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### Instruction: Disease name:
Urinary Incontinence
: Prevention | There is not much to be done to prevent urinary incontinence from starting. Obese women are more likely to develop urinary incontinence. So are women who don't exercise regularly. Thus, regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight can help prevent you from developing incontinence. On the other hand, once incontinence starts, the problem can be treated effectively to reduce or eliminate the number of episodes. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Urinary Incontinence
: Treatment | Kegel Exercises
Many women can improve or eliminate urinary incontinence by doing pelvic muscle exercises. These are called Kegel exercises. They strengthen the muscles that surround the openings of the urethra, vagina and rectum. To do Kegel exercises, squeeze your muscles to tighten your rectum and vagina. Hold Kegel squeezes for 6 to 8 seconds. Group 8 or 12 squeezes into each session. You can repeat these exercises several times each week. Kegel exercises are particularly helpful for stress incontinence. They can also help control other types of incontinence. It can take several months or longer to see benefits.
Bladder Retraining
Urge incontinence can be improved by retraining. The goal is to help your bladder become less sensitive to the things that trigger its tendency to squeeze down and create a tremendous urge to urinate—or urination, itself. The squeezing of your bladder is a conditioned response. You need to give your bladder a period of time when it is not stimulated by the signal of a full bladder. This helps your bladder to be less "jumpy." To accomplish this, empty your bladder on a rigid schedule before it becomes full. You may need to urinate every half hour or hour. Gradually lengthen the interval between your bathroom stops. Your bladder may not respond as urgently after several weeks of retraining. You also can improve urge incontinence by calming your bladder signals. Try not to race to the bathroom when you feel an urge to urinate. Instead, try sitting and breathing deeply for a short time. Or do Kegel exercises to distract your bladder. Some specialists provide bladder sphincter biofeedback. This shows levels of bladder, rectum and abdominal pressure during Kegel squeezes or during relaxation techniques.
Medications
Many medications are available to reduce symptoms of urge incontinence. Initial choice often depends upon cost and potential risk of side effects. Women who have a UTI are given antibiotics. Curing the infection ends the incontinence caused by infection. Some post-menopausal women have vaginitis caused by too little estrogen. Estrogen creams or tablets in the vagina can be helpful. Estrogen does not help urinary incontinence in women who do not have vaginitis.
Devices to Strengthen the Pelvic Muscles
Your doctor may recommend using cone-shaped weights. You place one of these cones into your vagina before you begin pelvic muscle exercises. These maximize the muscle-conditioning effect of Kegel exercises.
Pessaries
Urine leakage may be caused when the uterus sags into the vagina (a condition called uterine prolapse), bending the urethra. In these cases, a pessary may help. A pessary is a firm rubber ring that supports the bottom of your uterus, and keeps it from prolapsing. It can be inserted in the vagina by a physician and worn continuously.
Surgery
A common cause of stress incontinence in women is lack of support at the bladder neck. Surgery may be considered when other treatments have been ineffective. Other Strategies
If your urine leaks when you cough, seek treatment for your cough. If your cough results from smoking, talk to your doctor about ways to quit. Pads or adult diapers can offer security. But they can also irritate the skin. They should not be the first or only treatment used for incontinence. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Urinary Incontinence
: When To Call A Professional | If you experience urinary incontinence, tell your doctor. He or she can provide basic treatments for urinary incontinence. For more persistent symptoms, your doctor may refer you to specialist with expertise in evaluating and treating urinary incontinence. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Urinary Incontinence
: Prognosis | Most women who seek treatment for urinary incontinence find that their symptoms improve. Bladder retraining can lead to good results after only a few weeks. Kegel exercises improve urine control in many women who use them consistently. Surgery for urinary incontinence can be very successful. But it can result in one or more complications. These include: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Urinary tract infection in men
: What is it? | Urinary tract infections involve the parts of the body — the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra — that produce urine and carry it out of the body. Urinary tract infections often are classified into two types based on their location in the urinary tract: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Urinary tract infection in men
: Symptoms | A urinary tract infection usually causes one or more of the following symptoms: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Urinary tract infection in men
