Infections and Infestations Archives - Healthhype

Brain Abscess Location, Causes and Symptoms

Dr. Chris — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 23:30:22 +0000

An abscess may originate in multiple sites within the cranial cavity and therefore the term intracranial abscess more accurately describes it. Since the largest part of the brain, the cerebrum, is more commonly affected the term brain abscess is synonymous with cerebral abscess. An abscess may also occur in the cerebellum (cerebellar abscess) or brainstem (brainstem abscess). Another condition known as an empyema is also an accumulation of pus but this is within a naturally occurring cavity or space and in terms of the cranial cavity, it is more commonly known as pus around the brain. Both an abscess and empyema are broadly categorized under the term intracranial abscess. What is a brain abscess? A brain abscess is a localized collection of pus within the brain tissue (parenchyma). This is a consequence of pathogenic microorganisms, mainly bacteria, entering the normally sterile cranial cavity and lodging with the cerebral parenchyma. The pus contains immune cells, dead microbes, cellular debris, and tissue fluid. It is walled off by fibrous tissue which contains the infection. The infection causes inflammation of the brain tissue (encephalitis) with swelling of the brain which increases the intracranial pressure. The abscess is a mass that occupies space within [...]

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Abscess in the Appendix – Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Dr. Greg — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 23:50:56 +0000

An appendicular abscess (abscess in the appendix) is a complication of acute appendicitis – invasion of the appendix of the large intestine by bacteria usually due to an obstruction. The appendix exists at the junction of the small and large intestine and is exposed to the movement of digested food, waste matter and is teeming with bacteria. It is therefore prone to becoming blocked and coupled with an infection, acute appendicitis can even be life threatening. An abscess is not the only possible complication. Other complications include gangrene, appendicular masses, rupture and general peritoneal infections. These complications associated with appendicitis is more likely to occur in a patient who delays in seeking medical attention. What is an appendicular abscess? An appendicular abscess is a collection of pus resulting from perforation or rupture of acutely inflamed appendix. The pus remains localized close to the appendix, because it is walled off by adhesions formed by the surrounding abdominal structures. This prevents the pus from leaking and the infection spreading throughout the peritoneal cavity. How doe an appendicular abscess forms? When the appendix become inflamed (appendicitis), complications arise if the infection is not treated promptly. In some patients, appendicitis can lead to gangrene [...]

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HIV Lab Tests and Types of Testing for Diagnosis or Monitoring

Dr. Chris — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 22:40:19 +0000

HIV Lab Test vs Rapid Test HIV testing can be broadly divided between rapid tests and laboratory tests. The rapid test can be done at home or at a screening facility and a result is available within minutes. It should be followed through with laboratory testing should there be a positive result. Although rapid tests are convenient, inexpensive and very accurate, there are greater chances of a false-positive reading. This means that a person is detected as being HIV-positive although they are not infected. Rapid tests also have a greater chance of a false-negative during the window period, usually around 2 to 6 weeks after infection. A false-negative means that a person is HIV-positive but the antibodies against the virus has not as yet been detected. Rapid tests detect the HIV antibodies in a person’s bloodstream and provide a positive reading based on the presence of these antibodies. The term laboratory tests can sometimes be misleading because some rapid tests involves taking a sample of the blood, buccal cells, or rarely the urine and sending it to a laboratory for quick results. This procedure may not involve the participation of the doctor or other health care provider. However, it is [...]

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Bone Tuberculosis and Back TB (Pott’s Disease)

Dr. Chris — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 20:02:31 +0000

What is bone TB? Tuberculosis (TB) is a well known infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs (pulmonary tuberculosis ~ lung TB). However, it can affect various other sites of the body and is then referred to as extrapulmonary TB. When it affects the bone, it is known as tuberculous osteomyelitis or simply bone tuberculosis (TB). The weight bearing bones and joints are most commonly affected – the spinal column, followed by the knees and hips. The joints of these bones are also often involved but TB of the joints (tuberculous arthritis) usually has a predilection for the the hips and knees. Other bones and joints, like that of the wrist, hand and elbow may also be affected typically after an injury to these areas. The bone, with its hard outer surface, is often thought to be impermeable to an infection. However, the inner soft tissue of the bone is just as prone to an infection as with any other part of the body. Bone tuberculosis almost always occurs secondary to an active tuberculous infection in some other organ. It reaches the bone by traveling through the bloodstream (hematogenous spread). At other times it can spread to the bone through [...]

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Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Antigen, Antibody, Vaccine, Carrier

Dr. Chris — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 21:04:33 +0000

The liver is an important organ that is responsible for several different functions, particularly the processing of nutrients, wastes and other substances. Hepatitis is the term for inflammation of the liver and may be due to infectious or non-infectious causes. The five types of hepatitis viruses are common infectious causes of liver inflammation, and some like hepatitis A (HAV), B (HBV) and C (HCV) are more frequently seen infectious agents. Inflammation may eventually lead to death of the liver cells (hepatocytes) which severely compromises normal liver function. What is the hepatitis B virus (HBV)? The hepatitis B virus (HBV) can infect the liver cells resulting in an acute infection or persist with chronic inflammation of the liver. It is also one of the most common causes of hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer). HBV spread occurs through contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person and this includes sexual transmission. A person with hepatitis B can be asymptomatic for long periods of time but may still be a carrier and spread the virus among different contacts. The hepatitis virus consists of a core containing DNA (HBV-DNA) with an enzyme known as DNA polymerase that assists with viral replication and is surrounded [...]

