Encopresis is not a disease. It is a disorder, which results in an individual’s inability to defecate in an appropriate location, such as the toilet inspite of a toilet being easily accessible. This disease is cause by several reasons such as strees, not drinking enough water which makes the stools hard and difficult to pass, lack of exercise etc.

CAUSES

The most common cause of encopresis is long-term constipation which may occur due to several reasons, including stress, not drinking enough water which makes the stools hard and difficult to pass, lack of exercise, fear or reluctance to use unfamiliar bathrooms, not taking the time to use the bathroom, changes in bathroom routines; for example, when going to school and there are scheduled bathroom breaks. Another possible cause is a physical problem related to the intestine’s ability to move stool, stressful events in the child’s life, such as a family illness or the arrival of a new sibling, may contribute to the disorder. It can also be due to a serious condition such as damage to parts of the intestine.

SYMPTOMS

In addition to the behavior of releasing waste in improper places, a child with encopresis may have other symptoms including loss of appetite, Abdominal pain, scratching or rubbing the anal area due to irritation from watery stools, decreased interest in physical activity, withdrawal from friends and family, secretive behavior associated with bowel movements, Nausea ,Dehydration and weight gain.

TREATMENT

The first step to treat encopresis is to identify the cause behind the condition. e.g. if encopresis is caused due to regression, the parent must understand what is making the child want to go back to his baby years. Reassuring the child makes him feel emotionally secure and will encourage him to let go of his fears and help him to master control over his bowels. Similarly, a person who suffers due to a psychological difficulty can be treated using psychiatric help as well as medication to control anxiety. Constipation requires a three step treatment plan. Prescription of a laxative to ease the passage of the hardened stool through the rectum, then a stool softener and finally inducing the child to have regular bowel movements till his bowel is naturally stimulated to pass a stool.

PREVENTION

The best way to prevent encopresis is to prevent constipation . The child should get a varied diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables and whole grain breads and cereals. He should drink water and other fluids frequently and be physically active every day. Finally, make sure the child has a regular time every day when he or she sits on the toilet. After a meal is the best time for this.

Minimal change disease is a disease of the kidney that causes nephrotic syndrome and usually affects children. Minimal change disease is most common in very young children but can occur in older children and adults.

CAUSES:

Minimal change disease can be associated with:

• Food allergies
• Medications
• Hematologic malignancies
• Idiopathically.

SYMPTOMS:

The symptoms are:

• Proteinuria
• Edema.
• Nephrotic syndrome
• Blood concentration decreases
• Gain weight
• Experience fatigue

PREVENTION:

• Bed rest should be taken if in case the disease occurs.
• Dietary recommendations may be made in consultation with a nutritionist.

TREATMENT:

• Prednisone
• ACE inhibitor – lisinopril.
• Corticosteroid
• Statin drug is also prescribed
• Steroid treatment

Some of the therapies includes

• Cyclosporine
• Tacrolimus
• Mycophenilate mofetil
• Cellcept

Out of these, Cellcept has fewer side effects and allows a reduction in the steroid dosage.

Eclampsia is a life-threatening complication of pregnancy that occurs when a pregnant woman earlier diagnosed with preeclampsia (high blood pressure and protein in the urine) develops seizures or coma.

CAUSES

Eclampsia usually occurs with first pregnancies. However, it may be seen with twins (or multiple pregnancies), in women older than 35 years, in women with high blood pressure before pregnancy, in women with diabetes, and in women with other medical problems (such as connective tissue disease and kidney disease). It is also associated with problems with the placenta, such as too much placenta, too little placenta, or how the placenta attaches to the wall of the uterus, with hydatidiform mole pregnancies, in which no normal placenta and no normal baby are present.

SYMPTOMS

Key warning signs of eclampsia in a woman diagnosed with preeclampsia may be severe headaches, blurred or double vision, or seeing spots, seizures, excess protein in urine, blurred vision, vaginal bleeding weight gain, high blood pressure greater than or equal to 160/110 mm Hg, nausea, vomiting.

