Appendicitis

Appendicitis is the inflammation of the appendix. Appendix is a small, finger-shaped tubular structure attached to the large intestine located at the right side of lower abdomen. There is no known function of appendix in human body. When infected with bacteria or due to the blockage, the appendix gradually swells and g

Fever

Definition A fever or pyrexia is a rise in body temperature above normal and often indicates an illness. Average normal body temperature is 98.6oF  but it can range between 97  and 99.5

Blood Cancer (Leukemia)

Introduction Blood cancer encompasses cancers that originate in the bone marrow (organ that produces blood cells). Most of the blood cancers involve white blood cells (cells that fight infection) and are called leukemia. Cancers can also develop in the red blood cells (cells that carry oxygen) and p

Cough

Cough is our body’s protective response to the presence of irritants in the airway. It is a reflex action caused by the stimulation of the nerve endings in the respiratory tract by  stimuli such as allergen, microbes, foreign body or excessive mucous. After the stimuli reaches the bra

Black stools

Black stools can be due to bleeding in gastrointestinal (GI) tract or ingestion of certain medications (iron, bismuth) or certain food (blueberries). Black, tarry, sticky and smelly stool  is caused by bleeding in the GI tract, and is known as melena. Malena is a serious medical

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs caused by a variety of germs. These germs reach the air sacs (lowest part of airways) after inhalation, overcoming body's normal defense mechanism like nasal hairs, mucus and cough which are weakened by smoking or dust inhalation. Once in the lungs,

Tuberculosis

  Tuberculosis (TB) is a communicable disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It can affect any organ in the body but lungs (Pulmonary TB) are the most common site of infection. Other common sites of infection are bones, lymph nodes, kidneys, uterus, brain (meninges), skin, etc. Tuberculosis i

Acute Kidney Failure

Kidney failure means the kidneys become unable to filter the blood and remove waste and excess salt and water from body. Kidney failure can occur acutely over hours and days or develop gradually over a period. When kidney stops working abruptly, it is called acute kidney failure (injury) . When kidney function

Ascariasis

Ascariasis is infestation of humans intestine by roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides). The roundworm may reside in the guts for 6 to 24 months. The eggs are passed into the stool and under warm, shady, moist conditions they can survive for up to 10 years.  The infection is transmitted by in

Fatigue / Tiredness

  Tiredness means you feel exhausted both during activity as well as rest,, even while sleeping as well. It is not a disease but could be a symptom of various physical and psychological ailments. It can alternatively be called as fatigue; exhaustion; lethargy or weariness. We all

Sore Throat

Sore throat (Pharyngitis & Tonsillitis) refers to pain, irritation or itchiness of the throat resulting from inflammation of the lining of  throat and tonsils. It is common infection in children, but can affect people of any age. Symptoms include dryness of throat, swollen glands in

Vitamin Deficiency

Vitamins are a group of substances that are needed, in very small amounts, for your body to grow and develop normally.  There are two broad categories of Vitamins based upon how they are absorbed:

• Fat-soluble vitamins

Back Pain

Definition Pain felt between the nape of the neck to the buttocks, usually in the midline, can be  referred as back pain. Disease and conditions affecting the bones and muscles that constitutes the spine cause back pain. It can occur anywhere along the spine but pain in lower

Menstrual Irregularities

  Menstrual abnormalities include irregular menstrual cycle, heavy bleeding and painful menstruation. Irregular menses denotes variation in the length of a menstrual cycle. A menstrual cycle is the period between the first day of bleeding of one cycle to the onset of next period of bleeding. A normal menstrual

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus)

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a disease of immune system that can affect many organs in the body. Normally, the immune system produces proteins directed against infectious agents and protects us from infection. In SLE, however, your body produces antibodies that attack body’s o

Malaria

Malaria is a febrile, mosquito-borne disease caused by parasitic protozoa, Plasmodium. Four different species of Plasmodium cause malaria. The parasite is transmitted by bite of female Anopheles mosquito. It occurs mostly in high temperature areas - tropical regions and the Terai belt of Nepal. Infected female Anoph

HIV/AIDS

Introduction HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). Infection by HIV weakens your immune system. When the immune system becomes too weak to fight, organisms that would otherwise not cause an infection in a normal person, that person is

Heart Failure

Heart failure means your heart is not able to pump out sufficient amount of blood into the rest of the body. It does not mean that your heart has stopped to beat which is called “cardiac arrest” (see Heart Attack for more informat

Diarrhea

Diarrhea is defined as increased frequency of defection (more than 3 per day) with excessive or abnormally loose consistency. Stool weights more than 200g/day are sometimes used to define diarrhoea but in the absence of abnormal consistency, weight alone is not an ideal indicator as bowel weight is influenced by high f

Anemia

Anemia Anemia is  a condition where your hemoglobin level is low.  Hemoglobin is the substance found in the red blood cell that carries oxygen in  the blood.  When you are anemic the oxygen carrying capacity of you blood in reduced and it  may not be enough to meet the dem

Hepatitis

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. Liver is one of vital organs and largest internal solid organ. Liver has large blood supply and functions as a chemical factory removing many unwanted substances from the body. This exposes  liver to many insults including infections, drugs or

Diphtheria

Diphtheria is an infectious disease caused by bacteria Corynebacterium diphtheriae. The infection affects the respiratory passage leading to sore throat and breathing difficulties. The disease produces a

Arthritis

Arthritis means inflammation of joints. It is a generic term that encompasses hundreds of conditions where joint inflammation causes symptoms of pain, swelling and stiffness of joints. Two most common causes of arthritis are Osteoarthritis (OA) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Arthritis ca

Allergy

Allergy is a conditions where your body abnormally reacts to foreign substances that normally should not produce any reaction. These substances are called allergens. Your immune system, which is responsible for protection of the body against external agents, recognizes these allergens as “invaders” and produce prot

Hyperuricemia

Blood uric acid level above normal range is called hyperuricemia. Uric acid is formed in the liver when body breaks down purines and is excreted by the kidneys. Purines come from diet and our body. Purine rich diets are red meat, organ meat (liver, kidney), seafood (sardines, anchovies), beer, dried beans and peas, spi

Hookworm Infestation

Hookworm infestation is a parasitic disease of humans caused by one of the two organisms- Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus. It is the second most common helminthic infection in developing world. Hookworms are found in soil contaminated by human feces. The transmission of infection occurs when the following