Transmission of HPV Through Child Birth
Most do not think of sexually transmitted diseases when they consider children. Unhappily, our kids do experience harmful effects from adults who catch sexually transmitted diseases. For example, a child, through accidental contact with diseased tissue, could be exposed to the HPV, as in childbirth.
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is a cause of cancer of the cervix; it needs to be taken seriously by both those who are active sexually, and those who at risk for sexually transmitted diseases and are pregnant or may become pregnant.
Another rare disease caused by HPV infection Laryngeal papillomatosis. The 2 types of virus that are linked with this disease are HPV 6 and HPV 11. With this disease, growths or warts grow quickly and are varied in size; they can grow in number and size until affectively blocking the air passageway. It may become hard for a child to breathe when sleeping and difficulty in swallowing may also be experienced.
HPV is exceptionally contagious via skin-to-skin contact in addition to sexual contact. The one noticeable sign of infection is the appearance of genital warts, not all of which can be seen, especially in infected women. Warts will emerge within 3 months of HPV infection.
In pregnancy, the immune system is lowered, causing a pregnant woman to be more susceptible to viral infections such as HPV. This in turn causes genital warts during pregnancy to grow even quicker and larger.
If your baby should become infected with HPV during the passage through the vagina during delivery, there may appear genital warts or there may be warts on the throat which is known as laryngeal papillomatosis.
Laryngeal papillomatosis is a rare disease that is caused by HPV infection. The two types of virus that are associated with this disease are: HPV 6 and HPV 11. The growths or warts from this disease grow rapidly and vary in size. When they grow in number and size they may effectively block the air passageway. This makes it difficult for your child to breathe when sleeping and they can also experience difficulty in swallowing.
Two tests are available to establish whether your child is suffering from this disease or not. The first is called Indirect Laryngoscopy. This is an in-office procedure conducted by a speech pathologist or a family doctor. A small mirror is placed in the back of the throat to examine the larynx area.
The other test is Direct Laryngoscopy; this is performed in an operating room under general anesthesia. This lets the doctor view directly the vocal cord folds and supplementary parts of the larynx under high magnification. Tissue biopsy may also be taken during the procedure to identify the existence of HPV.
All of this can be avoided with the proper precautions, the most effective of which is inoculation with the HPV vaccine.
Why We Should Be Worried About The Bird Flu
Is the Bird Flu Virus for real? Or is it something the media has blown up once again. Does the bird flu virus really possess a threat to us humans?
The bird flu virus is the current virus that has been scaring people away from eating at KFC. People might think that the bird flu virus might cause them to die.
What the media is doing, is only trying to scare a lot of people from the bird flu virus. This is maybe because of the pandemic that we have experienced before from other flu that have killed millions.
The most famous of all the flu is the pandemic that happened during 1918-19. The Spanish flu killed more people than World War 1. 500 million became ill of this virus and around 40 million died.
That's why for every new flu virus that's been arising, people get worried right away. Scientist will try to prevent viruses from getting a lot worse like the 1918-19 pandemic. The media on the other hand serves to inform the people of the potential threat.
Another thing to worry about is that 36,000 people die everyday of ordinary influenza virus in the United States alone. Can you imagine how much worse a pandemic can cause?
Also every 3 to 4 times in a century there will always be a chance that a flu pandemic may hit. What if the bird flu virus is already among them? That's why people form the media and scientist grow deeply worried.
The flu can basically achieve these things because it has the ability to mutate. It can change quickly and outwit the vaccines that have been created for previous flu strains. Then they take the immune system by storm.
The flu can also grab the genetic material of other viruses and also jump from one species to another. There are times where the transfer needs to be done via an intermediary. Such as the West Nile Fever, this needs a mosquito to be transferred.
The viruses that have transferred from animals to people are not something new. This has been happening since the 1980's. The new virus that ahs been scaring people of that comes from animals is the bird flu.
Bird flu's symptoms usually start out quite simple and the infected person might think that it's just an ordinary flu. The infected person will experience muscle aches, sore throats, colds and cough. However, it may lead to the immediate death of the infected person.
Currently, people who have died form bird flu are still not abundant to call it a pandemic or worry about an outbreak. What worries the health officials is the possibility it becomes an outbreak when it mutates and can transfer from one person to the other.
That's why its better the media and the health officials worry about this thing a whole lot before we get another pandemic like that of the Spanish Flu.
Toxoplasmosis – What is It?
Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a microscopic parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. It is present in many warm-blooded animals but has only been found to reproduce in the guts of cats.
Cats can pick up the parasite via other cats feces or in digesting it via raw meat that may contain the parasite. Cats that hunt and eat birds and mice are therefore more prone to the infection.
