Tag: Genes

Juvenile Arthritis: What It Is and Treatment Options

When it comes to arthritis, we automatically think of the elderly. Yes, they are the common sufferers of this debilitating condition. But, did you know that there are over one hundred different types of arthritis? There are. One of those is juvenile arthritis.

As previously stated, there are over one hundred different types of arthritis. There are different reasons for pain and that pain is felt in different areas of the body, but there is pain. With arthritis, it is always there. With juvenile arthritis, children experience this pain. Unfortunately, children are unable to manage and deal with pain as well as mature adults.

In terms of juvenile arthritis alone, there are three types. All are associated with rheumatoid arthritis. What are they?

Pauciarticular is the most commonly diagnosed in children. Luckily, it is the mildest. Pain is often experienced in the ankles, knees, fingers, elbows, and hips; however, any joint can hurt.

Systemic is another type of juvenile arthritis, but it is rarely diagnosed. It is much less common. Unfortunately, complications are common. Pain is severe and often unbearable. Every joint in the body is susceptible to pain. It can also spread to other body organs.

Polyarticular is the third known type of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. It is not as common as Pauciarticular arthritis, but is more painful. This is easy to spot, as children can rarely manage or hide the pain on their own. More joints are affected. According to WebMD and other trusted medical sources, this disease progresses and gets worse over time.

What causes arthritis in children? Experts are unable to agree on a single answer. Through extensive research, most believe juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is caused by an overactive immune system. This immune style attacks the joint tissues. A virus can temporarily cause this, but specific genes lead to long-term attacks. A family history of arthritis may increase a childs risk.

Aside from Polyarticular arthritis, which can lead to additional complications, most children outgrow the disease. Successful treatment improves the chances. Although most children will outgrow the disease, parents and caretakers must focus on the present. Children suffering from arthritis will experience excruciating and unbearable pain. Without treatment, they will find it difficult to function from day-to-day.

For parents and caretakers, it is difficult to spot the warning signs in young children, especially toddlers. Many do not know how to convey their pain or the pain is so severe it is difficult to describe. In addition to joint pain, those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis have difficulty sleeping, walking, experience joint swelling, and stiffness.

What type of treatment is available? Luckily, children suffering from arthritis have many options. First, medical care is recommended. Long-term health complications can arise if the disease is not properly treated and diagnosed. Parents concerned with treatment should first wait until they have a proper diagnosis. When that diagnosis arrives, pain medication is given. It may be needed on a regular basis.

Unfortunately, pain medications are damaging to the body. Over-consumption can cause complications. For that reason, parents and caretakers must understand the importance of exercise. Pain medication is not the only way to seek relief. Physical therapy will be short lived, but parents and patients are encouraged to continue the practice at home. Constant movement can be difficult for children who experience pain, but it is necessary. Movement prevents stiffness and deformities.

Many medical professionals recommend surgery to relieve arthritis pain in adults. This is rare in children. As previously stated, most children outgrow juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. The risk of complications is too great in most cases. If treatment proves unsuccessful, surgery may be considered, but it is rare.

In short, rheumatoid arthritis affects individuals of all ages; it does not discriminate. If you are a parent or know a child who suffers from severe joint pain or difficulty moving, do not discount rheumatoid arthritis. It may be to blame.

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The 3 Best Selections for Spider Vein Treatment

As time goes by, people want to find cure for anything. They want to look young as ever. They are excited about the ideas of retaining the look of their youth through the continuous development of science and technology. One component of this measure is spider vein treatment. Such condition hits more women than men at an earlier stage because of hormonal changes. Most women develop spider veins during their menopausal period. But it can be earlier, depending on the genes of the person who has this condition.

The Various Processes Related to Spider Veins

If you are one person who is also in search, what have you found so far? Spider veins do not pose any harmful threat on ones health. But some people do find it ghastly to see some veins beginning to pop out on the parts of their bodies that they have become used seeing without any marks.

