Inflammation of the middle ear is an infection caused by a germ (bacterium). It is very common among children. The middle ear is an air-filled hollow between the eardrum and the inner ear. The Eustachian tube - an air channel between the middle ear and the nose - usually ensures that the middle ear is ventilated and that fluids can run out through the nose.
Middle ear infection most commonly occurs following a cold. It also frequently occurs as a result of contact with other children. Middle ear infection (called otitis media) is an infection behind the eardrum. Ear infections are very common and are usually painful. By the age of six, most children have grown out of middle ear infections and are not likely to suffer long-term problems.
Symptoms
In otitis media, inflammation occurs on that portion of the ear, which is directly behind the eardrum. This pain in the ear is usually of a piercing type and is not attended with fever. Pus is discharged into the outer ear. As the condition progresses, the inner ear becomes seriously affected, and hearing is considerably impaired.
Acute middle ear infection is most common in children. It is caused by a bacterial or viral infection of the fluid of the middle ear. When infection occurs in the middle ear, pus or excess fluid is produced. Ear infections are often associated with respiratory infections or with blocked sinuses caused by allergies or enlarged adenoids.
Causes
A cold or other infection of the upper airways causes the tubes which drain the ears in to the back of the throat to become swollen and filled with mucus or catarrh. These tubes are called eustachian tubes, and are the tubes we open, by yawning or swallowing, to stop our ears popping as we go up a hill or in a plane. This swelling may block the eustachian tubes, and stop the normal drainage of fluid from the middle ear down to the back of the throat. As water which is stagnant becomes foul, so there is more chance of germs building up in this stagnant situation in the middle ear, and a middle ear infection (acute otitis media) is the result.
Ear infections also can be associated with dysfunction or swelling within the eustachian tubes — the narrow passageways that connect the middle ear to the nose. Normally these tubes equalize pressure inside and outside the ear. But a child's eustachian tubes are narrower and shorter than those of an adult. This makes it easier for fluid to get trapped in the middle ear when the eustachian tubes dysfunction or become blocked during a cold.
Treatment
Many physicians recommend the use of an antibiotic (a drug that kills bacteria) when there is an active middle ear infection. If a patient is experiencing pain, the physician may also recommend a pain reliever. Following the physician's ear infection treatment instructions is very important. Once started, the antibiotic should be taken until it is finished. Most physicians will have the patient return for a follow-up examination to see if the infection has cleared.
Most ear infections clear on their own in just a few days — and antibiotics
won't help an infection caused by a virus. In fact, about 80 percent of
children with acute otitis media recover without antibiotics, according to the
AAP and AAFP. If your child is uncomfortable, the doctor may recommend an
over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or
ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others). If your child doesn't have drainage from the
ear or ear tubes, prescription eardrops containing a local anesthetic may be an
option, too. The drops won't cure the infection, but they may relieve pain.
Monkeypox is a rare infectious disease caused by monkeypox virus. The disease was first identified in laboratory monkeys, giving it its name. The disease is most prevalent in Central and West Africa, but an outbreak occurred also in the United States in 2003. Monkeypox can be difficult to distinguish from mild smallpox and chickenpox. Human monkeypox is a zoonotic viral disease that occurs primarily in remote villages of Central and West Africa in proximity to tropical rainforests where there is more frequent contact with infected animals. Monkeypox is usually transmitted to humans from rodents, pets, and primates through contact with the animal's blood or through a bite.
Monkeypox cannot be resolved with medication. The only treatment option is symptomatic—that is, patients are made as comfortable as possible. In March 1998, the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases reported that an antiviral drug called cidofovir may combat monkeypox infection. The drug has worked successfully in primates, but further research is needed to determine its effectiveness in humans.
Monkeypox is classified as a zoonosis, which means that it is a disease of animals that can be transmitted to humans under natural conditions. The first cases of monkeypox reported in humans involved contact between humans and animals in the African rain forest. The outbreak that made headlines in the United States in June 2003, however, involved animals purchased as pets from pet stores. In nature, monkeypox has been found in monkeys, chimpanzees, rabbits, prairie dogs, Gambian rats, ground squirrels, and mice. It is not known as of late 2003 whether other wild or domestic animals can contract monkeypox.
In humans, monkeypox is similar to smallpox, except that enlargement of lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy) is associated with monkeypox. About 12 days after exposure, the illness begins with fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, a general feeling of discomfort, and exhaustion. Within 1 to 3 days (sometimes longer) after the appearance of fever, the patient develops a papular rash (i.e., raised bumps), often first on the face but sometimes initially on other parts of the body. The lesions usually develop through several stages before crusting and falling off.