TREATMENT

Once eclampsia develops, the only treatment is delivery of your baby if eclampsia occurs prior to delivery. There is no cure for eclampsia. Magnesium sulfate decreases the chances of having recurrent seizures. Magnesium treatment is continued for a total of 24-48 hours after your last seizure. You may receive magnesium in an intensive care unit or a labor and delivery unit. While magnesium is given you will be observed closely, receive intravenous fluids, and have a Foley catheter placed in your bladder (to measure your urine output).Occasionally, recurrent seizures require additional treatment with a short-acting barbiturate such as sodium amobarbital. You may also receive treatment for elevated blood pressure while being treated for eclampsia. Common blood pressure medications include hydralazine or labetalol. The closer you are to your due date, the more likely your cervix will be ripe (ready for delivery), and that induction of labor will be successful. Sometimes medications, such as oxytocin are given to help induce labor. If the baby shows signs of compromise, such as decreased fetal heart rate, an immediate cesarean delivery will be performed.
PREVENTION

Detection and management of preeclampsia is critical to reduce the risk of eclampsia. Appropriate management of patients with preeclampsia generally involves the use of magnesium sulfate as an agent to prevent convulsions, and thus preventing eclampsia.

The VIPoma (Verner Morrison Syndrome) is a medical condition of a rare endocrine tumor. This happens in the pancreas. It happens around 1% of the people globally. This may lead to profound chronic watery diarrhea and dehydration, and hypokalemia. Men and women above the age of 50 years are more prone to this disease. Women are more prone to this disease. The alternate names of VIPoma are Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide- Producing Tumor and Pancreatic Endocrine Tumor.

Causes

The VIPoma can be caused due to the over production of high levels of hormones called Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP). The Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide may increase the secretion from the intestine. Some of the causes are idiopathic as well.

Symptoms

The patient may suffer from various symptoms namely:-

• The patient may complain of watery diarrhea which may or may not be chronic.
• One may also complain of hypokalemia and dehydration.
• The patient may also complain of lethargy and muscle weakness and vomiting.
• One may also complain of vomiting and abdominal cramps.
• There may also be hypokalemia and impaired glucose tolerance in the patients.
• One may also complain of achlorhydria.
• The patient may complain of carcinoid syndrome lately.
• One may also complain of flushing and redness of face.
• There may be significant weight loss as well.

Treatment

Surgery is the treatment of choice. The water and electrolyte abnormalities may be treated. Octreotide is given out to control the symptoms.

Prevention

There is no way of preventing this disease.

The vernal conjunctivitis is a medical condition of the eye where swelling of the outer lining of the eyes is seen. This is due to the allergic reaction. The most common allergic eye conjunctivitis is due to hay fever. These are of two types namely seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC) and perennial allergic conjunctivitis (PAC).

Causes

It is mostly hereditary and is frequently seen in people with strong family history of allergies. Most of the time, this is seen in spring and summer.

Symptoms

The symptoms include

• The patient may complain of itchy and watery eyes.
• The underside of the eyelids of the patient becomes rough and covered with bumps.
• The whitish mucus is also seen in some patients.
• The area around the cornea also becomes rough and swollen.
• Sometimes the patient may complain of decreased vision and scarring when the swelling and roughness moves over the cornea.
• Burning eyes are also one of the major complains.
• The patient may complain of discomfort in the bright light, a condition called photophobia.

Treatment

The patient should not rub the eyes as this may increase the irritation. A clean cloth should be soaked in the cold water and placed over the eyes as this soothes the irritation and burning sensation. Topical corticosteroid drug may also be prescribed. The other drugs of choices are Cromolyn Sodium or Antihistamine Drops.

Prevention

The disease can be prevented if the patient stays more into air conditioning environment or cooler climate. This will prevent the problem from getting worse.

The ventricular tachycardia is a medical condition where there is unusually fast beating of the heart. The heart beating may cross the 100 beats per minute mark along with the three irregular heartbeats in a row. In some cases it has seen to go as high as 160-240 beats per minute .Though it is not life threatening it has been seen to cause serious life threatening conditions. Ventricular tachycardia is one of the tachycardias, the other being Supraventricular Tachycardia. This may lead to ventricular fibrillation where the heart beating is so fast that the blood is not effectively pumped. It may also lead to sudden death. There are two types of ventricular tachycardia namely monomorphic ventricular tachycardia and polymorphic ventricular tachycardia. The alternative names to this disorder are wide-complex tachycardia, V tach, tachycardia-ventricular.