: Diagnosis | Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and about any previous episodes of urinary tract infection. To fully assess your risk factors, your doctor may ask about your sexual history, including your history and your partner's history of sexually transmitted diseases, condom use, multiple partners and anal intercourse. Your doctor will diagnose a urinary tract infection based on your symptoms and the results of a physical examination and laboratory tests of your urine. In a typical urinary tract infection, your doctor will see both white blood cells (infection-fighting cells) and bacteria when he or she examines your urine under a microscope. Your doctor probably will send your urine to a laboratory to identify the specific type of bacteria and specific antibiotics that can be used to eliminate the bacteria. In men, a rectal examination will allow your doctor to assess the size and shape of the prostate gland. If you are a young man with no sign of an enlarged prostate, your doctor may order additional tests to search for a urinary tract abnormality that increases the likelihood of infection. This is because urinary tract infections are relatively rare in young men with normal urinary tracts. Additional tests may include intravenous pyelography or a computed tomography (CT) scan, which shows an outline of your urinary tract on X-rays; ultrasound; or cystoscopy, an examination that allows your doctor to inspect the inside of your bladder using a thin, hollow tube-like instrument. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Urinary tract infection in men
: Expected duration | With proper treatment, most uncomplicated urinary tract infections begin to improve in one to two days. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Urinary tract infection in men
: Prevention | Most urinary tract infections in men cannot be prevented. Practicing safe sex by using condoms will help to prevent infections that are transmitted through sexual contact. In men with benign prostatic hypertrophy, cutting out caffeine and alcohol or taking certain prescription medications may help to improve urine flow and prevent the buildup of urine in the bladder, which increases the likelihood of infection. Many men with urinary infections due to an enlarged prostate gland require surgery to remove part of the gland. Because this surgery can improve urine flow, it can help prevent infections. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Urinary tract infection in men
: Treatment | Doctors treat urinary tract infections with a variety of antibiotics. The results of laboratory tests on your urine can help your doctor pick the best antibiotic for your infection. In general, most uncomplicated lower tract infections will be eliminated completely by five to seven days of treatment. Once you finish taking the antibiotics, your doctor may ask for a repeat urine sample to check that bacteria are gone. If an upper tract infection or infection of the prostate is diagnosed, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics for three weeks or longer. Men with severe upper tract infections may require hospital treatment and antibiotics given through an intravenous catheter (in a vein). This is especially true when nausea, vomiting and fever increase the risk of dehydration and prevent the use of oral antibiotics. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Urinary tract infection in men
: When to call a professional | Call your doctor whenever you have any of the symptoms of a urinary tract infection. If you are approaching age 50, call your doctor if you notice any of the following: a decrease in the force of your urine stream, difficulty in beginning urination, dribbling after you urinate, or a feeling that your bladder isn't totally empty after you finish urinating. These could be symptoms of an enlarged prostate, a problem that can be treated effectively before it triggers a urinary tract infection. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Urinary tract infection in men
: Prognosis | Most urinary tract infections can be treated easily with antibiotics. In a man who has a urinary tract abnormality or an enlarged prostate, repeated urinary tract infections may occur as long as the underlying problem continues to interfere with the free flow of urine. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Urinary tract infection in men
: Additional info | National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Disorders
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/
Urology Care Foundation
https://www.urologyhealth.org/ |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Urinary tract infection in men
:
About the Reviewer
| |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Urinary tract infection in women
: What is it? | A urinary tract infection is an infection involving the organs that produce urine and carry it out of the body. These structures include the kidneys, ureters (long, slender tubes connecting the kidneys with the bladder), bladder and urethra. Doctors often divide urinary tract infections into two types, lower tract infections and upper tract infections: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Urinary tract infection in women
: Symptoms | Lower and upper tract infections can cause one or more of the following symptoms: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Urinary tract infection in women
: Diagnosis | Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and whether you have had a urinary tract infection before. He or she also will ask you about your sexual history, including any history of sexually transmitted diseases for yourself and your partner, condom use, multiple partners, use of diaphragm and/or spermicides and whether you could be pregnant. Your doctor also will ask if you have any other medical problems, such as diabetes, which can make you more likely to develop infections. You will be asked to give a urine sample, which will be tested in a laboratory to see if it contains bacteria or other signs of infection. Your urine sample also may be sent to the laboratory to identify the specific type of bacteria and the specific antibiotics that can be used to eliminate the bacteria. If you have a fever or other symptoms of an upper tract infection, your doctor may order a blood test to determine your white blood cell count. A high white cell count indicates infection. The blood can also be tested for bacterial growth. This is called a blood culture. In people with symptoms of a severe kidney infection or frequent episodes of lower or upper urinary tract infections, additional testing may be needed, such as: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Urinary tract infection in women
