Sabtu, 23 Mei 2009
Jumat, 22 Mei 2009
Selasa, 19 Mei 2009
Rabu, 06 Mei 2009
Is Shingles Contagious? : Every Thing about Shingles Disease
Shingles is an inflammation of a nerve which causes pain, itching, a rash, or all three. It affects an estimated 300,000 people in the United States each year.
The word shingles comes from the Latin cingulus meaning a girdle. It has been known from biblical times as the creeping eruption that girdles the body.
Shingles has nothing to do with "nerves" in the emotional sense. You might hear someone say, "Oh! She's a nervous wreck. That's why she came down with the shingles." Nonsense. Because shingles affects a nerve, many people mistake this to mean that it is a nervous condition.
The condition has affected its share of celebrities-Golda Meir, Arthur Rubinstein, and former President Nixon immediately come to mind-and that notoriety also has led to many misconceptions about it.
Is Shingles Contagious?
Shingles, the technical name for which is herpes zoster, is caused by a virus. It's the same virus that's responsible for chicken pox; it actually represents a reactivation of latent chicken pox viruses from an earlier infection. Like chicken pox, shingles is usually a once-in-a-lifetime condition. Unlike chicken pox, however, it is only slightly contagious .
Although shingles can affect any age group, it's more prevalent and more painful in older people. And since shingles can attack any nerve, no area of the body surface is immune. Depending upon the severity of the pain and the location of the nerve involved, one can mistake shingles in its early stages for attacks of appendicitis, kidney stones, gallbladder trouble, pleurisy, and even facial neuralgia and toothache.
The virus of shingles attacks a nerve root in the brain or spinal cord and follows the course of that nerve only. Early symptoms include a feeling of fatigue, headache, a slight fever, and a mild drawing pain over the involved area. The pain characteristically involves only one side.
The infected areas of the skin become red and itchy, and a rash, made up of small blisters, often follows, usually in groups, along the path of the affected nerve. These blisters last for about two weeks and then rupture, forming crusts.
Because each nerve extends to a very specific part of the body on either the left or right side, the blisters usually have a ribbon like or branching configuration, forming a semicircle on one side of the body.
In children and young adults, shingles usually runs a mild and quick course, and the average sufferer will recover without any therapy. In older people, however, the pain may be excruciating, the itching may be intense, and the blisters may become crusted and infected.
Complications can arise from even the mildest form of shingles, so it is important that a physician examine any suspected case. Your doctor can prescribe various internal medications, such as antibiotics, cortisone-like drugs, analgesics and antihistamines, to relieve the pain, itching and inflammation, as well as soothing salves and ointments to relieve the dermatitis and possibly prevent spread of the disease.
When shingles involves the eye, you should consult an ophthalmologist (a physician who specializes in diseases of the eye) to prevent severe damage to the cornea. Arthur Rubinstein, one of the country's greatest pianists, had to retire from the concert stage in 1976, when an attack of shingles left him nearly blind.
Other complications of shingles which may occur are scarring where the blisters had been, extreme fatigue and malaise during the period of recovery, and persistent dull or severe pain (postherpetic neuralgia) which may linger for months or longer after the rash has disappeared.
Occurring in more than half the patients over the age of fifty, this oftentimes exquisite pain that follows an episode of herpes zoster, can be extremely disabling. A variety of attempts to control or reduce this relentless torment has met with variable success. A new topical medication, capsaicin, holds some promise in relieving some of this distressing symptom. This over-the-counter product, called Zostrix, should be applied three or four times a day, with relief of the pain anticipated in about two or three weeks. It should be continued for a period of several months, and for those who have been suffering from chronic pain, treatment over several years should be expected.
While there are no cures, as such, for shingles, many dermatologists have been prescribing acyclovir (Zovirax) orally in large doses in an attempt to shorten the course of the disease and, possibly, to diminish some of the complications.