The spider veins are nearer on the skins surface. These can be found on the face and on the neck. These must not be mistaken as varicose veins. The latter looks bigger and more pronounced. They also cause more health hazards and pains than the spider veins.

But no one is stopping you from going through the available medical processes. If you feel like you really have to and that you have the capacity to move forward, here are your best bet when it comes to that.

1. Electrodessication. From the name itself, you will get the idea that this process uses the electricity in order to get rid of the veins. The electricity acts like a shocker to the veins. It aims for these veins to swell. After a while the veins will close and will eventually die. The procedure may appear well executed. But the after effects that this can do on your skin are not that pretty. This can leave scars due to the electricity that your skin was treated to.

2. Sclerotherapy. A solution or a compound of various elements that are intended for the process are mixed and then injected to your spider veins. Once this has been done, the veins will subside and eventually dissolve. The veins are moved closer to the skins surface to be sloughed off by your body. But the beauty of this treatment cannot be seen until a month or so of continuous procedure.

At first, you may see bruises and discoloration on the parts where injections have been done. But once everything is healed, the veins will be gone forever. You may be happy at the thought. But you must take note that there are new veins that come out of your skin as you age. This means that you may have to undergo the process over and over again.

3. Photorejuvenation. Such kind includes IPL or the intense pulsed light and BBL or the broadband light. These kinds of treatments use the process of selective photothermolysis. This aim for one thing. It removes those unwanted spider veins. The process goes like this. The light is applied on to your skin. It will penetrate through the veins. The veins absorb the energy coming from the light, making them hot until they could no longer stand it so that will cause their destruction. After that, the veins are moved to the skins surface and sloughed off by your body.

You must know that lasers are not that ideal in spider vein treatment. This is due to the fact that cosmetic lasers emit red spectrum that is not well-received by your veins.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Overview

Rheumatoid Arthritis Overview
L. Hirt & eKnowItAll.com

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease that affects your joints. It can cause swelling, stiffness, pain and loss of function in the joints it affects. Unlike other types of arthritis, it does not usually affect just one joint, but the matching joint on the other side of your body as well. The most commonly affected joints are the wrists and fingers. There are several forms of the disease, ranging from a short period of pain lasting for only a year to severe pain that lasts many years or an entire lifetime. SymptomsSymptoms can vary from person to person, but there are several features of the disease that often occur:Tender, swollen and warm joints often in the wrist or fingers Pain affecting the same joints on both sides of your bodyInflammation in other joints such as the knees or hipsProlonged periods of pain and stiffness, after long periods of rest or after waking upOccasional fevers, fatigue, and an overall feeling of not being wellFactors Increasing the Risk of Rheumatoid ArthritisRheumatoid arthritis can be hereditary, and can result from having specific genes that control your immune system. Several genes play a role in whether a person develops the disease, and how severely they are afflicted. Genetics, however, is not the only factor.It is believed that certain events trigger the onset of rheumatoid arthritis in people already susceptible to it because of their genes. The most likely causes are bacterial or viral infections.Women are more likely to develop the disease than men, and their hormone levels may affect the onset of the disease. For example, pregnancy often lessens the severity of the disease, while flare-ups often occur after giving birth.The Basics of Rheumatoid ArthritisJoints, where two bones connect, are normally surrounded by a protective and supportive capsule. The capsule surrounds the joint and the cartilage between the bones. Healthy joints have a lining of a tissue called synovium and produce a fluid that both nourishes and lubricates the bones and cartilage. In people with rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system produces white blood cells that attack the synovium. This causes the inflammation consistent with arthritis, and makes the joint swollen and painful. Once the disease develops, the inflamed synovium actually attacks the joint and its bone and cartilage, working to destroy it. Eventually, the muscles around the joint become too weak to support it properly, causing often severe pain and joint damage. Common TreatmentsNo matter what treatment doctors and patients choose, the goal is always to stop pain and inflammation, prevent further damage to joints and allow the person to function normally.Dealing with the Disease:Splints can be used to support an affected joint, letting it rest. This will reduce swelling and pain. Other simple tools can make daily tasks easier for people with the disease. For example, patients may use special devices to help them get in and out of bed.A healthy blend of rest and exercise is also important. Doctors suggest getting more exercise while the disease is not severe, and getting more rest when attacks flare-up. Exercise improves flexibility, muscle strength, and joint mobility, while also contributing to the patients overall well-being. When resting, it is best to rest for short periods, rather than taking long naps.To reduce the stress involved in coping with the disease, patients can utilize relaxation techniques, regular exercise, and support groups. Eating a balanced diet also contributes to overall well-being.Medication and SurgeryMost people with rheumatoid arthritis take some form of medication. Types include those to relieve pain, to reduce inflammation and to slow the onset of the disease. Common drugs include Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and aspirins. The most effective treatments often include a combination of more powerful medications.Surgery can be performed to reduce pain and improve joint function and daily life. Common surgeries include joint replacement, tendon reconstruction, and synovectomy, in which doctors remove the inflamed synovial tissue. This is done only as part of other reconstructive surgery.For all patients, regular doctor visits, and routine blood and other laboratory tests are important and should be made on a regular basis. About the Author
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Eczema in Children