: Expected duration | With proper treatment, most uncomplicated urinary tract infections can be cured in two to three days. It may take several days for the symptoms of a kidney infection to completely go away. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Urinary tract infection in women
: Prevention | To help prevent urinary tract infections: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Urinary tract infection in women
: Treatment | Doctors treat lower and upper urinary tract infections with antibiotics. Laboratory testing can determine the best antibiotic for treatment. Most uncomplicated lower tract infections are treated with a three-day course of antibiotics, although women who are pregnant, or who have diseases such as diabetes that suppress the immune system, usually need to take antibiotics for longer. People with upper tract infections are typically treated with a 7 to 14 day course of antibiotic therapy. Those with severe upper tract infections may require hospital treatment with antibiotics given through a vein (intravenously). This is especially true if nausea, vomiting and fever increase the risk of dehydration and prevent the person from taking oral antibiotics. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Urinary tract infection in women
: When to call a professional | Call your doctor if you have frequent urination, an intense urge to urinate, discomfort during urination or other symptoms of a urinary tract infection. You also should seek medical attention if you have symptoms of a kidney infection, such as fever, nausea, vomiting and pain in the side or back. It is especially important for any pregnant woman who has symptoms of an upper or lower urinary tract infection to call her doctor immediately. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Urinary tract infection in women
: Prognosis | Once a woman has been cured of cystitis, she has a 20% chance of developing a second infection. After the second infection, she has a 30% risk of developing a third. If a woman has three or more episodes of cystitis within one year and the structure or anatomy of the urinary tract is normal, her doctor may prescribe a special antibiotic regimen to decrease the risk of future infections. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Urinary tract infection in women
: Additional info | National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Disorders
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/
American Foundation for Urologic Disease
https://www.urologyhealth.org |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Urinary tract infection in women
:
About the Reviewer
| |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Uterine And Bladder Prolapse
: What Is It? | The uterus and the bladder are held in their normal positions just above the inside end of the vagina by a "hammock" made up of supportive muscles and ligaments. Wear and tear on these supportive structures in the pelvis can allow the bottom of the uterus, the floor of the bladder or both to sag through the muscle and ligament layers. When this occurs, the uterus or bladder can create a bulge into the vagina. In severe cases, it is possible for the sagging uterus or bladder to work its way down far enough that the bulge can appear at the vagina's opening or even protrude from the opening. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Uterine Cancer
: Related Content | |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Uveitis
: What Is It? | Uveitis means inflammation of the part of the eye called the uvea. The uvea, also called the uveal tract, is a continuous layer of fibrous tissue that surrounds the eye. It is made up of three structures: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vaginal Atrophy (Atrophic Vaginitis)
: What Is It? | Vaginal atrophy is a change of the vagina that develops when there is a significant decrease in levels of the female hormone estrogen. The condition also is called atrophic vaginitis. Estrogen, which is produced by the ovaries, plays a vital role in keeping vaginal tissues lubricated and healthy. When levels of estrogen are low, vaginal tissue becomes atrophic — thin, dry and shrunken. The vagina may become more prone to inflammation in an atrophic state. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vaginal Cancer
: Related Content | |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vaginal yeast infection
: What is it? | Vaginal yeast infections, also called "Candida vaginal infections," typically are caused by the Candida albicans fungus. During a lifetime, 75% of all women are likely to have at least one vaginal Candida infection, and up to 45% have two or more. Women tend to be more likely to get vaginal yeast infections if their bodies are under stress from poor diet, lack of sleep, illness, or when they are pregnant or taking antibiotics. Women with diabetes or immune-suppressing diseases such as HIV infection also are at increased risk. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vaginal yeast infection
: Symptoms | The symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection include: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vaginal yeast infection
: Diagnosis | Your doctor will suspect an infection based on your symptoms. Your doctor will do a pelvic examination to look for inflammation and a white discharge in your vagina and around the vaginal opening. Your doctor may also take a sample of the vaginal discharge for quick examination under a microscope in the office. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vaginal yeast infection
: Expected duration | Proper treatment cures up to 90% of vaginal yeast infections within 2 weeks or less, often within a few days. A small number of people will have repeat infections. Usually, these will improve with repeated treatment. However, patients with unexplained, repeat episodes should be tested for diabetes or HIV – 2 conditions that increase the risk of Candida vaginitis. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vaginal yeast infection
