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### Instruction: Disease name:
Cardiomyopathy
: Preventing cardiomyopathy | The best way to prevent cardiomyopathy is to prevent the diseases that cause it. Know your risk factors for coronary artery disease. Modify those risks early in life. You can reduce your risk for coronary artery disease by |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cardiomyopathy
: Treating cardiomyopathy | The treatment of cardiomyopathy depends on its cause. Here are some of the more common treatments: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cardiomyopathy
: When to call a professional | Call your doctor whenever you have any of the following symptoms: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cardiomyopathy
: Prognosis | The outlook varies. It depends on the specific cause and severity of the cardiomyopathy. The survival rate of people with most types has improved dramatically in the past decade. This is due to the increased number of treatments available. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cardiomyopathy
: 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:
Cardiomyopathy
:
About the Reviewer
| |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Carpal tunnel syndrome
: What is carpal tunnel syndrome? | In the wrist, nerves and tendons pass through a narrow space called the carpal tunnel. A major nerve (the median nerve) that passes through this tight space, can become irritated or compressed. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a combination of numbness, tingling, pain and weakness in the hand caused by compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel.
Symptoms tend to show up most in the thumb, index finger, middle finger and half of the ring finger because the median nerve provides sensation to those areas. Because the carpal tunnel already is narrow, the nerve can become irritated if it narrows even a little more. Injury to the nerve also can cause carpal tunnel syndrome. There are several common causes, including: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Carpal tunnel syndrome
: Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome | Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome can include: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Carpal tunnel syndrome
: Diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome | The diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome can be strongly suspected based on the description of symptoms. Your doctor will look for decreased feeling in your fingers and for muscle weakness in your hand. Your doctor will check your thumb muscles for signs of wasting and your wrists for signs of arthritis. Your doctor may check whether fluid is accumulating in several different parts of your body, including your hands, feet and legs, since extra fluid can add pressure in the carpal tunnel. The examination will probably include tests to check whether the nerves in your wrist are working well. The Tinel's test is done by tapping over the median nerve at the wrist. In Phalen's maneuver, the wrist is flexed for 30 to 60 seconds. If you develop pain, numbness or tingling during these tests, the median nerve in the carpal tunnel may be compressed. Doctors usually diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome based on a combination of your history of hand symptoms and the physical examination. X-rays are rarely helpful. Your doctor can confirm the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome by ordering nerve tests (called nerve-conduction studies) of the median nerve in your affected hand. These tests are not perfect, however. In some people, symptoms or an examination suggest carpal tunnel syndrome, but the nerve tests are normal. Your doctor may order blood tests to look for evidence of diabetes or thyroid disease since these are common triggers of carpal tunnel syndrome. Ultrasound or MRI imaging may be helpful when the diagnosis remains uncertain. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Carpal tunnel syndrome
: Expected duration of carpal tunnel syndrome | How long carpal tunnel syndrome lasts depends on the cause. Sometimes symptoms come and go and don't require immediate treatment. A person who has carpal tunnel syndrome caused by overuse during sports may recover quickly with treatment, rest and modified activity. In someone whose carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by arthritis, symptoms may be more stubborn and require longer therapy. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Carpal tunnel syndrome
: Preventing carpal tunnel syndrome | If you type or use a computer keyboard, you can decrease your risk of carpal tunnel syndrome by making sure that you work in a "wrist neutral" position, with the wrist joint straight, not bent up or down. To help you do this, several types of office aids are available, including a cushioned wrist rest and a keyboard tray that adjusts to a position below the work surface. Newer keyboards are being developed, including ones that split the keys into left-hand and right-hand groups, and others that bend the keyboard into a tent shape. You also may need to check the position of your hand when you use a computer mouse or trackball because some experts suspect that people who use these computer accessories consistently are more likely to develop carpal tunnel syndrome. If you continue to have symptoms, you may want to have a professional check your workstation.
Image: Thinkstock/Getty Images
To prevent sports-related carpal tunnel syndrome, ask your trainer or a sports medicine physician about effective ways to support your wrist during high-risk activities. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Carpal tunnel syndrome
: Treating carpal tunnel syndrome | In most cases of carpal tunnel syndrome, treatment begins with a wrist splint to be worn mainly at night. You may also receive anti-inflammatory medication to decrease pain and numbness. Injections of cortisone may help reduce swelling, but they tend to provide only temporary relief. For people who don't improve with nonsurgical treatments, surgery can relieve pressure on the median nerve by cutting a ligament at the bottom of the wrist, which creates more room for the nerve in the carpal tunnel.