The eggs of the parasite are passed through the cat into their feces for only a short time after the cat first becomes infected. The eggs become infectious 24 hours after being passed and only once they have been swallowed.
Humans can be infected by ingesting the parasite either in the egg or larval form. This can be done either by eating uncooked meat or drinking un-pasteurised milk or by coming into contact with infected soil or unwashed vegetables that have been exposed to infected cat feces. The eggs can remain and survive in soil for up to 18 months, so precautions should always be taken when handling soil from any garden.
The symptoms of the infection can be varied and depends on the area of the body infected. They range from vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice and inflammation of the iris, however only one or two of these symptoms will be displayed in each cat. If the brain is infected then symptoms may include unsteadiness on their feet and walking around in circles. If any of these symptoms are displayed then a vet will do a simple blood test to see if the parasite is present in the blood stream. In some minor cases antibiotics will be able to clear the infection up.
In the rare occasions that a human becomes infected the symptoms are similar to flu or glandular fever. This is not life threatening and for those who are generally fit and healthy will pass after a short while. However for those with a compromised immune system such as in cases of HIV or AIDS it may become more dangerous. Babies are also more vulnerable as their immune system will not be strong enough to cope with the infection.
Pregnant women need to be particularly careful to avoid the infection, as there is a 40% risk that it could affect the unborn child, causing possible eyesight problems later in their life. Again antibiotic treatment can reduce these risks if the infection is detected early.
To give your self the best chance of avoiding the infection is to follow these simple steps when coming into contact with possible infected sources.
Avoid eating raw or uncooked meat, make sure that meals are well cooked this is especially important if you pregnant.
When handling raw meats, fruits and vegetables always make sure you wash your hands immediately afterwards to avoid spreading any possible infection. Work surfaces and knives should also be clean immediately afterwards.
Wear rubber gloves when cleaning out the litter tray. If pregnant it may be advisable to ask someone else to do this for you. The litter tray should also be thoroughly cleaned and washed out often.
Clean up any cat feces as soon as possible, because the eggs do not become infectious until 24 hours later, the earlier it can be removed the safer it is to handle.
When gardening it is a good idea to wear gloves, this will prevent any hand to mouth infection from contaminated soil.
Cats can also catch the infection from raw meat or untreated milk, so it is best not to feed them this sort of food either.
7 Ways to Avoid Those Sinus Infection Symptoms
If you are prone to catching sinus infections after colds, and having to live with those miserable sinus infection symptoms for weeks, I have some advice for you.
One of the best things you can do to stop those sinus infection symptoms is to keep from getting the sinus infection in the first place. Brilliant! Let me be clear, I am not a doctor. But I have had enough sinus infections over the years that I have learned simple things I can do to keep from getting the sinus infection, or at least reducing the length of the symptoms.
There are a number of common sense actions you can take as you fight through the cold to reduce the risk of the cold leading to a sinus infection. By following these seven common sense tips, I almost never get sinus infections any more.
In most cases, sinus infections are a result of first having a cold. So, the most important thing you can do is to take care of yourself while you have your cold, and as you get over your cold, allowing you body to do it's job the best that it can.
You want to take good care of your body so your immune system can fight the cold and fight off any bacterial infection that is trying to attack your sinuses.
1. Get plenty of rest. I'm not saying you need to stay home from work, but when you get home from work rest. Take a break, lay down on the couch and watch some worthless television, or read a book.
2. Take care of your body by staying away from alcohol and tobacco. Alcohol will dehydrate your body and you want your body to be hydrated, that's why you should also drink plenty of fluids. If you are a smoker, well you know what that is doing to your body - perhaps it's a good time to quit smoking.
3. Drink a lot of fluids like water, juice, hot decaffeinated teas and soup. Stay away from caffeine drinks like coffee. If staying away from coffee in the morning is a hard one for you, have some hot tea or a cup of decaf coffee.
4. Run a humidifier when you are home and while you sleep.
5. Use a saline solution nasal spray to keep help the nasal cavities moist and clear.
6. Get rid of that handkerchief. If you carry a handkerchief with you, to blow your nose on when you have a cold - get rid of it. All of the blowing of your nose into that dirty handkerchief, leads to a breeding ground for bacteria that can end up in your sinuses. Use disposable tissue paper instead.
7. Wash your hands well, especially after being out in public. And, keep your hands away from your nose. Huh? Men have a tendency to pet their mustaches, which puts their fingers against their nose. Another opportunity for bacteria to invade their nasal cavity.
Yeah, you may be like me, I was my own worst enemy in some cases. But, you can teach an old dog new tricks and I have learned how to reduce the chances of me going through those miserable sinus infection symptoms.