The incubation period for monkeypox is about 12 days (range 7 to 17 days). The illness begins with fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, a general feeling of discomfort, and exhaustion. Within 1 to 3 days (sometimes longer) after the appearance of fever, the patient develops a papular rash (i.e., raised bumps), often first on the face but sometimes initially on other parts of the body. The lesions usually develop through several stages before crusting and falling off.
Signs and symptoms of monkeypox are similar to smallpox, but usually milder. About 12 days after people are infected with the virus, they may get a fever, headache, muscle aches and backache, swollen lymph nodes and a general feeling of discomfort and exhaustion. Within one to three days after development of a fever, they will get a rash. The rash typically develops into raised bumps filled with fluid. It often starts on the face and spreads to other parts of the body, but can originate on other areas of the body. The bumps go through several stages before they get crusty, scab over and fall off. A person is considered to be infectious to others until their lesions are crusted. The illness usually lasts for two to four weeks. If an exposed person does not develop signs or symptoms by the 21st day after the last exposure, they are unlikely to develop monkeypox.
Less than half of the patients said they realized they were having a transient ischemic attack when the symptoms started. But even those who suspected TIA weren't quicker to seek medical attention. Almost all of the patients (96%) recalled their first impressions of their symptoms. Of those patients, 42% said they thought they were having a transient ischemic attack. However, knowing TIA's symptoms didn't spur people to quickly seek medical help. As for the other patients who recalled their initial perception of their symptoms, nearly one in three said they didn't initially know what caused their symptoms. The rest said they suspected stress, eye problems, heart attack, or migraines were to blame.
Diet, exercise and drugs like allopurinol (all of which lower UA levels) could eventually be of value in reducing this risk, especially for those with additional risk factors such as diabetes, obesity and hypertension, the researchers say. But they caution that it would be premature to try this now. "Over a lifetime, it is common to have a small number of these mini strokes and not even notice," says Schretlen, "but as the overall volume of WMH increases, the damage can seriously disrupt how quickly we think and how effectively we learn and remember information."
Mini-strokes should never, as the Stroke Association points out, be ignored. In some cases, they are the prelude to another, usually more severe, attack. Studies show that after one, the chance of a further, more serious occurrence during the following week is as high as 30 per cent. For five years after a mini-stroke, 40 per cent of sufferers are at risk of a further attack, about half of which occur within the first year. Like major strokes, mini-strokes occur largely as a result of fatty material that builds up on artery walls, breaking off to lodge in small blood vessels leading to the brain. Blood clots may, similarly, be dislodged and block the flow of blood.
While there is consensus for rapid CT brain imaging, there is not agreement about the timing of other tests, such as carotid imaging. There is some interest in the use of an Accelerated Diagnostic Protocol (ADP), coupled with an Emergency Department Observational Unit, to avoid the average 3-day stay for admitted patients. This protocol may lower costs and reduce hospital stays, but questions remain about the outcomes and overall quality of care that such patients receive.
A transient ischaemic attack (TIA) is usually defined as causing symptoms for less than 24 hours, but it is unlikely that brain or eye is actually ischaemic for more than a few minutes. What we observe is the clinical effects of reversible impairment of neuronal function resulting from a short period of ischaemia. The risk of stroke after a TIA is about 12% in the first year and then about 7% a year thereafter, with risk of stroke, heart attack or vascular death being about 10% a year. This is about seven times the risk in the background population. But there is also a high risk of stroke in the seven days after a TIA, possibly as high as 10%.
Read about home remedies, natural remedies .Read about health care, beauty tips makeup tips and home remedies
]]>Give your eyes a break from contacts. If you have eye discomfort and you're a contact lens wearer, you know what to do: take them out. Put on your glasses for a day or so and see if your eyes feel better the next day. Try natural tears that you can purchase over the counter at a drugstore. These products will take out redness and stop itchiness.
Best remedy is to put a slice of cucumber over each eye for 30 minutes. If this does not work go to the pharmacy and get some Opticrom or other eye drops.
Do not touch your eyes. Try to keep a distance from other people so they won't get it. lt is caused by a virus (in most cases). Try washing your eyes using clean water from time to time. Do it with your eyes open. Wipe excess water with clean tissue.
Bacterial infections usually cause a discharge of very sticky pus. Often the eyelids are hard to open in the morning and seem ‘glued’ together. Viral infections may be more painful, with very red eyes and less discharge. They spread easily and can be passed on by contact and sharing towels, face flannels and so on. Allergic problems cause a gritty feeling, redness and watering of the eyes.
