Chinyemba/medical-QA huggingface dataset:
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Retinopathy

: Expected duration

Retinopathy of prematurity — In most affected babies, this condition gets better on its own. Abnormal vessels disappear. A small number of more serious cases get worse without treatment. Babies who need treatment are treated in the first few months of life. It is usually possible to know within months whether there is any significant long-term damage to vision. Diabetic retinopathy — Controlling blood sugar and blood pressure can help delay and maybe even prevent the onset of the disease. Treatments can repair existing damage. Hypertensive retinopathy — Lowering blood pressure often can stop ongoing damage to the retina. However, some existing damage can persist. Central serous retinopathy — Most cases go away without any treatment within three to four months. Full vision can return within six months.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Retinopathy

: Prevention

Retinopathy of prematurity — The first line of defense is regular prenatal care. This helps to prevent premature birth. Premature and low-birth-weight infants should be screened for retinopathy of prematurity if they:
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Retinopathy

: Treatment

Retinopathy of prematurity — No treatment is recommended during the early, milder stages. However, close monitoring is essential. An ophthalmologist should examine high-risk infants before they are discharged from the hospital. Infants should be examined again at 8 weeks of age. If the disease is active, the infant should be examined every 1 to 2 weeks until he or she is 14 weeks old. After that, they should be examined every 1 to 2 months. More advanced disease may require treatment. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors (including bevacizumab, and ranibizumab) can be injected into the eye as the initial treatment.  Laser treatments may also be used. A detached retina can be reattached.  An older procedure called cryotherapy uses cold to destroy abnormal blood vessels and may be used when laser treatment is not available. Diabetic retinopathy — No therapy may be needed for mild nonproliferative disease.  Otherwise, specific treatment depends on the nature and severity of disease, preferences of the patient and cost. Treatment options include:
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Retinopathy

: When to call a professional

Call a doctor if you notice changes in your vision, particularly if they are sudden. Changes may include:
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Retinopathy

: Prognosis

The prognosis depends on what's causing the retinopathy, and how far it has progressed. Retinopathy of prematurity — In most affected babies, this condition gets better on its own. Abnormal vessels disappear. However, more advanced cases can lead to a number of eye problems, including blindness. Children with retinopathy of prematurity have an increased risk of:
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Retinopathy

: Additional info

American Academy of Ophthalmology

https://www.aao.org
 
National Eye Institute

https://www.nei.nih.gov/
 
American Academy of Pediatrics

https://www.aap.org/
 
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Retrobulbar Neuritis

: What Is It?

Retrobulbar neuritis is a form of optic neuritis in which the optic nerve, which is at the back of the eye, becomes inflamed. The inflamed area is between the back of the eye and the brain. The optic nerve contains fibers that carry visual information from the nerve cells in the retina to the nerve cells in the brain. When these fibers become inflamed, visual signaling to the brain becomes disrupted, and vision is impaired. Retrobulbar neuritis can be caused by a variety of conditions, including:
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Retrograde Ejaculation

: What Is It?

Ejaculation is the ejection of semen out of the urethra (passageway inside the penis) when a man has an orgasm. Under normal circumstances, ejaculation propels semen forward through a man's urethra and out the tip of his penis. This is because a tiny sphincter (circular muscle) at the entrance to the bladder shuts the opening to the bladder and prevents semen from entering. Retrograde ejaculation is when the semen travels backwards into the bladder. In retrograde ejaculation, the muscle that shuts the bladder does not function normally. This allows all or part of the semen to travel backward (retrograde) into the bladder at the time of ejaculation. When this happens, less semen comes out the tip of the penis. Retrograde ejaculation has several possible causes, including:
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Retrograde Ejaculation

: Symptoms

Normally, a healthy adult male ejaculates one-half to one teaspoonful of semen during orgasm, but the amount varies widely. In men with retrograde ejaculation, the amount of semen is decreased dramatically or there is a dry climax (orgasm without semen).
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Retrograde Ejaculation

: Diagnosis

In most cases, the diagnosis will be made by a primary care doctor or a urologist, a doctor who specializes in male reproductive disorders and urinary tract problems. The doctor will ask questions about your medical history, previous surgery, sexual history and current medications. These questions will be followed by a thorough physical examination. The diagnosis usually can be confirmed if many sperm are found in a urine sample after ejaculation.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Retrograde Ejaculation

: Expected Duration

How long this problem lasts depends on the cause. If your retrograde ejaculation is a side effect of medication, the problem may go away when your doctor switches you to a different drug. On the other hand, if your retrograde ejaculation is caused by severe nerve or muscle damage, the condition may be permanent.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Retrograde Ejaculation

