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### Instruction: Disease name: Antibiotic-associated diarrhea : What is antibiotic-associated diarrhea?

In healthy people, many different species of bacteria live inside the bowel. Many are harmless or even helpful to the body, but a few have the potential to be aggressive troublemakers. Under normal circumstances, the "bad" bacteria are far outnumbered. So, the bowel's natural ecological balance keeps them under control. This can change dramatically when a person begins treatment with an antibiotic. This is because antibiotics can kill large numbers of the bowel's normal bacteria, altering the delicate balance among the various species.  In most cases, the result is only a mild case of short-term diarrhea that goes away quickly after the antibiotic treatment ends. Occasionally, however, an antibiotic eliminates so many of the bowel's "good" and harmless bacteria that the aggressive "bad" ones are free to multiply out of control. One type of bacteria in particular, a species called Clostridium difficile (C. difficile), can overgrow inside the bowel, producing irritating chemicals that damage the bowel wall and trigger bowel inflammation, called colitis. This can cause abdominal pain, cramps, diarrhea, and fever. In some cases, high-volume, diarrhea is so frequent that the person develops dehydration (very low levels of body water). A more severe complication of C. difficile overgrowth can lead to a type of bowel inflammation called pseudomembranous colitis. Patients with pseudomembranous colitis are at risk of a severely distended colon that stops functioning (toxic megacolon), which can lead to a hole through the bowel wall (bowel perforation). Because C. difficile lives silently in the bowels of about 5% of people, episodes of C. difficile diarrhea occasionally occur in otherwise healthy adults and children who are taking antibiotics. C. difficile infections are more common among recently hospitalized patients, the elderly and those with debilitating illnesses. In hospitals and nursing homes, C. difficile bacteria can be spread from patient to patient on the unwashed hands of health care workers, and also via toilets, sinks and other surfaces that have been contaminated by stool. According to some studies, more than 20% of patients in hospitals and nursing homes silently harbor C. difficile in their intestines. In any one of these patients, treatment with an antibiotic is all it takes for C. difficile to overgrow and cause illness. Many different types of antibiotics have been blamed for causing C. difficile diarrhea and colitis. Common culprits include clindamycin (Cleocin), ampicillin (sold under several brand names) and cephalosporins, such as cephalexin (Keflex).

### Instruction: Disease name: Antibiotic-associated diarrhea : Symptoms of antibiotic-associated diarrhea

If you are taking an antibiotic, the medication will cause a mild change in your population of intestinal bacteria that may cause occasional loose stools or mild diarrhea for a few days. These symptoms should stop once your antibiotic treatment ends. If you have a more dramatic change in your bowel bacteria, and C. difficile bacteria begin to overgrow, your symptoms can include:

### Instruction: Disease name: Antibiotic-associated diarrhea : Diagnosing antibiotic-associated diarrhea

If you have unexplained diarrhea, and you are taking antibiotics, be sure to tell your doctor the name of your prescription antibiotic, the date when you first began treatment and the date when your bowel symptoms began. To evaluate the severity of your diarrhea and assess your risk of dehydration, your doctor will ask about:

### Instruction: Disease name: Antibiotic-associated diarrhea : Expected duration of antibiotic-associated diarrhea

If you have mild, uncomplicated antibiotic-associated diarrhea, your bowel movements should gradually return to normal once your antibiotic treatment ends. C. difficile diarrhea usually begins to subside within the first 72 hours of treatment with medication. However, some people develop severe symptoms with a longer recovery time. C. difficile diarrhea can recur despite adequate initial therapy.

### Instruction: Disease name: Antibiotic-associated diarrhea : Preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea

If you are caring for someone who has diarrhea, you may be able to avoid spreading potentially harmful bacteria by taking these steps:

### Instruction: Disease name: Antibiotic-associated diarrhea : Treating antibiotic-associated diarrhea

For cases of mild antibiotic-associated diarrhea, try the following suggestions:

### Instruction: Disease name: Antibiotic-associated diarrhea : When to call a professional

Call your doctor promptly if you have been taking antibiotics and you develop any of the following symptoms:

### Instruction: Disease name: Antibiotic-associated diarrhea : Prognosis

Overall, the prognosis is excellent. Almost all adults with mild antibiotic-associated diarrhea recover completely without complications. Among people with more severe C. difficile diarrhea, 15% to 35% have the problem return within eight weeks. Most of these patients can be successfully treated with a second course of medication.

### Instruction: Disease name: Antibiotic-associated diarrhea : Additional info

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) https://www.niaid.nih.gov/ National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Disorders https://www.niddk.nih.gov/ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/ American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) https://gi.org/

### Instruction: Disease name: Antibiotic-associated diarrhea : About the Reviewer

### Instruction: Disease name: Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome : What is antiphospholipid antibody syndrome?

Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) is a condition defined by the presence of abnormal antibodies and a tendency to form blood clots or to have miscarriages. People with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome produce antibodies that interact with certain proteins in the blood. This causes the blood to clot more than normal. The most commonly measured antiphospholipid antibodies include lupus anticoagulant and antibodies to cardiolipin or beta-2 glycoprotein. The blood clots often form in the leg veins. The clots also can form in arteries. The blood clots may occur in any organ, but they tend to favor the lungs, brain, kidneys, heart and skin. There are two types of APS: primary and secondary. People with primary APS do not have any associated condition. The secondary form is associated with another immune disorder, such as lupus, an infection or, rarely, the use of a medication (such as chlorpromazine or procainamide). A person may have a blood test that detects antiphospholipid antibodies. This does not necessarily mean that he or she has APS or will develop symptoms or problems of APS.

### Instruction: Disease name: Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome : Symptoms of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome

The symptoms of APS can include any of the following: Nervous system. APS can cause:

### Instruction: Disease name: Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome : Diagnosing antiphospholipid antibody syndrome

Many symptoms that occur with APS are common even without the condition. They do not necessarily mean APS is the cause. However, a doctor may order tests to detect the antibodies associated with APS (including lupus anticoagulant and antibodies to cardiolipin or beta-2 glycoprotein) when

### Instruction: Disease name: Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome : Expected duration of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome

Some people with APS continue to have symptoms off and on throughout their lives. Others improve without any repeat episodes. Some people even lose the antibodies associated with the syndrome. This can happen with primary APS. But it is especially common

### Instruction: Disease name: Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome : Preventing antiphospholipid antibody syndrome

There is no known way to reliably prevent APS, although vaccination for viral infections (including influenza) could reduce the risk of APS triggered by viral infection. However, lifestyle changes can reduce the likelihood of blood clots. To reduce your risk of blood clots:

### Instruction: Disease name: Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome : Treating antiphospholipid antibody syndrome

If you have antiphospholipid antibodies but have not had blood clots or a miscarriage, your doctor may recommend that you take a low-dose aspirin every day. However, aspirin therapy may not be effective at preventing clots, and it may increase your risks of bleeding or stomach problems. For people with a history of blood clots as part of APS, doctors usually prescribe a powerful blood thinner called warfarin (Coumadin). This medication usually is taken for life. People who take warfarin need to have their blood tested regularly. That's because if the blood is too thin, the risk of bleeding increases. If it is not thin enough, clotting is more likely. Other blood thinners (including dabigatran, apixaban, and rivaroxaban) appear to be less effective than warfarin. Aspirin may be added to warfarin, especially if the clot was in an artery. Another commonly used blood thinner is called heparin. It may be used before you start taking warfarin. Heparin also is used for pregnant women, because warfarin is not safe for the developing fetus. Heparin is only available as an injection. A woman with APS who is trying to become pregnant after repeated miscarriages may increase the chance of a successful pregnancy by getting heparin injections and taking low-dose aspirin. This treatment should start as soon as the pregnancy is discovered. It continues until just before delivery. Other medications may be recommended for advanced cases of APS include:

### Instruction: Disease name: Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome : When to call a professional

Contact a doctor if you have any symptoms of APS such as unexplained leg swelling or shortness of breath. Call your doctor if you have APS and want to become pregnant.

### Instruction: Disease name: Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome : Prognosis

People with primary APS generally lead normal, healthy lives with the help of medication and lifestyle changes. People with secondary APS generally have a similar prognosis. But their illnesses and life spans can be affected by associated conditions. APS associated with infections or medication use may be temporary and resolve once the infection subsides or a medication is stopped. Some people with APS will have repeated blood clots despite the best treatments. This is referred to as catastrophic antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, a condition that, as the name suggests, can be fatal.

### Instruction: Disease name: Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome : Additional info

American College of Rheumatology http://www.rheumatology.org/ National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases http://www.niams.nih.gov/ National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) http://rarediseases.org/