Sore Eyes heal in one week even without medication but ophthalmologists can give antibiotics to hasten healing. Don't spread it around and here are tips to avoid spreading eye infections. Don't scratch your eyes.Use tissue paper when wiping tears-it's easier to dispose of. Hanky or towels are no-nos. And don't forget to wash your hands frequently. Eye drops cannot cure sore eyes. They may simply make the red eye look whiter by making the eye's blood vessel smaller and thus less visible.
Fenugreek seed’s is found very effective too. 2 Tablespoon fenugreek seeds should be put to a liter of cold water and boiled for half an hour on a low flame. Strain the liquid when it is warm and use as a gargle.
Using a non-herbal tea bag, add enough hot water to soak the tea bag. Apply the tea bag over the affected eye as a poultice for ten to fifteen minutes. Use the remaining water from the tea bag to wash the eye frequently to keep the eye clear of infection.
Diet on orange-juice and water for 3-5 days. Bowels should be cleansed daily with warm water enema. Wet pack should be applied to the throat at 2 hourly intervals during the day and night.
Put some salt in boiled, cooled water. Dip some cotton balls. Close your eyes and place the salted cotton balls on top of your infected eye. Remain in this position for about 5 minutes.
Applying a grated potato mixed with a little oil may reduce
swelling of the eyes. The discoloration around the eye is relieved by applying
a mixture of scraps of the fresh root of Solomon's seal, moistened with a
little vinegar. Other herbs that are also thought to be effective are betony,
borage, cowslip, feverfew, lilac, angelica, poppy, viper's bugloss and white
horehound. Don’t throw Way your used tea bags! Make sure they're
moist and cool enough to apply to the closed eyelids for 15 minutes.
Diarrhea is a common illness very often affecting people of all ages. Initially diarrhea is an acute illness, but it might transmute into a chronic condition. Diarrhea means defecation of more than 200 grams per day and appears when fluids are not absorbed by the colon because food passes through too quickly or in too-large amounts. The main causes for diarrhea are: food intolerance, bacterial infection or intestinal diseases. In children, rotavirus causes diarrhea; among adults Norwalk is the main culprit responsible for diarrhea.
Diarrhea treatment should never begin immediately upon the onset of symptoms. Diarrhea is a natural way for your body to rid itself of toxins. Suppressing toxins, especially those caused by food poisoning, can lead to serious complications. The very young and old are at high risk for developing dehydration. Treatment therefore, should begin within 2-4 hours for those in this age bracket. If diarrhea is thought to be caused by prescription or non-prescription medications, discontinue their use immediately and contact your doctor. Diarrhea caused by food energy will subside within 4-6 hours.
Diarrhea is most commonly caused by viral infections, parasites or bacterial toxins. In sanitary living conditions where there is ample food and a supply of clean water, an otherwise healthy patient usually recovers from viral infections in a few days. However, for ill or malnourished individuals diarrhea can lead to severe dehydration and can become life-threatening without treatment.
Eliminate dairy, eggs and wheat from your diet. These foods are high in allergens and can cause diarrhea even in people who have been eating them their whole lives. Switch to rice milk or soy milk. Watch labels for wheat, including wheat gluten. After the intestine has recovered, slowly reintroduce the foods into your diet.
Fortunately, for most people, diarrhea is caused by an infection with a virus (known as viral gastroenteritis or the stomach flu) or bacteria. In a number of these cases of diarrhea, the cure is time. This is because people with healthy immune systems are able to effectively fight on an infection. Over 1 to 10 days, most of these bouts of diarrhea improve. Furthermore, most do not require any medical treatment, except for staying well hydrated.
Take a ripe banana and mash it properly. Add 1 tsp of tamarind pulp and a pinch of salt to it. Consume this mixture two times in a day.
Diarrhea treatment can be achieved by using Pomegranate. Pomegranate has shown to be very effective in treating diarrhea because of its astringent properties. If a patient becomes weak due to diarrhea, he or she should by given 50ml of Pomegranate juice to drink. This will help to control the diarrhea.
Another cure which my acupuncturist told me is hard to believe but very effective. Put some salt in your belly button, cover it with a few strips of ginger (no, I’m not kidding!) and heat the area with a cigarette. This stimulates the spleen which will regulate everything else.