: Prevention | To help prevent vaginal yeast infections, you can try the following suggestions: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vaginal yeast infection
: Treatment | The simplest and most convenient treatment of a vaginal Candida infection is a single dose of oral fluconazole (Diflucan Oral, generic versions). It should not be used in pregnant women. Vaginal yeast infections also can be treated with over-the-counter or prescription antifungal medicines that are inserted directly into the vagina as tablets, creams, ointments or suppositories. These medications include butoconazole, clotrimazole, miconazole, tioconazole and terconazole. Treatment of sex partners is not usually necessary, since most vaginal yeast infections are not transmitted sexually. However, if a male sex partner shows symptoms of Candida balanitis (redness, irritation and/or itching at the tip of the penis), he may need to be treated with an antifungal cream or ointment. Any woman who experiences symptoms of a vaginal infection for the first time should visit a doctor. This is important to be sure that the vaginal discharge and discomfort is caused by yeast and not sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea, chlamydia or trichomoniasis. About 5% of women with vaginal yeast infections develop recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC), which is defined as 4 or more vaginal yeast infections in a 1-year period. Although RVVC is more common in women who have diabetes or weakened immune systems, most women with RVVC have no underlying medical illness that would predispose them to recurrent Candida infections. Medical experts continue to explore the most effective way to treat RVVC. One suggested therapy is 10 days of daily oral fluconazole or daily application of a topical agent, followed by one dose of oral fluconazole once per week for six months. An alternative is to use clotrimazole cream twice weekly for six months following the initial 10 day course. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vaginal yeast infection
: When to call a professional | Call your doctor whenever you have vaginal discomfort or an abnormal vaginal discharge, especially if you are pregnant. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vaginal yeast infection
: Prognosis | Medications cure most vaginal yeast infections. About 5% of women develop RVVC and may require further treatment with prolonged antifungal therapy. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vaginal yeast infection
: Additional info | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
https://www.cdc.gov |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vaginal yeast infection
:
About the Reviewer
| |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vaginitis
: What is it? | Vaginitis is inflammation of the vagina. In premenopausal women, infection is the most common cause. After menopause, a low level of estrogen often leads to vaginal atrophy (atrophic vaginitis). Vaginitis also can be the result of an allergic reaction to an irritating chemical, such as a spermicide, douche or bath soap. Almost all infectious vaginitis is caused by one of three infections |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vaginitis
: Symptoms | Bacterial vaginosis — Bacterial vaginosis causes an abnormal grayish-white vaginal discharge with a foul-smelling vaginal odor. Candida vaginitis — Candida vaginitis can cause the following symptoms: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vaginitis
: Diagnosis | Once you describe your symptoms, your doctor will perform a gynecological examination and check your external genitals, vagina and cervix for inflammation and abnormal discharge. Your doctor will suspect bacterial vaginosis if there is a grayish-white discharge coating the walls of your vagina. There may be a fishy odor to this vaginal discharge. Your doctor may measure the acidity of the discharge with a pH test strip. Usually vaginal fluid has a pH of less than 4.6. Bacterial vaginosis often causes a higher pH. Your doctor may take a sample of this fluid to be examined under the microscope. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vaginitis
: Expected duration | Proper treatment cures up to 90% of vaginal infections within two weeks or less (often within a few days), depending on the type of vaginitis. Untreated vaginal infections can last for years, with or without symptoms. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vaginitis
: Prevention | Because Trichomonas vaginitis is a STD that can be transmitted during sexual activity, you can help to prevent infection by: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vaginitis
: Treatment | In women who are not pregnant, bacterial vaginosis can be treated with the antibiotic metronidazole in either an oral (Flagyl) or gel (Metro-Gel) form. Clindamycin (Cleocin) is also effective. Because of concerns about the possible effects of these medications on the developing fetus, the medication treatment may be different for pregnant women. Routine treatment of sex partners is not recommended because it does not seem to affect either the outcome of treatment or the chance of getting infected again. Candida vaginitis can be treated with antifungal medications that are administered directly into the vagina as tablets, creams, ointments or suppositories. These medications include butoconazole (Femstat), clotrimazole (several brand names), miconazole (Monistat and others), nystatin (several brand names), tioconazole (Gynecare) and terconazole (Terazol). A single dose of oral fluconazole (Diflucan Oral) also may be used. Treatment of sex partners usually is not recommended. Trichomonas vaginal infections are treated with metronidazole, which is given orally. To prevent reinfection, all sex partners of an infected person also must be treated for Trichomonas. Metronidazole should not be used by pregnant women during the first trimester. In people who drink alcohol, metronidazole can trigger cramps, nausea, vomiting, headaches and flushing. To prevent these problems, do not drink alcohol while taking metronidazole and for at least two days after the pills are finished. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vaginitis
