Hemophilia: The Royal Disease
What Is Hemophilia?
Hemophilia is a group of hereditary genetic disorders that impair the body’s ability to control blood clotting or coagulation. Etymology is as under:
Greek: haima = blood philia = to love.
Archive for the "Diseases and Conditions" Category
Tuberculosis-A Common And Deadly Infectious Disease
What It Is
Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious disease. Tuberculosis was earlier known as ‘consumption’. Its symptoms include chest pain, coughing up blood and a productive, prolonged cough for more than three weeks. Its systematic symptoms include fever, chills, night sweats, appetite loss, weight loss, pallor, and often a tendency to fatigue very [...]
Influenza: A Contagious Respiratory Illness
What It Is:
As the title declares, influenza is a contagious respiratory illness caused by flu viruses. Influenza is also known by the name ‘flu’. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The flu is different from a cold. The flu usually comes on suddenly and [...]
Appendicitis: Facts And Figures
What Is Appendicitis?
To understand Appendicitis, one needs to understand an organ called ‘appendix’. The appendix is a small, tube-like structure attached to the first part of the large intestine, also called the colon. The appendix is located in the lower right portion of the abdomen. It has no known function. Removal of [...]
Jaundice: Not A Disease, But A Symptom
What Is Jaundice?
Jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, is not a disease itself but a symptom of an underlying disorder. The discoloration occurs when excessive amounts of the body pigment bilirubin accumulate in the bloodstream. Normally bilirubin — a natural byproduct of the breakdown of red [...]
Migraine: Learning To Cope With It
What It Is:
The word Migraine is French in origin and has its roots in Greek hemicrania. Literally, hemicrania means half the head.Migraine is a neurological syndrome characterized by altered bodily experiences and painful headaches. A typical migraine headache is one-sided and pulsating, lasting 4 to 72 hours. Migraine headache may be [...]
Typhoid: A Global Disease
What It Is
Typhoid causes fever with body temperatures reaching as high as 104° F. Typhoid is known by various names such as enteric fever, bilious fever or Yellow Jack. The bacteria responsible for typhoid is Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi. Typhoid is transmitted by intake of food or water contaminated by feces of typhoid patient. [...]
Asthma- Disease Of The Respiratory System
As the title suggests, Asthma is a chronic condition involving the respiratory system. Asthma happens to be the most common chronic illness in children. In response to one or more triggers, the airways occasionally constrict, become inflamed, and are lined with excessive amounts of mucus. The trigger could be an environmental [...]
Cancer: Diagnose In Time And Save Life
What It Is
Contrary to popular belief, Cancer is not one disease. It is a CLASS of diseases in which a group of cells exhibit following traits:
1) Uncontrolled growth i.e. growth and division beyond normal limits.
2)Invasion i.e. intrusion on and destruction of adjacent tissues.
And in some cases,
3) Metastasis i.e. spread to other locations in the body [...]
STDs- Prevention Is Better Than Cure
STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease) is the new name for Veneral Diseases. These are caused by Bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites, protozoa,…Sometimes, they are also referred to as STIs ( Sexually Transmitted infections). Specifically, STD refers only to diseases that cause symptoms. As may be noted from the name, sexually transmitted diseases are [...]
