Brown recluse spider bites

Brown recluse spider bites often go unnoticed initially because they are usually painless bites. Occasionally, some minor burning that feels like a bee is noticed at the time of the bite. Symptoms usually develop 2-8 hours after a bite. Keep in mind that most bites cause little tissue destruction.

Initially the bite site is mildly red and upon close inspection may reveal fang marks. Within a few hours, the redness gives way to pallor with a red ring surrounding the area, or a "bull's-eye" appearance. The lesion will often appear to flow downhill over the course of many hours. The center area will then often blister, which over 12-48 hours can sink, turning bluish then black as this area of tissue dies.

Lyme disease

Lyme disease is transmitted through a bite from a specific type of tick. The animals that most often carry these insects are white-footed field mice, deer, raccoons, opossums, skunks, weasels, foxes, shrews, moles, chipmunks, squirrels and horses. The majority of these ticks have been found in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

In the early stages of Lyme disease, you may experience flu-like symptoms that can include a stiff neck, chills, fever, swollen lymph nodes, headaches, fatigue, muscle aches and joint pain. You also may experience a large, expanding skin rash around the area of the tick bite. Joint and muscle pain are other early signs of Lyme disease. In more advanced disease, nerve problems and arthritis, especially in the knees may occur.

Bedbugs

The first sign of bedbugs may be red, itchy bites on the skin, usually on the arms or shoulders. Bedbugs tend to leave straight rows of bites, unlike some other insects that leave bites here and there.

Bedbugs do not seem to spread disease to people. But itching from the bites can be so bad that some people will scratch enough to cause breaks in the skin that get infected easily. The bites can also cause an allergic reaction in some people. Read more about bedbug bites - symptoms, treatments and prevention.

Scabies

Scabies: Infestation of the skin by the human itch mite, Sarcaptes scabies. The initial symptom of scabies are red, raised bumps that are intensely itchy. A magnifying glass will reveal short, wavy lines of red skin, which are the burrows made by the mites. Treatment is with any of several scabicide medications.

Rosacea

Rosacea (say "roh-ZAY-sha") is a skin disease that causes redness and pimples on your nose, cheeks, chin, and forehead. The redness may come and go. People sometimes call rosacea "adult acne" because it can cause outbreaks that look like acne. It can also cause burning and soreness in the eyes and eyelids.

Rosacea often flares when something causes the blood vessels in the face to expand, which causes redness. Things that cause a flare-up are called triggers. Common triggers are exercise, sun and wind exposure, hot weather, stress, spicy foods, alcohol, and hot baths. Swings in temperature from hot to cold or cold to hot can also cause a flare-up of rosacea.Rosacea can be embarrassing. And if it is untreated, it can get worse. If the symptoms bother you, see your doctor and learn ways to control rosacea.

Ringworm

Worms don't cause ringworm. Rather, this superficial skin infection, also known as tinea, is caused by fungi called dermatophytes. Fungi are microscopic organisms that can live off the dead tissues of your skin, hair, and nails, much like a mushroom can grow on the bark of a tree.

Ringworm is characterized by a red ring of small blisters or a red ring of scaly skin that grows outward as the infection spreads. Though children are especially susceptible to catching ringworm, it can affect adults as well.

Skin Cancer

Excessive exposure to sunlight is the main cause of skin cancer. Sunlight contains ultraviolet (UV) rays that can alter the genetic material in skin cells, causing mutations. Sunlamps, tanning booths, and X-rays also generate UV rays that can damage skin and cause malignant cell mutations. Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma have been linked to chronic sun exposure, typically in fair-skinned people who work outside. Melanoma is associated with infrequent but excessive sunbathing that causes scorching sunburn. One blistering sunburn during childhood appears to double a person's risk for developing melanoma later in life.

Eczema

Eczema: A particular type of inflammatory reaction of the skin in which there are typically vesicles (tiny blister-like raised areas) in the first stage followed by erythema (reddening), edema (swelling), papules (bumps), and crusting of the skin followed, finally, by lichenification (thickening) and scaling of the skin. Eczema characteristically causes itching and burning of the skin.

Eczema, which is also called atopic dermatitis, is a very common skin problem. It may start in infancy, later in childhood, or in adulthood. Once it gets underway, it tends not to go quickly away.

