, parents usually notice the signs of autism. Autism is characterized by three distinctive behaviors. The autistic children have difficulties with social interaction, problems with verbal and non verbal communication, and repetitive behaviors or narrow, obsessive interests. There is a reduced sensitivity of pain, but are more sensitive to sound, touch or other sensory stimulation. These reactions may contribute to the behavioral symptoms such as a resistance to being cuddled or hugged. There is no cure for autism but treatment can help. The early behavioral and cognitive interference can help them to develop self-care, social and communication.
Diagnose
Based on the IQ autism is sometimes divided in to the low, medium and high functioning autism. The child affected by autism will show less attention to social stimuli, smile and look at others less often and very rarely respond to their own name. The severity and symptoms of autism may go unrecognized mainly in mildly affected children or when it is covered by more weakening handicaps. Doctors depend on a group of behaviors for diagnosing autism. These behaviors are:
(1) Unable to make friends with peers
(2) Unable to initiate or to continue a conversation with others.
(3) Absence of imaginative and social play.
(4) Unusual, typecast, repetitive use of language.
(5) Preoccupation with certain subjects or objects.
(6) Rigid devotion to certain routines or rituals.

Risk Factors for Kidney Cancer

There are many risk factors for kidney cancer. Among a few of the top risks are smoking, an inactive life style, exposure to chemicals at home or where you work, being overweight and family history. There are other risk factors that can lead to kidney cancer also, such as, high blood pressure, taking diuretics, race, gender and certain medications. The thing to remember is just because risk factors are present does not mean the disease will form. Risk factors give the physician a better idea on how to assess symptoms and how closely to watch a patient. A patient with a higher amount of risk factors will be watched more closely when symptoms of the disease arise than those without risk factors.
It is also important to know risk factors to help aid in preventing the disease from occurring. If there are risk factors you can prevent such as smoking or increasing vitamin intake, you maybe able to help lower your chance of getting the disease. If you stop smoking, the chances of you contracting kidney cancer are greatly reduced by as much as 40%.
Some risk factors can not be avoided; such as genetic factors. As with many forms of kidney cancer, losing weight and maintaining daily exercise will definitely help your cause. Obesity is the most common reason for adult onset diabetes and juvenile diabetes, causing the need for dialysis or kidney failure. Dialysis is inevitable in most patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
Among these common risk factors are also Tuberous Sclerosis, Von Hippel Lindau disease and low vitamin E intake. Von Hippel-Lindau disease is a disease of tumors, which cause complications in the nervous system. It causes continuous growth of tumors in the brain; causing problems with common things like walking, vision loss and retinal problems. It also causes tumors in the kidneys and pancreas. Von Hippel Lindau disease in very rare and is found in only 1 of 36,000 cases and commonly diagnosed in the mid to upper twenties. Symptoms of the disease are mostly finding multiple tumors in common areas, or one tumor in named areas and a definite family history of the disease.

Saturday 1 October 2011

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorders are a spectrum of psychological conditions that are characterized by widespread abnormalities of social interactions and communication along with severely restricted interests and repetitive behavior. A study performed in 2005 revealed that anywhere from 6.0-6.5 people per 1,000 people have Autism Spectrum Disorder. The vast majority of the people in the study had pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS). Autism was 1.3 per 1,000 people and Asperger Syndrome was 0.3 per 1,000 people in the study released in 2005. The rarer forms in the study were childhood disintegrative disorder and Rett syndrome.
There are three main forms of Autism Spectrum Disorder and they are autism, Asperger syndrome, and PDD-NOS. The signs and symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder include communication problems, social problems, and repetitive behaviors. The indicators of autism include children that do not babble, point, or make gestures by the age of one; do not speak one word by 16 months; does not combine two words by two years old; does not respond to his or her name; loses language or social skills; poor eye contact; doesn't know how to play with toys; excessively lines up toys or other objects; is attached to one toy or object; doesn't smile and at times seems to be hearing impaired.
There are four main problems that are associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder and they are sensory problems, mental retardation, seizures, fragile X syndrome and tuberous sclerosis. The sensory problems that develop in children with ASD can be devastating. The sounds, smells, and textures that most children are not bothered by will bother children with ASD. For example, a ringing telephone or thunder during a storm can cause a child with ASD to scream and throw a hissy fit. In children with ASD, the brain does not know how to balance the senses appropriately.

