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We are constantly being told that washing our hands is an important part of personal hygiene. Most of us know that hand washing is very important to minimize the chance of passing germs around and getting sick. Let’s find out the most important times to wash your hands.
Dark circles under the eyes, also called periorbital dark circles, are a common cosmetic complaint. In most circumstances the appearance of these dark circles are due to the blood vessels under the skin. These blood vessels are more easily visible in this location because the skin around the eyes is the thinnest skin in the human body. There are a number of factors that can lead to dark circles appearing and they are often recognized as a symbol of tiredness or stress. Let’s take a look at the most common causes of this condition.
Appendicitis is a potentially dangerous inflammation of the appendix that usually requires the surgical removal of the appendix. The symptoms of this medical condition include: intense pain (beginning at the mid-abdomen and shifting to the lower right quadrant), vomiting and fever. It is important that prompt medical treatment is sought because if is left untreated there is a high risk that the organ could rupture, which can cause shock and a potentially fatal condition called peritonitis (inflammation of the tissue that lines the abdomen and abdominal organs). This can lead to blood infection (sepsis) and eventually death. Let’s find out what causes this potentially fatal medical condition.
A yeast infection, also called a fungal infection, is a medical condition caused by an overgrowth of yeast. This type of infection can affect a number of areas in the human body, but the best known areas include the skin, nails, mouth (oral thrush) and vagina (vaginitis). In rare cases, usually in patients with a weakened immune system, the infection can spread to the whole body and be life threatening. The symptoms of yeast infection depend entirely on where the infection is located although, itching, a burning sensation, redness and/or other discomfort may be present. Let’s find out what causes these infections and how they can be treated.
Mononucleosis often referred to as mono, the kissing disease, or glandular fever, is a viral infection commonly caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. Although, it can also be caused by the cytomegalovirus. It is most common in people aged 15 to 17 years, although anyone can contract mononucleosis. The most common way to contract the disease is by direct contact with an infected person’s saliva. As the alternative name suggests, kissing is one way to contract the disease, but activities such as sharing food, drinks, lip gloss, toothbrushes and eating utensils can also cause the spread of the virus.
The bladder is an organ in the human body that collects and stores the urine from the kidneys for later urination. To achieve this task the bladder is hollow and elastic, which allows it to stretch to as the urine accumulates. The tubes that enter the bladder and known as the ureters and the exit is a single tube known as the urethra. The bladder can hold about 300-500 ml (10.1 – 16.9 fl oz) of urine, although in general the female bladder holds less than the male bladder. This is due to the location of the bladder, which is different for both genders.
Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is a contagious disease caused by a bacteria known as Bordetella pertussis. The disease is estimated to affect approximately 50 million people worldwide each year and in the same period causes about 300,000 deaths. The disease can be caught by anyone, but infants are most at risk of serious complications. The symptoms of whooping cough usually begin mildly about 7-10 days after the initial infection. As time goes by the disease begins to cause severe coughing fits with a whooping sound as air is inhaled. This long term coughing can also cause a number of secondary problems, such as rib damage and difficulty breathing. Let’s find out how this disease is prevented and treated.
Dwarfism is a medical condition that causes a person to grow more slowly than usual or with delayed growth. This condition either occurs as disproportionate dwarfism, where the individual has one or more larger or smaller parts of their body, and proportionate dwarfism where the body is normally proportioned, but is unusually small. Dwarfism is generally defined as a full grown height of less than 147 cm (58 inches). People suffering from this condition are generally referred to as a dwarf, little person or person of short stature. The term midget has also been used, but is usually considered to be offensive. If you have wondered what causes this condition, read on to find out.
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis, which is also where the infection gets its name. It is one of the most common STD’s in the world and it is estimated that 2.8 million new cases of the infection occur in the United States each year. Chlamydia can be transmitted via virginal, oral and anal sex, as well as from mother to baby during childbirth. About 50-70% of women infected do not usually notice any symptoms, while most men notice a white discharge from their penis, possibly with pain during urination. If chlamydia is left untreated it can cause pelvic inflammatory disease in women and epididymitis in men. Both of these conditions can lead to infertility and other complications. The bacteria that cause chlamydia can also cause conjunctivitis (trachoma) and this was once the leading cause of blindness in the world. Let’s find out how this STD is treated.
Croup is a respiratory condition best known for causing a barking cough. This condition almost exclusively affects children between 6 months and 6 years of age and about 15% of children will suffer from it at some time. It almost never occurs in teenagers or adults, but there have been rare cases of croup in these age groups. Along with the telltale cough, croup also causes wheezing, difficulty breathing and hoarseness. Despite these serious symptoms It is not usually life threatening. Let’s find out what causes this condition and how it is treated.