Causes

The ventricular tachycardia can be caused due to medications, low blood pressure, damage or disease of the heart or lungs, a quick change in position from reclining to upright. This condition is also seen in patients with cardiomyopathy, heart failure and heart surgery. It may also be seen is valvular heart disease and myocarditis. The other causes include anti-arrhythmic medications, changes in blood chemistry, changes in pH level and even in lack of oxygen.

Symptoms

The symptoms include

• The patient may complain of chest discomfort (angina).
• The patient may also faint.
• There may be light-headedness or dizziness.
• There may be sensation of heart beat (palpitation).
• The patient may also complain of shortness of breath. At times, there may be no symptoms at all.

Treatment

Electric shock is the choice of treatment to restore the normal beating of the heart. The treatment revolves around either terminating an episode of this medical condition or else suppress any kinds of future episodes from occurring. Patients who either are suffering from pulseless VT or unstable VT are heamodynamically compromised and may require immediate cardioversion. In case of emergency situation the ventricular tachycardia may require CPR. Anti- arrhythmic medications such as Lidocaine, Procainamide Sotalol or Amiodarone may be given through the vein. Though, these medications are harmful in the long run.

Prevention

The ventricular tachycardia may not always be prevented. In some cases it may be prevented by treating heart diseases and correcting blood chemistries.

Enteritis is a disease in which the small intestine gets inflammated due to a bacterial or viral infection. The inflammation also occurs in the stomach . It is most commonly caused by the ingestion of contaminated substances.

CAUSES

The high doses of drugs required to destroy many tumors cause side effects to the intestines. Furthermore, the patients that undergo radiation to the abdomen, pelvis are more likely to suffer from Enteritis  because the large and small intestines are sensitive to all forms of ionizing radiation. This disease can also be caused by eating or drinking substances contaminated with bacteria or viruses. The organism settles in the small intestine and causes inflammation and swelling. It may also be caused by an autoimmune condition such as Crohn’s disease, certain drugs, including ibuprofen, cocaine, drinking water from streams.

SYMPTOMS:

Symptoms include vomiting, loss of appetite , abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhea and dehydration .Fever, weight loss, nausea, bowel obstruction and rectal bleeding can be some of the other signs of the ocuurance of this disease.

TREATMENTS

Treatment includes medications for inflammation, immune suppression, antibiotics, or surgery. Radiations destroy the body’s capacity to absorb nutrients and destroys enzymes required for digestion, such as lactase. So, a lactose-free diet is often helpful. Patients with radiation enteritis should drink plenty of water every day. Carbonated sodas should be allowed to lose their carbonation prior to drinking. Rehydration with electrolyte solutions may be necessary if dehydration occurs. Persons with diarrhea who are unable to drink fluids because of nausea need medical care and fluids through a vein.

PREVENTION:

Always wash hands after using the toilet and before eating or preparing food or drink. Water should be boiled first before drinking from unknown sources, such as streams and outdoor wells. Use only clean utensils for eating or handling foods, especially when handling eggs and poultry. Eat completely and properly cooked food and store food appropriately in coolers.

CAUSES: The cause of selective mutism is not clear. Possible causes include:

· immigrant family background

· significant early childhood stress

· injury that affects the mouth

· anxiety

SYMPTOMS: Symptoms of selective mutism include:

· refusing to talk in one or more social situations, including school

· a speech disturbance that interferes with achievement in work or school when the condition lasts at least 1 month or more.

PREVENTION: There is no specific way to prevent selective mutism at this time. Reducing childhood emotional  stress may reduce this and other mental disorders.

ALTERNATIVE NAME: Elective disorder, anxiety disorder

TREATMENT: Treatment at an early age is important. If not  then it may cause sevre problems. In such cases even the family members cannot be able to make contacts with the affected person.. Sometimes in this situation, a change of environment (such as changing schools) may help to treat this disorder. The exact treatment depends a lot on the subject, their age and other factors. Effective treatment is necessary for a child to develop properly. Without treatment, selective mutism can contribute to chronic depression and other social and emotional problems.