### Instruction: Disease name: Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome : About the Reviewer

### Instruction: Disease name: Antisocial Personality Disorder : What is antisocial personality disorder?

Antisocial personality disorder, like other personality disorders, is a longstanding pattern of behavior and experience that impairs functioning and causes distress. By definition, people with antisocial personality disorder don't follow society's norms, are deceitful and intimidating in relationships, and are inconsiderate of the rights of others. People with this type of personality may take part in criminal activity. But if they do, they are not sorry for their hurtful deeds. They can be impulsive, reckless and sometimes violent. This disorder is far more common and more apparent in men than women. People with antisocial personality disorder generally do not value "playing by the rules." They do so only if they are threatened with punishment. This attitude leads to a tendency to exploit others. They take advantage of the fairness or softheartedness of others, and they feel indifferent toward or even contemptuous of their victims. A person with this disorder has little, if any, ability to be intimate with another person. Any lasting relationships are likely to involve some degree of abuse or neglect. Yet people with this disorder are sometimes charming and can be good actors who use lies and distortion to keep relationships going. Some with antisocial personality disorder have no goal beyond the pleasure of deceiving or harming others. People with antisocial personality disorder appear to care for no one but themselves. They may be able to understand the emotions of others. But they don't suffer any shame or guilt about the pain they may be causing. Instead, they use their knowledge of others' weaknesses to gain favors or to manipulate an outcome. A person with this disorder usually does not take responsibility for any of his or her own suffering. He or she will blame others when things go badly. Many with this disorder do suffer, because they can be self-defeating, and never get to enjoy the many pleasures that come to people who are better able to have mutual and satisfying relationships. People with this personality disorder can also have problems such as chronic boredom or irritability, psychosomatic symptoms, pathological gambling, alcohol and substance abuse, and a variety of mood or anxiety disorders. They have a higher risk of suicide. A significant number have had behavior problems or attention deficit disorder as children. Antisocial personality disorder is probably caused by a combination of factors. Having any of these characteristics does not necessarily mean that a person has antisocial personality disorder.

### Instruction: Disease name: Antisocial Personality Disorder : Symptoms of antisocial personality disorder

People with antisocial personality disorder tend to have few symptoms. Rather, they cause discomfort or distress to others through socially unacceptable behavior and by being:

### Instruction: Disease name: Antisocial Personality Disorder : Diagnosing antisocial personality disorder

The diagnosis is made on the basis of a person's history, usually by a mental health professional. There are no laboratory tests to assist in diagnosing this disorder. Other psychiatric disorders, such as a mood or anxiety disorder, attention deficit disorder, or substance abuse, may also be present.

### Instruction: Disease name: Antisocial Personality Disorder : Expected duration of antisocial personality disorder

All personality disorders are lifelong patterns.

### Instruction: Disease name: Antisocial Personality Disorder : Preventing antisocial personality disorder

There is no way to prevent this disorder. It is conceivable that a general improvement in social conditions could reduce the incidence of antisocial personality disorder. An improvement in a person's social environment may reduce the severity of the problem, especially if changes are made early in life. Research has yet to demonstrate an effective or practical way to accomplish these goals.

### Instruction: Disease name: Antisocial Personality Disorder : Treating antisocial personality disorder

Many psychotherapy techniques have been proposed for treating antisocial personality disorder. Unfortunately, research does not indicate that any of the current treatments is particularly helpful for treating the personality disorder itself. As a result, the choice of treatment is usually guided by a person's specific circumstances.

### Instruction: Disease name: Antisocial Personality Disorder : When To Call a Professional

People with antisocial personality disorder generally do not acknowledge that they have a problem that requires treatment. When a pattern of antisocial behavior is noted, others can recommend or encourage treatment. However, treatment may only occur when a court imposes it.

### Instruction: Disease name: Antisocial Personality Disorder : Prognosis

The long-term outlook for antisocial personality disorder is highly variable. Although treatment can sometimes be successful, change is not likely to be rapid when antisocial behavior is severe. In such cases, resources of time and energy may be better spent in getting help for potential victims, especially those, such as spouses or family members, who live in close proximity to the person with the disorder.

### Instruction: Disease name: Aplastic Anemia : What is aplastic anemia?

Aplastic anemia is a rare, potentially fatal disease in which the bone marrow doesn't make enough blood cells. The bone marrow is the central portion of the bones that is responsible for making:

### Instruction: Disease name: Appendicitis : What is appendicitis?

Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix, a small, fingerlike tube that hangs from the lower right side of the large intestine. The purpose of the appendix is not known. It usually becomes inflamed because of an infection or an obstruction in the digestive tract. If untreated, an infected appendix can burst and spread the infection throughout the abdominal cavity and into the bloodstream.

### Instruction: Disease name: Appendicitis : Symptoms of appendicitis

Symptoms of appendicitis include:

### Instruction: Disease name: Appendicitis : Diagnosing appendicitis

Your doctor will review your medical history, especially any digestive illnesses. Your doctor will ask about your current digestive symptoms, including details about your most recent bowel movements: the timing, frequency, character (watery or hard), and whether the stool was streaked with blood or mucus. Your doctor will examine you and check for pain in your lower right abdomen. In children, the doctor will look to see whether the child holds his or her hands over the navel when asked where it hurts. In an infant, flexed hips (knees held toward the chest) and a tender abdomen can be important clues to the diagnosis. After the physical examination, your doctor will order blood tests to check for signs of infection and a urinalysis to rule out a urinary tract problem. Your doctor may order an ultrasound or computed tomography (CT) scan to help confirm the diagnosis. In very young children, a chest X-ray may be needed to rule out pneumonia.