: Prevention

There now are innovative, minimally invasive forms of prostate surgery for enlarged prostates (not cancer) that may cause less retrograde ejaculation than the standard procedures. These newer procedures include transurethral needle ablation of the prostate (TUNA) and transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT). Even if these procedures cause fewer cases of retrograde ejaculation, however, they may not be appropriate for all patients.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Retrograde Ejaculation

: Treatment

Most men who have retrograde ejaculation do not need specific treatment. If the condition is a side effect of medication, your doctor may be able to switch you to a different drug that does not cause the problem. In other men, all that is needed is reassurance that retrograde ejaculation is not a serious medical problem and that it is not a sign of a serious condition.   In some men, retrograde ejaculation requires treatment because it interferes with fertility. This treatment varies depending on the cause. If your retrograde ejaculation is a side effect of medication, your doctor probably will switch you to a drug that does not affect ejaculation. If your retrograde ejaculation appears to be related to a mild nerve or muscle problem involving the bladder, then your doctor may discuss treatment with a drug — such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) or imipramine (Tofranil) — to help improve muscle tone where the bladder and urethra join. If your retrograde ejaculation is the result of severe damage to the nerves or muscles of your bladder, then it may not be possible to restore normal ejaculation. If this is the case, and you are hoping to father a child, a fertility specialist may be able to help. In cases of retrograde ejaculation, three of the more commonly used assisted fertilization procedures are:
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Retrograde Ejaculation

: When To Call A Professional

Contact your doctor if you produce little or no semen when you ejaculate, especially if you are hoping to father a child.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Retrograde Ejaculation

: Prognosis

Simple therapies have a good chance of decreasing retrograde ejaculation enough to allow conception.  In men who do not respond to medication, fathering a child may still be possible with the help of assisted fertilization procedures.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Reye syndrome

: What is it?

Reye syndrome is a very rare disorder that damages many parts of the body, especially the brain and the liver. For unknown reasons, the parts of the cells that make energy (mitochondria) stop working correctly, which causes severe illness. The most serious problems are swelling of the brain and problems with the breakdown of fat, which results in buildup in the liver and other organs. The illness can be fatal, especially if not detected early and treated appropriately. Although Reye syndrome can occur at any age, it most often affects children between the ages of 3 and 12. Reye syndrome typically occurs several days after the child is recovering from a viral infection, such as the flu, common cold, or chickenpox. It also can develop while the child is still sick, a few days after the viral illness began. While the exact cause of Reye syndrome is not known, researchers believe that it may be due to an abnormal response to aspirin or aspirin-containing products taken during a viral illness. For this reason, never give aspirin or aspirin-containing medicines to children with fever or a flu-like illness.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Reye syndrome

: Symptoms

Symptoms can include
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Reye syndrome

: Diagnosis

The doctor may suspect a child has Reye syndrome based on the symptoms and a history of very recent viral illness. Blood tests, including tests of liver function, will be done. Imaging tests such as ultrasound and CT scans usually show steatosis (fatty infiltration) of the liver and other organs. Other tests may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis, including:
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Reye syndrome

: Expected duration

How long it takes to recover from Reye syndrome depends on how much the brain has swelled. People with mild disease usually recover quickly and completely.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Reye syndrome

: Prevention

Although a clear link between aspirin and Reye syndrome has not yet been proven, experts agree that to prevent Reye syndrome, the safest approach is never to give aspirin or aspirin-containing medicines to children unless specifically recommended by the child's doctor. Read labels carefully. Look for the word aspirin and other words that also mean aspirin: acetylsalicylate, acetylsalicylic acid, salicylic acid and salicylate. When necessary, non-aspirin medicines, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), should be used instead.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Reye syndrome

: Treatment

Treatment depends on the symptoms, but all patients with Reye syndrome need to be treated in a hospital and monitored closely. Treatment focuses on protecting the brain against irreversible damage by preventing or reducing brain swelling. Specific treatments may include
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Reye syndrome

: When to call a professional

Reye syndrome is a serious, life-threatening condition. If your child has had a viral infection and has any symptoms of Reye syndrome, call your doctor immediately. It is an emergency!
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Reye syndrome

: Prognosis

With early diagnosis and treatment, the chances of recovery are usually excellent. Some people will recover fully, while others may have permanent brain damage. The outlook is poorer for people with Reye syndrome who rapidly become unconscious. If diagnosis and treatment are delayed, the chances of successful recovery and survival are less.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Reye syndrome

