Answerbag: MedExpert's answers

Answer to How do you prevent bronchiolitis?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:42:02 -0800

How do you prevent bronchiolitis?

The viruses that cause bronchiolitis spread very easily, making prevention difficult. Common sense measures such as frequent hand washing and keeping children away from crowds and sick individuals are only partially effective. Certain very high risk babies can be...

Answer to What is the prognosis for bronchiolitis?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:42:02 -0800

What is the prognosis for bronchiolitis?

The majority of children who get bronchiolitis, even severe infections, recover without complications in one to two weeks, although fatigue and a light cough may linger longer. About 60% of people develop only cold-like symptoms without lung involvement. However, the...

Answer to What are the treatments for bronchiolitis?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:42:01 -0800

What are the treatments for bronchiolitis?

The degree of respiratory distress determines treatment. Individuals with mild symptoms are treated as if they have a cold with rest, fluids, and a cool air humidifier. Babies who are struggling to breath may hospitalized and given supplemental humidified oxygen. Their...

Answer to What are alternative treatments for bronchiolitis?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:42:01 -0800

What are alternative treatments for bronchiolitis?

Although there are alternative treatments for cold symptoms, such as echinacea and zinc, parents should consult their health practitioner about the appropriateness of using these treatments in very young children.

Source: The Gale Group. Gale...

Answer to What are the causes and symptoms of bronchiolitis?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:24 -0800
What are the causes and symptoms of bronchiolitis?

Bronchiolitis is caused by several different viruses. The most common of these is respiratory syncytial virus (RVS), which is responsible for about 100,000 hospitalizations of children under age four each year. Two subtypes of RSV have been identified, one of which...

Answer to How do you prevent body dysmorphic disorder?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:24 -0800
How do you prevent body dysmorphic disorder?

Given the pervasive influence of the mass media in contemporary Western societies, the best preventive strategy involves challenging their unrealistic images of attractive people. Parents, teachers, primary health care professionals, and other adults who work with...

Answer to How do you diagnose bronchiolitis?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:24 -0800
How do you diagnose bronchiolitis?

Bronchiolitis is usually diagnosed through a physical examination by a pediatrician or family physician. The physician often finds an increased heart rate, rapid, labored breathing, and crackles in the lungs when the child inhales. Signs of ear infection (otitis media)...

Answer to What is the prognosis for body dysmorphic disorder?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:23 -0800
What is the prognosis for body dysmorphic disorder?

As of early 2005, the prognosis of BDD is considered good for patients receiving appropriate treatment. On the other hand, researchers do not know enough about the lifetime course of body dysmorphic disorder to offer detailed statistics. DSM-IV-TR notes that the...

Answer to What are the treatments for body dysmorphic disorder?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:22 -0800
What are the treatments for body dysmorphic disorder?

The standard course of treatment for body dysmorphic disorder is a combination of medications and psychotherapy. Surgical, dental, or dermatologic treatments have been found to be ineffective.

The medications most frequently prescribed for patients with BDD...

Answer to What are alternative treatments for body dysmorphic disorder?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:22 -0800
What are alternative treatments for body dysmorphic disorder?

Although no alternative or complementary form of treatment has been recommended specifically for BDD, such herbal remedies for depression as St. John's wort have been reported as helping some BDD patients. Aromatherapy appears to be a useful aid to relaxation...

Answer to How do you prevent blood clots?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:21 -0800
How do you prevent blood clots?

Clots may be avoided by not smoking, and by not using medications that add to the risk. Clotting can be prevented by following physician recommendations concerning medications. Sometimes, physicians will prescribe special support stockings that prevent swelling and...

Answer to How do you diagnose body dysmorphic disorder?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:21 -0800
How do you diagnose body dysmorphic disorder?

The diagnosis of BDD in children or adolescents is often made by physicians in family practice because they are more likely to have developed long-term relationships of trust with young people. At the adult level, it is often specialists in dermatology, cosmetic...