### Instruction: Disease name: Appendicitis : Expected duration of appendicitis

Most people will seek medical attention within 12 to 48 hours because of the abdominal pain. In some cases, a low level of inflammation exists for several weeks before a diagnosis is made.

### Instruction: Disease name: Appendicitis : Preventing appendicitis

There is no way to prevent appendicitis.

### Instruction: Disease name: Appendicitis : Treating appendicitis

The standard treatment is to remove the appendix. The surgery, called an appendectomy, should be done as soon as possible to reduce the risk of the appendix rupturing. If appendicitis is strongly suspected, a surgeon will often advise removing the appendix even if an ultrasound or CT scan cannot confirm the diagnosis. The surgeon's recommendation to operate reflects the danger of a ruptured appendix: It can be life threatening, while an appendectomy is a relatively low-risk operation. Surgeons will frequently opt for laparoscopic surgery to remove the appendix because the average length of stay in the hospital is shorter and recovery is quicker compared to the standard surgical approach. People usually are given antibiotics intravenously (into a vein) during surgery. The antibiotic is continued until the day after surgery. If the appendix ruptured, the person will need to take antibiotics for a longer period of time. People with early appendicitis may be treated with what is known as an "antibiotic first" strategy. This means treating with antibiotics, often intravenously for 24 to 48 hours and then orally for another 5 – 9 days. Patients treated with this strategy need close observation. If they are not rapidly improving, surgery is performed. Even if the symptoms resolve completely, your doctor may recommend having an appendectomy later on.

### Instruction: Disease name: Appendicitis : When to call a professional

To avoid the risk of a ruptured appendix, contact your doctor immediately if you or a family member has symptoms of appendicitis. Appendicitis is an emergency, and it requires immediate attention.

### Instruction: Disease name: Appendicitis : Prognosis

People who need surgery often stay in the hospital two to three days (if the appendix did not rupture). People who have an appendectomy normally recover completely. In cases of a ruptured appendix, the hospital stay is usually longer. Although it is rare, a person can die of appendicitis if a ruptured appendix spreads infection throughout the abdomen and into the blood.

### Instruction: Disease name: Appendicitis : Additional info

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders https://www.niddk.nih.gov/

### Instruction: Disease name: Appendicitis : About the Reviewer

### Instruction: Disease name: Arm Fracture : What is an arm fracture?

When a bone breaks or cracks, the injury is called a fracture. In the arm, a fracture most often occurs in the long and slender shaft of one of the three arm bones. The three arm bones are the humerus, radius and ulna.

### Instruction: Disease name: Arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease : What is arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease?

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to two disorders — Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis — marked by inflammation of the intestinal tract. They are thought to be autoimmune disorders in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the intestinal tract, and other parts of the body, although this is unproven. Some people with inflammatory bowel disease have a type of arthritis that is similar to rheumatoid arthritis in some ways. However, there are some important differences. With the arthritis associated with IBD, inflammation tends to involve only a few large joints, and it tends not to involve both sides of the body equally. For example, it might affect the knee on one side and the ankle on the other. In rheumatoid arthritis, more joints, especially small ones in the hand and wrist, are involved, and joints on both sides of the body tend to be affected equally. Antibodies commonly found in the blood of people with rheumatoid arthritis are not usually present in the blood of people with IBD arthritis. Unlike rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis associated with IBD may affect the lower spine, especially the sacroiliac joints, and is associated with a certain gene (called HLA-B27). The bowel problems caused by inflammatory bowel disease usually appear before the arthritis develops. Occasionally the arthritis appears first and the inflammatory bowel disease is diagnosed months or even years later.

### Instruction: Disease name: Arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease : Symptoms of arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease

Besides the symptoms of IBD on the intestinal tract (such as bloody diarrhea, crampy abdominal pain, and fever), people with the arthritis of IBD have pain, swelling, and stiffness (particularly in the morning) in those joints that are inflamed. Symptoms tend to vary over time, sometimes better, sometimes worse. Often, but not always, the joint symptoms correlate with the bowel symptoms. That is, the joints tend to be more painful and swollen when the gastrointestinal symptoms are worse. Common complaints include low back pain that is worse in the morning and better when you exercise, limited joint motion, and gelling, which means developing more stiffness after not moving around much.