Image: Daisy-Daisy/Getty Images |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Carpal tunnel syndrome
: When to call a professional | Call your doctor if you feel pain, tingling or numbness in your fingers that does not go away. If you have trouble grasping objects, making a fist or have weakness in your hand or arm, you should see your doctor. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Carpal tunnel syndrome
: Prognosis | The prognosis of carpal tunnel syndrome depends on the cause. For example, when it occurs in the setting of longstanding, poorly controlled diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis, the nerve injury may be permanent. However, most people with carpal tunnel syndrome recover completely with treatment. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Carpal tunnel syndrome
: Additional info | National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
https://www.niams.nih.gov/ |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Carpal tunnel syndrome
:
About the Reviewer
| |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cataracts
: What are cataracts? | The eye's lens is a transparent structure that focuses images on the light-sensitive retina. Cataracts are cloudy areas in the lens. They occur when certain proteins in the lens form abnormal clumps. These clumps gradually get larger and interfere with vision. They distort or block the passage of light through the lens. "Cataract" means "huge waterfall" or "enormous downpour," which is how some people describe their clouded sight, like trying to look through a waterfall. Cataracts are the world's leading cause of blindness, accounting for about 40% of all cases of blindness. In the United States, most cataracts are age-related and affect more than half of all Americans older than 65 to some degree. Risk factors for developing cataracts at an earlier than expected age include prolonged exposure to bright sunlight and smoking. In many cases, cataracts are age-related. They first appear in the 40s or 50s, but may not affect vision until after age 60. In other cases, cataracts may be caused by eye trauma, long-term diabetes, corticosteroid medications, or radiation treatments. In infants, cataracts can be present since birth (congenital) or can occur as a result of an infection that happened during pregnancy, especially toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus, syphilis, rubella, or herpes simplex. In infants and young children, cataracts also can be one symptom of a disease that affects how the body processes carbohydrates, amino acids, calcium or copper. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cataracts
: Symptoms of cataracts | Cataracts typically do not cause any symptoms until they have grown large enough to interfere significantly with vision. Once symptoms of cataracts develop, they can include: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cataracts
: Diagnosing cataracts | Your doctor will suspect cataracts based on your age, medical history, and symptoms. Your doctor can diagnose cataracts by widening (dilating) your pupil with medication and examining your eye. You also will have a visual acuity test, which uses an eye chart to check the effect of the cataract on your vision. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cataracts
: Expected duration of cataracts | Cataracts are long-term problems. In most patients, vision gets worse over time. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cataracts
: Preventing cataracts | In general, there is no way to prevent age-related cataracts. However, people with diabetes may decrease their risk of developing cataracts by controlling their blood sugar. To help prevent infection-related cataracts in a fetus, women should check with their doctors about the need for rubella immunizations before becoming pregnant. Pregnant women should see a health care professional regularly for prenatal care. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cataracts
: Treating cataracts | Although some people with cataracts can improve their vision by using eyeglasses, magnifying lenses, or stronger lighting, the only way to cure cataracts is with surgery. When you consider whether to have surgery, you'll need to weigh how bad your vision is against the small risk of surgery. Cataract surgery involves removing the clouded lens and then either replacing it with a plastic lens inserted in the eye during surgery or wearing a contact lens or special cataract glasses. Current surgical options are: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cataracts
: When to call a professional | Call your doctor whenever you have trouble seeing clearly. If you are older than 40, schedule an eye exam every two years, even if you have not noticed any change in your vision. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cataracts
: Prognosis | Cataract surgery improves the vision of 95% of patients who have it. In patients who have intraocular lens replacements, 90% have 20/40 vision or better. In some people who have had extracapsular surgery, part of the lens capsule eventually becomes cloudy, causing a condition called an after-cataract. This can be corrected with laser surgery. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cataracts
: Additional info | National Eye Institute
https://www.nei.nih.gov/
American Academy of Ophthalmology
https://www.aao.org/ |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cataracts
:
About the Reviewer
| |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Celiac disease (non-tropical sprue)
: What is celiac disease (non-tropical sprue)? | Celiac disease (also called non-tropical sprue, celiac sprue, gluten intolerance and gluten-sensitive enteropathy) is an intestinal disorder in which the body cannot tolerate gluten. Gluten is a natural protein in many grains, including wheat, barley, rye and oats. People with celiac disease have an immune reaction that is triggered by gluten. The immune reaction causes inflammation at the surface of the small intestine where it damages small structures - villi - on the surface of the intestine. It also damages smaller, hair-sized protrusions called microvilli. Healthy villi and microvilli are needed for normal digestion. When they are damaged, the intestine cannot absorb nutrients properly and you can become malnourished.
