numerous occasions there are affected individuals without evidence of any psychopathology. The main trigger factor for VCD associated with psychological causes is emotional stress. Non-psychogenic trigger factors include all common asthma triggers such as dust, cigarette smoke, exercise, occupational irritant exposure, upper respiratory tract infection, laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) & misuse and abuse of voice. VCD is most prevalent among young women aged twenty to forty years and is thought to…
Pulmonary cryptococcosis typically occurs in immunocompromised patients, such as those with human immunodeficiency virus / acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). Its presence in HIV/AIDS patients is associated with higher mortality [1]. Pulmonary cryptococcal infections have been reported in nonimmunocompromised hosts, including non-AIDS patients [1, 2] and children [3]. Due to advances in the diagnosis and widespread use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, immunosuppressants, glucocorticoids…
Exacerbation means when increased inflammation to the neutrophils and eosinophils. It also can be caused by bacterial or viral infections (pneumonia). Other environmental issues that can cause exacerbation are; air pollution and temperature changes. Once a person is considered to be in severe exacerbation, their gas exchanges are limited due to ventilation/perfusion exchange. Muscle fatigue is…
EAR INFECTIONS Infections of the ear are the most prevalent diagnosed disease among children in the United States. When talking about child’s safety, it’s their health that counts most due to their numerous exposures to the environment harboring germs and the likes. Ensuring that we care for our children’s ear is very vital not just on looks in their physical composure but also the well-being attributed to their language improvements, academic excellence among other. The nature by which the…
1 Chronic cough 2 Current smoker - 15-20 pack-year history 3 Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease/hiatus hernia 4 Diverticular disease 5 Osteoporosis Thank you for referring Jillian Whiffen, a 72-year-old lady who has previously owned a news agency and worked for a family business. Jillian currently smokes six cigarettes per day and keeps no pets. Regular medications are Nexium, Ostelin, Cardia, Crestor, Prolia infections and she was using Pulmicort a couple of months ago. Around three…
Serratia genre includes Gram negative rod- shape bacteria, aerobe facultative anaerobe and chemo-oganotrophic with low nutrional requirements. According to Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology, Serratia genre belongs to the Enterobacteriaceae family and includes 12 species 1,2. They are widespread in the natural environment, being isolated from soil, water and different plants (vegetables, mushrooms, grasses, mosses, trees)1,2,3. Serratia marcescens grows at 37°C, but it can grow in…
Transmission/Clinical Features The symptoms of tularemia vary contingent upon the method of introduction to the body. Ulceroglandular tularemia, for example, results in ulcers of the skin on the area where the bacteria entered the body and will also cause swollen lymph glands, most commonly underneath the pit of your arm or near the groin region. Ulceroglandular tularemia can be transmitted to the body by insects, such as ticks or deer flies, or even handling or making contact with an infected…
Emphysema Emphysema, along with other diseases, is collectively known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This disease damages the alveoli, also known as air sacs. Shortness of breath results as the alveoli are gradually damaged. The leading cause of emphysema is smoking, but this disease can also be caused by long-term exposure to other airborne irritants. Emphysema can be present in the body for years without any symptoms. The main symptom of this disease is shortness of breath, which…
What is asthma? Asthma is a respiratory condition marked by spasms in the bronchi of the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing. It usually results from an allergic reaction or other forms of hypersensitivity. Many other respiratory illnesses include; allergies,Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,Chronic bronchitis,Emphysema, and Cystic fibrosis. There are many symptoms of asthma but here are the most noticeable: Coughing, especially at night,wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness,…
In the process of an exacerbation of COPD, the airways become more inflamed causing vasoconstriction, mucous is more heavily produced, and small airways are not exchanging oxygen at baseline function for the patient. This takes the patient into a worsening condition of COPD that drops oxygen levels down, causing a build-up of carbon dioxide in her blood, the pH to drop from the acidity, and possibly bicarb to be not excreted by the kidneys in response. This causes a condition of respiratory…