Gastroenteritis is the inflammation of the stomach and intestines (small and large) as a result of an infection. It is often referred to as the gastric flu or stomach flu but it is not related to influenza. Sometimes loose stool and a bit of nausea may be noticed in influenza but the gastric flu is much more pronounced. Gastroenteritis is a common infection that accounts for millions of deaths globally but with proper management, it can pass in a few days without requiring treatment.
Hyperthyroidism is a condition caused by an overactive thyroid gland which produces an excess of thyroid hormones. The symptoms of hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis are many and varied – an enlarged thyroid gland (goitre) and weight loss being some of them – and treatment may include medication, radioactive iodine therapy or surgery.
Hyperthyroidism is the opposite of hypothyroidism or an underactive thyroid.
The frequency of bowel movement in a normal states can range from three motions per day to one every third day. Normal stool consistency can vary from soft, porridge-like, to hard and pellet-like. Increased stool frequency, more than three times in a day, with passage of loose, unformed, watery stools is known as diarrhoea – runny tummy or loose motion.
Continue reading
Influenza or the seasonal flu is a highly infectious acute viral infection caused by the influenza virus. It affects mainly the nose, throat, bronchial tubes, and occasionally the lungs. The symptoms may last from a few days to a week and a person generally improves without any active treatment. It can become extremely severe and may even be life-threatening, especially in people at risk such as the elderly, very young children, or those with certain medical conditions like HIV/AIDS.
Continue reading
Vitiligo is a skin disorder that causes hypopigmented patches on the skin. The skin pigment, melanin, is deficient in these areas making the skin look white to light brown. It can affect only certain areas or it can be spread out through many areas in the body. Vitiligo should not be confused with albinism (albino skin) where melanin production is impaired and the entire body is affected from birth.
Other skin conditions may sometimes be confused with vitiligo. A yeast infection (skin fungus) known as pityriasis versicolor can affect the back, chest and face. This condition can be treated with antifungals. Pityriasis alba is form of eczema seen in children where the affected skin is pale in color. Vitiligo should also not be confused with leprosy, although the latter also cause hypopigmentation of the skin – vitiligo and leprosy are two separate diseases.
Continue reading
Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition where inflammation of the skin appears as raised, red patches with silvery to white scales on it. While it is a fairly common condition, it is often misdiagnosed in the early stages, especially in young people.
As a chronic condition, psoriasis will never go away – instead you may have periods where it settles down almost completely (remission) and then it recurs. In some people, psoriasis will occur with other conditions like arthritis – psoriatic arthritis.