A tendency to develop celiac disease is genetic (inherited). Celiac disease is most common among people of northern European descent. Celiac disease is not always recognized because the symptoms can be mild and can be wrongly blamed upon other common intestinal issues. Celiac disease can be diagnosed at any age. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition because the body's own immune system damages the intestinal villi, even though the process is started by eating gluten. People with celiac disease also are more likely to develop other autoimmune diseases, such as thyroid disease and type 1 diabetes. A few conditions frequently coexist with celiac disease, including dermatitis herpetiformis (an itchy, blistering skin rash) and liver inflammation. People who have Down syndrome have a higher risk of developing celiac disease than is typical. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Celiac disease (non-tropical sprue)
: Symptoms of celiac disease | Symptoms and their severity can vary. Some symptoms come from inflammation in the intestines. Other symptoms come from a lack of nutrients, due to the failure of your intestine to digest food properly. Children generally develop symptoms only after they start eating foods that contain gluten. Common symptoms include: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Celiac disease (non-tropical sprue)
: Diagnosing celiac disease | Celiac disease will cause symptoms as long as you continue to eat gluten. If a person with celiac disease follows a strict gluten-free diet, the intestines can heal and the disease can be controlled. Any exposure to gluten can trigger a recurrence of symptoms. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Celiac disease (non-tropical sprue)
: Expected duration of celiac disease | Celiac disease will cause symptoms as long as you continue to eat gluten. If a person with celiac disease follows a strict gluten-free diet, the intestines can heal and the disease can be controlled. Any exposure to gluten can trigger a recurrence of symptoms. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Celiac disease (non-tropical sprue)
: Preventing celiac disease | Because celiac disease is a genetic disorder and because gluten is encountered in almost everyone's diet, there is no practical way to prevent it. If it does occur, you can stop intestinal damage and eliminate your symptoms by following a strict, gluten-free diet. Although it is not proven, some experts suspect that if celiac disease runs in your family you may be able to delay the disease for your own children or reduce the likelihood that they will get the disease by breast-feeding, so that you delay the introduction of other foods to your infant's diet. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Celiac disease (non-tropical sprue)
: Treating celiac disease | Effective treatment sounds simple: Just eliminate gluten from your diet, the intestinal damage will be cured over time, and your symptoms will go away. That's easier said than done, however. Many products contain gluten. Some products, especially prepared foods, may not list gluten as an ingredient. Today there are many online and print publications to help people with celiac disease avoid gluten in their diet. Here are some basic tips on avoiding gluten: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Celiac disease (non-tropical sprue)
: When to call a professional | See your health care professional if you have chronic diarrhea, chronic fatigue, or weight loss that is unintentional or progressive. The most serious children's symptoms such as failing growth likely will be discovered during routine checkups. You should call your pediatrician if your child develops unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain, prolonged diarrhea, repeated episodes of abdominal bloating, or frequent pain after eating. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Celiac disease (non-tropical sprue)
: Prognosis | Most people who follow a strict gluten-free diet can expect symptoms to improve in a few weeks, and the damage to the intestinal villi typically is reversed in a few months. As long as the diet is followed, people with celiac disease should be able to lead normal lives with no further symptoms. People with celiac disease are at risk of developing another autoimmune disorder. People with celiac disease also have an increased risk of developing small bowel lymphoma, a cancer of the small intestine. Therefore, your physician should consider these possibilities if new problems or symptoms occur. Left untreated, celiac disease can lead to severe malnutrition and can put you at risk of serious consequences, including osteoporosis (thin bones), anemia, infertility, neuropathy (damaged nerves) and seizures. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Celiac disease (non-tropical sprue)
: Additional info | National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Disorders
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
https://www.eatright.org/
American College of Gastroenterology (ACG
)
https://gi.org/
American Gastroenterological Association
https://www.gastro.org/ |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Celiac disease (non-tropical sprue)
:
About the Reviewer
| |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cellulitis
: What is cellulitis? | Cellulitis is a serious bacterial infection of the skin. Bacteria break through the skin's protective outer layer, typically at the site of an injury, such as a cut, puncture, sore, burn or bite. Cellulitis can occur at the site of surgery, or where there is a catheter. Once beneath the skin surface, bacteria multiply and make chemicals that cause inflammation in the skin. Cellulitis that is not caused by a wound or catheter most often occurs on the legs and feet. However, it can develop on any part of the body, including the trunk, arms and face. It often develops where there is edema (swelling), poor blood flow, or a skin rash that creates breaks in the skin, such as a fungus infection between the toes (athlete's foot). Many types of bacteria can cause cellulitis. Most cases are caused by Streptococcus pyogenes (strep) or Staphylococcus aureus (staph). A strain of staph known as community-acquired methicillin-resistant staphylococcal aureus, or "community-acquired MRSA" can lead to blistering of the skin and a deeper, more serious infection. Less common bacteria varieties can cause infection after animal bites, puncture wounds through wet shoes, or wounds exposed to freshwater lakes, aquariums, or swimming pools. When cellulitis is located around an eye socket, it is named periorbital cellulites. Because infection around the eye can spread to the brain if it is not quickly treated with antibiotics, periorbital cellulitis requires prompt medical attention. Medical conditions that are closely related to cellulitis include: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cellulitis
: Symptoms of cellulitis | In cellulitis, the affected skin feels warm and is usually red, swollen and painful. The redness can be slight or can stand out compared to surrounding skin. The area of warmth can be felt with the back of the hand, especially when compared to surrounding skin. There may be a spreading network of red streaks in the skin, caused by infection in the vessels that carry lymph (tissue fluid), as well as enlarged lymph nodes (swollen glands) near the area of infection. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cellulitis
