For patients and caregivers, understanding clinical progression, diagnostic imaging results, and pharmacological treatment options is vital for managing acute and chronic health conditions.
Rashes are very common in children. There are a number of reasons for a rash, and the location can provide a clue to the underlying cause. Other clues may also help your doctor determine the cause, including what the rash looks like and whether it is accompanied by other symptoms such as a fever.
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Gastroesophageal reflux is common in infants. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, more than half of all infants have reflux in the first three months of life but outgrow it by the time they are 1 to 2 years of age.
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Hyperkalemia is a condition in which the levels of potassium in the bloodstream are abnormally high. There are many causes for hyperkalemia, mostly related to kidney disease because this organ helps control the levels of potassium in the body, and to hormonal causes.
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Zyrtec, or cetirizine, is an antihistamine drug used for the treatment of seasonal allergies and its symptoms, such as rhinitis (runny or stuffy nose), cough and allergic skin manifestations like atopic dermatitis or urticaria.
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Animal bites are a common occurrence, particularly among children. According to the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, dogs cause the majority of animal bites in the United States. Other animals that bite humans include cat, rodents and farm animals.
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Children often have swollen eyelids, commonly caused by trauma, infection and allergies. Because these conditions can be serious, consult your child's pediatrician for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan to avoid damage to your child's eye or vision.
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Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme that can be found in many of the body’s tissues, but its highest concentration is inside bone and liver cells and in the bile ducts.
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In a healthy adult, each of the 20 to 30 trillion red blood cells in the bloodstream contains more than 250 million molecules of hemoglobin. This vital, iron-containing protein transports oxygen to the body tissues. An abnormally low hemoglobin level results in anemia.
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When a child says that his heart is racing, more than likely he is experiencing an arrhythmia, or an abnormal deviation of the regular heart rate. When it is a fast heart rate, it is called tachycardia.
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Digoxin is a medicine used to treat certain heart conditions. It can be used to treat congestive heart failure, a condition in which the heart muscle is weak and unable to pump blood effectively to the rest of the body.
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Valerian root is a common herb found in dietary supplements sold in the United States. It is also sold as herbs and tincture for teas, in capsule form and in dried root extracts. It is commonly used as an adjunct in the treatment of insomnia, as well as an anxiolytic to treat anxiety disorders.
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Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is one of the most commonly used over-the-counter medicines. It is typically used as a pain reliever and fever reducer. Despite being over-the-counter, taking too much acetaminophen can have serious consequences, including permanent liver damage and death.
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Abdominal pain is a common complaint. It could signal a benign illness or indicate a serious medical condition. The location, duration and associated symptoms of the pain are important in diagnosing its cause.
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Abdominal pain is a common symptom in children, and can have a myriad of causes, ranging from problems that get better on their own to medical or surgical emergencies.
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Knee pain is a common complaint in active children who tend to suffer repeated trauma to the legs. But trauma is not the only reason for children to complain of knee pain--it can also be a symptom of a more serious condition.
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Rashes are a common occurrence in children, but they can be a worrisome sight to parents. Most rashes in children are benign and will go away on their own, but some rashes require close examination and evaluation.
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Viruses cause a broad array of human diseases. These microscopic particles spread easily, typically via person-to-person contact or touching contaminated surfaces. Once inside the body, viruses enter cells and reproduce quickly.
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C-ANCA and p-ANCA are two tests used in the diagnosis and evaluation of rheumatologic diseases. These conditions often result from a dysfunction in the immune system, which triggers an attack on certain tissues in the body that it mistakes as foreign or invading microorganisms or poisons.
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Colitis is the medical term that describes inflammation of the colon, or large intestine. Infectious colitis is inflammation of the colon caused by an infectious agent. These include bacteria, viruses and parasites.
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White blood cells, or leukocytes, are the cells your body uses to fight off infections. There are different types of white blood cell, each responsible for fighting different microbes. For example, neutrophils help fight off bacterial infections, while lymphocytes increase during viral illnesses.
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