Other kinds of heart problems may happen to the valves in the heart, or the heart may not pump well and cause heart failure. Some people are born with heart disease.

You can help reduce your risk of heart disease by taking steps to control factors that put you at greater risk:

• Control your blood pressure
• Lower your cholesterol
• Don’t smoke
• Get enough exercise

Heart disease or cardiopathy is an umbrella term for a variety for different diseases affecting the heart. As of 2007, it is the leading cause of death in the United States,^[1][2] England, Canada and Wales,^[3] killing one person every 34 seconds in the United States alone.^[4]

The symptoms of heart disorder include certain types of pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, palpitations (awareness of slow, fast, or irregular heartbeats), light-headedness, fainting, and swelling in the legs, ankles, and feet. However, these symptoms do not necessarily indicate a heart disorder. For example, chest pain may be due to a respiratory or digestive disorder rather than to a heart disorder.

Causes

The most common cause of heart disease is a narrowing of or blockage in the coronary arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle (coronary artery disease). Some heart diseases are present at birth (congenital heart disease).

Other causes include:

• Abnormal heart rhythm
• Abnormal heart valve function
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Weakening of the heart’s pumping ability, often caused by infection or toxins (cardiomyopathy)

Alternative Names

Cardiovascular disorders

Heart Diseases–Prevention

Heart disease is the leading cause of the death in the U.S. Over one quarter of all deaths are from heart disease. It is also a major cause of disability. The risk of heart disease increases as you age. You have a greater risk of heart disease if you are a man over age 45 or a woman over age 55. You also are at greater risk if you have a close family member who had heart disease at an early age.

Fortunately, there are many things you can do reduce your chances of getting heart disease. You should

• Know your blood pressure and keep it under control
• Exercise regularly
• Don’t smoke
• Get tested for diabetes and if you have it, keep it under control
• Know your cholesterol and triglyceride levels and keep them under control
• Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables
• Maintain a healthy weight

Treatments for Heart disease

The list of treatments mentioned in various sources for Heart disease includes the following list. Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment or change in treatment plans.

• Aspirin – low-dose aspirin may be used to avoid heart attacks. However, because of side effects and risks it is not usually recommended for healthy individuals. Rather, mainly for those with existing heart problems or previous conditions.
• Digitalis – makes the heart pump harder, also helps some heart rhythm problems.
• ACE inhibitors
• Beta-blocker
• Nitrate (including nitroglycerine)
• Calcium-channel blocker (CCB)
• Diuretic
• Blood cholesterol lowering medications
• Bypass surgery (Coronary artery bypass graft surgery)
• Coronary angioplasty (balloon angioplasty)

The vernal conjunctivitis is a medical condition of the eye where swelling of the outer lining of the eyes is seen. This is due to the allergic reaction. The most common allergic eye conjunctivitis is due to hay fever. These are of two types namely seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC) and perennial allergic conjunctivitis (PAC).

Causes

It is mostly hereditary and is frequently seen in people with strong family history of allergies. Most of the time, this is seen in spring and summer.

Symptoms

The symptoms include

• The patient may complain of itchy and watery eyes.
• The underside of the eyelids of the patient becomes rough and covered with bumps.
• The whitish mucus is also seen in some patients.
• The area around the cornea also becomes rough and swollen.
• Sometimes the patient may complain of decreased vision and scarring when the swelling and roughness moves over the cornea.
• Burning eyes are also one of the major complains.
• The patient may complain of discomfort in the bright light, a condition called photophobia.

Treatment

The patient should not rub the eyes as this may increase the irritation. A clean cloth should be soaked in the cold water and placed over the eyes as this soothes the irritation and burning sensation. Topical corticosteroid drug may also be prescribed. The other drugs of choices are Cromolyn Sodium or Antihistamine Drops.

Prevention

The disease can be prevented if the patient stays more into air conditioning environment or cooler climate. This will prevent the problem from getting worse.