: Additional info

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

https://www.aap.org/
 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

https://www.cdc.gov/
 
National Reye's Syndrome Foundation

https://www.reyessyndrome.org/
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Rheumatoid arthritis

: What is it?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic (long-lasting) inflammatory disease that causes pain, stiffness, warmth, redness and swelling in joints. Over time, the affected joints may become misshapen, misaligned and damaged. Tissue lining the joint can become thick, and may wear away surrounding ligaments, cartilage and bone as it spreads. Rheumatoid arthritis usually occurs in a symmetrical pattern, meaning that if one knee or hand has it, the other usually does, too.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Rheumatoid arthritis

: Symptoms

Symptoms include:
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Rheumatoid arthritis

: Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and will examine you. You also may be sent for a blood test. An abnormal antibody, called the rheumatoid factor (RF), is found in the blood of 60 percent to 70 percent of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. However, having RF does not necessarily mean you have rheumatoid arthritis. Many people who do not have rheumatoid arthritis can have RF appear in their blood. Another antibody, called the anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP), is also present in about 65% of people with rheumatoid arthritis but it is a more specific indicator of rheumatoid arthritis — that is, few people without rheumatoid arthritis have this antibody. While it is more specific, the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis cannot be based solely on any single blood test. Other blood tests may be performed to look for other causes of joint pain. While x-rays may be normal in the first few weeks or months of disease, joint damage (called erosions) may eventually appear.  MRI or ultrasound may show evidence of joint inflammation earlier than x-rays. You may hear about a checklist of symptoms (called criteria) for diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis. Although many physicians use this checklist as a guide, it is important to know that some patients with rheumatoid arthritis do not have many of the symptoms on the list, especially if their disease is mild. And some people with other forms of arthritis may meet criteria for rheumatoid arthritis. The diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis relies mostly on the experience and judgment of the doctor, and is based on the "big picture" of symptoms, examination and test results. The diagnosis also depends on excluding other explanations for the symptoms.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Rheumatoid arthritis

: Expected duration

Most people with rheumatoid arthritis have chronic (long-lasting) symptoms. They experience periods when symptoms get worse, called flare-ups, and periods when symptoms improve. Rarely, symptoms and signs of the disease disappear without treatment, called a spontaneous remission.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Rheumatoid arthritis

: Prevention

There is no way to prevent rheumatoid arthritis. However, smoking is a risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis. So this is one more reason not to smoke.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Rheumatoid arthritis

: Treatment

The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis has improved dramatically in the past 50 years. A comprehensive approach that combines medications, rest balanced with exercise, lifestyle modifications, and sometimes surgery, can help many people to lead normal lives. The most important goals in treating rheumatoid arthritis are maintaining your ability to move and function, reducing pain, and preventing future joint damage. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential. If control of disease is achieved soon after symptoms begin, long-term outcomes tend to be good and quality of life and length of life may be normal. The treatments themselves may cause problems. You and your doctor will have to weigh the risks and benefits of any medication or other treatment that is available for this disease.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Rheumatoid arthritis

: When to call a professional

Tell your doctor if you experience any of the following:
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Rheumatoid arthritis

: Prognosis

Early, effective treatment can help you live well with rheumatoid arthritis, although the severity of the disease and its response to therapy are highly variable.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Rheumatoid arthritis

: Additional info

American College of Rheumatology

http://www.rheumatology.org/
 
Arthritis Foundation

http://www.arthritis.org/
 
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/what-we-do/nih-almanac/national-institute-arthritis-musculoskeletal-skin-diseases-niams
 
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

http://www.aaos.org/
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Ringworm (Tinea)

: What Is It?

Ringworm, also called tinea, is a skin infection caused by fungi, microscopic organisms that are similar to yeast and molds. It does not have any relation to worms, but is called "ringworm" because the infection can produce ring-shaped patches on the skin that have red, wormlike edges.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

: What Is It?