There are no measures known to prevent shingles. You may save yourself some worry, however, by avoiding direct contact with someone who has shingles. If you are older, and therefore more susceptible to shingles, you should also avoid young children who have chicken pox. Doctors will sometimes prescribe injections of gamma globulin for patients who are otherwise very ill and who have been exposed to persons who have either chicken pox or shingles.
If you do have shingles-some dermatologists call this "second-time" chicken pox-refrain from contact with infants and children who have never had chicken pox, and avoid people who are undergoing chemotherapy.
Shingles almost always limits itself to one side of the body. So, if you have a rash on both sides, chances are that shingles is not the culprit.
The word shingles comes from the Latin cingulus meaning a girdle. It has been known from biblical times as the creeping eruption that girdles the body.
Shingles has nothing to do with "nerves" in the emotional sense. You might hear someone say, "Oh! She's a nervous wreck. That's why she came down with the shingles." Nonsense. Because shingles affects a nerve, many people mistake this to mean that it is a nervous condition.
The condition has affected its share of celebrities-Golda Meir, Arthur Rubinstein, and former President Nixon immediately come to mind-and that notoriety also has led to many misconceptions about it.
Is Shingles Contagious?
Shingles, the technical name for which is herpes zoster, is caused by a virus. It's the same virus that's responsible for chicken pox; it actually represents a reactivation of latent chicken pox viruses from an earlier infection. Like chicken pox, shingles is usually a once-in-a-lifetime condition. Unlike chicken pox, however, it is only slightly contagious .
Although shingles can affect any age group, it's more prevalent and more painful in older people. And since shingles can attack any nerve, no area of the body surface is immune. Depending upon the severity of the pain and the location of the nerve involved, one can mistake shingles in its early stages for attacks of appendicitis, kidney stones, gallbladder trouble, pleurisy, and even facial neuralgia and toothache.
The virus of shingles attacks a nerve root in the brain or spinal cord and follows the course of that nerve only. Early symptoms include a feeling of fatigue, headache, a slight fever, and a mild drawing pain over the involved area. The pain characteristically involves only one side.
The infected areas of the skin become red and itchy, and a rash, made up of small blisters, often follows, usually in groups, along the path of the affected nerve. These blisters last for about two weeks and then rupture, forming crusts.
Because each nerve extends to a very specific part of the body on either the left or right side, the blisters usually have a ribbon like or branching configuration, forming a semicircle on one side of the body.
In children and young adults, shingles usually runs a mild and quick course, and the average sufferer will recover without any therapy. In older people, however, the pain may be excruciating, the itching may be intense, and the blisters may become crusted and infected.
Complications can arise from even the mildest form of shingles, so it is important that a physician examine any suspected case. Your doctor can prescribe various internal medications, such as antibiotics, cortisone-like drugs, analgesics and antihistamines, to relieve the pain, itching and inflammation, as well as soothing salves and ointments to relieve the dermatitis and possibly prevent spread of the disease.
When shingles involves the eye, you should consult an ophthalmologist (a physician who specializes in diseases of the eye) to prevent severe damage to the cornea. Arthur Rubinstein, one of the country's greatest pianists, had to retire from the concert stage in 1976, when an attack of shingles left him nearly blind.
Other complications of shingles which may occur are scarring where the blisters had been, extreme fatigue and malaise during the period of recovery, and persistent dull or severe pain (postherpetic neuralgia) which may linger for months or longer after the rash has disappeared.
Occurring in more than half the patients over the age of fifty, this oftentimes exquisite pain that follows an episode of herpes zoster, can be extremely disabling. A variety of attempts to control or reduce this relentless torment has met with variable success. A new topical medication, capsaicin, holds some promise in relieving some of this distressing symptom. This over-the-counter product, called Zostrix, should be applied three or four times a day, with relief of the pain anticipated in about two or three weeks. It should be continued for a period of several months, and for those who have been suffering from chronic pain, treatment over several years should be expected.
While there are no cures, as such, for shingles, many dermatologists have been prescribing acyclovir (Zovirax) orally in large doses in an attempt to shorten the course of the disease and, possibly, to diminish some of the complications.