Answer to What are the treatments for blood clots?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:20 -0800
What are the treatments for blood clots?

Medicines can help thin blood, making it less likely to clot. The two most common blood thinners are heparin and warfarin. Heparin works right away, keeping blood clots from growing. It usually is injected. In recent years, more physicians have been prescribing...

Answer to What is the prognosis for blood clots?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:20 -0800
What is the prognosis for blood clots?

If detected and controlled with medications, blood clots can be safely managed. However, if the clots become dislodged and travel to an artery, they can cause nearly instant death. For instance, more than 600,000 people have a pulmonary embolism each year and more than...

Answer to What are alternative treatments for blood clots?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:20 -0800
What are alternative treatments for blood clots?

Garlic is thought to lower blood clotting potential. Less evidence suggests onions and cayenne pepper may help keep blood thin. New research from Australia adds tomato juice to the list of potential blood thinners. Subjects who drank a glass of tomato juice a day...

Answer to How do you prevent bird flu?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:19 -0800
How do you prevent bird flu?

In the spring of 2005, bird flu was primarily a risk for people in the United States who worked with poultry. Potentially vulnerable people included those working with poultry on farms and avian health workers like veterinarians. People working with birds in locations...

Answer to What are the causes and symptoms of blood clots?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:19 -0800
What are the causes and symptoms of blood clots?

Many causes can lead to blood clots, some genetic and some environmental. An environmental cause of DVT is prolonged inactivity. For instance, having to sit in a car or airplane for a long period of time decreases blood flow in the lower legs. Recent studies have shown...

Answer to How do you diagnose blood clots?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:19 -0800
How do you diagnose blood clots?

A physician will diagnose blood clots based on patient history and one of several diagnostic imaging exams. The patient’s history will help determine possible risk factors that may lead to suspected blood clots. In addition to family history or known genetic...

Answer to What are the treatments for bird flu?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:18 -0800
What are the treatments for bird flu?

As as of March of 2005, there was no vaccine to protect people from the H5N1 virus, according to the CDC. However, the U.S. agency and the World Health Organization had isolated seed strains of the virus in order to make a vaccine. Safety tests were scheduled to start...

Answer to What are alternative treatments for bird flu?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:18 -0800
What are alternative treatments for bird flu?

In March of 2005, people in South Korea began eating more kimchi to ward off avian flu infection, according to the reports from the British Broadcasting Company and other news organizations. The public turned to the spicy vegetable dish after scientists at Seoul...

Answer to What is the prognosis for bird flu?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:18 -0800
What is the prognosis for bird flu?

Bird flu has been fatal to people, and there was concern in 2005 about the virus mutating into a strain that could be transmitted by people. Health organizations and government agencies focused on preventing or reducing the risks of a pandemic caused by bird flu.
...

Answer to What are the causes and symptoms of bird flu?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:17 -0800
What are the causes and symptoms of bird flu?

Avian flu is caused by an influenza virus that birds carry in their intestines. The virus spreads as infected birds excrete saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. Birds vulnerable to the flu become infected when they come into contact with the excretions or surfaces...

Answer to How do you diagnose bird flu?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:17 -0800
How do you diagnose bird flu?

The symptoms of avian flu and human flu are very similar, so laboratory testing is needed to diagnose avian influenza. In addition to diagnosing the individual, testing in 2005 was performed to determine whether the infection was spreading from birds to people or from...

Answer to What are the normal results for a bariatric surgery?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:16 -0800
What are the normal results for a bariatric surgery?

Weight loss will occur gradually, as patients can eat less food and absorb fewer calories. When patients follow post-operative instructions, they can lead normal lives, eating less food and being careful to limit certain foods that may irritate their new stomach...

Answer to What are the risks of bariatric surgery?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:15 -0800
What are the risks of bariatric surgery?

The surgeon performing the procedure should discuss its specific risks prior to surgery. Risks for bariatric surgery include infection, blood clots, abdominal hernia, gallstones, nutritional deficiencies, possible nerve complications, and death. Death rates have been...

