Symptoms

Abdominal discomfort characterized by inflammation of the lining of the stomach is termed as gastritis. Gastritis develops due to bacterial infection by H.pylori, long term use of pain relievers, injury to the stomach and increased intake of alcohol. Risk factors for gastritis include stress, old age, bile reflex disease, autoimmune gastritis, pernicious anemia or weakened mucous layer that normally protects stomach from action of acid causes digestive juices to act on stomach resulting in inflammation.

Gastritis can be acute gastritis that develops fast and persists for a short time or chronic gastritis that develops gradually and persists for extended time.

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Increased secretion of thyroid hormone by thyroid gland is termed as hyperthyroidism. Thyroid hormone plays crucial role in controlling the rate of metabolic reactions in the body. So, presence of higher amounts of thyroid hormone increases the rate of metabolic reactions resulting in various symptoms. Hyperthyroidism develops due to various reasons such as Grave’s disease, swelling of thyroid gland (Thyroiditis) due to viral infection, due to presence of small growths termed as thyroid nodules in the thyroid gland and increased use of thyroid medications to treat hypothyroidism.  In majority of the cases, hyperthyroidism symptoms develop as a result of Grave’s disease.

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Inflammation and irritation of stomach and gastrointestinal tract (intestines) caused due to viral, bacterial or parasitic infection or due to food borne illnesses is termed as Stomach flu. It is also termed as gastroenteritis.  Norvovirus often causes stomach flu in adults and Rotavirus is the culprit in case of infants and children. Bacterial strains causing this infection include E.Coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter and Shigella.

In few cases, protozoans such as Giardia and cryptosporidium also cause the infection. Intake of contaminated food or water and contact with infected person are often the causes for contracting the infection. Taking raw or uncooked oysters also increases the risk for infection. Young children, older adults and those with very weak immune system are easily susceptible to stomach flu.

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Candidiasis is an infectious disease caused by Candida, a group of yeasts. Of the 20 species of Candida, Candida albicans is most common culprit. These microorganisms are found all over the body. However, they multiply rapidly in moist and warm areas such as underarms, nail beds, vagina, lower abdomen, under the breast, mouth and diaper areas in babies. Rarely, yeast infection may spread throughout the body. Use of steroids and antibiotics, pregnancy, diabetes, menstruation and birth control pills increase the risk of yeast infections in women. People with suppressed or weak immune system, suffering with AIDS and those undergoing cancer treatment are at increased risk for candidiasis.

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Chiari malformation is a comprehensive term that covers various structural defects in cerebellum, part of brain responsible for maintaining balance. They often develop due to structural defects of brain and spinal cord during fetal development. Rarely chiari malformations may develop later in life due to injury, increased exposure to toxic substances or infection that result in excessive draining of cerebrospinal fluid.   Structural defects often disturb the relationship between cerebellum, upper cervical cord, brain stem and boney cranial base.

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Bacterial infection of the underlying layers of skin is termed as Cellulitis.  Staphylococcus group of bacteria is often the culprit. However, other bacteria such as Group A streptococcus, Pasturella multocida and Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae may also cause cellulitis. The bacteria can target any region of the body but face, arms and legs are easily prone to this disease. Regions of skin that are cut open due to an injury, wound or a surgery are at high risk of infection. Edema of the legs or arms also increases the risk for this skin disease.

Cellulitis is more commonly observed in children than in adults as immune system of children cannot fight efficiently against this infection.  Diseases such as diabetes, chronic hepatitis, weak immunue system, problems in blood circulation and skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis increase the risk for this infection. Cellulitis affecting deeper layers of skin is not contagious like superficial skin diseases such as impetigo.

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Chronic pulmonary disease that develops due to gradual destruction of alveoli (air sacs) of lungs resulting in shortness of breath is termed as emphysema. Among chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) emphysema is considered highly dangerous. As the disease progresses structural changes occur in lungs. Air sacs get clustered resulting in large pockets. As a result, surface area of the lungs decreases reducing the amount of oxygen supplied to the body via bloodstream. In few cases thin elastic fibers that

Increased exposure to toxic irritants such as tobacco and marijuana smoke, fumes from factories, coal and silica dust and air pollutants often cause for emphysema. People who smoke more and those in the age group of 40-60 years are highly susceptible to this disease.  Rarely, deficiency of protein Alpha-1-antitrypsin that plays role in maintaining the elastic nature of lungs also results in this pulmonary disease.

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 Digestive disorder triggered by intake of protein gluten found in wheat, barley and rye is known as gluten intolerance. It is also known as celiac sprue, gluten sensitive enteropathy and nontropical sprue.  Gluten intolerance symptoms develop due to action of immune system triggered by gluten causing damage to the inner linings of the small intestine.  Exact cause of gluten intolerance is not known. However, immune system in these people responds abnormally to the gluten in diet. People with family history of celiac sprue are at increased risk for the disease.  Disease such as diabetes, Down syndrome, autoimmune thyroid disease and microscopic colitis increase the risk for gluten intolerance.

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Mumps, which means bumps in cheeks is an acute viral disease characterized by swollen and painful salivary glands especially the parotid glands located below and in front of ears.  Being a contagious disease like influenza or flu, healthy individuals contract the infection by direct contact or indirect contact. Direct contact is contracting the infection directly by inhalation of tiny saliva droplets loaded with viruses from diseased people. In the other mode infection spreads due to sharing utensils or by touching other things used by diseased person.  Mumps is also known as Parotitis or infective Parotitis.

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Symptoms that develop three to five days before the primary teeth break through the gums are termed as teething symptoms. Teething starts in children any time between three months to twelve months. However, majority of them get their first set of teeth at six months. Lower incisors are the first to emerge. Multiple teeth may also emerge in few babies. Molars cause more pain compared to incisors as they cannot erupt through large surface area.

Few children are born with teeth termed as neonatal teeth. They generally do not cause any danger but they should be removed if they are loose. Loose neonatal teeth may cause choking, disturb the feeding process and also irritate the tongue. Soreness and swelling of gums caused by the emerging teeth makes the child fussier. All children may not suffer with pain or other symptoms during teething.

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