Fungal infections come in several types which can infect the scalp. One of these is the ringworm commonly referred to as Tinea capitis. Ringworm infection of the scalp is extremely common world wide. It is predominantly an infection of toddlers and young children. The infection is quite obvious because it presents with constant itching, redden scalp and patches of hair loss. Despite the alarming symptoms, ringworm of the scalp is not life threatening. The most difficult problem is the treatment. When it is not adequately treated, it can be easily transmitted to friends and family.

Symptoms

Most children who have a ring worm infection will have some symptoms, but on rare occasions they will not have any. Constant and intense itching around the scalp is the most obvious sign. Other features of the infection include loss of hair in circular patches. Often the skin is red and tender. The hair loss is quite significant. Even the hair that remains can be easily pulled out without any tension. In almost all cases, ringworm infections of the scalp tend to increase in size if it is not treated. A small patch will generally infect other areas of the scalp. Besides infection of other areas of the scalp, ringworms can easily be transmitted to others: person to person transmission is quite common. Other modes of transmission include sharing personal care items, bed linen pillows and combs. Sometimes pets acquire the infection and can transmit it to humans.

Risk factors

Ringworm is most common in children who attend day care and kindergarten. Outbreaks of ringworm infections are quite common in North America and difficult to control. Even inanimate objects like pencils, door handles, chairs and tables can transmit this fungus. The risk of ringworm infection is also increased if:

- one has poor hygiene

- lives in overcrowded conditions

- has problems with excessive sweating

- shares personal care items in a large family

Once a ringworm infection of the scalp is suspected, it is important to seek help from a health care professional. This fungus is quite hardy and is easily transmitted to others in the home.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of tinea capitis is relatively simple. In most cases the dermatologist will be able to make a diagnosis based on the history and physical examination. If there is any doubt about the diagnosis, scrapings of the skin or hair can be examine underneath a microscope. In rare cases, the hair and skin are sent for culture.

Fungus of the scalp is not serious but can have social and health implications. If not treated, the fungus can causes a severe infection known as kerion. Kerion is basically collection of pus underneath the scalp. When the fungus has reached the stage of a kerion, most people are left with permanent hair loss and even scars.

Treatment

Once the diagnosis of tinea capitis is made, treatment of scalp infection includes a variety anti fungal medications. The most common medications are Griseofulvin and Terbinafine.

Griseofulvin is available as liquid and tablet whereas terbinafine is an oral capsule. These medications have to be taken for at least 4-6 weeks. Topical medications are not useful in the treatment of tinea capitis because they are not able to penetrate deep into the scalp and enter hair follicles. There is no shampoo or gel that is useful in the treatment of tinea capitis.

The medications work slowly and changes are gradual. In most cases, the pills must be taken for several weeks to notice a change in the condition of the scalp.

Prevention

Tinea capitis is best prevented, but prevention of this infection is quite difficult. The fungus is very easily transmitted. The majority of people acquire the fungus long before they have any symptoms. The only way to prevent the fungus is with the following approach:

Maintain decent hygiene. Clean or shampoos the scalp regularly. Regularly wash your hands and teach your children the same principles.

Do not share personal care items, especially in school or in any type of social gathering.

Teach your child to keep his/her personal locker/desk clean at school. After any outdoor activity, the clothes should be changed and personal items should not be shared.

Examine your child’s scalp every now and then so that you can identify the infection at an early stage.

If you have pets, examine them and if they appear sick, take them to a veterinarian. If your pet is sick, do not touch the pet with bare hands.

If you suspect that your pet or child has an infection, buy selenium sulfide shampoo and use it regularly. If the infection appears to be getting worse, go to your health care worker or veterinarian.

ABOUT HERPES MEDICATION NOWADAYS

GENERAL INFO

STDs are spreading over the world and herpes is not a new thing anymore. But there is a good side in the fact that these sexually transmitted diseases force people to become more educated. Approximately 19 million new STD infections are reported each year and it’s sad to say that almost half of them occur in the ages group ranges of 12 to 24. One of the most common STDs is called Herpes. There are eight types of herpes viruses but only two main types are important because of theirs harmful effect over the human body. There are desperate efforts in the medical world for finding reliable herpes medication.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF HERPES?