Warm the yogurt slightly in the microwave for 10 seconds, or
over a small flame in a suitable container for two minutes. Add the turmeric
and salt and stir. Drink it up. You can have upto three cups a day for not so
severe diarreah. Very severe diarreah needs a doctor's attention as it can lead
to dehydration very fast, especially in children and older people.
During the seventies women used to burn off the split ends. You need not do this. All you need to do is to cut them off using a pair of scissors. You do not have to visit a saloon to cut them off; you can do it at home itself. To get rid of split ends, take a small section of your hair and carefully twist it gently in a downward motion.
Avoid hair-damaging activities like using a curling iron or blow-drying. If blow-drying is necessary to achieve a certain style, then one can reduce split ends by regularly applying conditioner after shampooing. Choose a conditioner for damaged or dry hair to achieve maximum hair protection. As well, leave-in conditioners applied after a shower can help cut down on damage caused by blow-drying.
Hair moisturizing mask made of mashed up avocado when applied to damp hair will prevent split ends effectively. Make sure you leave it on your hair for atleast 15-30 minutes. You can also add hot olive oil to it.
Go to your Salon and ask them to give you a consultation. BC Bonacure and Joico’s Hair Repair Line have earned their reputation. Ask your stylist to suggest the best one for you.
Rub olive oil into the ends of hair 2-3 times per week. Leave the oil overnight and wash out in the morning.
To get rid of split ends, use plenty of conditioner during and after a shower. Some conditioners are good for your hair, and others aren’t. Generally speaking, those conditioners that are more expensive or found in reputable hair salons are the better conditioners. Conditioner will not only help keep your hair feeling luxuriously smooth, but it will also help prevent breakage and the resulting split ends by lubricating your hair. The problem here is that conditioners that make your hair easy to brush tend to leave more residues.
Like everyone else said...get them trimmed. While your at your hair solon or wherever you go maybe ask them if they have a product that can help repair split ends. I have the same problem because i straighten my hair everyday. The woman who cuts my hair reommended Fantastic Repair from Fantastic Sams.It works really well for me. I dont know if you have one near where you live but i would be willing to bet that wherever you go to get your hair cut has a product that will work for you.
Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Your health and diet can affect your hair condition - a low fat diet can cause dull, dry hair which will split faster because there is not enough lubrication on the hair follicle.
Your hair is at its weakest when it is wet. So keep the regular comb and brush away as this will cause breakage.Use a wide tooth comb to gently de-tangle your hair.
You should trim your hair often, as this will help in cutting off the split
ends as well. Cut your hair 1 inch above the split end or else the split end
will work its way all up till the roots of the hair.
Marburg virus and the related Ebola virus have caused large outbreaks with high case fatalities (80-90%) in humans and great apes. No vaccine or drug therapy is available presently. The paper reports detection of viral RNA from four out of 283 R. aegyptiacus bats in a collection of over 1100 bats tested, representing 10 species. Interestingly, 29 of 242 R. aegyptiacus bats also tested serologically positive for Marburg virus as evidenced by the presence of IgG antibodies in bat sera. Neither Marburg virus RNA nor specific antibody were detected in any of the other species of bats tested. All bats were trapped near caves in 2005 and 2006 in Gabon and the Republic of Congo. Genetic sequences obtained from the infected bats in this study are unique compared to other known Marburg virus sequences. R. aegyptiacus is widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa.
Symptoms of Marburg Virus
The signs and symptoms of Marburg hemorrhagic fever strike suddenly 5 to 10 days after infection with the virus and usually include fever, chills, headache, and myalgia (muscle aches). Nausea, vomiting, and chest or abdominal pain may also occur. A maculopapular rash (with both of flat and raised lesions) appears about 5 days after symptoms have begun. The disease can worsen to include pancreatitis, jaundice, delirium, and ultimately shock and multi-organ failure.
Sudden onset of fever, chills, and malaise, with extreme prostration and weight loss. The fever typically lasts 7 days. On the fifth day of fever, a maculopapular petechial (tiny--pinpoint or pinhead size papula) rash appears, and hemorrhaging begins. In survivors, the skin will eventually begin to shed or peel.
Recovery can take 5 weeks or more, and is marked by prostration, weight loss, and amnesia for the period of acute illness. Complications during convalescence can include recurrent hepatitis, as well as inflammation of the spinal cord, bone marrow, eyes, testes, and parotid gland.
Causes of Marburg Virus
The virus that causes Marburg hemorrhagic fever, a disease which affects both humans and non-human primates. Caused by a genetically unique zoonotic (that is, animal-borne) RNA virus of the filovirus family, its recognition led to the creation of this virus family. The four species of Ebola virus are the only other known members of the filovirus family.