: Diagnosing cellulitis | Many people who develop cellulitis have no other medical problems and no obvious injury or skin damage that allowed the infection to occur. Your doctor can usually diagnose cellulitis based on your recent medical history, your symptoms and a physical examination. Your doctor may recommend tests to look for other conditions that may mimic cellulitis. For example, an ultrasound of the veins in your leg can help detect a blood clot. X-rays can help to determine whether the skin infection has spread to the bone. In most cases, your doctor is not able to specifically tell you what bacteria type has caused your infection. Studies have shown that culture of the skin is not useful. An antibiotic can be chosen that kills most bacteria types that are causes of cellulitis. Your treatment can be adjusted if you are not improving. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cellulitis
: Expected duration of cellulitis | How long cellulitis lasts depends on the extent of the cellulitis, the bacteria that caused the infection and your general health. Without proper antibiotic treatment, some forms of cellulitis can cause serious complications within a few days, even in otherwise healthy people. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cellulitis
: Preventing cellulitis | To help prevent cellulitis: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cellulitis
: Treating cellulitis | Cellulitis is treated with antibiotics. Your doctor will choose a specific antibiotic depending on the site of your cellulitis and the likely cause of your infection. Most cases of cellulitis improve quickly once you start taking antibiotics. If you have mild cellulitis, you can usually treat it at home with antibiotics taken by mouth. However, keep in touch with your doctor to be sure that the infection is improving as expected. At home, warm compresses, such as a warm, moist washcloth, and elevating the infected area can help. If you have severe cellulitis, you may need to be treated in the hospital with antibiotics given intravenously (into a vein). Community-acquired MRSA infections may worsen despite antibiotic treatment, because the antibiotics that are most commonly selected to treat cellulitis do not reliably kill this bacteria. If within the first two or three days of treatment you don't have obvious improvement in your skin pain, redness, and swelling, or if you develop blisters or pus on the surface of your skin rash, contact your doctor immediately. These can be signs of community-acquired MRSA infection. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cellulitis
: When to call a professional | Call your doctor whenever a skin injury becomes red, warm, swollen or tender. Call your doctor promptly if you get a deep puncture wound, especially on a hand or foot, or if you are bitten by an animal or human. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cellulitis
: Prognosis | In most cases, symptoms of cellulitis begin to improve within 24 to 48 hours after starting treatment with appropriate antibiotics. Always take all the antibiotics prescribed by your doctor, even if you think your infection has been cured. The prognosis is generally good, but the condition can return, especially in people with poor circulation, chronic (long-term) swelling in the legs or skin that is in poor condition. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cellulitis
: Additional info | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
https://www.cdc.gov/ |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cerebral Palsy
: What is cerebral palsy? | Cerebral palsy is the name given to a large group of disorders that affect muscles and movement. These disorders begin early in life and result from brain injuries or problems with brain development before birth. Although the specific brain injury or problem causing cerebral palsy does not worsen, the movement problems can vary over time. Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the parts of the brain that control muscles and movement. There are many possible ways that the brain can be damaged, including problems during pregnancy, infection, stroke, genetic problems, lack of oxygen, severe jaundice or diseases that cause the brain to develop abnormally. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cervical Cancer
: What is cervical cancer? | The cervix is a small, donut-shaped structure. It is located at the top of the vagina. It is the entrance to the uterus. Cervical cancer begins in the outer layer of the cervix. This outer layer is called the cervical epithelium. Tiny changes begin in epithelial cells. Over time, cells may become cancerous and grow out of control. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cervical Polyps
: What are cervical polyps? | The cervix is a tube-like channel that connects the uterus to the vagina. Cervical polyps are growths that usually appear on the cervix where it opens into the vagina. Polyps are usually cherry-red to reddish-purple or grayish-white. They vary in size and often look like bulbs on thin stems. Cervical polyps are usually not cancerous (benign) and can occur alone or in groups. Most polyps are small, about 1 centimeter to 2 centimeters long. Because rare types of cancerous conditions can look like polyps, all polyps should be removed and examined for signs of cancer. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cervicitis
: What is it? | The cervix is the donut-shaped opening to the uterus. Cervicitis is an inflammation and irritation of the cervix. Symptoms of cervicitis can be similar to vaginitis, with vaginal discharge, itching or pain with intercourse. Cervicitis can be caused by a sexually transmitted infection. Most common are chlamydia and gonorrhea. Trichomoniasis and genital herpes can also cause cervicitis. In some cases, cervicitis is not caused by infection. It may be due to trauma, frequent douching or exposure to chemical irritants. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cervicitis
: Symptoms | Cervicitis often causes no symptoms at all, but some women will experience pain during intercourse, vaginal itching, a bloody vaginal discharge, or vaginal spotting or bleeding between periods (usually after vaginal intercourse). If the urethra (urine tube) also becomes infected, you may feel burning when you urinate or you may urinate more often. Cervicitis can spread to your uterus, fallopian tubes or ovaries, which is a condition called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). If you have PID, you may have abdominal pain or fever. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cervicitis
: Diagnosis | Your doctor will ask about your medical history and whether you have any new sexual partners. He or she will do a pelvic exam to look at your cervix. This is done with a device called a speculum. This is a metal or plastic device shaped like a duckbill that holds the vagina open. If you have cervicitis, the lining of the cervix may appear red, inflamed, swollen or irritated. In more severe cases, pus may be coming from the cervix. During the pelvic exam, your doctor will take a sample of discharge or pus from your cervical opening so it can be tested in a laboratory and examined under a microscope to determine if you have an infection such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis or genital herpes. He or she may also check for yeast or bacterial vaginosis. These infections can cause similar symptoms, though they affect the vagina rather than the cervix. Your doctor also will examine your pelvic area using his or her fingers to look for tenderness of the cervix, uterus or ovaries. To do this, the health care professional will place his or her fingers inside your vagina. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have a latex allergy before he or she puts on gloves for the examination. If your cervix, uterus or ovaries are tender, it's possible you have pelvic inflammatory disease (infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes or ovaries) in addition to cervicitis. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cervicitis