There are no measures known to prevent shingles. You may save yourself some worry, however, by avoiding direct contact with someone who has shingles. If you are older, and therefore more susceptible to shingles, you should also avoid young children who have chicken pox. Doctors will sometimes prescribe injections of gamma globulin for patients who are otherwise very ill and who have been exposed to persons who have either chicken pox or shingles.
If you do have shingles-some dermatologists call this "second-time" chicken pox-refrain from contact with infants and children who have never had chicken pox, and avoid people who are undergoing chemotherapy.
Shingles almost always limits itself to one side of the body. So, if you have a rash on both sides, chances are that shingles is not the culprit.
Sabtu, 18 April 2009
Types of ECZEMA
Itch. . . scratch. . . .
Itch. . . scratch. . . scratch. . . .
In brief, this is the story of what people frequently call
"eczema"and what dermatologists call "atopic dermatitis." It is the disease that starts from scratch and one that may last a lifetime. It is the eczema of infancy, the chronic, relentless dermatitis of childhood and adolescence, and the fierce and uncontrollable itching of the adult.
Eczema is a general term which, to most people, means a diffuse rash with itching. It is a synonym for dermatitis, which literally means "inflammation of the skin."
But when physicians speak of eczema, they usually refer to the persistent, incessant itchy eruption that almost invariably begins in infancy, is inherited, is often accompanied in later years by hay fever or asthma, and in rare circumstances lasts a lifetime. It is a topic dermatitis, a disease that affects about 10 millions people in the United States alone.
No one yet knows the "why" of this virtually uncontrollable, allergic process. It begins with itching on a perfectly normal looking skin. You then rub, claw, tear, and scratch where it itches and you, yourself, produce the rash we know of as eczema.
There are three different types or "stages" of atopic dermatitis.
The infantile form. This usually begins about six or eight weeks after birth. The itching is often intense and lasts up until about the age of two years. The rash, which almost always affects the cheeks and mouth, usually worsens after vaccinations and immunization injections and during the teething phase. During the second year of life, the itchy areas develop over the hands, wrists, and outer portions of the arms and legs.
The childhood type. While the infantile form in over half the cases fades out between the ages of two and four, it may continue into the so-called childhood type of eczema. The areas that suffer most here are the creases in the elbows and the bends of the knees. The affected areas are more dry, the skin becomes thicker and grayish in color, the itching becomes fierce, and the children are restless, anxious, and hyperactive.
Of all the eczemas that occur during childhood, atopic dermatitis is not only the most prevalent disorder, but it is also one of the most mystifying and difficult to manage.
The adolescent and adult types. The infantile and childhood eczemas often disappear after a few years only to reappear in late adolescence. While it usually fades away by the age of thirty, it may persist throughout the entire lifetime of some unfortunate person. The itching, again, may be intense and is usually worse at night. The areas affected are the bends of the elbows and knees, the face, the shoulders, and the upper back. The itchy and scratched skin becomes thick and leathery, darker than the surrounding skin, and develops dry scales.
Another characteristic feature is the accentuated groove beneath the lower eyelids. This is called the atopic pleat.
The management of eczema is an enormous challenge for the physician. No one treatment for eczema works for everyone, since the areas involved and the degree of itching affect different people in different ways. At best we try to alleviate the intense itching which, in essence, is the disease. Interrupt and stop this fierce symptom and we break the itch-scratch reflex which is wholly responsible for the clinical manifestation-the rash.
Itch. . . scratch. . . scratch. . . .
In brief, this is the story of what people frequently call
"eczema"and what dermatologists call "atopic dermatitis." It is the disease that starts from scratch and one that may last a lifetime. It is the eczema of infancy, the chronic, relentless dermatitis of childhood and adolescence, and the fierce and uncontrollable itching of the adult.
Eczema is a general term which, to most people, means a diffuse rash with itching. It is a synonym for dermatitis, which literally means "inflammation of the skin."