There are numerous types of eczema, including:

•Atopic dermatitis -- a chronic skin disease characterized by itchy, inflamed skin
•Contact eczema -- a localized reaction that includes redness, itching, and burning where the skin has come into contact with an allergen (an allergy-causing substance) or with an irritant such as an acid, a cleaning agent, or other chemical
•Allergic contact eczema -- a red, itchy, weepy reaction where the skin has come into contact with a substance that the immune system recognizes as foreign, such as poison ivy or certain preservatives in creams and lotions
•Seborrheic eczema -- a form of skin inflammation of unknown cause that presents as yellowish, oily, scaly patches of skin on the scalp, face, and occasionally other parts of the
body
•Nummular eczema -- coin-shaped patches of irritated skin - most commonly on the arms, back, buttocks, and lower legs - that may be crusted, scaling, and extremely itchy
•Neurodermatitis -- scaly patches of skin on the head, lower legs, wrists, or forearms caused by a localized itch (such as an insect bite) that becomes intensely irritated when scratched
•Stasis dermatitis -- a skin irritation on the lower legs, generally related to circulatory problems
•Dyshidrotic eczema -- irritation of the skin on the palms of hands and soles of the feet characterized by clear, deep blisters that itch and burn.

High blood pressure (HBP)

High blood pressure (HBP) or hypertension means high pressure (tension) in the arteries. Arteries are vessels that carry blood from the pumping heart to all the tissues and organs of the body. High blood pressure does not mean excessive emotional tension, although emotional tension and stress can temporarily increase blood pressure. Normal blood pressure is below 120/80; blood pressure between 120/80 and 139/89 is called "pre-hypertension", and a blood pressure of 140/90 or above is considered high.

The top number, the systolic blood pressure, corresponds to the pressure in the arteries as the heart contracts and pumps blood forward into the arteries. The bottom number, the diastolic pressure, represents the pressure in the arteries as the heart relaxes after the contraction. The diastolic pressure reflects the lowest pressure to which the arteries are exposed.

An elevation of the systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure increases the risk of developing heart (cardiac) disease, kidney (renal) disease, hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis), eye damage, and stroke (brain damage). These complications of hypertension are often referred to as end-organ damage because damage to these organs is the end result of chronic (long duration) high blood pressure. For that reason, the diagnosis of high blood pressure is important so efforts can be made to normalize blood pressure and prevent complications.

It was previously thought that rises in diastolic blood pressure were a more important risk factor than systolic elevations, but it is now known that in people 50 years or older systolic hypertension represents a greater risk.

The American Heart Association estimates high blood pressure affects approximately one in three adults in the United States - 73 million people. High blood pressure is also estimated to affect about two million American teens and children, and the Journal of the American Medical Association reports that many are under-diagnosed. Hypertension is clearly a major public health problem.

Dengue fever

Dengue fever is a disease caused by a family of viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes. It is an acute illness of sudden onset that usually follows a benign course with symptoms such as headache, fever, exhaustion, severe muscle and joint pain, swollen glands (lymphadenopathy), and rash. The presence (the "dengue triad") of fever, rash, and headache (and other pains) is particularly characteristic of dengue. Other signs of dengue fever include bleeding gums, severe pain behind the eyes, and red palms and soles.

Dengue (pronounced DENG-gay) strikes people with low levels of immunity. Because it is caused by one of four serotypes of virus, it is possible to get dengue fever multiple times. However, an attack of dengue produces immunity for a lifetime to that particular serotype to which the patient was exposed.

Dengue goes by other names, including "breakbone" or "dandy fever." Victims of dengue often have contortions due to the intense joint and muscle pain, hence the name breakbone fever. Slaves in the West Indies who contracted dengue were said to have dandy fever because of their postures and gait.

Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a more severe form of the viral illness. Manifestations include headache, fever, rash, and evidence of hemorrhage in the body. Petechiae (small red or purple blisters under the skin), bleeding in the nose or gums, black stools, or easy bruising are all possible signs of hemorrhage. This form of dengue fever can be life-threatening and can progress to the most severe form of the illness, dengue shock syndrome.

Diabetes mellitus

"Diabetes" redirects here. For the journal, see Diabetes (journal). See also Diabetes insipidus.
Diabetes mellitus
Classification and external resources

Universal blue circle symbol for diabetes.[1]
ICD-10 E10.–E14.
ICD-9 250
MedlinePlus 001214
eMedicine med/546 emerg/134
MeSH C18.452.394.750
Diabetes mellitus, often simply referred to as diabetes—is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced. This high blood sugar produces the classical symptoms of polyuria (frequent urination), polydipsia (increased thirst) and polyphagia (increased hunger).

