Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is infection and inflammation of the female reproductive organs, caused most often by a sexually transmitted infection (STI) such as chlamydia or gonorrhea. Infection may travel up through the vagina and cervix to involve the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and surrounding tissues. While PID may occur at any age, sexually-active adolescents and young women are most likely to suffer from it. Treatment with antibiotics is usually effective in curing the disease. If left untreated, long-term complications may include chronic or persistent pelvic pain, infertility (difficulty in falling pregnant) and increased risk of ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy developing outside the uterus usually in the fallopian tube).
Continue reading
Dialysis, more correctly known as renal (kidney) dialysis is the process of artificially performing the functions of the kidneys to filter out toxic waste substances and balance the water and electrolyte levels in the blood and other body fluids. Renal dialysis is only considered when end-stage kidney failure reaches a point where the kidneys are unable to perform this function. Usually one kidney can manage with a low level of functioning and a healthy kidney can compensate for even a total failure of the other kidney. In severe cases where both kidneys fail, dialysis is necessary. Sometimes in acute kidney failure, dialysis is needed in the short term until the underlying disease is treated and at least partial kidney function is restored.
Cellulitis is an inflammatory condition involving the deeper layers of the skin – dermis and subcutaneous tissue. It tends to almost always occur due to a bacterial infection. Cellulitis tends to arise in the periphery of the body, more commonly on the legs and less frequently in the arms. Most cases are associated with impaired immune defences and poor circulation. Although cellulitis is easily treated with antibiotics, it is a serious medical condition that can quickly progress and lead to complications and even death.
Continue reading
Acanthosis nigricans is a skin disorder where the skin becomes brown to black, thick and velvety particularly at the body folds and creases like the forehead, armpits, groin and neck. This discoloration and thickening of the skin is most commonly associated with obesity. Acanthosis nigricans is more common in darker skinned people and only occurs in less than 1% of the Caucasian population. However, it affects about 20% of overweight children thereby indicating the strong association with obesity. Although rare, it is also linked to stomach cancer irrespective of the race of the cancer patient.