Are you suffering from fever, nausea and headaches? Are you having flat red rashes on your skin? You may be suffering from a condition called Ehrlichiosis. Read and know what is Ehrlichiosis, its causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.

Ehrlichiosis Definition

Ehrlichiosis is a condition caused by the bite of small, pest-shaped creatures known as Ticks. It is a bacterial infection resulting from spread of germs from the tick to the body of an unsuspecting person. It is one of the three major tick-borne diseases.

Ehrlichiosis disease is correctly pronounced as “er-lik′ē-ō′sis”.

Human Ehrlichiosis Symptoms

Know about some of the main symptoms of Ehrlichiosis.

High Fever

Ehrlichiosis patients generally suffer from higher body temperatures similar to influenza patients.

Tiredness

In sufferers of Ehrlichiosis fatigue is common. Most Ehrlichiosis affected individuals complain about tiredness which even affects

Muscular Pain

Sufferers of Ehrlichiosis also experience pain in the muscles of the body.

Acute Headache

Ehrlichiosis patients also suffer from severe headache due to this condition.

Rash

The condition is also characterised by the appearance of flat, red rashes over the skin surface.

Nausea

Ehrlichiosis patients also suffer from nauseating symptoms and vomiting sensations from time to time.

In rare cases, people affected with Ehrlichiosis suffer from Diarrhea and also have a general ill-feeling that can force them to take bed rest. Tiny pin-sized regions on the skin may bleed similar to Petechial rash lesions.

Ehrlichiosis Causes

As aforementioned, Ehrlichiosis is caused by tick bite. Several varieties of ticks, especially lone star ticks, deer ticks and dog ticks, contain bacteria of the Rickettsiae variety. Bite of a tick transmits the Rickettsiae bacteria from the body of the tick to the body of the victim. Rickettsiae bacteria are also responsible for other disorders like Typhus fever and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Ehrlichiosis Types

There are two main types of Ehrlichiosis in the United States.

Human Monocytic Ehrlichiosis

This condition is caused by an infection resulting from Rickettsial bacteria known as Ehrlichia chaffeensis. These bacteria affect macrophages or cells that feed on invading microorganisms and debris. Also known as HME, this disease occurs in regions where Lone Star Ticks (Amblyomma americanum) and white-tailed Deer Ticks (Odocoileus virginianus) flourish.

Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis

The disorder results from infection by Rickettsial bacteria known as Anaplasma Phagocytophilum. Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis or HGE is also called Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis (HGA). Both HME and HGE produce similar symptoms like fever, muscle aches, headache, shaking and chills.

Are you suffering from tiredness and stomach problems? Has your weight reduced greatly in recent times? You may be having a condition called Dientamoeba Fragilis. Read and know all about this condition, its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and remedies.

What Is Dientamoeba Fragilis?

Dientamoeba Fragilis is a kind of infection caused by a one celled parasite of the same name that belongs to genus Dientamoeba. This parasitic infection affects the gastrointestinal tract of victims. This disease very rarely affects humans. An infection caused by Dientamoeba Fragilis parasite is known as Dientamoebiasis.

The reason behind the name Dientamoeba Fragilis is simple. The “Di” indicates the two nuclei inside the Trophozoites or the parasitic spore-forming protozoans.

Is Dientamoeba Fragilis Asymptomatic?

Dientamoeba Fragilis infection may be symptomatic or asymptomatic. Many people carrying D. Fragilis parasites show no symptoms. However, symptoms may occur in case of a severe infection.

Dientamoeba Fragilis Symptoms

Some of the major symptoms of Dientamoeba Fragilis are :

Loose Feces

The stools of sufferers of this condition may be loose in nature.

Nausea

For people with Dientamoeba Fragilis Nausea is a common problem.

Diarrhea

Dientamoeba Fragilis patients often suffer from Diarrhea which start and stop at regular intervals. In Dientamoeba Fragilis constipation also occurs along with Diarrhea. For sufferers of Dientamoeba Fragilis irritable bowel is a major cause of discomfort.

Abdominal Cramps

Individuals affected with Dientamoeba Fragilis often suffer from cramps in the abdominal region which is highly discomforting and causes much pain.

Loss of Appetite

Dientamoeba Fragilis sufferers often complain of a loss of eating sensation due to constant bowel discomforts.

Weight Loss

Loss of appetite along with common Dientamoeba Fragilis bowel problems leads to loss of weight in sufferers. Most Dientamoeba Fragilis patients showing symptoms suffer from a visible weight loss.

Fatigue

In patients of Dientamoeba Fragilis fatigue is usually a common complaint. Tiredness is a major problem to deal with in case of Dientamoeba Fragilis in children.

Dientamoeba Fragilis Causes

As aforesaid, Dientamoeba Fragilis is caused by infection resulting from a nonflagellate trichomonad parasite by the name Dientamoeba Fragilis. The parasite rarely attacks humans but when it does, it nests itself in the large intestine. It looks like a small amoeba. This parasite is capable of causing low-grade inflammation along with gastrointestinal disorders and mucous diarrhea.

