Food Poisoning by Botulism and Salmonellosis: How They Differ

We hear of people being downed by food poisoning caused by either botulism or salmonellosis. For the laymen, food poisoning by botulism or salmonellosis simply means having eaten contaminated food, resulting to certain symptoms as abdominal pain and diarrhea. But going technical about it, what exactly are botulism and salmonellosis, and how do these diseases differ from each other?

Of these two types of food poisoning, botulism is the more serious one. In fact, it is considered the most serious type of food poisoning. A germ or bacterium, called Clostridium botulinum, is the cause of botulism. This bacterium is common in gardens and on farms; it is probably present on all produce, especially vegetables. We have to understand, however, that eating freshly prepared garden produce does not result to food poisoning by botulism. This is because the poisoning potentialities of the clostridium bacterium take some time to develop.

In improperly preserved foods, such as those that are defectively canned, the bacterium can produce toxins. When improperly canned foods are served without first being cooked at boiling temperatures, say, for about twenty to 30 minutes, food poisoning by botulism becomes highly probable. This is the reason why canning procedures are completely crucial. In canned foods, first be wary of the can's condition. Immediately discard one that is misshapen, bulging, or rusted. If you have opened a can because it does not appear to have any of these signs, check the condition of its contents next. If they smell odd, appear to be gas-containing, or seem off-color, throw them away at once.

Salmonellosis, on the other hand, is caused by at least a dozen different species and serotypes of salmonella bacteria. For example, the prototypes of the species that prefer humans for their hosts are the Salmonella typhi. Those that were identified by both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the cause of the recent salmonella outbreak that downed at least 1,440 people, mostly in Texas, are the Salmonella saintpaul.

Salmonella bacteria are introduced into the body by contaminated food - foremost of which are eggs and meat products - that has not been carefully handled, such as food that has been improperly cooked or inadequately refrigerated. A disease present in the animal itself may be the cause of contamination. Salmonellosis can be spread by people handling such contaminated food. Often, it involves a number of people who have eaten food from a single source.

Symptoms of botulism usually take place eight to 24 hours after the contaminated food has been eaten. These include crampy abdominal pain and watery diarrhea which last about 24 hours. Having a dim or double vision is a serious symptom, with the infected person usually experiencing difficulty in talking and swallowing due to paralysis of the muscles of the throat and larynx. The toxin produced by botulism is extremely injurious to the body's organs; in over half of untreated cases, it can cause death.

A person suffering from botulism should be attended to medically at once. The damage that is already caused by the toxin may no longer be reversed. But the infected person's chances of survival are better if he is given the antitoxin prepared especially for this disease early in its course than when it is already well established.

In the case of salmonellosis, its symptoms usually occur within eight to 48 hours after the contaminated food has been eaten. Apart from abdominal cramps and watery diarrhea, the other symptoms of salmonellosis include nausea, vomiting, and mild fever with chilling. In severe cases, these symptoms can last about 5 days, sometimes even longer. We have to remember that diarrhea is a natural means of eliminating from the body the toxins which the contaminated food produced. Instead of making an effort to end diarrhea, some home remedies should be applied. For instance, the infected person may take apple juice or blackberry juice as these are rich in pectins which can absorb toxins. Of course, for severe cases of salmonellosis, it is best to make arrangements for medical care at once. [Read the Original Article]

Exercise ECG (Electrocardiogram): Better than Ordinary ECG in Indicating Heart Problems

Certain heart problems usually are not plainly evident on an ordinary ECG (electrocardiogram), except possibly when a person is actually having an active episode of such a condition, as in the case of an attack of angina (a condition of discomfort in the chest characterized by intermittent episodes of intense, suffocative pain, and is usually caused by emotional or physical stress). Realizing this fact, what then is a better test than an ordinary ECG to have heart problems fully evaluated?

The answer to the above question is exercise ECG, also called stress test - a series of electrocardiograms recorded while a person goes through some physical exertions or exercises. While a person is at rest, it is likely that the results of his or her ordinary ECG test are normal even if a significant heart condition does exist. This was true in the case of my father's first ECG test in late 2001 (my father died of a heart attack in April 2003). Such heart problems may appear on the ECG only if the heart is forced to go through certain amounts of stress.