### Instruction: Disease name: Arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease : Diagnosing arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease

There is no test that can confirm the diagnosis of arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease. Your doctor will ask about your medical history, especially whether you have inflammatory bowel disease. He or she will look for typical symptoms, and will examine you to look for inflamed joints.

### Instruction: Disease name: Arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease : Expected duration of arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease

Arthritis associated with IBD tends to be chronic (long-lasting), though it may get better and worse over time. Rarely, certain treatments can cause the arthritis to subside or even go away. For example, if a patient with ulcerative colitis has a colectomy (removal of the colon), the arthritis may disappear.

### Instruction: Disease name: Arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease : Preventing arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease

There is no known way to prevent IBD arthritis.

### Instruction: Disease name: Arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease : Treating arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease

There is no single best treatment for arthritis associated with IBD. Joint pain may be relieved by a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as ibuprofen or naproxen. IBD can cause bleeding in the intestinal tract, which can be made worse by a medication that thins the blood, including most NSAIDs. Any NSAID may worsen the intestinal inflammation caused by inflammatory bowel disease. For more severe cases, injections of corticosteroids into the inflamed joint can provide prompt, though often temporary, relief. Other medications that may help include those that may be prescribed for the intestinal disease, such as sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), azathioprine (Imuran), or oral corticosteroids. Medications used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, such as methotrexate (Folex, Methotrexate LPF, Rheumatrex) can also be effective. Newer agents, such as injections of adalimumab (Humira), certolizumab pegol (Cimzia), golimumab (Simponi), infliximab (Remicade), and ustekinumab (Stelara)‎, may be quite effective for certain forms of IBD and related arthritis. If joints become severely damaged, joint surgery, including joint replacement, may help. It's important to strike a balance between rest and exercise. Your doctor may refer you to a physical therapist, occupational therapist, or podiatrist. Splints, shoe inserts, or braces can provide relief in ways that medications cannot.

### Instruction: Disease name: Arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease : When to call a professional

Call your doctor if you have symptoms of IBD (including chronic diarrhea, crampy abdominal pain, unintentional weight loss, or recurring fever) or of arthritis (including joint pain, swelling, or limited motion).

### Instruction: Disease name: Arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease : Prognosis

With treatment, the outlook for IBD arthritis is generally good, although the condition is quite variable. Severe cases may be associated with significant joint damage and the need for surgery within a year or two, while other cases are much milder.

### Instruction: Disease name: Arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease : Additional info

Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/ National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Disorders https://www.niddk.nih.gov/ American College of Rheumatology https://www.rheumatology.org/ Arthritis Foundation https://www.arthritis.org/

### Instruction: Disease name: Arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease : About the Reviewer

### Instruction: Disease name: Asthma : What is asthma?

Asthma is a chronic (long-term) lung condition. Air passages narrow and become inflamed. This leads to breathing difficulties and wheezing. Asthma ranges from mild to severe. Some people have only occasional, mild symptoms. Others have nearly constant symptoms with severe, life-threatening flare-ups. During an asthma attack, the airways become inflamed. They narrow as the muscles surrounding them constrict. Mucus produced by the inflammation fills the narrowed passageways. As a result, the flow of air is partially or completely blocked. Asthma affects the lung's larger and smaller airways. What causes asthma-related inflammation is not clear. But several environmental "triggers" have been identified. Many asthma triggers are allergens. Allergens cause the immune system to overreact in some people. Common allergens include:

### Instruction: Disease name: Asthma : Symptoms of asthma

Symptoms of asthma include:

### Instruction: Disease name: Asthma : Diagnosing asthma

Your doctor will ask about:

### Instruction: Disease name: Asthma : Expected duration of asthma

Asthma in adults often is a lifelong condition. With treatment, symptoms can be controlled. They can be infrequent or very mild. In about half of asthmatic children, the asthma goes away on its own. Or it becomes less severe over time. However, it may reappear later in life. Asthma episodes can go away on their own or with the help of asthma medications. Attacks vary in frequency and severity. It is often dependent on what triggers the attack.

### Instruction: Disease name: Asthma : Preventing asthma

Some asthma episodes can be prevented by avoiding or minimizing exposure to triggers. These include environmental triggers such as:

### Instruction: Disease name: Asthma : Treating asthma

Treatment focuses on:

### Instruction: Disease name: Asthma : When to call a professional

Call your doctor whenever you or your child has persistent:

### Instruction: Disease name: Asthma : Prognosis

Although asthma cannot be cured, it almost always can be controlled successfully. Most people with asthma lead relatively normal lives.

