Herpes Zoster Facts Herpes zoster is caused by the chickenpox virus (varicella zoster). The varicella zoster virus is a type of herpes simplex virus (HSV) but is not the same as the herpes simplex virus that causes genital herpes. Herpes zoster is not a virus but a syndrome that arises with reactivation of the varicella >> Read More ...
What is diaphragmatic paralysis? Diaphragmatic paralysis is where the diaphragm is not able to contract either on one side (unilateral) or both sides (bilateral). Breathing does not cease immediately as there are accessory respiratory muscles that normally assists with inspiration. However, these muscles are not as >> Read More ...
What is a moisturizer? The term moisturizer refers to an application that restores moisture. In terms of the skin, it is a means of remedying dryness. This mainly refers to dryness of the outermost layer of the superficial skin – the stratum corneum of the epidermis. It is the appearance of this outermost layer of >> Read More ...
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks the body’s immune cells, specifically the CD4+ T-cells (lymphocytes). The virus replicates within these immune cells and destroys it. In this way the body’s immune defenses are gradually diminished over months and years until a point is reached where the immune >> Read More ...
What is stress gastritis? Stress gastritis is inflammation of the stomach wall that arises with severe illness or injury. It is caused by physiological stress where the body is under severe distress due to some disease or the other and is mainly seen in the critically ill patient. These underlying diseases may not >> Read More ...
What is irritant contact dermatitis? Irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) is inflammation of the skin that arises with exposure to certain substances. It must be differentiated from allergic contact dermatitis where the skin inflammation develops due to an allergy to certain substances. Dermatitis is a term for skin >> Read More ...
What is tinea manuum? Tinea manuum is a fungal infection of the hand caused by dermatophytes, a type of fungi. The infection is superficial and limited to the outer layers of the skin as is typical of dermatophyte infections. It is uncommon compared to other fungal infections of the extremities – tinea pedis (feet) >> Read More ...
Overview The peroneal nerve, also known as common fibular nerve, is one of the branches of the sciatic nerve. It is the most commonly injured nerve of the lower leg due to its location. Peroneal nerve injury and disease may arise due to various possible causes ranging from trauma, compression or infection. Apart from >> Read More ...
A host of stomach conditions can cause pain and less commonly cramps as well. However, identifying pain in the stomach region as arising specifically from the stomach is often difficult without considering a person’s medical history, other symptoms and results of different tests. Bad stomach pain or cramping is >> Read More ...
What is a small intestine leak? A small intestine leak is the common term for a perforation (hole) in the small intestine. The term is sometimes confused with leaky gut syndrome, a condition that supposedly increases the permeability of the intestinal wall. With a perforation an actual hole develops thereby allowing the >> Read More ...
