Causes and diagnosis of Autism
Autism is the most characteristic condition of the autistic spectrum disorders and is defined by impaired social interaction, obsessive and narrow interests, repetitive actions and difficulties in verbal and nonverbal communication. Children with autism are mostly diagnosed at the age of 3 when they show symptoms of an increased sensitivity to sound, light and touch and decreased sensation of pain. They avoid other children, resost cuddling, cannot understand other person’s needs and feelings.
The exact causes of autism are not yet known to scientists but they tend to incriminate for the occurrence of these disorders of both genetically and environmental factors. A series of genes on the chromosomes have been identified to be connected to the causes of autism. Also irregularities in certain brain areas have been matched to these type of disorders. According to some particular studies, an important trigger of autistic disorders is a low level of neurotransmitters like serotonin in the brain tissues. The genes responsible for the growth and interaction of the brain tissues and neurons could be blamed for an abnormal intrauterine development leading to later manifestations of some fetal life problems.
Another theory of the parental practices responsible for the apparition of autism is still discussed and researched. All theories regarding the cause of autism are still preliminary and yet to be proven.
Autistic disorders can appear in mild to severe forms or be masked by other handicaps. Diagnose is not always easy and certain. The clinical diagnose is established according to a list of the most characteristic signs. The group of symptoms orienting a specialist towards diagnose of autism consists of certain behavioral and physical changes. This group contains an impaired ability to make connections with other children or begin and sustain a conversation, the absence of imaginative social play methods, stereotyped and repetitive actions, limited interests, unusual language skills, obsessions regarding particular few objects and incapacity to accept certain rituals and routine changes.
Doctors use questionnaires or other screening instruments to evaluate the observations made by parents or by both parents and doctors. Certain questions regarding behavior and development are asked and related to obvious observations. A further evaluation when the suspicion of autism persists must be performed by a multidisciplinary team consisting of neurologists, psychiatrist, speech analyst and other professionals. A hearing evaluation must be completed in order to eliminate disorders caused by hearing difficulties.
After the completion of the testing, the parents are informed about results and possible therapy methods.
For greater resources on Autism or especially about autism symptoms checklist please click this link http://www.autism-info-center.com/autism-symptoms-checklist.htm
Avian influenza prevention and treatments
Avian influenza affects chickens and the poultry industry, recombined with the human influenza viruses form a totally new influenza virus to which people do not have protection that spreads in the population and that causes serious illness and death in humans. Bird Flu is an infectious disease of birds that can also affect people. It can present mild or severe forms of illness. The only subtype that can cause severe illness to people is Influenza A /H5N1 virus, initially it affects chickens, ducks and other birds by the process of mutation they can become highly pathogenic. If the bird flu virus recombines with a human flu virus and mutate it may become possible the transmission from human to human as happened in Asia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia Thailand, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Eygpt, China, and Iraq where people died. Bird flu affected Australia in 1997 but, was eradicated.
Water birds are supposed to carry the avian influenza type A virus inside their intestines and to distribute it in the environment through bird faeces.
Infection determines many symptoms in wild and domesticated birds from mild illnesses to highly contagious and severe epidemics. Among them a decline in activity and in egg production, facial swelling and bluish-violet colored combs and wattles, diarrhea, hemorrhages, paralysis, sudden deaths. Signes and symptoms of bird flu in humans are similar to other influenza viruses: sore throat and cough, fever, muscle weakness and/or pain with complications such as: severe viral pneumonia, respiratory distress syndrome, multi- organ failure, eye infections, pneumonia, inflammation of the brain and heart. Health experts have made research into tests and vaccines, and rigorous quarantine practices. Spanish flu was the worst influenza pandemic and occurred in 1918–19. There have been adopted governmental federal plans Australian Action Plan for Pandemic Influenza, to prevent an outbreak among poultry farms. Treatments of bird flu are antiviral drugs, Relenza and Tamiflu, but some of these drugs are expensive and supplies are limited. To prevent recombination of avian with the human influenza virus: is recommended a vaccine used against circulating strains in humans to those exposed to bird flu. A vaccine against bird flu is in development.
Suggestions for people travelling to affected countries:
Wash eggs thoroughly before breaking and wash your hands thoroughly after handling eggs. Don’t go to farms or market places. Wash hands, utensils thoroughly after handling raw poultry. Cook poultry at high temperatures.
You may get help from: a doctor, Avian Influenza Hotline, Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Communicable Diseases Section.
Remember: Although bird flu is spread between birds it affects humans through bird faeces and discharges.
If you seem to get flu symptoms see immediately a doctor and explain him how exposed you have been to avian influenza.
For more information about bird flu or even about bird flu treatment please review this page http://www.bird-flu-info-center.com/bird-flu-treatment.htm
All about eczema
There are many skin problems that can affect us and eczema is one of them. The severity of this condition can vary from a type of eczema to another and from person to person. This word, eczema come from Greek and can be translated as to boil. This skin condition, eczema can look very ugly, but a good thing to know about is it is that eczema is not contagious.
Like in any disease, eczema has its symptoms as well. The main eczema symptoms are a red, dry and inflamated skin. The main characteristic of eczema is itching. In the areas affected by eczema you can also see small blisters, filled with fluid that can become crusted in time. The main body parts that are affected by eczema are the hands, face, elbows and the back part of your knees. However, eczema can cover almost all your body.
There are many factors that can cause an eczema. The causes of eczema depend mostly on what type of eczema you have. The types of eczema that exist may look very alike, but in fact they are very different, because these types of eczema have different causes. Here are the types of eczema that somebody may have.
First there is the atopic eczema and it is the most common of all the types of eczema. As many a one in five children may suffer from atopic eczema. This eczema type is considered to be hereditary. Contact eczema is another type of eczema, that develops when you have been in contact with something that your skin does not aprove of. It has similar symptoms to atopic eczema. Another type of eczema is the allergic contact eczema. Most of the people that suffer from this eczema are not born with this sensibility, but develop it in time.
Irritant contact eczema is caused by daily contact with some substances that can irritate your skin, like detergents.
There can also be complications in cases of eczema, if they are not treated well. In the case of atopic eczema, you might develop herpeticum. This happens when your eczema becomes infected by a virus called herpes. This is a very serious medical condition.
The diagnosing of eczema is not very complicated. Doctors usually diagnose eczema only by the apereance of your skin. There is also the case, when you have allergic eczema, to use a test that can tell you what you are allergic to.
For more resources about dyshidrotic eczema or even about eczema please review http://www.eczema-info-guide.com