At the present time, an exercise ECG is often given by doctors to people to determine the existence of heart problems. In an exercise ECG, the person being tested either pedals a stationary bicycle or walks on a treadmill as his/her electrocardiogram is being recorded. The intensity of exercise is gradually increased up to such time as symptoms, like chest pains, develop. It is not only indicating the presence of heart problems that an exercise ECG can do; it can likewise provide a measurable degree of the severity of the condition present.

We have to understand that an electrocardiogram represents the heart's electrical function. When angina is present, the heart is not receiving sufficient amount of oxygen, and this affects its electrical activity. But unless a person is actually having an attack of angina at the time the electrocardiogram is taken, the condition would not appear on the test's result. This is exactly the situation when the usefulness of an exercise ECG comes in. To confirm, for example, if the chest pain being experienced by a person is brought about by angina because of advanced coronary artery disease, an exercise ECG will be very helpful. At the same time, the test will also provide quantitative information as to the exact severity of the disease.

Note, however, that, as an indicator of heart problems, an exercise ECG is also liable to be erroneous. This means that the test can produce both false negative and false positive results. A false negative result shows normal reading inspite of some heart problems being present. A false positive result, on the other hand, indicates abnormal reading on an otherwise healthy person. [Read the Original Article]

Urticaria: Skin Disease that is More Nettling Than Dangerous

There are many skin diseases that can be recognized and treated by the affected individual himself when he is out of reach of a dermatologist or is unable to bear the cost of professional medical care. Of course, some skin diseases may be so uncommon or rare - at times even malignant - that only physicians or skin specialists are qualified to recognize and deal with them medically.

One type of skin disease that is considered more irritating than dangerous is urticaria, more commonly known as nettle rash or hives. Urticaria is a skin disease characterized by the appearance of reddish, intensely-itchy swellings (wheals) on the skin. This skin disease may be temporary and disappear within a few hours; but it may resolutely reappear for days or weeks, sometimes even longer, and each time at a new skin area.

In most cases, the cause of urticaria is allergy to food, insect stings, or drugs. Shellfish, eggs, certain nuts, beef, pork, and fish are some of the foods that may cause urticaria; wasp or bee sting may also cause the skin disease; and penicillin is the most common drug to which an individual may become highly susceptible. Protein substances, albeit rarely, may likewise cause urticaria. These include pollens, animal dander, molds and house dust. Still in other instances, urticaria may be brought about abruptly by exposure to sunlight, heat, cold, or even water. It is also possible that some unresolved emotional crisis can cause the problem.

If the specific cause of urticaria can be determined, future occurrences of the skin disease may be prevented by keeping away from that particular cause. Since urticaria, as earlier mentioned here, generally vanishes within a few hours, treatment may not be absolutely needed in most cases. In alleviating itching, the application of a thin paste of baking soda and water, or one-tenth of one percent solution of menthol in alcohol, may be helpful.

Note, however, that, in some cases, urticaria is accompanied by swelling around the lips, tongue, or even the throat. In such severe cases, breathing difficulties may develop, thus necessitating immediate medical attention. Doctors may prescribe antihistamines or steroids to treat persisting severe attacks of this skin disease. For example, they may prescribe a dilute solution of epinephrine, ephedrine, or a corticosteroid medication. But while the latter may be very effective in relieving urticaria, it may carry some vexatious side effects. For this reason, doctors use this type of medication only as an ultimate recourse for persisting cases. [Read the Original Article]

Antihypertensives: Drugs to Keep High Blood Pressure In Check

Of all the various diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels, high blood pressure - also referred to as hypertension - is the most common. This disease is much feared for being a "silent killer," the dreadful tag being in obvious reference to its treacherous nature of directly killing many unsuspecting people who, for much of the time, have not had any symptoms of disease. It is very important, therefore, for a person to have his or her blood pressure checked on a regular basis.

Some of the many causes of high blood pressure include kidney disease, excessively active glands, neoplasms (tumors), and certain drugs. In treating high blood pressure, the doctor will begin by dealing with its cause. In some cases, however, he may not find any specific cause. In such a situation, he will most likely prescribe any one of the known drugs that can keep high blood pressure under control. These drugs are called antihypertensives.