: When to call a professional | Call your doctor whenever you have vaginal discomfort or an abnormal vaginal discharge, especially if you are pregnant. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vaginitis
: Prognosis | Medications cure up to 90% of vaginal infections. If you do not improve with the first treatment, your doctor usually can cure your infection with a longer course of medication, or a different medication. Trichomonas vaginitis that persists despite treatment usually occurs when a woman's sex partner has not been treated. Without treatment, the partner will continue to transmit Trichomonas. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vaginitis
: Additional info | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
https://www.cdc.gov/ |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vaginitis
:
About the Reviewer
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### Instruction: Disease name:
Varicose veins
: What is it? | Varicose veins occur when veins just below the skin's surface are damaged, become swollen and fill with too much blood. Veins are the blood vessels that return blood to the heart. Arteries carry blood away from the heart to the rest of the body, Varicose veins most commonly occur in the legs. In about 50% of cases, the condition runs in families, and probably is related to an inherited weakness in the veins' walls or the valves inside veins that keep blood from backing up. Pregnancy is another common cause of varicose veins. During pregnancy, the volume of blood increases causing veins to expand. Also, occupations that require uninterrupted standing (waitresses and waiters, nurses, mothers with young children) may force leg veins and valves to work against gravity for hours, increasing the risk of pressure-related vein and valve damage. Garters also can increase the risk of varicose veins if their tight elastics slow blood flow in the legs. Varicose veins are 2 to 3 times more common in women than men. Obese people are more likely to develop varicose veins. Varicose veins can be associated with prior blood clots and damage to the deeper veins in one or both legs, a situation that sometimes can lead to chronic venous insufficiency. When this happens, the veins lose their ability to effectively move blood back to the heart. This can cause significant leg swelling and skin sores or ulcers. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Varicose veins
: Symptoms | In the legs, varicose veins commonly are found along the inside of the leg, at the ankles and at the back of the calf. The affected veins look blue, swollen or stretched out, kinked or twisted. A dull ache in the legsIn some people, varicose veins do not cause any symptoms. However, other people may experience one or more of the following: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Varicose veins
: Diagnosis | Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and about your family history of varicose veins. He or she also will ask about your lifestyle, especially the number of hours that you spend on your feet. In women, your doctor will ask about your pregnancy history and about the tightness of elastics on the socks or stockings you wear. Your doctor can diagnose varicose veins with a simple physical examination. In most cases, no special tests are necessary. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Varicose veins
: Expected duration | Varicose veins are a long-term problem, but symptoms can come and go. If you are pregnant and experiencing severe problems with varicose veins, your symptoms will improve after delivery. However, your varicose veins probably will not disappear totally, and you can expect symptoms to return during future pregnancies. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Varicose veins
: Prevention | You can help to prevent varicose veins by maintaining a normal weight and by avoiding situations where you must stand for prolonged periods. Even with these preventive measures, however, you still may develop varicose veins if this condition tends to run in your family. If you already have varicose veins, you can prevent symptom flare-ups by periodically lying down or sitting down with your legs elevated above the level of your chest. Some physicians also recommend that you wear support stockings or more specialized compression stockings when you walk or stand for long periods of time. The stockings prevent blood from pooling in the veins, and prevent strain on the valves and leg swelling. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Varicose veins
: Treatment | Treatment for most people with mild symptoms of varicose veins includes: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Varicose veins
: When to call a professional | Call your doctor whenever you have pain, swelling, skin ulcers or an unexplained area of bruising on your legs. New leg swelling, especially in just one leg, can be caused by a blood clot, which requires immediate treatment. If you have varicose veins, call your doctor immediately if you develop an ulcer or a painful, black and blue area near a varicose vein or if you cut the skin over a varicose vein and you have trouble controlling the bleeding. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Varicose veins
: Prognosis | Varicose veins are a long-term problem, but their symptoms often can be controlled with leg elevation and therapeutic stockings. Surgical procedures remove varicose veins permanently, but they leave scars, and they cannot prevent new varicose veins from forming. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Varicose veins
: Additional info | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/
American College of Surgeons (ACS)
https://www.facs.org/ |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Varicose veins
:
About the Reviewer
| |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vascular birthmarks