Common Radiological Abnormalities in Diseases of the Respiratory System

Consolidation, collapse, fibrosis, pleural effusion, pneumothorax, cavities and Opacities in the lungs are all common radiological abnormalities. What are their significance?
Consolidation
The presence of homogenous opacities with well defined margins indicates pulmonary consolidation, since there is no change in the volume of the lung the trachea and mediastinum are not shifted.
Collapse
Pulmonary collapse throws a homogenous opacity with clear-cut concave margins. The trachea, mediastinum, and interlobar fissure are shifted towards the area of collapse. The dome of the diaphragm on the affected side is elevated. The unaffected portions of the lung show hyper-translucency due to compensatory emphysema.
Fibrosis
Presence of streaky linear or reticular shadows with shift of trachea and mediastinum to the same side and compensatory emphysema of the unaffected regions is suggestive of fibrosis.
Pleural effusion
The presence of small quantities of fluid (less than 300ml) in the pleura causes only obliteration of the costophrenic angle. As the quantity of fluid increases, more extensive homogenous opacity appears with obliteration of the costophrenic and cardiophrenic angles. The upper margin tends to be concave with its higher level towards the axilla and the lower level towards the mediastinum. Midline structures are shifted to the opposite side. The presence of fluid and air (hydropneumothorax) is diagnosed by the presence of a horizontal level of fluid below, with hypertranslucency (due to air) above. The lung markings are not visible since the lung is collapsed towards the helium.

Tuberculosis - The Lung Attacker

(Latin tuber cuius, little bump). Infectious disease of world-wide incidence. As a disease of the lung it was known to the physicians of ancient Greece as a wasting disease; hence its other name, phthisis. The cause is a micro-organism called the tubercle bacillus, or the bacillus of Koch, the physician who discovered it. There are three known types of bacilli - human, bovine, and avian. The first two attack the human race, the human type producing infection by inhalation, the bovine by ingestion of the milk of tuberculous cows. Efficient pasteurisation, and proper handling, of milk protect man from bovine tuberculosis. The bovine bacillus can cause widespread disease in animals, especially cows and pigs.
No child is born with tuberculosis, the disease is the result of direct infection. It affects glands, bones, joints, and the genito-urinary system (bladder, testicle, and kidney), when it is often referred to as surgical tuberculosis. When present in the lungs it is called pulmonary tuberculosis. These forms of disease may be intercurrent, or one can result from the other, while both can lead to tuberculous meningitis.
Whatever be its route of entry to the body, the tubercle bacillus can always reach the lungs. Usually this takes place in childhood from minimal infection. It commonly produces but little clinical effect, leaving only a small hard nodule, called a Ghon's focus, in the lung substance, and calcified glands at the root of the lung. Occasionally the child develops vague symptoms of malaise and fever during the time it is over-coming this primary infection; this illness may last several months, but in the vast majority of cases the children recover completely. But if the child's resistance is poor, or it gets repeated infections, which do not allow it to develop immunity, it gets blood-borne extension (miliary tuberculosis), or a spread of infection through the air passages (pneumonic or broncho pneumonic tuberculosis). Such forms, formerly usually fatal, can nearly always be successfully treated with anti-tuberculous drugs.

Disease of the Pleura and Pulmonary Cysts

Inflammation of the Pleura is called Pleurisy. In dry Pleurisy, the pleural surfaces are inflamed without fluid in between them. In many cases pleurisy is associated with effusion. Both dry pleurisy and pleural effusion may develop at different stages of the same disease process.
Dry or fibrinous pleurisy: The pleura gets involved from the disease of the underlying lung. Trauma to the chest may also lead to Pleurisy. The suggestive symptom is the catching pain felt acutely over the affected area by inspiratory movements brought about by deep breathing, coughing or sneezing. Its etiology are as follows: Pulmonary tuberculosis, Pneumonia, bronchogenic carcinoma, pulmonary infarction, connective tissue disorders (such as systemic lupus erythematosus, polyarteritis nodosa, and rheumatoid disease), rheumatic fever, viral infections (especially Coxsackie [Bornholm disease), hepatopulmonary amoebiasis, and uraemia.
The physical examination reveals diminution of movement on the affected side and the presence of pleural friction rub on auscultation. Pleural rub has a superficial grafting quality. The rub is heard better by gentle pressure of the chest piece of the stethoscope on the chest wall. Unlike rales, it is not altered by coughing. With the development of pleural effusion, the rub may disappear in most cases. Pleural rub has to be distinguished from crepitations and sounds arising from movements of the chest wall. Other painful conditions like Pneumonia, myocardial infarction, and herpes Zoster have to be differentiated from pleurisy.
Pleural effusion: In this condition, fluid accumulates between the two layers of the pleura. Normally, pleura contains only a small amount of fluid. The pleural fluid remains in dynamic equilibrium with blood. Movements of the lung favour the movement of the fluid in and out of the pleural space. In most of the disease states, absorption of the fluid is reduced. The fluid may be contained in the general pleural space or it may be loculated in the interlobar fissure, infrapulmonary space or may remain adjacent to the mediastinum. The fluid progressively compresses the subjacent lung which undergoes collapse.