Just by being aware of what leads to your sinus infections, and taking extra precautions can go a long way in preventing your sinus infection and associated symptoms.
Give these seven common sense tips a try - I think you'll be surprised how far a little common sense can go.
Get Rheumatoid Arthritis Relief
In the beginning, there was a medicine was marketed as an antimalarial drug. Then it was found that in addition to being effective with malaria it was also beneficial when used to treat rheumatic diseases such as Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
This drug contains the ingredient hydroxychloroquine. It is a DMARD (Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug) which has long been known for decreasing the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis such as pain and swelling as well as reducing the risk that the patient will develop a long-term disability. Scientists aren't exactly sure why hydroxycholoroquine works so well in treating rheumatoid arthritis. They do believe, however, that the drug somehow interferes with the communication of cells within the immune system.
The normal prescription is two doses of 200 mg. per day or sometimes one dose of 400 mg. You take the drug orally with food or milk so that the medication doesn't upset your stomach. After you've been on the medicine long enough for your condition to start to improve, your doctor will want to lower your dosage so that you aren't taking more of the medication than you really need. By doing this he will lower your risk of side effects.
Because of the low dosage taken by the average rheumatoid arthritis patient, side effects aren't usually an issue. The most serious side effect of the drug is when a patient develops toxicity in the back on an eye. If you take it for an extended period of time, it's essential that you have special eye exams done regularly in case you should develop toxicity.
If you should develop toxicity and allow it to develop without being treated, it can lead to major visual problems such as color blindness and even a complete loss of vision. Less severe side effects which can occur include headaches, irritability, hair bleaching or loss, nausea, weakness, and itching.
You need to take your medicine on schedule every day. If you once start taking it at a certain time during the day, then you need to take it at the same time every day. It will probably take between one and two months in order for you to begin seeing improvements in your health. It may take as long as six months for you to finally be getting the full benefit of the medication.
You've probably noticed that this medicine is a creature of habit and wants everything done the same way day after day. If your doctor prescribes the medication for a certain length of time, do not stop taking it before then. Quitting before you've finished the regimen could result in you developing an infection. And never ever think about stopping the drug cold turkey. If you're considering stopping, talk with your doctor before you do it.
Natural Relief For Rheumatoid Arthritis
I see a lot of patients with a number of different ailments affecting their bones. If I had to choose one that is fairly common and the most miserable, I'd pick rheumatoid arthritis, hands down. There may be conditions that are more rare and more painful, but I doubt there's a disease that causes more people as much daily pain and suffering.
When you have rheumatoid arthritis, your body's immune system begins to attack itself. It begins in the joints. Your joints will swell and stiffen and become red and inflamed. The disease is usually progressive, so it gets worse over time. Eventually the swelling and stiffness spreads to other tissues around your affected joints causing tendons, ligaments, and muscles to become inflamed, too.
The inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis can begin to destroy your joints and damage your bones. It can even progress to your organs and damage them, as well.
It's a terrible disease.
There is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis. Doctors treat it with a combination of prescription drugs. Knowledgeable doctors also recommend exercises that strengthen your joints.
The prescription drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis can be an important part of maintaining a good quality of life, but they can also have dangerous side effects like weakening your bones.
It is up to you and your doctor to determine which types of treatments are best for you, but today, I also want to recommend some safe, natural steps that you can use to relieve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.
Protect Your Joints From Swelling and Pain
In many cases, rheumatoid arthritis flare-ups are triggered by eating certain foods. It's important that you take note of the foods that tend to trigger pain and swelling in your joints. By avoiding these foods, you can significantly reduce the frequency and even the intensity of your symptoms.
Certain foods have the opposite affect. These foods tend to fight inflammation in the body. Such foods can play an important role in your diet if you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. For example, research shows that omega-3 fatty acids from fish combined with olive oil improve mobility and relieve stiffness in rheumatoid arthritis sufferers. 1
Some juices such as cherry juice, celery juice, barley juice, and spinach juice also have an anti-inflammatory affect and can be beneficial to people suffering with rheumatoid arthritis. 2
A vitamin D supplement can also help to relieve your symptoms. The Iowa Women's Health study, a large-scale population study found that people who get the most vitamin D are the least likely to suffer from rheumatoid arthritis.3 Turmeric is another supplement that may help protect you from the affects of rheumatoid arthritis. This common Indian spice has powerful anti-inflammatory affects and was used to effectively treat rheumatoid arthritis in rats. 4
While you may not be able to cure your rheumatoid arthritis, you can make changes to your diet that can help reduce your symptoms. You can also take supplements that will give you extra protection. Doing these things in addition to the treatment you and your doctor have agreed upon can help increase and protect your quality of life.
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