: What is it? | A vascular birthmark is a discoloration of the skin that is caused by blood vessels that don't form correctly. They are present at birth or appear shortly after birth. There are three major types of vascular birthmarks: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vascular birthmarks
: Symptoms | Vascular birthmarks are painless and usually don't cause any symptoms other than the skin discoloration. A hemangioma may cause other symptoms if its location interferes with a vital organ. For example, a lesion on the neck could press down on the trachea and interfere with breathing, and a hemangioma near the eye or on the ear could limit vision or affect hearing. In rare cases, a port-wine stain is associated with other abnormalities. For example, some children who have a stain around the eyelids also have Sturge-Weber syndrome, a condition that is associated with glaucoma, seizures and other problems. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vascular birthmarks
: Diagnosis | A doctor can diagnose these birthmarks by looking at them. When hemangiomas or port-wine stains are located in an area that could affect organs beneath them or near them, the doctor may order additional imaging studies such as a computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vascular birthmarks
: Expected duration | Salmon patches usually fade within the first year of life. Hemangiomas can get larger for 6 to 12 months, sometimes rapidly. Then the growth stops and the hemangioma eventually shrinks and disappears. Most hemangiomas disappear by the time children are 9 years old. Sometimes a bit of extra loose skin remains in the spot where the hemangioma disappeared. Port-wine stains usually grow in proportion to the body and persist into adulthood. They may darken or thicken and develop tiny bumps. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vascular birthmarks
: Prevention | There is no way to prevent vascular birthmarks. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vascular birthmarks
: Treatment | No treatment is necessary for salmon patches, which usually fade within the first year of life. For most hemangiomas, the best cosmetic results are achieved when the birthmarks are allowed to go away naturally, without treatment. However, an infant with a hemangioma should be followed closely to be sure that it is not increasing in size. Hemangiomas that are enlarging can be treated with propranolol. Those that don't respond to propranolol or pose a danger because of interference with a vital organ are treated with oral or injected corticosteroids, laser or surgical removal. Port-wine stains can be covered with opaque cosmetic creams. They also can be removed by laser therapy. You should discuss treatment options with a dermatologist or plastic surgeon, who has expert experience in treating vascular birthmarks. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vascular birthmarks
: When to call a professional | Birthmarks should be evaluated by a doctor soon after they appear and at regular intervals after that, particularly to monitor the growth of hemangiomas. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vascular birthmarks
: Prognosis | Salmon patches fade and have no associated problems. The majority of hemangiomas eventually disappear with no associated problems, although some people affected are left with minor skin changes. Laser therapy can remove most port-wine stains with minimal scarring or discoloration. For hemangiomas involving vital organs and port-wine stains associated with other abnormalities, the outlook varies. For the best outcome, seek early evaluation and treatment by an experienced doctor. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vascular birthmarks
: Additional info | American Academy of Dermatology
https://www.aad.org/ |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vascular birthmarks
:
About the Reviewer
| |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vasculitis overview
: What is it? | Vasculitis means inflammation of blood vessels. The inflammation can be short term (acute) or long term (chronic), and it can be so severe that it reduces blood flow to tissues and organs. This can cause dangerous organ and tissue damage, especially when vasculitis affects blood vessels in the brain, lungs, kidneys, or other vital areas. Although the cause of most forms of vasculitis remains unknown, many forms probably are related to a problem with the immune system. One theory is that, for unknown causes, the immune system attacks the blood vessels, which causes them to become inflamed. Some researchers think this immune attack might be triggered by an infection, drug, or something else in the environment. There are many different forms of vasculitis, including: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vasculitis overview
: Symptoms | Symptoms vary depending on the specific type of vasculitis: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vasculitis overview
: Diagnosis | Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and will examine you. This may be followed by |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vasculitis overview
: Expected duration | How long vasculitis lasts depends on the type. For example, most cases of cutaneous leukocytoclastic angiitis or Kawasaki disease go away on their own over a period of days or weeks. Granulomatosis with polyangiitis may respond to treatment at first, but many patients relapse and require treatment again. Giant cell arteritis typically requires therapy for a year or more. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vasculitis overview
: Prevention | There is no way to prevent most forms of vasculitis. If a medication caused vasculitis, you may be able to prevent another case of vasculitis by avoiding that drug. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vasculitis overview
: Treatment | Treatment varies by type of vasculitis: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vasculitis overview