### Instruction: Disease name: Asthma : Additional info

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) https://www.aaaai.org/ American Lung Association https://www.lung.org National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) https://www.niaid.nih.gov/

### Instruction: Disease name: Asthma : About the Reviewer

### Instruction: Disease name: Asymptomatic bacteriuria : What is asymptomatic bacteriuria?

When a significant number of bacteria show up in the urine, this is called "bacteriuria." Finding bacteria in the urine can mean there is an infection somewhere in the urinary tract. The urinary tract is the system that includes:

### Instruction: Disease name: Asymptomatic bacteriuria : Symptoms of asymptomatic bacteriuria

Asymptomatic bacteriuria does not cause any symptoms.

### Instruction: Disease name: Asymptomatic bacteriuria : Diagnosing asymptomatic bacteriuria

Your doctor will ask you to provide a clean-catch urine sample. You will be given a sterile container and instructions on how to clean the area around the urethra. Do not touch inside the container. The urine sample will be sent to the laboratory where a urine culture is performed. The urine culture will determine if there are bacteria in your urine. The diagnosis of asymptomatic bacteriuria requires:

### Instruction: Disease name: Asymptomatic bacteriuria : Expected duration of asymptomatic bacteriuria

In some people, bacteria are present in the urine before symptoms of a urinary tract infection develop. If this occurs, your doctor will advise starting an antibiotic if symptoms arise. In other people, asymptomatic bacteriuria can continue indefinitely without causing obvious illness or discomfort.

### Instruction: Disease name: Asymptomatic bacteriuria : Preventing asymptomatic bacteriuria

You may help prevent bacteriuria by drinking several glasses of water each day. This may discourage the growth of bacteria by flushing out your urinary tract, although this has not been proven. Drinking cranberry juice every day might also slow the growth of bacteria. But this also has not been definitively shown through medical studies. To prevent the spread of intestinal bacteria from the rectum to the urinary tract, women should always wipe toilet tissue from front to back after having a bowel movement.

### Instruction: Disease name: Asymptomatic bacteriuria : Treating asymptomatic bacteriuria

Antibiotic treatment for asymptomatic bacteriuria is recommended for the following groups:

### Instruction: Disease name: Asymptomatic bacteriuria : When to call a professional

If you have asymptomatic bacteriuria, call your doctor if you

### Instruction: Disease name: Asymptomatic bacteriuria : Prognosis

For most people, asymptomatic bacteriuria does not cause any problems and treatment is not necessary. If you do develop a urinary tract infection, prompt treatment with antibiotics will almost always take care of it.

### Instruction: Disease name: Asymptomatic bacteriuria : Additional info

National Kidney Foundation https://www.kidney.org/ American Urological Association https://www.urologyhealth.org/

### Instruction: Disease name: Asymptomatic bacteriuria : About the Reviewer

### Instruction: Disease name: Atherosclerosis : What is atherosclerosis?

Atherosclerosis is the process of cholesterol plaque buildup in arteries. It can lead to a narrowing of the arteries that can significantly reduce the blood supply to vital organs such as the heart, brain, and intestines. In atherosclerosis, the arteries are narrowed when fatty deposits called plaques build up inside. Plaques typically contain cholesterol from low-density lipoproteins (LDL), smooth-muscle cells and fibrous tissue, and sometimes calcium. As a plaque grows along the lining of an artery, it can sometimes rupture, leading to formation of a blood clot inside the artery, which can totally block blood flow. As a result, the organ supplied by the blocked artery starves for blood and oxygen. The organ's cells may either die or suffer severe damage. Atherosclerosis is the main cause of death and disability in industrialized nations, including the United States. This is because atherosclerosis is the underlying medical problem in most patients with any of the following illnesses:

### Instruction: Disease name: Atherosclerosis : Symptoms of atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis usually doesn't cause any symptoms until blood supply to an organ is reduced. When this happens, symptoms vary, depending on the specific organ involved:

### Instruction: Disease name: Atherosclerosis : Diagnosing atherosclerosis

Your doctor will review your medical history, your current symptoms and any medications you are taking. Your doctor will ask you about your family history of heart disease, stroke and other circulatory problems, and your family history of high blood cholesterol. He or she will ask about cigarette smoking, your diet, and how much exercise you get. Your doctor will measure your blood pressure and heart rate. He or she will examine you, paying special attention to your circulation, sometimes listening to the arteries in the neck. The exam includes feeling for pulses in your neck, wrists, groin, and feet. Your doctor may check the blood pressure in your legs, to compare it to the pressure in your arms. The ratio of your blood pressure at your ankle to the blood pressure inside your elbow is called an ankle-brachial index or ABI. Signs of poor impaired circulation include:

### Instruction: Disease name: Atherosclerosis : Expected duration of atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a long-term condition that continues to worsen over many decades without changes in lifestyle and medication if necessary.