Answer to What is the purpose of bariatric surgery?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:14 -0800
What is the purpose of bariatric surgery?

Obesity is a growing problem in the United States. In 2004, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said that 20% or more of the people in most states were considered obese. Obesity leads to high risk for a number of other diseases, including high blood pressure, heart...

Answer to What precautions should I take when using bariatric surgery?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:14 -0800
What precautions should I take when using bariatric surgery?

Bariatric surgery is not for everyone and the surgeon and other physicians will evaluate all medical conditions before allowing a patient to proceed. As a major surgery, there are associated risks and side effects. Women of childbearing age should be aware that rapid...

Answer to How do you prevent bacterial vaginosis?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:13 -0800
How do you prevent bacterial vaginosis?

Since the development of BV often appears to be associated with sexual activities, recommended ways to avoid BV include:

practicing abstinence

delaying having sex for the first time, as younger people who have sex are more likely to contract...

Answer to What is the prognosis for bacterial vaginosis?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:13 -0800
What is the prognosis for bacterial vaginosis?

BV can be successfully treated with antibiotics.

Source: The Gale Group. Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 3rd ed.";

Answer to How do you diagnose bacterial vaginosis?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:12 -0800
How do you diagnose bacterial vaginosis?

BV is diagnosed through a examination of the vagina by a health care provider. A woman who suspects that she may have BV should not douche or use a feminine hygiene spray before the appointment with the health care provider. Laboratory tests are conducted on a sample of...

Answer to What are alternative treatments for bacterial vaginosis?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:12 -0800
What are alternative treatments for bacterial vaginosis?

Supplement therapies are available in addition to the use of prescription medicines to ease recovery.

Source: The Gale Group. Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 3rd ed.";

Answer to What are the treatments for bacterial vaginosis?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:12 -0800
What are the treatments for bacterial vaginosis?

In a few cases, BV might clear up without treatment. However, all women with symptoms of BV should be treated to relieve symptoms and to avoid the development of complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). In most cases, male partners are not treated, but...

Answer to What are the causes and symptoms of bacterial vaginosis?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:11 -0800
What are the causes and symptoms of bacterial vaginosis?

Bacteria that dominate the vaginal flora in a BV infection include Gardnerella vaginalis or Mobiluncus, although other bacteria, such as Escherichia coli from the rectum have also been shown to cause the disease. The overgrowth of these harmful...

Answer to How do you prevent apraxia?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:10 -0800
How do you prevent apraxia?

The methods of preventing apraxia focus on preventing the underlying causes of this condition. This may not be entirely possible when there is a family history of conditions such as stroke, dementia, and cancer. However, a person at risk by not smoking, exercising, and...

Answer to What are the treatments for apraxia?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:09 -0800
What are the treatments for apraxia?

The treatment for apraxia usually involves rehabilitation through speech-language therapy, physical therapy, or occupational therapy. In addition, treatment such as chemotherapy is administered for the condition that caused the apraxia.

Family education is an...

Answer to What are alternative treatments for apraxia?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:09 -0800
What are alternative treatments for apraxia?

Most alternative treatments target Alzheimer's disease and other conditions that cause apraxia. Herbal remedies thought to help people with Alzheimer's include ginkgo biloba, a plant extract. However, organizations including the Alzheimer's Association caution that the...

Answer to What is the prognosis for apraxia?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:09 -0800
What is the prognosis for apraxia?

The prognosis for apraxia depends on factors such as what caused the condition. While Alzheimer's is a degenerative condition, a child with verbal apraxia or a stroke patient could make progress.

In some cases, treatment helps a person to relearn or acquire...

Answer to What are the side effects of appetite-enhancing drugs?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:08 -0800
What are the side effects of appetite-enhancing drugs?

Side effects reported for orexigenic drugs are as follows:

Mirtazapine. Mirtazapine may cause mood changes, including worsening depression or thoughts of suicide. It may also cause panic attacks, irritability, difficulty with impulse control, abnormal levels...

