What is Goitre? An enlargement of the thyroid gland, a butterfly-shaped gland which is present at the front of the throat and below the Adam’s apple, is called goitre. The thyroid gland comprises of two lobes that lie on either side of the windpipe joined by a bridge of tissue …
Read More »Scurvy – Causes, Symptoms, Complications, and Prevention.
Introduction Scurvy is a disease caused by prolonged severe dietary deficiency of ascorbic acid, in which the breakdown of intercellular cement substances leads to capillary haemorrhages and defective growth of fibroblasts, osteoblasts, and odontoblasts results in impaired synthesis of collagen, osteoid, and dentine. It is characterized by haemorrhagic gingivitis affecting …
Read More »Trichinosis – Risk factors, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention.
Definition Trichinosis is a disease caused by parasitic roundworms (nematodes) that can infect and damage body tissues. Nematodes are a major division of the helminth family of parasitic worms (for example, Trichinella spiralis). When ingested, these parasitic worms can pass through the intestinal tract to invade other tissues, such as …
Read More »Osteomalacia – Definition, Manifestations, and Diagnosis.
Definition Osteomalacia means soft bones. Bone is a living, active tissue that’s continually being removed and replaced. This process is known as bone turnover. Bone consists of a hard outer shell (the cortex) made up of minerals, mainly calcium and phosphorus, and a softer inner mesh (the matrix) made up …
Read More »Psittacosis or Parrot Disease – Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention.
Definition Psittacosis is an uncommon infectious disease that is most often transmitted to humans through exposure to infected birds, especially parrots, cockatiels, parakeets and similar pet birds. Psittacosis can affect the lungs and may cause inflammatory illness of the lungs (pneumonia). Additional common symptoms include fever, muscle pain (myalgia), headaches, …
Read More »Photophobia – Causes, Complications, and Diagnosis.
What is photophobia? Photophobia is not a fear of light, as the name might suggest, but rather it is an intolerance or sensitivity to light that can lead to extreme pain and discomfort. Sources of light such as fluorescent light, sunlight, and incandescent light can all be responsible for causing …
Read More »Marburg Virus Disease – Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention.
Definition Marburg virus disease is a severe disease that causes haemorrhagic fever in humans and animals. Diseases that cause haemorrhagic fevers, such as Marburg, are often fatal as they affect the body’s vascular system (how blood moves through the body). This can lead to significant internal bleeding and organ failure. …
Read More »Animal Bites – Types, Complications, and Prevention.
Definition Animal bites are common. Most are caused by dogs and cats. Cat bites can look minor, but they can be serious because a fang puncture can leave bacteria deep in the wound. Animal bite wound Epidemiology The lack of standard reporting in many countries makes accurate estimates of mammalian …
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