: When to call a professional | Call your doctor if you experience unexplained fever, weight loss, fatigue, or malaise (a general sick feeling), with or without areas of rash, muscle weakness, breathing problems, chest pain, or other symptoms described above. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vasculitis overview
: Prognosis | The outlook depends on the specific type of vasculitis: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vasculitis overview
: Additional info | American College of Rheumatology
http://www.rheumatology.org/
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
http://rarediseases.org/
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
http://www.niaid.nih.gov/ |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vasculitis overview
:
About the Reviewer
| |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vertigo
: What Is It? | Vertigo is the sensation that either your body or your environment is moving (usually spinning). Vertigo can be a symptom of many different illnesses and disorders. The most common causes of vertigo are illnesses that affect the inner ear, including: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vertigo
: Symptoms | Vertigo can feel like the room is spinning or like you are spinning in the room, or it can be just a sense of imbalance. It may be associated with nausea, vomiting and ringing in one or both ears (tinnitus). |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vitamin B12 deficiency
: What is it? | Vitamin B12 is needed to produce an adequate amount of healthy red blood cells in the bone marrow. Vitamin B12 is available only in animal foods (meat and dairy products) or yeast extracts (such as brewer's yeast). Vitamin B12 deficiency is defined by low levels of stored B12 in the body that can result in anemia, a lower-than-normal number of red blood cells. Vitamin B12 deficiency can develop for the following reasons: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vitamin B12 deficiency
: Symptoms | Symptoms tend to develop slowly and may not be recognized immediately. As the condition worsens, common symptoms include: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vitamin B12 deficiency
: Diagnosis | Your doctor will ask you about your diet and about any family history of anemia. Your doctor also will review your medical history for medical illnesses (diabetes, immune disorders) or surgeries, such as stomach removal, that can lead to B12 deficiency. Your doctor may suspect that you have vitamin B12 deficiency based on your medical history and symptoms. To confirm the diagnosis, he or she will examine you and order laboratory tests. During the physical examination, your doctor will look for a red, beefy tongue, pale or yellowish skin, a rapid pulse and heart murmurs resulting from an anemia-related increase in blood flow demands on the heart. Laboratory tests will include: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vitamin B12 deficiency
: Expected duration | With proper treatment, symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency begin to improve within a few days. In vegans and other people whose B12 deficiency is diet-related, oral B12 supplements and a diet designed to increase consumption of vitamin B12 should cure the condition. People with pernicious anemia or people who cannot absorb vitamin B12 from their intestines will need injections of vitamin B12 every one to three months indefinitely. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vitamin B12 deficiency
: Prevention | To prevent vitamin B12 deficiency, vegans should take adequate amounts of vitamin B12 supplements to make up for the shortage in their diet. For people who cannot absorb B12, the condition cannot be prevented. However, once it is diagnosed, regular injections of vitamin B12 will prevent symptoms from returning. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vitamin B12 deficiency
: Treatment | Treatment for this condition involves replacing the missing vitamin B12. People who cannot absorb B12 need regular injections. When injections first are administered, a patient with severe symptoms may receive five to seven during the first week to restore the body's reserves of this nutrient. A response usually is seen within 48 to 72 hours, with brisk production of new red blood cells. Once B12 reserves reach normal levels, injections of vitamin B12 will be needed every one to three months to prevent symptoms from returning. People who cannot absorb vitamin B12 should continue to eat a well-balanced diet that provides other nutrients (folic acid, iron and vitamin C) necessary to produce healthy blood cells. Sometimes people can take high doses of oral B12 to provide replacement instead of undergoing injections, but a physician should closely supervise this. In people whose vitamin B12 deficiency is related to overgrowth of intestinal bacteria, treatment with oral antibiotics, such as tetracycline (sold under several brand names), may stop bacterial overgrowth and allow the absorption of vitamin B12 to return to normal. Vitamin B12 deficiency resulting from inadequate dietary intake is the easiest to treat. The condition can be reversed by taking oral vitamin B12 supplements and adding foods containing B12. When the anemia is severe and the red blood cell count is extremely low, blood transfusions may be necessary for the first couple of days until the vitamin B12 injections begin working. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vitamin B12 deficiency
: When to call a professional | Contact your doctor for a physical examination if you experience unexplained fatigue, palpitations, shortness of breath, sore tongue or any other symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency. This is especially true if you are a vegan, are older than age 50 and of African-American or Northern-European descent, have an autoimmune disorder or have had your stomach removed. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vitamin B12 deficiency