Answer to What are the causes and symptoms of apraxia?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:08 -0800
What are the causes and symptoms of apraxia?

Apraxia is caused by conditions that affect parts of the brain that control movements. Apraxia is a result of damage to the brain's cerebral hemispheres. These are the two halves of the cerebrum and are the location of brain activities such as voluntary movements.
...

Answer to How do you diagnose apraxia?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:08 -0800
How do you diagnose apraxia?

Diagnosis of apraxia could begin with testing of its underlying cause. Testing for conditions like a stroke or cancer includes the MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and CT scanning (computer tomography scanning). A brain biopsy is used to measure changes caused by...

Answer to What are the side effects of anti-rejection drugs?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:07 -0800
What are the side effects of anti-rejection drugs?

Side effects vary depending on the individual and the drug therapy chosen. Patients should talk with their doctors regarding the various side effects they can expect and under what conditions emergency medical care needs to be sought.

Source: The Gale...

Answer to What is the purpose of appetite-enhancing drugs?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:07 -0800
What is the purpose of appetite-enhancing drugs?

The reader should note the distinction between appetite and hunger in order to understand why a group of such different medications could be used to stimulate the desire for food. Hunger is defined as the body’s basic physical need for food, whether in terms of...

Answer to What precautions should I take when using appetite-enhancing drugs?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:07 -0800
What precautions should I take when using appetite-enhancing drugs?

Precautions for orexigenic drugs are as follows:

Mirtazapine. In January 2005 the FDA required labeling changes for mirtazapine to warn of the increased risk of suicide or self-harm in children or adolescents taking this drug. Mirtazapine should not be given...

Answer to What precautions should I take when using anti-rejection drugs?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:06 -0800
What precautions should I take when using anti-rejection drugs?

Patients should discuss proper storage methods with regard to their medications. Sirolimus, for example, should be stored at room temperature with special care taken to keep it out of excessive heat and humidity.

Although pregnant women taking anti-rejection...

Answer to What is the purpose of anti-rejection drugs?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:05 -0800
What is the purpose of anti-rejection drugs?

Anti-rejection drugs, which are also called immunosuppressants, help to suppress the immune system’s response to a new organ. When a new organ is placed inside a patient’s body, the patient’s immune system recognizes the organ as foreign tissue and tries to reject...

Answer to What is the purpose of antidepressant drugs, SSRI?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:04 -0800
What is the purpose of antidepressant drugs, SSRI?

SSRIs are prescribed primarily to treat mental depression. Because they are as effective as other types of antidepressants and have less serious side effects, SSRIs have become the most commonly prescribed antidepressants for all age groups, including children and...

Answer to What are the normal results for antiangiogenic therapy?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:04 -0800
What are the normal results for antiangiogenic therapy?

Since all antiangiogenic therapies are still experimental and in clinical trials, it is difficult to determine what normal results should be. The goal of antiangiogenic drugs is to stop the development and spread of certain diseases, especially some cancers. At least...

Answer to What precautions should I take when using antiangiogenic therapy?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:03 -0800
What precautions should I take when using antiangiogenic therapy?

Since antiangiogenic therapy is still experimental, only people enrolled in a clinical trial of a particular drug therapy can use it. The only FDA-approved drug, bevacizumab (Avastin), is prescribed to treat colon-rectal cancer. Avastin can result in intestinal...

Answer to What are the risks of antiangiogenic therapy?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:03 -0800
What are the risks of antiangiogenic therapy?

In general, early research has found the side effects of antiangiogenesis agents to be mostly minimal. Because these drugs use proteins that are produced in the human body, there is less likelihood that they will produce the bad side effects common in radiation...

Answer to What are the side effects of antiandrogen drugs?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:02 -0800
What are the side effects of antiandrogen drugs?

Leuprolide. Side effects of leuprolide in men may include pains in the chest, groin, or legs; hot flashes, loss of interest in sex, or impotence; bone pain; sleep disturbances; and mood changes. Side effects in women may include amenorrhea or light and...