There are three main types of diabetes:

Type 1 diabetes: results from the body's failure to produce insulin, and presently requires the person to inject insulin. (Also referred to as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, IDDM for short, and juvenile diabetes.)
Type 2 diabetes: results from insulin resistance, a condition in which cells fail to use insulin properly, sometimes combined with an absolute insulin deficiency.
Gestational diabetes: is when pregnant women, who have never had diabetes before, have a high blood glucose level during pregnancy. It may precede development of type 2 DM.
Other forms of diabetes mellitus include congenital diabetes, which is due to genetic defects of insulin secretion, cystic fibrosis-related diabetes, steroid diabetes induced by high doses of glucocorticoids, and several forms of monogenic diabetes.

Profuse sweating

Patients with high fevers and often patients who are close to death will perspire profusely. Give the patient frequent sponge baths and change bedding as needed.

Labored breathing

The patient who is having difficulty breathing may find relief by being turned slightly on their side with their head propped up on pillows. Sometimes opening a window may also help.

Abdominal distention and constipation

The observant visitor may notice that the patient's abdomen is distended or the patient may complain of constipation to a friend or family member who has the time to listen to their woes. These are common problems when pain-killing drugs are used or when the patient is immobile and they are an additional cause of discomfort and distress. They can usually be relieved with medication or medical interventions. Report these problems.

Mouth care

Adequate care of the mouth is essential. Dentures should fit properly. If they do not, they will cause a sore mouth and difficulty eating. A visit from a dentist is in order if dentures bother the patient.

When a patient is debilitated, frequent mouthwashes are important. Their mouth may drop open and become dry. Water should be given in frequent small quantities if the patient can swallow. The patient should be on their side so that fluid doesn't trickle down their windpipe, making them cough.

Brushing the teeth and tongue with a soft-bristled brush and a small amount of a mild toothpaste and rinsing is helpful.

vomiting

Usually there is a basin for this purpose close at hand. Turn the patient on their side so they will not choke or aspirate the vomitus into their lungs. Hold the basin against their cheek and under their chin. Call for help. Antiemetic drugs can control vomiting.

Influenza

Signs and Symptoms

Influenza comes on suddenly,with chills,fever,severe headache,backache and marked prostration.There may also be a digestive upset,with abdominal pain and diarrhea.Sore throat and nasal discharge are often present but in a considerable portion of cases they are not.Bronchitis and cough are likely to develop fairly soon after the onset.The symptoms of a mild case of "flu" are much likely those of a common cold,which make the decision as to which disease is present rather difficult in many instances.

What should be done

1. For headache, apply an ice bag to the head,but keep the room moderately warm and carefully avoid chilling the patient.
   
2. Keep the patient in bed and isolated from all other persons excepts nurse or attendant until at least a full day after the temperature has fallen to normal.
3. For cough,keep a kettle of water simmering in the room all the time and use medicated steam inhalations three times a day.
4. Give only a liquid diet until one day after patient's temperature has fallen to normal.He should take at least 12 glasses of fluid a day, chiefly water and fruit juices.
5. If signs of bronchopneumonia develop,it is wise to call a physician.
   

German Measles

Signs and Symptoms

German Measles usually begins with a slight fever,headache,and a mild sore throat- a rash showing a day or two later.In some cases,no symptom at all are noticed before the rash appears.Swollen glands may be present,especially on the part of the neck back of the ears.The rash appears first on the limbs.It varies much in character, but tends to be scarlet in color like the rash of scarlet fever,but without the "sand papery feel" and blotchy in arrangement like that of measles,though not so much so.It usually fades within two or three days.

What have to be done

1. Isolate the patient until the rash has faded.
2. If there is fever,the patient should stay in bed till it subsides.
3. The diet should consist of milk,gruels,and fruit juices.
4. If the swollen glands are painful,apply icebags.
5. Some physicians now advise that all girls be porpusely exposed to GermanMeasles before they reach puberty.
   

Tuberculosis

Signs and Symptoms

When the lungs are attacked,it is common for a persistent though not necessarily severe cough to develop,often with an increasing tendency to raise sputum.Occasionally the first alarm signal is the spitting of the blood,which may vary from copious bleeding to a mere streaking of the sputum with red at times.In more cases blood spitting comes later.Sharp pains in the chest maybe due to tuberculosis pleurisy,especially in adults,though not all chest pains are pleurisy and not all persons with lung tuberculosis have the chest pains.


What should be done

1. If there is any suspicion of the presence of tuberculosis,go to a physician immediately for examination.In case of lung tuberculosis,a chest X-ray is the most important part of the examination.
2. Periodic chest X-ray for everyone fifteen years old or older would discover many early cases of tuberculosis,most of which could be cured in a few months.
3. Rest and a nourishing diet are the most important parts of the treatment of tuberculosis of most kinds.
4. Do not spend money for advertised"cures"- none of them have as yet succeeded in enough cases to worthwhile.