But when physicians speak of eczema, they usually refer to the persistent, incessant itchy eruption that almost invariably begins in infancy, is inherited, is often accompanied in later years by hay fever or asthma, and in rare circumstances lasts a lifetime. It is a topic dermatitis, a disease that affects about 10 millions people in the United States alone.
No one yet knows the "why" of this virtually uncontrollable, allergic process. It begins with itching on a perfectly normal looking skin. You then rub, claw, tear, and scratch where it itches and you, yourself, produce the rash we know of as eczema.
There are three different types or "stages" of atopic dermatitis.
The infantile form. This usually begins about six or eight weeks after birth. The itching is often intense and lasts up until about the age of two years. The rash, which almost always affects the cheeks and mouth, usually worsens after vaccinations and immunization injections and during the teething phase. During the second year of life, the itchy areas develop over the hands, wrists, and outer portions of the arms and legs.
The childhood type. While the infantile form in over half the cases fades out between the ages of two and four, it may continue into the so-called childhood type of eczema. The areas that suffer most here are the creases in the elbows and the bends of the knees. The affected areas are more dry, the skin becomes thicker and grayish in color, the itching becomes fierce, and the children are restless, anxious, and hyperactive.
Of all the eczemas that occur during childhood, atopic dermatitis is not only the most prevalent disorder, but it is also one of the most mystifying and difficult to manage.
The adolescent and adult types. The infantile and childhood eczemas often disappear after a few years only to reappear in late adolescence. While it usually fades away by the age of thirty, it may persist throughout the entire lifetime of some unfortunate person. The itching, again, may be intense and is usually worse at night. The areas affected are the bends of the elbows and knees, the face, the shoulders, and the upper back. The itchy and scratched skin becomes thick and leathery, darker than the surrounding skin, and develops dry scales.
Another characteristic feature is the accentuated groove beneath the lower eyelids. This is called the atopic pleat.
The management of eczema is an enormous challenge for the physician. No one treatment for eczema works for everyone, since the areas involved and the degree of itching affect different people in different ways. At best we try to alleviate the intense itching which, in essence, is the disease. Interrupt and stop this fierce symptom and we break the itch-scratch reflex which is wholly responsible for the clinical manifestation-the rash.
Senin, 30 Maret 2009
Know The Symptoms Of Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a stubborn, chronic, and as yet incurable disease of the skin. Some eight million people suffer from psoriasis in the United States alone. And they spend more than $1 billion a year ($2,000 every minute!) to treat this poorly understood ailment.
Psoriasis-the word comes from the Greek psora which means itch-was considered a form of leprosy in biblical times. But this "disease of healthy people" doesn't threaten or shorten lives. It is neither an infection nor an allergy. It probably is not due to any vitamin or mineral deficiency. It doesn't leave scars or make you lose your hair. And, except in severe cases, it doesn't interfere with physical activities. (In fact, it may not even itch). To the psoriasis sufferer, however, it can be an emotionally disabling and traumatic disorder.
Psoriasis is characterized by patches of raised, red skin covered by silvery-white scales. It can occur at any age, but commonly begins in young adulthood. It usually recurs at unpredictable intervals and may be worse in the winter. It is often precipitated or aggravated by physical or emotional stress, upper respiratory infections, strep throat, alcoholic beverages, obesity, certain oral medications (lithium and anti-malarial drugs are but a few), and skin injuries such as scratches, cuts, and burns, including sunburn.
Psoriasis is not contagious. It does seem to run in families about one-third of psoriatic patients have a family history of the condition-although the pattern of heredity is not clear. It is also associated with a form of arthritis which affects the joints of the fingers.
No one knows the cause of psoriasis, but we do know how it comes about. Normal skin cells have a life span of about twenty eight days. This is the time it takes for a cell to be born, move to the outer surface of the skin, and flake off.
In psoriasis, due to some abnormality in the mechanism which makes the skin grow and replace itself, this orderly process goes awry. The skin cells turn over at a rate ten times faster than the normal cells, causing a build-up of scales in thick, red, and sharply-bordered patches. These patches may be small, the size of a matchhead or smaller, or extremely large, covering the entire body. If these patches appear in the body's creases and folds. They may cause itching and pain. Although psoriasis can affect any part of the skin, the patches usually occur on the elbows, knees, and scalp.