### Instruction: Disease name: Atherosclerosis : Preventing atherosclerosis

You can help to prevent atherosclerosis by changing your risk factors for the illness. You should practice a lifestyle that promotes good circulation and combats atherosclerosis:

### Instruction: Disease name: Atherosclerosis : Treating atherosclerosis

There is no cure for atherosclerosis, but treatment can slow or halt the worsening of the disease. The major treatment goal is to prevent significant narrowing of the arteries so that symptoms never develop and vital organs are never damaged. To do this, you would begin by following the healthy lifestyle outlined above. If you have high cholesterol that cannot be controlled by diet and exercise, your doctor will likely recommend medication. The most common medicines used to lower cholesterol are statin drugs, also known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Statins block an enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase, which controls the production of cholesterol in the liver. Examples include:

### Instruction: Disease name: Atherosclerosis : When to call a professional

It is possible to have atherosclerosis for many years without having symptoms. If you experience symptoms of an atherosclerosis-related medical condition, contact a doctor immediately.

### Instruction: Disease name: Atherosclerosis : Prognosis

Atherosclerosis leads to the number one cause of death in the United States and many other countries: cardiovascular disease. However, people with atherosclerosis are living longer with better quality of life than ever before. For many, this is disease can be prevented. Even those people genetically programmed for atherosclerosis can delay the beginning and worsening of the disease with a healthy lifestyle, the right foods, and medication to lower LDL cholesterol.

### Instruction: Disease name: Atherosclerosis : Additional info

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/ American Heart Association (AHA) http://www.heart.org/ American College of Cardiology http://www.acc.org/

### Instruction: Disease name: Atherosclerosis : About the Reviewer

### Instruction: Disease name: Athlete's foot (tinea pedis) : What is athlete's foot (tinea pedis)?

Athlete's foot, also known as tinea pedis, is a common foot infection caused by fungi called dermatophytes. Found in many different places indoors and outdoors, dermatophytes are especially common in the warm, moist environments of pools, showers, locker rooms and other sports facilities, where people walk with bare feet. Once dermatophytes contaminate the skin of a foot, the warm, moist environment of sweaty socks and shoes encourages them to grow.

### Instruction: Disease name: Athlete's foot (tinea pedis) : Symptoms of athlete's foot (tinea pedis)

Symptoms of athlete's foot include:

### Instruction: Disease name: Athlete's foot (tinea pedis) : Diagnosing athlete's foot (tinea pedis)

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and about factors that make you more likely to develop athlete's foot, such as your use of public sports facilities, clubs or showers. Your doctor will ask about the type of shoes and socks you wear, what kind of work you do and what you wear on your feet to work. Your doctor usually can diagnose athlete's foot simply by looking at your feet. To confirm the diagnosis, your doctor can gently scrape some flakes of skin from a scaly portion of your foot onto a slide. The dermatophytes that cause the infection often show up under a microscope.

### Instruction: Disease name: Athlete's foot (tinea pedis) : Expected duration of athlete's foot (tinea pedis)

It usually takes several weeks to months for the infection to respond to treatment. Even after proper medical treatment, the infection can return easily if your feet are exposed again to fungi and sweaty, warm conditions. For this reason, many people have athlete's foot infection that lasts or keeps returning for many years. Successfully curing the infection often requires changes in how you care for your feet and what you wear on your feet.

### Instruction: Disease name: Athlete's foot (tinea pedis) : Preventing athlete's foot (tinea pedis)

You can help to prevent athlete's foot by keeping your feet clean and dry. More specifically, you can try the following:

### Instruction: Disease name: Athlete's foot (tinea pedis) : Treating athlete's foot (tinea pedis)

There are many effective topical medications, including ciclopirox (Loprox), clotrimazole (Lotrimin, Mycelex), econazole (Spectazole), ketoconazole (Nizoral), miconazole (Micatin), naftifine (Naftin), oxiconazole (Oxistat), sulconazole (Exelderm), terbinafine (Lamisil), terconazole (Terazol), and tolnaftate (Desenex, Tinactin and others). Some are available without a prescription. Many weeks of treatment may be necessary. For people with long-standing or recurring athlete's foot, topical antifungal drugs may relieve symptoms without actually curing the infection. Medications by mouth can be more successful at curing an infection. However, you still can be susceptible to recurrences, and oral medications may be more likely to cause side effects. These require a prescription and include griseofulvin (Fulvicin, Grifulvin, Grisactin), itraconazole (Sporanox) and terbinafine (Lamisil).