: Expected duration | Once cervicitis is diagnosed and the appropriate treatment is started, symptoms should start to improve within a few days. If there are any signs of PID, you will need to take antibiotics for two weeks. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cervicitis
: Prevention | Cervicitis most often is caused by a sexually transmitted infection, so it is important to use a condom every time you have sex and to limit the number of sexual partners you have. If you are diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection, your recent sexual partners also should get tested and treated. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cervicitis
: Treatment | Treatment is guided by the type of infection you have. If you have risk factors for a sexually transmitted infection, such as unprotected vaginal intercourse with a new or multiple sexual partners, or if the physical examination suggests you may have cervicitis, you may start treatment with antibiotics before the test results come back. Gonorrhea is usually treated with an injection of the antibiotic ceftriaxone (Rocephin) and one dose of oral azithromycin. Chlamydia is typically treated with oral antibiotics, such as doxycycline (sold under several brand names), azithromycin (Zithromax), or levofloxacin (Levaquin). Trichomoniasis is treated with the antibiotic metronidazole. If you are allergic to any of these antibiotics, an alternative can be prescribed. If you have genital herpes, an antiviral medication can be prescribed. This could be acyclovir (Zovirax), valacyclovir (Valtrex) or famciclovir (Famvir). You will need to take the medication for up to 10 days the first time you develop genital herpes. For recurrent herpes outbreaks, you can take the medication for three to five days. If you are diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection, it is important to tell any recent sexual partners that they must see a health care professional for testing and treatment. Cervicitis caused by trauma or an IUD is treated with an antibiotic targeted to the type of bacteria. The associated inflammation will heal within days to a few weeks. It will help to avoid sexual intercourse until symptoms improve to avoid any further irritation to the cervix. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cervicitis
: When to call a professional | If you have recurring pain during intercourse, a new vaginal discharge or discharge that has changed in color, or if you have vaginal spotting or bleeding between periods, you should make an appointment to see a health care professional. If your symptoms also include fever or abdominal pain, see a health care professional as soon as possible. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cervicitis
: Prognosis | Cervicitis will go away within a few days to a week after you start taking antibiotics. If you have pelvic inflammatory disease, it may take a few weeks to treat the infection completely. Pelvic inflammatory disease can cause more serious problems, such as infertility or pain from scar tissue. Although these additional conditions can be treated, they sometimes require surgery. Cervicitis rarely comes back if it is treated with the appropriate antibiotic, unless you get a new infection from a sexual partner. Genital herpes cannot be cured. However, if you develop recurrent disease, you can decrease the frequency and severity of outbreaks by taking an antiviral medication. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cervicitis
: Additional info | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
https://www.cdc.gov/ |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cervicitis
:
About the Reviewer
| |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Chickenpox (varicella)
: What is chickenpox (varicella)? | Chickenpox is an infection that causes an itchy, blistering rash and is very contagious, meaning it is spread easily from one person to another. It is caused by varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which enters the body through the mouth and nose after contact with an infected person.
A person with chickenpox can spread the disease to someone else from one day before the rash appears until all chickenpox blisters have crusted over. Once someone has had a chickenpox infection, he or she almost always develops a lifelong immunity, meaning that person usually does not get chickenpox a second time. Chickenpox is very contagious, and spreads easily with household or other close contact among people who are not immune. In the past, chickenpox cases often occurred in groups (epidemics), usually during the late winter and early spring. However, the number of cases of chickenpox has dropped dramatically because of the chickenpox (varicella) vaccine, which was licensed in 1995 and is recommended for all children. Chickenpox is an uncomfortable infection that, in most cases, goes away by itself. However, chickenpox also has been associated with serious complications, including death. About one of every 100 children infected with chickenpox will develop a severe lung infection (pneumonia), an infection of the brain (encephalitis), or a problem with the liver. Dangerous skin infections also can occur. Before the introduction of the vaccine, about 100,000 people were hospitalized and 100 people in the United States died each year of chickenpox, most of them previously healthy children. Adolescents and adults who develop chickenpox are also at high risk of developing serious complications. After a person has chickenpox, the virus typically lives silently in the nervous system of the body for the rest of a person's life. It may reactivate (come to life again) at any time. This is more likely to happen when the body's immune defenses are weakened by stress or illness (such as cancer or HIV infection) or by medications that weaken the immune system. The most common reason for the virus to reactivate is getting older. Reactivation of the virus causes a condition called herpes zoster, commonly known a shingles. It's a painful blistering skin rash that typically occurs on the face, chest or back, in the same area where one or two of the body's sensory nerves travel. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Chickenpox (varicella)
: Symptoms of chickenpox | Symptoms of chickenpox begin between 10 and 21 days after a person is exposed. The illness typically includes fever and a generally sick feeling. This is soon followed by itchy, red bumps that quickly become fluid-filled and are easily recognized as chickenpox. The rash usually begins on the head, face and trunk and moves outward to the arms and legs. These skin blisters are round, about 5 millimeters to 10 millimeters across (about the size of a pencil eraser), with a red base. Sometimes, they are described as a "dew drop on a rose petal." They appear in various stages over the next few days and eventually crust over. These blisters may appear anywhere there is skin, even inside the mouth, throat or vagina. Some patients have only 50 blisters or fewer. Others have too many to count. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Chickenpox (varicella)