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STEC / VTEC E. Coli Route of Transmission (Farm to Fork)

Dr. Chris — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 18:09:26 +0000

Contamination of food and water with Escherichia coli (E.coli) has been a problem that has plagued mankind throughout time. These species of bacteria naturally reside in the bowels of humans and animals and there is a number of ways that it may contaminate food and water. Of the different strains of E.coli, it is the enterohemorrhagic E.coli (EHEC) known for producing Shiga-like toxin or verotoxins (Shiga-toxin E.coli ~ STEC; verocytoxic E.coli ~ VTEC) that can cause a severe diarrhea and lead to potentially life threatening complications like hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). There are various serotypes of EHEC with the 0157 serotype (STEC 0157) being implicated for various outbreaks. In 2011, the European outbreak was due to STEC 0104, an otherwise rare cause of intestinal disease in humans. Farm-To-Fork Transmission E.coli diarrhea arises due to the fecal-oral route of transmission. This means that food or water contaminated with fecal matter containing E.coli enters the gut and causes disease. Understanding the route of transmission is important in preventing infection, particularly during times of outbreaks. It is also known as the farm-to-fork route because it originates mainly on farms and causes disease when contaminated food is eaten. Preventative guidelines involves good personal hygiene, cleansing [...]

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Mouth Herpes (Oral) Symptoms, Pictures, Spread, Duration

Dr. Chris — Fri, 06 May 2011 13:41:59 +0000

What is herpes of the mouth? Oral herpes, commonly referred to as mouth herpes, is a viral infection of the mouth and gums primarily by the Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) but may also be due to the genital variant (HSV-2). It is also known as recurrent herpetic stomatitis or acute herpetic gingivostomatitis. The infection of the mouth typically causes small fluid-filled blisters known as vesicles on the roof of the mouth (palate), inside of the cheeks (buccal muscosa), tongue, gums and even the lips (herpes labialis). It may also occur on the skin around the mouth and extend to the nose and into the nasal cavity. Oral herpes is also known commonly as cold sores and fever blisters but is different entity from oral canker sores although canker sores may sometimes be associated with HSV infection. Canker sores occur solely inside the mouth. Oral herpes occurs inside and around the mouth. Most of the time HSV-1 causes mouth symptoms and in a minority of cases it may also be responsible for genital symptoms. The opposite is true for HSV-2 – it causes genital symptoms in the majority of cases while only a few cases of HSV-2 infection will [...]

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Body Lice Infestation (Pediculosis Corporis) Information

Dr. Alison — Tue, 03 May 2011 11:31:21 +0000

What is body lice? Body lice infestation or pediculosis corporis is caused by Pediculus humanus corporis (also known as Pediculus humanus humanus), a parasitic insect which looks similar to head lice but may be a larger in size. Although called body lice, these parasites are found on the body only when it feeds. At all other times, it lives and lays eggs in the seams of clothing, towels, or bedding. Lice feed on human blood and deposit waste matter on the skin and clothing. There are three types of lice – head lice, body lice, and pubic lice (crabs). Each louse is slightly different although it belongs to the same species. However, the lice that tend to infest one region may also uncharacteristically affect another site. Poverty and Personal Hygiene Poverty, poor personal hygiene, and overcrowding may be related to body lice infestation. For this reason, it is seen more commonly in homeless individuals, inmates of prison camps, and refugees. It may be transmitted from one person to another by close contact or by sharing clothing, bedding, and towels. Close attention to personal hygiene, such as bathing regularly and changing into clean clothes, and using clean bed linen and towels [...]

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Pubic Lice (Crabs) Facts on Transmission, Life Span, Infestation

Dr. Alison — Mon, 02 May 2011 10:20:52 +0000

What are Pubic or Crab Lice? Pubic lice or crab lice infestation is caused by the insect Phthiriasis pubis which clings to the pubic hairs. Pubic lice infestation is also known as phthiriasis or pediculosis pubis. The common term is crabs. Pubic lice are parasitic insects which differ in appearance from head lice and body lice. It looks like tiny crabs, hence the name “crab lice”. The lice have 3 pairs of legs, the middle and hind legs are stout, while the front pair is large and looks like the claws of a crab. The claws help the louse to cling onto clothing or to the coarse pubic hairs. While the l usually infest the pubic hair, it may also be found on the eyebrows, eyelashes, armpits, chest hair, and facial hair. In rare cases, the scalp hair may be involved. While African-Americans are rarely affected by a head lice infestation, they are just as prone as any other race group to pubic lice infesting the scalp hair. The lice feed on human blood and remain fixed at its feeding sites for long periods. It is not as fast-moving as head lice. Picture of a crab louse from Wikimedia Commons [...]

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HIV Enteropathy (HIV/AIDS) Small Intestine, Bowel Disease

Dr. Chris — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 21:28:59 +0000

HIV and AIDS in the Human Body HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection gradually destroys the parts of the immune system and it eventually reaches a point where the immune system can no longer adequately protect the body. Eventually a state is reached known as AIDS. which stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome, where the body is at great risk of a number of opportunistic infections. The chain of events is as follows : The virus (HIV) enters into the bloodstream through infected blood or fluids transmitted during intercourse, transfusions, needle stick injuries or IV drug us. The virus enters CD4 T-lymphocytes, a type of immune cell, and replicates profusely within these cells. As the newly produced viruses exit the CD 4 immune cells, it destroys it. Eventually the number of viruses overwhelms the system and destroys almost all CD4 cells. There are many complications associated with HIV and AIDS. It is largely due to the body’s inability to defend itself from a host of threats in the environment. This manifests as a number of different diseases throughout the body. It is actually these diseases that eventually causes death, and not virus itself. What is HIV enteropathy? HIV infected cells One [...]

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