Answer to What is the purpose of antianemia drugs?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:02 -0800
What is the purpose of antianemia drugs?

Anemia is a general term for a large number of conditions marked by a reduction in the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood. Red blood cells carry oxygen in hemoglobin, so that anemia may be caused by a deficiency of blood or red blood cells or of hemoglobin. These...

Answer to What is the purpose of antiangiogenic therapy?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:02 -0800
What is the purpose of antiangiogenic therapy?

Antiangiogenic therapy inhibits the growth of new blood vessels. Because new blood vessel growth plays a critical role in many disease conditions, including disorders that cause blindness, arthritis, and cancer, angiogenesis inhibition is a "common denominator" approach...

Answer to What precautions should I take when using antianemia drugs?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:02 -0800
What precautions should I take when using antianemia drugs?

Iron can lead to lethal poisoning in children. All iron supplements should be kept carefully out of reach of children.

Some types of anemia do not respond to iron therapy, and the use of iron should be avoided in these cases. People with acquired hemolytic...

Answer to What precautions should I take when using antiandrogen drugs?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:42:01 -0800
What precautions should I take when using antiandrogen drugs?

Leuprolide. Leuprolide should not be used by pregnant or nursing women, by patients diagnosed with spinal compression, or by patients allergic to the drug. Women taking leuprolide should not try to become pregnant, and should use methods of birth control...

Answer to What is the prognosis for anabolic steroid use?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:23 -0800
What is the prognosis for anabolic steroid use?

Anabolic steroid abuse is a treatable condition and can be stopped. Teenagers and adults can overcome the problem with the help of parents and other family members, support groups, psychotherapy, medication, treatment programs, and family counseling. These programs...

Answer to What are alternative treatments for anabolic steroid use?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:23 -0800
What are alternative treatments for anabolic steroid use?

There is little data on alternative medicines or treatments for anabolic steroid abuse. However, anabolic steroid manufacturers recommend saw palmetto to be taken in conjunction with androstenedione as it can help reduce associated hair loss and is useful in...

Answer to How do you prevent anabolic steroid use?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:23 -0800
How do you prevent anabolic steroid use?

The best prevention is education to alert young people to the dangers, both medical and legal, in the illegal use of anabolic steroids. In its effort to alert teenagers to the dangers of steroid abuse, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) developed a series of...

Answer to What is the purpose of antiandrogen drugs?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:23 -0800
What is the purpose of antiandrogen drugs?

Antiandrogen drugs may be given for any of several conditions or disorders, ranging from skin problems to mental disorders:

Prostate cancer. Antiandrogen medications may be used to treat both early-stage and advanced prostate cancer by lowering or blocking...

Answer to What are the causes and symptoms of anabolic steroid use?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:22 -0800
What are the causes and symptoms of anabolic steroid use?

While the effects of steroids can seem desirable at first, there are serious side effects. Excessive use can cause a harmful imbalance in the body's normal hormonal balance and body chemistry. Heart attacks, water retention leading to high blood pressure and stroke,...

Answer to How do you prevent adhesions?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:22 -0800
How do you prevent adhesions?

Abdominal and gynecological laparoscopic surgeries—also known as “keyhole” surgeries—reduce the size of the incision and the amount of contact with the organs, thereby lowering the risk of adhesion formation. Sometimes the intestines are fixed in place...

Answer to How do you diagnose anabolic steroid use?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:22 -0800
How do you diagnose anabolic steroid use?

Anyone who is using anabolic steroids without a prescription and not under the direction of a physician is considered abusing the drug and should seek medical help in stopping the use.

Source: The Gale Group. Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 3rd...

Answer to What are the treatments for anabolic steroid use?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:22 -0800
What are the treatments for anabolic steroid use?

Few studies of treatments for anabolic steroid abuse have been conducted. Knowledge as of 2005 is based largely on the experiences of a small number of physicians who have worked with patients undergoing steroid withdrawal. The physicians have found that supportive...