Psoriasis comes in many shapes and forms. It can, for example, limit itself to the fingernails and toenails as small pits or stippling or loosening of the nails from their beds. In some unfortunate people, it affects the genital area and can limit sexual activity. In extreme cases it is widespread, with total body redness and scaling, causing severe embarrassment which, in turn, can lead to psychological problems: the true "heartbreak" of psoriasis.
If you have psoriasis, there are some remedies you can try yourself. But for serious or stubborn cases, I recommend you see your dermatologist. There are many treatments, both old and new, that require a doctor's know-how.
The method of treatment depends on the extent and severity of the symptoms. An old standby is one of the various types of tar preparations which have been used with good results by thousands of psoriasis sufferers. Other methods are sunlight and ultraviolet radiation. There are also cortisone-like medications that are applied or injected into the patches as well as various oral remedies which, while often effective, may have potentially serious side effects. One of these is methotrexate, a drug that has been used for many years to treat difficult and extensive cases of psoriasis. Treatment with methotrexate is complicated by nausea, mouth ulcers, headaches, and harmful effects on the liver.
The latest powerful oral medication for severe and stubborn psoriasis is a pill called etretinate (Tegison). It is extremely effective for the severe, generalized forms of psoriasis, but there are many serious, adverse side effects. If you plan to enter into this therapy, make sure your dermatologist explains it to you.Every new treatment for psoriasis becomes headline news.
Most of these "miracle treatments" quickly fall into disfavor or are discarded when another "breakthrough" is heralded. One of the popular treatments, PUVA therapy, is aimed at slowing down excess cell reproduction. The patient swallows a harmless drug called methoxsalen and then is exposed to longwave ultraviolet light. The proponents of this therapy swear by it, and today it has become a fashionable treatment for people with extensive psoriasis. There is some indication, however, that the PUVA treatment' can lead to severe skin damage appearing many years later. Another reported treatment, called climatotherapy, consists of bathing in the Dead Sea!
But let's face it. While many of these treatments can help relieve the itching and scaling, there is no known "cure" for psoriasis. The cure will come about only when we know the exact nature and mechanism of the disease.
And while you must face the possibility that psoriasis will be a permanent guest in your life, let me offer some general guidelines to help you overcome the difficulties that accompany your condition:
* Avoid emotional stress and tension.
* Try not to worry about what you consider the unsightly appearance of your rash. (It looks a lot worse to you than it does to other people.)
* If it itches, try not to scratch.
* Avoid those widely advertised" quick cures."
* While diet plays only a small role in psoriasis, I recommend that you limit your intake of red meat, poultry, eggs, dairy products, and alcoholic beverages for a few weeks to see if it helps. I know that doesn't leave much, but a temporary diet of fish and vegetables is a small price to pay for the chance of relief.
* Cooperate with your dermatologist.
* Don't be discouraged if progress is slow.
* And take comfort in knowing that with the variety of medications and treatments available, this potentially traumatic and hopeless disorder has a good chance of being controlled.
Psoriasis-the word comes from the Greek psora which means itch-was considered a form of leprosy in biblical times. But this "disease of healthy people" doesn't threaten or shorten lives. It is neither an infection nor an allergy. It probably is not due to any vitamin or mineral deficiency. It doesn't leave scars or make you lose your hair. And, except in severe cases, it doesn't interfere with physical activities. (In fact, it may not even itch). To the psoriasis sufferer, however, it can be an emotionally disabling and traumatic disorder.
Psoriasis is characterized by patches of raised, red skin covered by silvery-white scales. It can occur at any age, but commonly begins in young adulthood. It usually recurs at unpredictable intervals and may be worse in the winter. It is often precipitated or aggravated by physical or emotional stress, upper respiratory infections, strep throat, alcoholic beverages, obesity, certain oral medications (lithium and anti-malarial drugs are but a few), and skin injuries such as scratches, cuts, and burns, including sunburn.
