Tetanus is a severe infection of the nervous system caused by the bacterium Clostridium tetani, which is commonly found in soil, household dust and animal feces. The bacteria contaminates the body normally through a deep cut or puncture wound, and can also result from injuries such as burns, frostbite and gangrene, where the skin's natural resistance is compromised.
Tetanus cannot be passed by person-to-person contact, only by direct contamination of the blood stream, and it cannot be passed on via the tetanus vaccine.
Symptoms of Tetanus
The presenting symptom is usually the characteristic muscular spasm and rigidity of the jaw and neck (known as trismus or 'lockjaw'). Over a 24-48 hour period following this, muscle rigidity spreads down the body to the limbs, and can decrease the ability to swallow and breathe. Patients can be over-sensitive to light, noise and touch during the early stages of tetanus, and stimulus can cause painful muscular spasms that cause fractures or dislocations. For this reason, patients are usually treated in dark, quiet areas in order to reduce these risks.
How common is it?
Due to widespread immunisation in childhood, tetanus is now extremely rare in developed countries. In the US, only 130 cases were reported in the period 1998-2000 (Dire 2005); most occurring among unvaccinated or inadequately vaccinated individuals following an acute injury.
How is it treated?
Treatment is by administration of the antitoxin in patients who are not adequately immunised, cleansing of the wound, and medical control of the symptoms. Patients may require invasive medical treatment in intensive care to assist with breathing and nutritional support.
Most patients recover from tetanus and return to their full health over a period of 2-4 months.
Asthma
Asthma is considered to be a respiratory system disease. This condition causes the person with Asthma to have difficulty breathing in the form of shortness of breath, coughing, the feeling of chest tightness, and sometimes feeling winded.
Asthma attacks the narrowing of the bronchial tubes that can leave the person without enough air to receive the oxygen they need. When these "attacks" occur the person can be left breathless, dizzy, and can cause them to faint.
Many things can bring on an asthma attack such as a burst of cold air, running, odors, mold, and other allergens. These attacks or asthmatic episodes can include breathless, fast breathing, delayed expiration of breath, and a faster heart rate. With severe asthma attacks the person experiences lack of oxygen which can bring on chest pain, fainting, and unconsciousness. In some rare cases with severe attacks their have been incidences of respiratory arrest and even death. Other that during these asthma attacks the person shows no signs of asthma.
The major symptoms of Asthma include shortness of breath, a "wheezing" sound and coughing. During the coughing the mucous will be clear with no sign of green or yellow. Green or yellow mucous shows signs of an infection. Asthma is not an infection, so the mucous will be clear.
In allergic asthma the attacks are brought on by allergens. This type of attack is always brought on by inhaling something like pet dander, mold, dust, or even the pollen from plants and flowers. These allergens bring on a reaction of the airways to the lungs to become swollen and the oxygen that you breathe in can not go through the airways. This can cause coughing, a wheezing sound, and shortness of breath.
In non-allergic asthma is usually brought on by nervousness, tension, a burst of cold air or hot dry air, exercising, smoking, or other inhaled irritants. The symptoms are the same but it is not caused from an allergy.
Asthma is a hereditary condition, but just because one or both of your parents have asthma does not necessarily mean you will also have asthma. Many with no history of asthma also can have this condition. It can be triggered by a cold, exercise, allergies, etc...
Asthma can be treated in two different forms one with and inhaler and one in pill form. Inhalers are considered to be the quick cure. This will relieve the symptoms and the person will be able to breathe normally in just a few minutes. The long term controllers are of course pills. The pills are normally anti-inflammatory medications that can keep control of the inflammation in the airways to the lungs.
There is no way to prevent asthma but you can lead a very normal life by doing as your physician suggests.
Hemophilia
Hemophilia is a hereditary disease that does not allow blood to clot properly. There are two known forms of Hemophilia which are known as Hemophilia A and Hemophilia B.
Hemophilia A is the most common type and people with this type of Hemophilia have lower levels of factor VIII, which is a clotting factor. There are over 17,000 people in the United States with this type and it is found in primarily males but can also affect women. There are cases of Hemophilia A throughout the entire world.
Hemophilia B is also called the Christmas disease. It was named this after the first person was found to have this type of Hemophilia. Persons with type of Hemophilia have lower levels of factor IX. Factor IX is a coagulation factor. This type is also seen throughout the world and mainly in males.
Both types of Hemophilia have the same or similar symptoms and signs which include longer than normal bleeding from abrasions or cuts, unexplained bleeding, bruise easily with out a known cause, pain and swelling in the joints and muscles due to unexplained bleeding, blood found in the stool or urine, and in the case of infants longer bleeding after circumcision. These symptoms differ with each individual and can be mild to severe.
To be diagnosed if you believe you child may have hemophilia the physician will have to due a few blood tests after getting a family history. The test will show if there are any coagulation factors in the blood by the clotting time.
Prevention is the first thing to consider if you have hemophilia. You should watch the activities that you do in order to ensure that you do not cause a bleed. Your physician can talk with you about many daily activities that can cause bleeds and how to work around injuring your joints. The prevention is better than the cure as in most cases.
Your doctor can you with regular exercise and good nutrition to begin with that can aid in stopping bleeding episodes. Learning to use protective gear while enjoying all kinds of normal activities can also help you not to bleed. You can enjoy all kinds of activities even if you have hemophilia such as fishing, golf, swimming, cycling, hiking and even walking. Just remember to talk with your physician he will be able to help you know how to better protect your self so you can enjoy everything in life you deserve.
Treatments include infusions of blood clotting factors; these can be done at several locations