Answer to What are the treatments for adhesions?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:21 -0800
What are the treatments for adhesions?

Although the symptoms of adhesion disease sometimes disappear on their own, adhesions are permanent without a surgical procedure called adhesion lysis to disrupt or remove the tissue.

Source: The Gale Group. Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 3rd ed.";

Answer to How do you diagnose adhesions?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:21 -0800
How do you diagnose adhesions?

Adhesions are diagnosed based on the symptoms, surgical history, and a physical examination. The physician examines the abdomen and rectum and performs a pelvic examination on women. Blood tests and chest and abdominal x rays are taken. Sometimes exploratory surgery...

Answer to What are alternative treatments for adhesions?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:21 -0800
What are alternative treatments for adhesions?

In cases where the intestines are partially blocked by adhesions, a diet low in fiber—called a low-residue diet—may enable food to move more easily through the obstruction.

Source: The Gale Group. Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 3rd...

Answer to What is the prognosis for adhesions?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:21 -0800
What is the prognosis for adhesions?

Intestinal obstruction surgery usually has a favorable outcome if the surgery is performed before tissue damage or death occurs. Surgery to remove adhesions and to free or reconnect the intestine often is sufficient for reducing symptoms and returning normal function...

Answer to What are the treatments for West Nile virus?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:20 -0800
What are the treatments for West Nile virus?

Currently, there are no treatment modalities for WNV infection. Instead, supportive care is utilized to treat the varying symptoms and syndromes associated with the various West Nile diseases. Although milder symptoms can be treated at home, severe symptoms can...

Answer to What is the prognosis for West Nile virus?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:20 -0800
What is the prognosis for West Nile virus?

The majority of WNV infections will manifest asymptomatically. West Nile fever offers an excellent prognosis associated with quick recovery and no adverse side-effects. The majority of symptoms will resolve within a few days or weeks of manifestation.

However,...

Answer to How do you prevent West Nile virus?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:20 -0800
How do you prevent West Nile virus?

Although there is a vaccine used for horses and exotic birds in zoos, there is no WNV vaccine for humans at the current time. Several pharmaceutical companies, however, have WNV vaccines in development.

Prevention techniques of WNV typically coincide with...

Answer to What are the causes and symptoms of West Nile virus?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:19 -0800
What are the causes and symptoms of West Nile virus?

The exact mechanism of WNV-caused illnesses remains unclear. However, it is suspected that the virus enters the host’s blood stream and multiples. It can then develop to the point where it crosses the blood brain-barrier, which separates the blood from the central...

Answer to How do you diagnose West Nile virus?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:19 -0800
How do you diagnose West Nile virus?

A proper diagnosis of WNV infection depends heavily upon clinical presentation, laboratory testing, and patient history. Patients with a known susceptibility to WNV (the elderly and immunocompromised) that exhibit symptoms during the late spring to early fall, or at...

Answer to How do you prevent vulvodynia?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:18 -0800
How do you prevent vulvodynia?

Numerous suggestions have been made for preventing vulvodynia and for relieving symptoms and preventing further irritation, including:

using soft, white or unbleached, unscented toilet tissue

using 100% cotton menstrual pads and tampons
...

Answer to What is the purpose of weight loss drugs?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:18 -0800
What is the purpose of weight loss drugs?

More than 60% of American adults are overweight or obese. Since the 1980s the number of overweight people has increased steadily and the number of obese people has almost doubled. Excess weight and physical inactivity account for more than 300,000 premature...

Answer to What precautions should I take when using weight loss drugs?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:18 -0800
What precautions should I take when using weight loss drugs?

With the exception of orlistat, all prescription weight loss medications are controlled substances. Very few studies have evaluated for their safety or effectiveness for periods of more than six months to two years. The use of any combination of weight loss drugs is...

Answer to What are the side effects of weight loss drugs?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:18 -0800
What are the side effects of weight loss drugs?