The Marburg viruse emerged from tropical rain forests in Africa and parts of the Western Pacific. The viruses live in an animal host or "reservoir." The natural hosts for Ebola and Marburg remain a mystery, though some scientists speculate that bats are the source. The viruses that cause hemorrhagic fevers jump from animals to humans when people encroach on a native habitat and encounter the viruses for the first time. Although humans have been infected with Ebola and Marburg through contact with monkeys, chimpanzees and other primates, these animals aren't the viruses' natural reservoir.
Treatment for Marburg Virus
There is no specific antiviral therapy indicated for treating Marburg, and hospital care is usually supportive in nature. Hypotension and shock may require early administration of vasopressors and haemodynamic monitoring with attention to fluid and electrolyte balance, circulatory volume, and blood pressure. Viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) patients tend to respond poorly to fluid infusions and may develop pulmonary edema.
Caregivers require barrier infection control measures
including double gloves, impermeable gowns, face shields, eye protection, leg
and shoe coverings.
Malnutrition is a general term for a medical condition caused by an improper or insufficient diet. It most often refers to undernutrition resulting from inadequate consumption, poor absorption, or excessive loss of nutrients, but the term can also encompass overnutrition, resulting from overeating or excessive intake of specific nutrients. An individual will experience malnutrition if the appropriate amount of, or quality of nutrients comprising a healthy diet are not consumed for an extended period of time. An extended period of malnutrition can result in starvation, disease, and infection.
Under nutrition occurs when one or more vital nutrients are not present in the quantity that is needed for the body to develop and function normally. This may be due to insufficient intake, increased loss, increased demand, or a condition or disease that decreases the body’s ability to digest and absorb nutrients from available food. While the need for adequate nutrition is a constant, the demands of the body will vary, both on a daily and yearly basis.
Causes
The primary cause of malnutrition in industrialized nations is economic deprivation, or the inability to afford necessary foods. Poor eating habits also play a major role. The elderly often develop poor eating habits because of ill health, depression, or limited income. Nutritional imbalance can occur as a result of fad diets and appetite-suppressing drugs.
Malnutrition can occur because of the lack of a single vitamin in the diet, or it can be because a person isn't getting enough food. Starvation is a form of malnutrition. Malnutrition also occurs when adequate nutrients are consumed in the diet, but one or more nutrients are not digested or absorbed properly. Worldwide, malnutrition continues to be a significant problem, especially among children who cannot fend adequately for themselves.
The main cause of hunger is poverty. Hunger is most devastating when it attacks children, since it can affect their mental and physical development for the rest of their lives, thus deepening the poverty cycle since they have less access to education and opportunities for work later in life. However, hunger also seriously affects adults, impeding their productivity and creating a host of associated health problems, making their lives even more difficult.
Symptoms
Symptoms vary with the specific malnutrition-related disorder. However, some general symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, weight loss and decreased immune response.
Infants, young children, and teenagers need additional nutrients. So do women who are pregnant or breast-feeding. Nutrient loss can be accelerated by diarrheas, excessive sweating, heavy bleeding (hemorrhage), or kidney failure. Nutrient intake can be restricted by age-related illnesses and conditions, excessive dieting, severe injury, serious illness, a lengthy hospitalization, or substance abuse.
Worldwide, malnutrition continues to be a significant problem, especially among children who cannot fend adequately for themselves. Poverty, natural disasters, political problems, and war all contribute to conditions -- even epidemics -- of malnutrition and starvation, and not just in developing countries.
Treatment
Tube feeding is often used to provide nutrients to patients who have suffered burns or who have inflammatory bowel disease. This procedure involves inserting a thin tube through the nose and carefully guiding it along the throat until it reaches the stomach or small intestine. If long-term tube feeding is necessary, the tube may be placed directly into the stomach or small intestine through an incision in the abdomen.
The main problem with over sized pendulous breasts is that they can cause a series of medical problems from the extra weight that the body's frame has to support. These problems can even include skin irritations as well as the well known neck and back problems. The most severe cases can have skeletal deformities from back and neck pain and skin irritation to skeletal deformities. Skin indentations can also be cause by the bra straps having too much pressure applied and can be very uncomfortable on a daily basis which can be called chronic pain. And unusually large breasts can make a woman-or a teenage girl-feel extremely self-conscious.