Once a person has been particularly exposed with open or broken skin area (which includes the eyes, mouth, esophagus, anus and vagina) the virus can be easily transmitted. While the first outbreak of herpes is usually the worst one somebody may experience, as much as 60% of those infected with the virus will fail to notice any symptoms because the outbreak is so mild. Herpes abrasions usually show up in and around the genital area, although at females herpes may cause these swellings to develop inside the vagina and may include vaginal discharge and pain or a burning sensation when urinating.

IS THERE TRUSTFUL HERPES MEDICATION OUT THERE?

In most healthy people, herpes doesn’t usually cause other health problems. The same way as in case of other STDs, antiviral medications are usually prescribed to treat herpes infections. Treating herpes can help people to feel more socially comfortable. Remember that the type of medication will differ according to the severity of the herpes condition. Since herpes is a common outbreak infection, prevention is much important rather than medication.

HERPES PREVENTION

Herpes is already alarming, being considered a worldwide concern, since millions of people all over the world are already suffering from this type of STD. Fear of outbreaks or the spreading of genital herpes to a partner or the baby can cause stress, anxiety, or depression. Herpes prevention guidelines mention that a person affected by herpes must not come into direct skin-to-skin contact with another person, should use a latex condom for sexual contact, should limit your number of sexual partners, should be disciplined and have good personal hygiene. All these will really help on controlling the spread of this contagious infectionFeature Articles, while waiting for the latest medical achievements to provide revolutionary herpes medication that kills the virus.

No one can predict the moment of death. But physicians and nurses involved in end-of-life care know that certain symptoms are usually associated with the body’s shutting down. These signs of approaching death are specific to the natural dying process (apart from the effects of particular illnesses the person may have).

Not all dying symptoms show up in every person, but most people experience some combination of the following in the final days or hours:

1. Loss of appetite

Energy needs decline. The person may begin to resist or refuse meals and liquids, or accept only small amounts of bland foods (such as hot cereals). Meat, which is hard to digest, may be refused first. Even favorite foods hold little appeal.

Near the very end of life, the dying person may be physically unable to swallow.

How to respond: Don’t force-feed; follow the person’s cues even though you may be distressed by a loss of interest in eating. Periodically offer ice chips, a popsicle, or sips of water. Use a moistened warm cloth around the mouth and apply balm to the lips to keep them moist and comfortable.

2. Excessive fatigue and sleep

The person may begin to sleep the majority of the day and night as metabolism slows and the decline in food and water contribute to dehydration. He or she becomes difficult to rouse from sleep. The fatigue is so pronounced that awareness of immediate surroundings begins to drift.
How to respond: Permit sleep. Avoid jostling the person awake. Assume that everything you say can be heard, as the sense of hearing is thought to persist, even when the person is unconscious, in a coma, or otherwise not responsive.

3. Increased physical weakness

A decline in food intake and lack of energy leads to less energy, even for activities like lifting one’s head or shifting in bed. The person may even have difficulty sipping from a straw.
How to respond: Focus on keeping the person comfortable.

4. Mental confusion or disorientation

Organs begin to fail, including the brain. Higher-order consciousness tends to change. “Few conditions leave people hyperaware when they’re dying,” says palliative-care physician Ira Byock, author of Dying Well.

The person may not be aware of where he or she is or who else is in the room, may speak or reply less often, may respond to people who can’t be seen in the room by others (see Passing Away: What to Expect When Witnessing a Loved One’s Death), may seem to say nonsensical things, may be confused about time, or may act restless and pick at bed linens.
How to respond: Remain calm and reassuring. Speak to the person softly, and identify yourself when you approach.

5. Labored breathing

Breath intakes and exhales become raggedy, irregular, and labored. A distinctive pattern called Cheyne-Stokes respiration might be heard: a loud, deep inhalation is followed by a pause of not breathing (apnea) for between five seconds to as long as a full minute, before a loud, deep breath resumes and again slowly peters out.

Sometimes excessive secretions create loud, gurling inhalations and exhalations that some people call a “death rattle.”