Psoriasis is not contagious. It does seem to run in families about one-third of psoriatic patients have a family history of the condition-although the pattern of heredity is not clear. It is also associated with a form of arthritis which affects the joints of the fingers.
No one knows the cause of psoriasis, but we do know how it comes about. Normal skin cells have a life span of about twenty eight days. This is the time it takes for a cell to be born, move to the outer surface of the skin, and flake off.
In psoriasis, due to some abnormality in the mechanism which makes the skin grow and replace itself, this orderly process goes awry. The skin cells turn over at a rate ten times faster than the normal cells, causing a build-up of scales in thick, red, and sharply-bordered patches. These patches may be small, the size of a matchhead or smaller, or extremely large, covering the entire body. If these patches appear in the body's creases and folds. They may cause itching and pain. Although psoriasis can affect any part of the skin, the patches usually occur on the elbows, knees, and scalp.
Psoriasis comes in many shapes and forms. It can, for example, limit itself to the fingernails and toenails as small pits or stippling or loosening of the nails from their beds. In some unfortunate people, it affects the genital area and can limit sexual activity. In extreme cases it is widespread, with total body redness and scaling, causing severe embarrassment which, in turn, can lead to psychological problems: the true "heartbreak" of psoriasis.
If you have psoriasis, there are some remedies you can try yourself. But for serious or stubborn cases, I recommend you see your dermatologist. There are many treatments, both old and new, that require a doctor's know-how.
The method of treatment depends on the extent and severity of the symptoms. An old standby is one of the various types of tar preparations which have been used with good results by thousands of psoriasis sufferers. Other methods are sunlight and ultraviolet radiation. There are also cortisone-like medications that are applied or injected into the patches as well as various oral remedies which, while often effective, may have potentially serious side effects. One of these is methotrexate, a drug that has been used for many years to treat difficult and extensive cases of psoriasis. Treatment with methotrexate is complicated by nausea, mouth ulcers, headaches, and harmful effects on the liver.
The latest powerful oral medication for severe and stubborn psoriasis is a pill called etretinate (Tegison). It is extremely effective for the severe, generalized forms of psoriasis, but there are many serious, adverse side effects. If you plan to enter into this therapy, make sure your dermatologist explains it to you.Every new treatment for psoriasis becomes headline news.
Most of these "miracle treatments" quickly fall into disfavor or are discarded when another "breakthrough" is heralded. One of the popular treatments, PUVA therapy, is aimed at slowing down excess cell reproduction. The patient swallows a harmless drug called methoxsalen and then is exposed to longwave ultraviolet light. The proponents of this therapy swear by it, and today it has become a fashionable treatment for people with extensive psoriasis. There is some indication, however, that the PUVA treatment' can lead to severe skin damage appearing many years later. Another reported treatment, called climatotherapy, consists of bathing in the Dead Sea!
But let's face it. While many of these treatments can help relieve the itching and scaling, there is no known "cure" for psoriasis. The cure will come about only when we know the exact nature and mechanism of the disease.
And while you must face the possibility that psoriasis will be a permanent guest in your life, let me offer some general guidelines to help you overcome the difficulties that accompany your condition:
* Avoid emotional stress and tension.
* Try not to worry about what you consider the unsightly appearance of your rash. (It looks a lot worse to you than it does to other people.)
* If it itches, try not to scratch.
* Avoid those widely advertised" quick cures."
* While diet plays only a small role in psoriasis, I recommend that you limit your intake of red meat, poultry, eggs, dairy products, and alcoholic beverages for a few weeks to see if it helps. I know that doesn't leave much, but a temporary diet of fish and vegetables is a small price to pay for the chance of relief.
* Cooperate with your dermatologist.
* Don't be discouraged if progress is slow.
* And take comfort in knowing that with the variety of medications and treatments available, this potentially traumatic and hopeless disorder has a good chance of being controlled.
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