Many overweight people are generally healthy and the side effects of weight loss drugs may far outweigh the benefits. Side effects may be reduced by starting at the lowest effective dose, although any drug can cause an allergic reaction in any individual.
...

Answer to What is the prognosis for vulvodynia?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:17 -0800
What is the prognosis for vulvodynia?

Vulvodynia sometimes disappears spontaneously. It often improves over time regardless of treatment. In some women treatment results in partial or complete relief of symptoms, although it may take weeks, months, or even years. Other women are never completely free of...

Answer to What are alternative treatments for vulvodynia?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:16 -0800
What are alternative treatments for vulvodynia?

Alternative treatments for vulvodynia include:
biofeedback; sensitive detectors are available for use on the vulva

acupuncture

cognitive behavioral therapy

aerobic exercise

cool or lukewarm sitz baths for relieving...

Answer to What are the treatments for vulvodynia?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:16 -0800
What are the treatments for vulvodynia?

There is no cure for vulvodynia and, because there appear to be multiple causes for the disorder and because individual women have unique symptoms, no single treatment is appropriate for all women. A treatment may work for some women and not for others and some...

Answer to What are the normal results for a uterine fibroid embolization?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:15 -0800
What are the normal results for a uterine fibroid embolization?

About 90% of women who have the procedure experience significant or complete relief of heavy bleeding, pain, and other symptoms. Patients usually will follow up with their gynecologist about two weeks following the procedure. Recurrence of fibroids is rare, though...

Answer to How do you diagnose vulvodynia?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:15 -0800
How do you diagnose vulvodynia?

Vulvodynia is characterized by pain or burning that lasts for more than three months with no apparent skin lesions. Although sometimes the vulvar tissue is inflamed, often it appears completely normal. Other conditions that can cause chronic vulvar pain may coexist...

Answer to What precautions should I take when using uterine fibroid embolization?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:14 -0800
What precautions should I take when using uterine fibroid embolization?

Although uterine fibroid embolization has been shown in many studies to be effective, some physicians say it is a relatively new procedure that lacks long-term data on its effectiveness. Estimates show that at least 90% of women who have the procedure will have relief...

Answer to What are the risks of uterine fibroid embolization?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:14 -0800
What are the risks of uterine fibroid embolization?

Most patients experience moderate to severe pain and cramping for several hours after the procedure and some will have nausea and fever. There is a risk of infection from uterine fibroid embolization, but the risk is small and the infection usually can be controlled by...

Answer to What is the purpose of umbilical cord blood banking?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:13 -0800
What is the purpose of umbilical cord blood banking?

During pregnancy, a developing fetus is attached to its mother's placenta by the umbilical cord. At birth, this cord is cut, and the placenta is expelled from the mother. Some fetal blood remains in the umbilical cord. Normally, this blood, along with the cord and the...

Answer to What precautions should I take when using umbilical cord blood banking?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:13 -0800
What precautions should I take when using umbilical cord blood banking?

Umbilical cord blood collection is usually not done in the case of multiple births.

Source: The Gale Group. Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 3rd ed.";

Answer to What are the risks of umbilical cord blood banking?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:13 -0800
What are the risks of umbilical cord blood banking?

The main risk associated with umbilical cord blood collection is the possibility that it will become contaminated with bacteria during collection.

Parents who are interested in private cord blood storage should research the company with which they contract, just...

Answer to What is the purpose of uterine fibroid embolization?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:13 -0800
What is the purpose of uterine fibroid embolization?

It is estimated that between 20% and 40% of women over age 35 years have fibroids. These non-cancerous tumors of the uterus, also called myomas, fibromyomas, or leiomyomas, can be as tiny as a pea or grow to as large as a cantaloupe. They grow along the muscular wall of...

Answer to What are the risks of triple screen?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:12 -0800
What are the risks of triple screen?

The complications associated with drawing blood are minimal, but may include bleeding from the puncture site, feeling faint or lightheaded after the blood is drawn, or blood accumulating under the puncture site (hematoma).

Source: The Gale Group. Gale...