: Diagnosing chickenpox | If you or someone in your household develops a skin rash suggestive of chicken pox, call your doctor. He or she may suspect chickenpox over the phone, especially if that person has not had the chickenpox vaccine or the chickenpox disease before. Your doctor will most likely want to examine you. Be sure to ask the doctor's staff about where you should enter the office to avoid exposing other patients. Your doctor will want to know whether you have been exposed to someone with chickenpox, although this is not necessary to make the diagnosis. He or she can most often make the diagnosis based on your symptoms and the typical appearance of the skin rash. Diagnostic blood tests are also available, but they do not need to be done in most patients. Sometimes your physician may scrape a chickenpox blister to examine it under the microscope. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Chickenpox (varicella)
: Expected duration of chickenpox | Chickenpox blisters form over a period of 3 to 5 days and then crust over during the next 7 to 10 days. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Chickenpox (varicella)
: Preventing chickenpox | Chickenpox once was considered to be an unavoidable childhood illness, meaning everyone would get it. However, since the varicella vaccine was licensed, this disease can be prevented easily. The standard recommendation is to give the first dose of varicella vaccine between age 12 and 15 months and again when the child is 3- 4 years old, but the second dose can be given as soon as three months after the first. The vaccine also is recommended when someone who has never had the disease or vaccine before has been exposed to someone with active chickenpox. This may help to prevent that person from getting the disease. Some people are at high risk of serious complications from chickenpox, including people who have problems with their immune system, certain pregnant women, and premature infants. If a person at high risk is exposed to someone with chickenpox, an injection of varicella zoster immune globulin (VZIG) also may help to prevent chickenpox. VZIG contains protective antibodies against chickenpox that are taken from the blood of healthy people who have high levels of protection against the chickenpox virus. However, VZIG rarely is given unless a person at risk of serious complications has been exposed to someone with chickenpox for more than one hour. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Chickenpox (varicella)
: Treating chickenpox | Doctors can use an antiviral medication such acyclovir (Zovirax) or valacyclovir (Valtrex) to help minimize the symptoms of chickenpox in adults. It is most effective if it is started within the first 24 hours after the onset of the rash. Any parent without a personal history of chickenpox whose child develops chickenpox should call his or her own doctor right away to see whether treatment is recommended. Otherwise healthy children who get chickenpox do not usually need antiviral medication. Most of the treatment for chickenpox focuses on relieving the annoying itch of chickenpox blisters and preventing broken blisters from getting infected from scratching. Oatmeal baths and calamine lotion can help to reduce the itchiness. Trim fingernails to decrease the risk of infection and scarring from scratching. If itchiness cannot be controlled with baths and lotion, oral (taken by mouth) antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl and other brand names), may give some relief. Use a non-aspirin medication such as acetaminophen (Tylenol and other brand names) to lower your child's fever. Never give aspirin to a child with chickenpox because it can cause Reye's syndrome, a potentially fatal illness. Sometimes, chickenpox blisters can become infected with bacteria and require antibiotic treatment. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Chickenpox (varicella)
: When to call a professional | Call your doctor if any child or adult in your family develops symptoms of chickenpox, especially if: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Chickenpox (varicella)
: Prognosis | In otherwise healthy children, chickenpox is usually a mild infection, with the skin returning to normal within two to four weeks. Sometimes, a few mild scars remain where some of the chickenpox rash had been. Scratching the blisters can result in more noticeable scars. Remember that in a very small number of cases, chickenpox causes more serious infections that require hospitalization and sometimes cause long-term disability and death. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Chickenpox (varicella)
: Additional info | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
https://www.cdc.gov/ |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Chickenpox (varicella)
:
About the Reviewer
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### Instruction: Disease name:
Chlamydia
: What is chlamydia? | Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection spread by having unprotected sex with someone infected with bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis. These bacteria are found in the urine and genital secretions of infected people. Chlamydia can affect several areas of the reproductive system, causing urethritis, vaginitis, cervicitis and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Chlamydia also can cause eye infections and pneumonia in newborns delivered by mothers who have chlamydia. Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. Infections occur most often in unmarried people under age 25 who have had two or more sex partners during the previous year. In women, chlamydia that is not treated can lead to infertility, chronic pelvic pain and tubal pregnancy, in which the fertilized egg implants and grows in the fallopian tube, rather than the uterus. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Chlamydia
: Symptoms of chlamydia | About 75% of women and 50% of men with chlamydia have no symptoms. This is why many infected people remain untreated and can continue to spread the infection to others. In women, chlamydia can cause: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Chlamydia
: Diagnosing chlamydia | Because chlamydia may not cause any symptoms, your doctor will gauge your risk of having the infection based on your sexual history. For example, your doctor will ask if you have had sex without using condoms. Your doctor can confirm whether you have chlamydia by using a urine test or a swab to collect fluid from the urethra or cervix. If you are at risk of chlamydia, you should be tested at least once a year, even if you have no symptoms. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Chlamydia
: Expected duration of chlamydia | If untreated, chlamydia can last for many months, and during this time, bacteria can be spread to others through unprotected sex. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Chlamydia
: Preventing chlamydia | Because chlamydia is a disease that can be spread during sexual intercourse, you can prevent chlamydia by: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Chlamydia
: Treating chlamydia | Doctors treat chlamydia with oral antibiotics such as doxycycline (Vibramycin), azithromycin (Zithromax) and levofloxacin (Levaquin). Everyone being treated for chlamydia should have all of his or her sex partners treated as well. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Chlamydia
: When to call a professional | The United States Preventive Services Task Force strongly recommends the following groups of women receive yearly chlamydia screening: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Chlamydia