: Prognosis | The outlook is excellent because this form of anemia responds well to treatment. However, it is possible that nerve cell damage will be permanent. Some residual damage to the nervous system may remain in people who sought treatment late in the illness. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vitamin B12 deficiency
: Additional info | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/ |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Vitamin B12 deficiency
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About the Reviewer
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### Instruction: Disease name:
Vitiligo
: What Is It? | Vitiligo consists of white patches of skin that are caused by the loss of melanin, the pigment that is a major contributor to skin. Melanin is produced by special cells called melanocytes, which are destroyed in people who have vitiligo. The cause of vitiligo is not known but evidence strongly suggests that vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder, in which the body's immune system mistakenly targets and injures these specific cells. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Waldenström Macroglobulinemia
: What Is It? | Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) is a rare, slow-growing cancer. It is a form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. WM is also known as lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. WM begins in the immune system. It starts in white blood cells called B lymphocytes (B cells). B cells play a key role in the body's immune system. Some B cells develop into plasma cells. Plasma cells make antibodies (also called immunoglobulins). Antibodies help the body attack bacteria, viruses, and other foreign substances. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Warts
: What Is It? | Warts are small skin growths caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), which infects the top layer of skin. There are more than 40 different types of HPV. The wart virus can be transmitted from one person to another either by direct contact, or indirectly when both people come in contact with a surface, such as a floor or desk. People may come into contact with HPV by walking barefoot in public places, such as gyms and shower floors or by sexual contact. HPV also can be transmitted in the same person from one spot on the body to another. It is easier for HPV to infect a person when the person's skin is scratched or cut. Warts can appear at any age but are more common in older children and are uncommon in the elderly. A wart's appearance varies with its location and the type of virus that has caused it. For example, flat warts commonly appear on the face, neck, chest, forearms and legs. Most warts go away after a year or two, but some last for years or come back after going away. Warts can itch or bleed. When warts are located in areas that are rubbed against clothing or bumped frequently, they can become irritated and the skin around them can become painful. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Warts
: Symptoms | The two types of warts seen most often are common warts and plantar warts. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Warts
: Expected Duration | Even without treatment, warts may disappear in months or years on their own. However, there is always a chance they will come back. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Warts
: Prevention | It is difficult to prevent all warts. You can reduce your chances of getting warts by avoiding skin contact with existing warts and with contaminated floors, such as those in locker rooms and around swimming pools. Vaccination, abstinence or safe sex techniques (such as condom use) can reduce the risk of genital warts. The vaccine for HPV can prevent infection with the most common viral strains responsible for genital warts; by preventing these infections, the vaccine can also reduce the risk of cancers, including cervical, anal and penile cancers, that complicate chronic infection with these viruses. Vaccination is recommended for 11 to 12 year-old boys and girls; vaccination earlier (at age 9) or later (age 13-26 for females, 13 to 21 for males) may be recommended in some cases. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Warts
: Treatment | Most warts disappear within a year or two, even if they are not treated; however, without treatment warts may spread. Many people choose to have warts treated either because of minor pain or for cosmetic reasons. Treatment depends on the location of the wart, its type and size, a person's age and health, and his or her willingness to follow through with repeated treatments. Genital warts should be treated and monitored in order to detect or prevent related cancers. Over-the-counter liquids and patches containing salicylic acid can decrease the size of a wart, but they should not be used on the face or genitals. Your doctor may treat a wart by applying certain medications or acids, freezing it (cryotherapy) or surgically removing it. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Warts
: When To Call a Professional | If you think you might have a wart, you should show it to your doctor at your next visit to make sure it is a wart and to discuss treatment. Seek help if your wart causes pain, bleeds easily, spreads easily to other areas of the body or comes back, or if you want the wart removed for cosmetic reasons. You also should see your doctor if you develop genital warts, so they can be treated. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Warts
: Prognosis | Warts usually disappear within a year or two and are little more than an inconvenience. But because they shed virus particles into the surrounding area, they are contagious and can cause new warts to appear nearby. In some people, warts may be a more chronic (long-lasting) problem. These people may have individual warts that won't go away or they keep getting new warts. Warts that continue to persist or grow despite treatment should be examined by your doctor since some skin cancers can masquerade as warts. |