### Instruction: Disease name: Athlete's foot (tinea pedis) : When to call a professional

If you think you have athlete's foot, try a nonprescription antifungal ointment, cream or powder. Keep your feet as dry and clean as possible. If these measures do not help, make an appointment to see your doctor. Call your doctor for a more urgent evaluation and treatment if you see spreading redness or have fevers. If you have diabetes and any foot problems, see your doctor right away. People with diabetes easily get skin infections, so they should see a doctor as soon as anything unusual appears on their feet.

### Instruction: Disease name: Athlete's foot (tinea pedis) : Prognosis

Several weeks of treatment with a medication applied to the feet can usually cure athlete's feet in people with new or short-term symptoms. Chronic or recurring athlete's foot infections also can be cured this way, but may require significant changes in foot care and several weeks of treatment. More severe cases may call for an oral medication. Even after successful treatment, people remain at risk of re-infection if they do not follow prevention guidelines. Relapses are common.

### Instruction: Disease name: Athlete's foot (tinea pedis) : Additional info

American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) https://www.apma.org/

### Instruction: Disease name: Athlete's foot (tinea pedis) : About the Reviewer

### Instruction: Disease name: Atrial fibrillation : What is atrial fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation is a heart rhythm disorder that causes a rapid and irregular heartbeat. The heart is a muscle that has four chambers through which blood flows. The two upper chambers are the atria. The two lower chambers are the ventricles. Atrial fibrillation affects the atria. Normally, the muscular walls of the atria contract at the same time, pumping blood into the lower two chambers (the ventricles). Then the walls of the ventricles contract at the same time, pumping blood to the rest of the body. For the heart to work efficiently, the atria need to pump first, followed by the ventricles. How is this coordinated? Normally, each heartbeat starts with an electrical impulse that comes from a small part of the atrium called the sinus node. That signal first causes the atria to beat, pumping blood into the ventricles. Then the signal travels to another part of the heart called the atrioventricular node. From there, the signal travels down to the ventricles, and causes them to beat, sending blood throughout the body. In contrast, during atrial fibrillation, instead of one coordinated signal that causes all parts of the atria to pump at the same time, there are multiple uncoordinated signals. Instead of pumping efficiently, the atria just quiver. As a result, the atria do not pump all of their blood into the ventricles. Also, the ventricles sometimes pump when they don't have much blood in them. So the heart is not pumping efficiently. In atrial fibrillation, the heartbeat is rapid and irregular. A normal heartbeat is 60 to 100 beats per minute, and very regular: beat...beat...beat...beat. During atrial fibrillation, the heart beats at 80 to 160 beats per minute, and is very irregular: beat..beat.....beat....beat.beat.beat....beat. Such blood clots can cause serious problems. They can travel out of the heart and get stuck in an artery to the lungs (causing a pulmonary embolism), an artery to the brain (causing a stroke) or an artery elsewhere in the body. Atrial fibrillation can lead to the formation of blood clots inside the atria. That's because blood tends to form clots when it's not moving. The quivering atria don't move all of the blood along to the ventricles. Some blood just pools inside the atria, and the pool of still blood tends to form clots.

### Instruction: Disease name: Atrial fibrillation : Symptoms of atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation often doesn't cause any symptoms. When symptoms occur, they can include:

### Instruction: Disease name: Atrial fibrillation : Diagnosing atrial fibrillation

Your doctor will:

### Instruction: Disease name: Atrial fibrillation : Expected duration of atrial fibrillation

How long the condition lasts depends on the cause. Atrial fibrillation caused by a treatable condition may go away when the condition is treated. However, atrial fibrillation is often a lifelong condition. This is more likely when it has no known cause or results from a long-standing cardiac disorder.

### Instruction: Disease name: Atrial fibrillation : Preventing atrial fibrillation

### Instruction: Disease name: Atrial fibrillation : Treating atrial fibrillation

Treatment depends on the cause. If the cause is coronary artery disease, treatment may consist of:

### Instruction: Disease name: Atrial fibrillation : When to call a professional

Call your doctor if you have any of the symptoms of atrial fibrillation. This includes:

### Instruction: Disease name: Atrial fibrillation : Prognosis

When a cause of atrial fibrillation is identified and treated, the arrhythmia often goes away. It is less likely to go away in people who have long-standing rheumatic heart disease or any condition in which the atria are enlarged. Blood thinning medications can reduce the risk of a stroke or other complications.

### Instruction: Disease name: Atrial fibrillation : Additional info

American Heart Association (AHA) https://www.heart.org/ National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/ American College of Cardiology https://www.acc.org/

### Instruction: Disease name: Atrial fibrillation : About the Reviewer