While the various groups of antihypertensives all work toward lowering blood pressure, the manner by which they accomplish this task differs from one another. Diuretics, commonly known as water pills, are the most frequently prescribed antihypertensives simply because they are an excellent treatment for high blood pressure. These drugs work by making the kidneys eliminate excess salt and fluid. This translates into having less fluid in the bloodstream, thereby lowering blood pressure and reducing the workload of the heart.

Another set of antihypertensives are the vasodilators, which include the widely used alpha blocker prazosin (an example is the brand name Minipress). These drugs act directly on the blood vessels by widening their lumen and making them less tense. The resulting dilation of the blood vessels leads to the lowering of blood pressure.

Two other groups of antihypertensives - beta-blockers and calcium-channel blockers - effectively lower blood pressure by causing interference to the continuous motion of nerve impulses. Beta-blockers (an example is the brand name Bystolic, a drug recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of high blood pressure), in particular, block the beta-receptors contained in both the heart muscle and blood vessels which, when stimulated, cause the heart to beat more rapidly and intensely, thus raising the blood pressure. The action of these drugs in blocking the said receptors - with the heart consequently beating more slowly and less strongly -, therefore, effectively brings down blood pressure.

Calcium-channel blockers (an example is the brand name Norvasc), on the other hand, lower blood pressure by blocking the paths along which calcium moves into the cells of blood vessel muscles. Note that calcium molecules cause blood vessels to become narrow. The action of these drugs in blocking the said paths or channels, therefore, prevents the blood vessels from constricting.

It is important to understand that antihypertensives are not intended to be a cure for high blood pressure. Rather, they are used merely to keep the condition in check. Once your doctor prescribes any one of these drugs and you start using it, do not stop taking it just because you suddenly feel you are already well. If you do, your blood pressure can abruptly elevate back to perilous levels. Your doctor is the best person to tell you if discontinuing the use of a drug he earlier prescribed will not pose any risk to your health. [Read the Original Article]

Strabismus: Cross-eye, Walleye, and Lazy Eye

Before my brother's second son turned two, he and his wife were told by a doctor that their boy suffers from one type of strabismus. Upon the recommendation of an ophthalmologist, they agreed to have their baby boy undergo surgery to have the condition corrected. The surgery was performed within a year from the time the condition was discovered, and the result was a complete success. That baby boy (my nephew) recently turned 20.

For those who do not know what strabismus is, it is actually the technical term for squint, a condition that is considered one of the most common problems affecting children's eyes. In seeing correctly, the two eyes must be properly aligned and should always be directed to the same object. This, however, isn't the case when a child has strabismus; one of his eyes may look at one thing while his other eye focuses on another object. Consequently, the eyes transmit indistinct messages that confuse the brain. The brain then has to make a choice as to what was really seen, eventually disregarding anything or everything that one of the eyes sees while picking up the object that the other eye is focused on.

Cross-eye, or inward squint (technical term: esotropia), is the most common type of strabismus. In this condition, one of the eyes looks forward while the other eye turns inward toward the nose. Another type of strabismus is called walleye, or divergent squint (technical term: exotropia). Unlike in cross-eye, the deviating eye in walleye turns outward away from the nose.

Whether it is a case of cross-eye or walleye, strabismus needs to be corrected at once. Failing this may result to one of the eyes developing a third condition which is also directly related to strabismus. Known as lazy eye (technical term: amblyopia), this third condition is characterized by dimness of sight in one eye sans evident change in the eye structures. When a child's eyes are unevenly developed - as in the case of one eye having faulty refraction - and the condition has not been corrected, the child will favor using the other eye that is functioning normally. This will result to the other eye becoming virtually inactive, hence the term lazy eye. Eventually, this "unused" eye will become weak and will fail in seeing things clearly.

In almost all cases, strabismus may be corrected if surgery is performed at an early age, preferably within the first year of life. Doctors may also recommend vision therapy wherein the child carries out certain tasks aimed at developing visual skills and exercising the eyes' muscles to develop proper coordination. This is especially helpful for cases of lazy eye to save the weak eye from completely losing its power of seeing. There are likewise corrective patches and lenses or glasses that doctors may recommend, but these must be used at an early age as well so that the child can gain full benefit from them. [Read the Original Article]