Finger Clubbing: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Nail clubbing, also known as digital clubbing or just simply, clubbing, is a deformity of the finger or toe nails which occur due to the presence of a number of associated diseases, mostly diseases of the heart and lungs. In a number of cases, however, nail clubbing has been known to run in families, where it occurs without any associated disease or medical problem. It is still not clear why soft tissue in nails increase to cause nail clubbing, whether in diseases that have brought it on, or in families where different affected members have inherited it.

Hepatitis A: Risk Factors, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention

Hepatitis A refer to inflammation of the liver due to the hepatitis A virus (HAV). It tends to be a short-term (acute) illness; and is usually spread by eating or drinking something contaminated with the hepatitis A virus. It is more common in developing countries.

Hepatitis E: Cause, Transmission, Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention

Hepatitis E disease is a similar illness to hepatitis A. Like hepatitis A, hepatitis E is spread through contaminated food and drink, and thereafter causes an acute (short-term) and self-limiting illness, from which people usually recover fully with low death rates; however, it can be more severe in pregnant women and people with a weakened immune system e.g. organ transplant recipients, with substantially higher death rates. A preventive vaccine (HEV 239) is approved for use in China, but is not yet available anywhere else.

Hepatitis D: Transmission, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention

The most common cause of hepatitis is infection with a virus. There are five different viruses which can cause five different types of viral hepatitis viz Hepatitis A virus (HAV), Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), Hepatitis D virus (HDV) and Hepatitis E virus (HEV). Hepatitis D is spread in the same way as hepatitis B and hepatitis C; however, it can only affect people who also have been infected with hepatitis B. This article is about the HDV infection.

Hepatitis C: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus that infects the cells of the liver. Most cases occur in people who share needles or injecting equipment to inject 'street drugs' contaminated with infected blood (intravenous drug users). Some people clear the infection naturally. Some develop persistent infection but remain free of symptoms, although others may have symptoms. Persistent infection can lead to 'scarring' of the liver (cirrhosis) which may result in liver cancer. Treatment can clear the infection in over half of cases.

Hepatitis B: Risk Factors, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment

The hepatitis B virus can cause a short-term (acute) infection, which may or may not cause symptoms. Following an acute infection, a minority of infected adults develop a persistent infection called chronic hepatitis B. Many people with chronic hepatitis B remain well, but can still pass on the virus to others. Some develop serious liver problems. The virus is mainly passed on by sexual contact, sharing needles to inject drugs, and from mother to baby.

Diarrhoea: An Overview of Acute Diarrhoeal Disease

Diarrheal disease is one of the top ten leading causes of death worldwide and a particular concern for children younger than five years old in resource-limited settings. Among adults in resource-rich settings, diarrhea is often a "nuisance disease" in the healthy individual. Diarrhoea can be of sudden onset lasting less than two weeks (acute) or more than two weeks (persistent or chronic). In most cases, diarrhoea eases and resolves within few days though sometimes it takes longer. The main risk is dehydration. The main treatment is drinking lots of fluid to avoid dehydration. You should also eat as normally as possible. See a doctor if you suspect that you are dehydrating, or if you have any worrying symptoms as listed below. This article deals with acute diarrhoea, which is common.

Acute Pancreatitis - Symptoms, Diagnosis and Management

Pancreatitis is an inflammatory process in which pancreatic enzymes autodigest (i.e. self-digests) the gland. The gland sometimes heals without any impairment of function or any morphologic changes; this process is known as acute pancreatitis. Pancreatitis can also recur intermittently, contributing to the functional and morphologic loss of the gland; recurrent attacks are referred to as chronic pancreatitis.