How to respond: The stopped breathing or loud rattle can be alarming to listeners, but the dying person is unaware of this changed breathing; focus on overall comfort. Positions that may help: the head slightly elevated with a pillow, sitting up well-supported, or the head or lying body tilted to the side slightly. Moisten the mouth with a wet cloth and moisturize with lip balm or petroleum jelly.
If there’s a lot of phlegm, allow it to drain naturally from the mouth, since suctioning it out can increase its quantity. A vaporizer in the room might help. Some people are given oxygen for comfort. Be a calm, physical presence, stroking the arm or speaking softly.

6. Social withdrawal

As the body shuts down, the dying person may gradually lose interest in those nearby. He or she may stop talking or mutter unintelligibly, stop responding to questions, or simply turn away.
A few days before receding socially for the last time, the dying person sometimes surprises loved ones with an unexpected burst of alert, attentive behavior. This can last less than an hour or up to a full day.

How to respond: Be aware that this is a natural part of the dying process and not a reflection of your relationship. Maintain a physical presence by touching the dying person and continuing to talk, if it feels appropriate, without demanding anything back. Treasure an alert interlude if and when it occurs, because it’s almost always fleeting.

7. Changes in urination

Little going in (as the person loses interest in food and drink) means little coming out. Dropping blood pressure, part of the dying process (and therefore not treated at this point, in tandem with other symptoms), also contributes to the kidneys shutting down. The concentrated urine is brownish, reddish, or tea-colored.

Loss of bladder and bowel control may happen late in the dying process.
How to respond: Hospice medical staff sometimes decides that a catheter is necessary, although not in the final hours of life. Kidney failure can increase blood toxins and contribute to a peaceful coma before death. Add a bed pad when placing fresh sheets.

8. Swelling in the feet and ankles

As the kidneys are less able to process bodily fluids, they can accumulate and get deposited in areas of the body away from the heart, in the feet and ankles especially. These places, and sometimes also the hands, face, or feet, take on a swollen, puffy appearance.

How to respond: Usually no special treatment (such as diuretics) is given when the swelling seems directly related to the dying process. (The swelling is the result of the natural death process, not its cause.)

9. Coolness in the tips of the fingers and toes

In the hours or minutes before death, blood circulation draws back from the periphery of the body to help the vital organs. As this happens, the extremities (hands, feet, fingers, toes) become notably cooler. Nail beds may also look more pale, or bluish.

How to respond: A warm blanket can keep the person comfortable, or he or she may be oblivious. The person may complain about the weight of coverings on the legs, so keep them loose.

10. Mottled veins

Skin that had been uniformly pale or ashen develops a distinctive pattern of purplish/reddish/bluish mottling as one of the later signs of death approaching. This is the result of reduced blood circulation. It may be seen first on the soles of the feet.

How to respond: No special steps need to be taken.

Note: These general signs of impending death can vary in sequence and combination from person to person. If a person is on life support (respirator, feeding tube), the process dying follows can be different. The signs of death listed here describe a natural dying process.

Our generation has made greatest inventions and discoveries our forefathers never thought of during their era. We also now live in a world where everything is available as an instant products. The trade-off however is, many of the products we now use are laden with toxic chemicals.

Research has shown that a lot of the home and personal care products we use daily expose us to toxins that can bring on ailments. Allergic reactions may also be brought about by intolerance to some chemical ingredients. Certain components of antiperspirants for example, contain aluminium chlorohydrate and parabens which have been suspected to contribute to symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and cancer. Read the rest of this entry »

A new weight loss wonder called Hoodia Gordonii has been receiving much praise from the media, celebrities and web sources touting its benefits. It is no wonder, with so many of us obsessed with losing weight.

Consider these alarming facts from the American Obesity Association. Today, 64.5 percent of adult Americans (about 127 million) are categorized as being overweight or obese. Each year, obesity causes at least 300,000 excess deaths in the U.S, healthcare costs of American adults with obesity amount to approximately $100 billion. Obesity is the second leading cause of unnecessary deaths. It is on the verge of surpassing smoking as the #1 cause of preventable deaths.

Anyone who has tried unsuccessfully to lose weight will attest that it is nearly impossible if you are hungry all the time. So many diets leave us feeling starved or deprived. Read the rest of this entry »