Breast reduction surgery is performed under general anesthesia, and can be done as an outpatient procedure, although with some patients a hospital stay is required. Techniques of surgery can vary slightly based on the doctor's preference and the patient's need, but in general an incision is made from the lower crease of the breast, above the nipple in a circle, and back down to the crease of the other side of the breast. The final incision is similar to the shape of an inverted keyhole.
The best place to learn about your problem, insurance coverage, and possible treatments are during an in office consultation. Dr. Bermant also offers a preliminary remote package for those patients who travel great distances for our care. After evaluating your medical information and standardized photographs, we have a telephone discussion about your problem and possible solutions. Our patients have told us that this introduction helps them feel comfortable with what we offer before coming to Richmond Virginia. If you want to learn more, call to make an appointment with our office.
Benefits of the surgery include relief of pain in your upper back, neck and shoulders; reduced shoulder pressure from bra straps; increased ability to exercise and participate in physical activities; and a more positive self-image. The surgery may also help you breathe and sleep easier. Most women who have breast reduction surgery are highly satisfied with the results.
Breast Reduction, although actually a reconstructive surgical procedure, is used to correct marked breast enlargement, out of proportion to body size, and causing significant back, neck, and shoulder pain, as well as a tendency to rashes and yeast infections in the folds under the breasts. The cause varies but is generally associated with genetic pre-disposition, hormone fluctuation (e.g. puberty, pregnancy, or menopause), or marked weight variation. Breast Reduction is a surgical method of size reduction of the breasts, relieving the weight burden, and usually producing an improvement in breast shape.
The two most popular techniques in North America are the inferior pedicle and vertical scar techniques. Both of which are more likely to leave both nipple sensitivity and capability to lactate for the patient as compared to other techniques of the past. It is now being studied and debated as to which of the two techniques results in a better quality of life for the patient in the long run. Liposuction has been used along with the other breast reduction procedures for quite some time, but the newer liposuction only technique is now gaining popularity. All of the breast reduction techniques include a breast lift besides the liposuction only method.
Lupus is a condition characterized by chronic inflammation of body tissues caused by autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases are illnesses that occur when the body's tissues are attacked by its own immune system. The immune system is a complex system within the body that is designed to fight infectious agents, for example, bacteria, and other foreign invaders.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (also called SLE, or lupus) is an autoimmune disease of the body's connective tissues. Autoimmune means that the immune system attacks the tissues of the body. In lupus, the immune system primarily attacks parts of the cell nucleus.
If you are suffering from Lupus, something is wrong with your immune system and it attacks all the possible healthy cells and tissues within your body. This can damage the parts of the body such as follows:
There are several kinds of Lupus and the most common type includes systemic lupus erythematosus, which affects many parts of the body. The other kind of Lupus includes are as follows:
Lupus, also called systemic lupus erythematosus, is a chronic inflammatory condition that primarily affects the skin and joints. It can also involve other organs such as the heart, kidneys, and nervous system. Lupus is an unpredictable lifelong condition that typically affects young adults between 18 and 40 years of age. It affects about 1 in 1,000 people, and 90% of them are women.
According to the Lupus Foundation of America, approximately 1.5 million people in the U.S. have lupus. People of African, Asian and Native American descent are more likely to develop lupus than are Caucasians. Although it can occur in both men and women, 90% of people diagnosed with the disease are women. Women of childbearing age (14 to 45 years old) are most often affected—as many as 1 in 250 may develop lupus.
Lupus is an autoimmune disorder (the body is attacking itself) of the connective tissues that affects eight times more women (between the ages of 20 and 40) than men. Among ethnic backgrounds, those of African, Native American, and Asian descent develop the condition more frequently than those of European ancestry. Lupus can be mild such as discoid lupus (DLE), affecting exposed areas of the skin, and sometimes the joints, to life-threatening (systemic lupus erythematosis), affecting more organs of the body.
Lupus (pronounced: loo-pus) is a disease that involves the immune system and affects about 1.5 million Americans; nearly 90% of those diagnosed with the disease are female. Normally, a person's immune system works by producing immunity cells and antibodies, special substances that fight germs and infection if you have lupus, your immune system attacks healthy cells and tissues by mistake. This can damage your joints, skin, blood vessels and organs. There are many kinds of lupus. The most common type, systemic lupus erythematosus, affects many parts of the body
While lupus is a chronic illness, it is characterized by periods when the disease activity is minimal or absent (remission) and when it is active (relapse or flare). The outlook for patients with SLE today is much better than years ago because of greater awareness and better tests leading to earlier diagnosis and treatment and more effective and safer medications.