When a skin rash cannot be blamed on poison ivy or chicken pox, the culprit is eczema. In this condition, the skin turns red, scaly and develops sores. The itching is beyond the limit and the skins starts to shed in the form of scales. Dermatitis is the other name for eczema. Dermatitis actually means inflammation of the skin and the skin turns pink and sore. Eczema is a common child problem as out of ten kids at least one kid gets eczema and majority of them get it before they turn five years old. Children who are above five years are also at a risk of developing eczema, but once they become teenagers, the chances are negligible.

Not only does eczema dries the skin, it also makes it itch horribly. The skin break out can even take the form of rashes. Eczema is a condition which comes and goes frequently and therefore it is chronic. When any foreign bodies come in contact with the skin, a special kind of cells present in the skin will react to them. Basically, they inflame the skin as a measure of protection. The harmful foreign objects trigger the reaction and make these special cells to over react. This turns the skin itchy, sore and red. Children, who get eczema frequently, have a larger quantity of these special cells.

Usually, people who have family members with asthma, hay fever or any allergies are more prone to getting eczema. It is in their genes to get eczema and this problem is passed over to them by their parent. Some scientists say that people, who as children have had eczema, are at a higher risk of developing asthma or hay fever later in their life. Allergies can only make eczema worse. The good news is that eczema is not contagious, so children can be happy about not catching the infection. The first symptom of eczema is rash development. These rashes may seem to go away in the beginning, but will return back. Although eczema itches badly, not all rashes will itch. Eczema will start to develop behind the knees and inside of the elbows. It will slowly spread to the face and other body parts.

Because rashes can be caused due to many other reasons apart from eczema, the doctor will examine the rashes and its cause very carefully. If eczema is confirmed, the child may have to use a moisturizing cream or lotion to stop the itchiness and drying of the skin. In serious cases, the patient will be recommended corticosteroids. It is a steroid cream or ointment which needs to applied to check skin inflammation. If the itching is really irritating, antihistamine can be taken in either liquid or pill form. And if the scratching had resulted in an infection, antibiotics will also be prescribed. The problem doesnt get solved forever, but it makes the condition better for the time being.

There are certain things which trigger eczema and should be avoided by children who get eczema frequently. Perfumes, detergents, soap, dry air in winters with very little moisture, and sweaty and hot skin. Also when coming in contact with dust mites and scratchy fabrics can increase skin irritation. The child must abstain from scratching even if the skin is itching badly, as that will make the skin itch more badly. The skin can also get infected with bacteria because of skin breaking and bleeding. A washcloth can be dipped on cool water and placed on the area of itchiness. The parents should cut the nails short of the child so that he/she doesnt hurt himself while scratching. Lastly, lots of water should be consumed to provide moisture to the dry skin.

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