Answer to What are the normal results for a triple screen?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:12 -0800
What are the normal results for a triple screen?

Results are expressed as multiples of the median value used by the laboratory. Normal ranges expressed in concentration (for example, ng/mL) are dependent upon the age of the fetus, but MOMs are age-adjusted and do not change. These values are used to calculate risk. If...

Answer to What is the purpose of triple screen?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:11 -0800
What is the purpose of triple screen?

Researchers have found that women carrying a fetus with Down syndrome tend to have three substances in their blood in a distinctive abnormal pattern. Both alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), a protein produced by the fetus, and unconjugated estriol (uE3), a hormone manufactured by...

Answer to What precautions should I take when using triple screen?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:11 -0800
What precautions should I take when using triple screen?

It is important that the correct age of the unborn baby be determined by last menstrual period dating and recorded for the risk calculation. Errors in determining the age of the fetus lead to errors when interpreting the test results. Since an AFP test is only a...

Answer to What are the risks of transvaginal ultrasound?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:10 -0800
What are the risks of transvaginal ultrasound?

Since no ionizing radiation is associated with transvaginal ultrasound, there has been no documented adverse effects on patients or their fetuses with the use of the procedure.

Source: The Gale Group. Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 3rd ed.";

Answer to What are the normal results for a transvaginal ultrasound?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:10 -0800
What are the normal results for a transvaginal ultrasound?

In a normal transvaginal ultrasound, the pelvic structures or organs or the fetus are found to have no abnormalities.

Source: The Gale Group. Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 3rd ed.";

Answer to What precautions should I take when using transvaginal ultrasound?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:09 -0800
What precautions should I take when using transvaginal ultrasound?

Studies have shown that ultrasound is not hazardous and has no harmful side effects.

Source: The Gale Group. Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 3rd ed.";

Answer to What are the normal results for a total parenteral nutrition?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:08 -0800
What are the normal results for a total parenteral nutrition?

Ideally TPN will provide all the nutrients in the correct quantity to allow the body to function normally.

Source: The Gale Group. Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 3rd ed.";

Answer to What is the purpose of transvaginal ultrasound?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:08 -0800
What is the purpose of transvaginal ultrasound?

Transvaginal ultrasound can used to evaluate problems or abnormalities of the female genital tract. It may provide more accurate information than transabdominal ultrasound for women who are obese, for women who are being evaluated or treated for infertility, or for women...

Answer to What precautions should I take when using total parenteral nutrition?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:07 -0800
What precautions should I take when using total parenteral nutrition?

Individuals need to tell their doctor if they have any allergies, what medications they are taking, if they are diabetic, have had liver, kidney, heart, lung, or hormonal disorders, and if they are pregnant. All these factors can affect the type and amount of TPN...

Answer to What are the risks of total parenteral nutrition?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:07 -0800
What are the risks of total parenteral nutrition?

TPN requires close monitoring. Two types of complications can develop. Infection, air in the lung cavity (pneumothorax) and blood clot formation (thrombosis) all can develop as a result of inserting the catheter into a vein. Metabolic and fluid imbalances can occur if...

Answer to What is the purpose of total parenteral nutrition?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:05 -0800
What is the purpose of total parenteral nutrition?

TPN is used when individuals cannot or should not get their nutrition through eating. TPN is used when the intestines are obstructed, when the small intestine is not absorbing nutrients properly, or a gastrointestinal fistula (abnormal connection) is present. It is also...

Answer to What are the normal results for a topical anesthesia?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:04 -0800
What are the normal results for a topical anesthesia?

Successful use of a topical anesthetic produces temporary loss of sensation in the area where it is applied.

Source: The Gale Group. Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 3rd ed.";

Answer to What are the risks of topical anesthesia?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:42:03 -0800
What are the risks of topical anesthesia?

Overall, topical anesthesia tends to be very safe. Minor problems might include discoloration of the skin at the application site or an uncomfortable feeling of numbness that lasts longer than expected. Repeated use of a topical anesthetic on a damaged eye surface may...