: Prognosis | Antibiotic treatment cures chlamydia and can usually prevent complications. Once a woman develops pelvic inflammatory disease from chlamydia or another cause, she has up to 20% risk of a long-term complication such as infertility or chronic pelvic pain. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Chlamydia
: Additional info | American Sexual Health Association
https://www.ashasexualhealth.org/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
https://www.cdc.gov/ |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Chlamydia
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About the Reviewer
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### Instruction: Disease name:
Cholecystitis
: What is cholecystitis? | Cholecystitis is an inflammation of the gallbladder. The gallbladder is the small sac-like organ located in the upper right side of the abdomen, just below the liver. It is attached to the main duct that carries bile from the liver into the intestine. The gallbladder temporarily stores bile, which is a liquid that contains a fat-digesting substance produced in the liver. During a meal, the gallbladder contracts, and bile moves from the gallbladder through small, tube-like passages (called the cystic duct and the common bile duct) into the small intestine. Here, bile mixes with food to help break down fats. Cholecystitis usually develops when a person has gallstones, which are rock-like deposits that form inside the gallbladder. If a gallstone blocks the cystic duct (the outflow from the gallbladder), bile becomes trapped in the gallbladder. Chemicals in the trapped bile or a bacterial infection can then lead to inflammation of the gallbladder. There are two types of cholecystitis: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cholecystitis
: Symptoms of cholecystitis | Symptoms of acute cholecystitis may include: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cholecystitis
: Diagnosing cholecystitis | Your doctor will review your medical history and ask about any prior episodes of abdominal discomfort, especially those triggered by high-fat meals. Your doctor will ask if you've had any recent rapid weight loss and about medications you currently take, particularly birth control pills and estrogen replacement therapy (because these can lead to the formation of gallstones). During the physical exam, your doctor will pay particular attention to the upper right portion of your abdomen, where your liver and gallbladder are located. Blood tests may reveal an elevated white blood cell count, which suggests an infection, or elevated liver enzymes, which suggests a blockage and/or irritation of the gallbladder and bile ducts. Your doctor may order radiology tests to look for gallstones. Because the chemical composition of most gallstones often makes them invisible on X-rays, other tests are also used, including: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cholecystitis
: Expected duration of cholecystitis | If you have biliary colic, the pain or discomfort may go away or become less severe after several hours if a trapped gallstone passes out of the cystic duct on its own. Your abdomen may continue to ache mildly for about 24 hours. If you have acute cholecystitis, however, and infection and inflammation continue, your symptoms may get worse and you could develop complications, including a hole in the inflamed gallbladder wall (gallbladder perforation) and an infection that spreads to the lining of the abdomen (peritonitis). This is why people with cholecystitis usually are treated and observed in a hospital until their symptoms improve. Symptoms of chronic cholecystitis may be present for years before a diagnosis is made. Surgery to remove the gallbladder will prevent symptoms from coming back. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cholecystitis
: Preventing cholecystitis | Because gallstones cause cholecystitis, you may be able to avoid cholecystitis by controlling the risk factors that can lead to the formation of gallstones. These include watching your weight and avoiding a high-fat diet. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cholecystitis
: Treating cholecystitis | Acute cholecystitis usually requires hospitalization. You need antibiotics given intravenously (into a vein) to treat infection, and medications to control symptoms of nausea and abdominal pain. Once your pain lessens or goes away, there are no signs of infection, and you are able to drink and eat, you will be able to go home to continue your recovery. Alternatively, your doctor may wish you to stay in the hospital until you have surgery to remove your gallbladder. Twenty-five percent of people who have acute cholecystitis develop another episode within 1 year; 60% have another episode within 6 years. For this reason, most doctors recommend that people with cholecystitis have the gallbladder removed surgically (cholecystectomy). Sometimes, surgery is scheduled after a person has been discharged from the hospital and has recovered fully. In some cases, your surgeon may decide to do the cholecystectomy before you leave the hospital. Chronic cholecystitis requires the removal of the gallbladder surgically. Gallstones in the Common Bile Duct should be removed, to prevent blockage to the flow of bile, and possible cholangitis or pancreatitis. Usually this can be done using a special flexible telescope that is passed down the mouth, through the stomach, and to the opening where the bile duct empties into the intestine. The opening is widened by cutting it slightly, and the stones are then extracted with instruments passed through the telescope. This is called "endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography" (andquot;ERCP"). After the stones are removed with ERCP, your doctor may recommend that you have surgery later, to remove your gallbladder (where the stones usually originate). Occasionally, ERCP is not possible, and abdominal surgery is required to remove stones in the bile duct. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cholecystitis
: When to call a professional | Call your doctor if you have severe abdominal pain, fever and shaking chills, or jaundice. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cholecystitis
: Prognosis | Most people recover from episodes of acute cholecystitis within a few days to a few weeks. Rarely, a person can become critically ill from a complication, such as gallbladder perforation, cholangitis or pancreatitis and in rare cases the condition can be fatal. Removing the gallbladder prevents cholecystitis from coming back. Rarely, gallstones may remain hidden in bile ducts to cause other problems after surgery. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cholecystitis
: Additional info | American College of Surgeons
https://www.facs.org/
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC)
https://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Cholecystitis
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About the Reviewer
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### Instruction: Disease name:
Choroidal Melanoma
: What is choroidal melanoma? | Choroidal melanoma is a cancer that affects part of the eye. It develops in the choroid, the sponge-like membrane at the back of the eye between the sclera (the white of the eye) and the retina. (The retina is the light-sensitive structure at the back of the eye. It sends visual information to the brain.) The choroid is rich in blood vessels and supplies nutrients to the retina. Over time, many choroidal melanomas enlarge and cause the retina to detach. This can lead to vision loss. The tumors also can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. The liver is the most common site for metastasis. If it spreads, this cancer can be fatal. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