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a severe illness caused by tiny bacteria called Rickettsia rickettsii, which are transmitted through the bite of an infected tick. In the eastern United States and in California, the infected tick is usually Dermacentor variabilis, the American dog tick. In most of the western United States, the tick is more likely to be Dermacentor andersoni, the Rocky Mountain wood tick. Humans typically become infected in the spring and early summer.   Once someone is bitten by an infected tick, Rocky Mountain spotted fever bacteria can spread throughout the bloodstream and lymphatic system. The tick must remain attached and be actively feeding to transmit the bacteria. Not everybody who is bitten by an infected tick develops Rocky Mountain spotted fever. It is not clear why some people get the disease and others do not.  Once in the body, the bacteria attack and severely damage the linings of blood vessels. The injured vessels leak a watery fluid, which causes swelling. The blood vessels also can lose blood, which causes potentially life-threatening hemorrhages (serious bleeding). As damaged blood vessels continue to leak, blood pressure can decrease. If this happens, blood flow to the kidneys can decrease, causing kidney damage and, possibly, kidney failure. Rocky Mountain spotted fever bacteria also may attack the brain directly, causing symptoms of encephalitis (brain infection) or meningoencephalitis (infection of the brain and its surrounding membranes). Rocky Mountain spotted fever also can cause jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) as a result of liver injury. In the lungs, Rocky Mountain spotted fever can lead to an accumulation of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema) and severe breathing difficulties.   The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) up to 4000 cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever or related infections in the United States each year. Children aged 5 to 9 are more likely to be infected than any other age group.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

: Symptoms

Typically, symptoms begin 2 to 14 days after a tick bite, with an average of 1 week. During the first 3 days of symptoms, an infected person usually has a fever of more than 102 degrees Fahrenheit and a severe headache. Muscle aches, nausea and vomiting are common. Between the 3rd and 5th day of fever, most people develop a rash, which usually begins on the wrists and ankles, then spreads to the arms, legs and trunk. In about two-thirds of patients, the rash also involves the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. On day 6 or later, the areas of rash may show tiny broken blood vessels and small hemorrhages under the skin.   Other symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever include:
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

: Diagnosis

The classic features that may lead your doctor to suspect Rocky Mountain spotted fever are high fever, rash, headache, and a history of tick exposure, such as walking in a tick-infested area, within 14 days of developing the symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Only about 60% of patients recall being bitten by a tick.   The early symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever are not specific, and diagnostic tests often are negative early in the disease. Therefore, if your doctor suspects that you have Rocky Mountain spotted fever, he or she generally will begin treatment immediately, even if your blood tests are negative. Early treatment is essential to help you avoid severe complications. Your doctor also may remove a small piece of skin from the area of the rash so it can be examined in a laboratory. This procedure is called a biopsy. The biopsy sample can be tested in the laboratory with chemicals to confirm the presence of Rocky Mountain spotted fever bacteria. Blood tests can confirm the diagnosis, but only two to three weeks after the onset of infection. There are no specific abnormalities on blood tests that indicate an active infection early on.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

: Expected Duration

Symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever begin 2 to 14 days after a bite by an infected tick. Most cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever respond to appropriate antibiotic treatment within a week. Once symptoms develop, a person can die within 2 weeks without proper treatment.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

: Prevention

Because there is no vaccine against Rocky Mountain spotted fever, the most effective way to prevent the illness is to avoid walking in wooded areas or fields where ticks are found. If you must walk in tick-infested areas, follow these precautions:
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

: Treatment

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is treated with one of the tetracycline drugs, usually doxycycline (sold as a generic), in adults and children over age 9. In general, tetracyclines should not be prescribed for pregnant women and children under the age of 9 because these antibiotics can permanently stain the teeth. However, doxycycline is the best available antibiotic to treat this potentially life threatening infection and is preferred if Rocky Mountain spotted fever is the likely diagnosis, despite the teeth staining. Chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin) is another antibiotic that attacks the bacteria, but it appears to be less effective than doxycycline and is only recommended when doxycycline cannot be given due to allergy or other reaction.    Most people are cured after taking the antibiotics for five to seven days. Patients may need to be hospitalized if there is severe lung damage, kidney failure, significant bleeding or severe brain involvement. In cases of respiratory failure, mechanical ventilation (treatment with a machine that breathes for the patient) may be necessary. Patients with kidney failure may require dialysis. Those with severe bleeding may need blood transfusions.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

: When To Call a Professional

Call your doctor immediately if you develop fever, headaches and nausea, with or without a rash, after you have been bitten by a tick. Even if you don't remember being bitten, call your doctor if you develop these symptoms and you have walked recently in tick-infested areas.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

: Prognosis

Before effective antibiotics were available, 20% to 25% of people with Rocky Mountain spotted fever died. Now, however, less than 5% of patients die from this illness. Older patients have a slightly higher risk of death than younger ones, and males have a higher risk than females.
### Instruction:  Disease name:

    Rosacea

: What Is It?

Rosacea (rose-ay-shah) is a common, long-lasting skin condition that causes inflammation and redness of the face. It usually starts with redness on the cheeks and nose, and also can affect the forehead and chin. The late comedian W.C. Fields, who was known for his wicked wit and red, bulbous nose, had an advanced case of rosacea.