: What is chronic fatigue syndrome? | Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complicated illness characterized by at least six months of extreme fatigue that is not relieved by rest, and a group of additional symptoms that also are constant for at least six months. In many people with chronic fatigue syndrome, the disorder begins suddenly, often following a flulike infection or an episode of physical or psychological trauma, such as surgery, a traumatic accident or the death of a loved one. In other cases, chronic fatigue syndrome develops gradually. The illness lasts for many months or years, and only a small percentage of people recover full health. Many people feel tired a lot of the time, and many seek help from their doctors. Most people who experience chronic (long-lasting) fatigue are not suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome. Depression and overwork are much more common causes of chronic fatigue. The exact cause of chronic fatigue syndrome remains a mystery. The illness can follow a number of common infectious illnesses, such as Lyme disease or infectious mononucleosis, but not all cases are tied to infections. Testing has found that people with chronic fatigue syndrome have abnormalities in the brain, particularly in the hypothalamus (a part of the brain that regulates hormones and vital functions) and the pituitary gland. Testing also has found that patients have abnormalities in the part of the nervous system called the autonomic nervous system, which controls blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature and other vital body functions. For example, many patients with chronic fatigue syndrome have an unusually high heart rate and low blood pressure when they have been standing for a while. Several parts of the immune system remain activated for long periods in people with chronic fatigue syndrome. There is growing evidence that some patients with chronic fatigue syndrome have an autoimmune condition: their immune system is attacking particular tissues in the body. Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome have defects in the ability of cells in their bodies to make energy. Some studies indicate that certain genes are built differently, and that the activity of genes in white blood cells is different, in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Many different tests of the brain, and of the autonomic nervous system, reveal abnormalities that are not seen in healthy people of the same age, or in people with other conditions that can cause fatigue, such as depression. Many of the abnormalities of the immune system, energy metabolism, and the nervous system seem to come and go. Furthermore, not all of the abnormalities affect every patient with chronic fatigue syndrome. In the United States, federal health authorities estimate that chronic fatigue syndrome affects 1 to 8 of every 1,000 Americans older than age 18. Women are affected about three times as often as men. Although the illness is most common in people 25 to 45 years old, chronic fatigue syndrome can attack people of all age groups, including children. The condition also is found in people of all racial, ethnic and economic backgrounds. It appears to be more common in African-Americans and Latinos, and in people in lower socioeconomic groups. It appears to be less common in Asian-Americans. Studies from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other research groups estimate that the United States loses as much as $25 billion each year in reduced productivity and medical expenses due to chronic fatigue syndrome. Although most cases of chronic fatigue syndrome do not occur during epidemics, at least 30 outbreaks of chronic fatigue syndrome have been reported, during which many people in the same area suddenly developed the illness at the same time. However, health experts have failed to identify a cause for their chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms. Many people infected with the SARS Co-V2 virus that causes COVID-19 have developed long-lasting symptoms, including symptoms consistent with ME/CFS. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
: Symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome | The most prominent symptom of ME/CFS is an unexplained feeling of fatigue, which is not relieved by rest. However, many other medical conditions cause marked fatigue. To better identify people with ME/CFS, diagnostic criteria should include these four types of symptoms: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
: Diagnosing chronic fatigue syndrome | Although there is a lot of evidence that chronic fatigue syndrome is caused by a physical problem involving the immune system, energy metabolism and the nervous system, there is no laboratory test or procedure to confirm the diagnosis. Today, the diagnosis of ME/CFS is based on the presence of the four major symptoms noted above. Your doctor will also want to consider other possible reasons for your symptoms, such as: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
: Expected duration of chronic fatigue syndrome | To be diagnosed as ME/CFS, symptoms must last for at least six months. Unfortunately, in many people, symptoms persist for years. Symptoms tend to be worse in the first one to two years, and level of functioning gradually improving over time. However, only a small percentage of people recover to full health. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
: Preventing chronic fatigue syndrome | There are no specific actions a person can take to prevent ME/CFS. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
: Treating chronic fatigue syndrome | There is no FDA proven treatment for ME/CFS. However, clinician acknowledgement of the patient’s condition as ME/CFS and symptom guided approaches can improve quality of life. In general, doctors use a combination of the following: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
: When to call a professional | Call your doctor if you have symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, especially if extreme fatigue prevents you from fully participating in activities at home, work or school. |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
: Prognosis | People with ME/CFS usually experience their most severe symptoms in the first one to two years of illness. After that time, a small number of people recover totally, and a smaller number become totally incapacitated. For most people, there is gradual improvement, although they usually do not achieve the level of activity they were capable of before becoming ill. Recovery tends to be less likely among people who: |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
: Additional info | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
http://www.cdc.gov/cfs/ Medline Plus, from the National Institutes of Health/National Library of Medicine
http://medlineplus.gov/ International Association for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
http://www.iacfsme.org |
### Instruction: Disease name:
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
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About the Author
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### Instruction: Disease name:
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
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Boosting Your Energy
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