Who Gets Dientamoeba Fragilis?

Dientamoeba Fragilis is usually seen in people who live in places with poor sanitary conditions. Swallowing food or water containing pinworm eggs protecting this parasite or parasites of similar nature is a major cause for this problem. Accidentally touching an object contaminated with feces from someone infected with D. Fragilis parasites.

Suffering from pain and swelling in the penis and the surrounding skin region? Having redness in the skin area around your genitals? Get in touch with a doctor immediately for you may be having a condition called Fournier Gangrene.

What Is Fournier’s Gangrene?

Fournier Gangrene is a type of Gangrene characterized by the necrosis of cells around the penis. The term ‘necrosis’ refers or death of living cells in a localized region of the body. Fournier Gangrene is a serious medical condition and it leads to death of a sufferer if not treated in time. This is why Fournier Gangrene is seen as a medical emergency.

Fournier Gangrene History

Fournier Gangrene was first described in 1764 by Baurienne. But it was reported in detail in 1883 by Jean-Alfred Fournier, a French Venerologist. He reported about the condition in five young healthy male and presented it in his medical lectures. This is the reason why the disease has been named after him.

Fournier Gangrene Symptoms

Fournier Gangrene gives rise to symptoms like :

Necrosis

Necrosis of cells in the genitalia is the main symptom of this disorder. There is localized death of the cells in and around the penis. The cells in the genital area and also in the perineal area (the region between the anus and genital organs) quickly begin getting destroyed.

Acute Pain

There is intense pain in the genital region. The entire area feels tender to touch.

Redness

The genitalia turn red in appearance. Redness is one of the early symptoms of this condition.

Inflammation

The region also suffers an inflammation as the tissues underlying it begin to swell. The inflammation persists and becomes highly discomforting.

Compactness

Sufferers also feel tightness in the genitalia and perineal region. This is due to stretching of skin in the penis area.

Fever

Patients of this condition also suffer from higher body temperatures. This usually lasts anywhere between 2 days and a week.

Dusky Appearance

The skin covering the genitalia becomes dusky in appearance.

Are you suffering from shortness of breath, skin rashes, fever and muscular pain? All these are signs of Blastomycosis. Read on to know what is Blastomycosis, its causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.

Blastomycosis Definition

Blastomycosis is a rare fungal infection that is also known as Gilchrist’s Disease or North American Blastomycosis. It develops in people who inhale a type of fungus found in soil and wood, known as Blastomyces Dermatitidis.

Blastomycosis has been listed as a ‘rare’ condition by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This indicates it affects less than 200,000 people in the US.

Blastomycosis Location

Blastomycosis affects different parts of the body. While the infection mainly affects and originates in the lungs, it can spread to other areas of the body and affect them as well. In Blastomycosis lungs are the first site of infection and the sufferers usually feel like they are having a case of bad cold.

This can later develop into pneumonia and also give rise to Blastomycosis skin lesions, Blastomycosis bone lesions and Blastomycosis genital lesions in advanced stages. Left untreated, the lesions can cause damage to kidneys, bladder and the bones.

Who Gets Blastomycosis?

It affects farmers, hunters, campers and those working in woods and forests. People of any sex can suffer from this condition. However, men are generally found to be affected more by Blastomycosis than women. People in the age group 30-70 are mainly affected by it. The average age for getting this disease is 45 years.

Is Blastomycosis Contagious?

Blastomycosis is not a contagious disease and it is generally not transmitted from one person to other. The likelihood of Blastomycosis transmission is rare.

Is Blastomycosis Contagious From Dogs To Humans?

Blastomycosis in dogs cannot be transmitted to humans though it is often thought otherwise. Both owners and their dogs are often seen to suffer from the syndrome at the same time. This usually happens when humans and dogs happen to inhale the same fungus from the same source.

Blastomycosis in Dogs

In case of Blastomycosis dogs are seen to suffer from severe skin sores. These have a round crust and ooze pus from time to time. With passing days, a suffering dog gets weaker. It walks weakly, has poor appetite and suffers from drowsiness. If not treated in time, they can die. With proper diagnosis and treatment however, around 85% of dogs survive.

The standard medicine used for Blastomycosis cure in dogs is Amphotericin B. Once treatment begins, dogs show an improvement in 3-5 days.

Are you suffering from headache and muscle pain? Have your eyes lately become too sensitive to light? You may be suffering from Rift Valley Fever for these are the classic symptoms of this condition. Read on to know what is Rift Valley Fever, what causes Rift Valley Fever, the symptoms of Rift Valley Fever in humans and their treatment.

Rift Valley Fever Definition

Rift Valley Fever (RVF) is a form of viral infection that is transmitted to humans from animals. It mainly affects livestock and is then passed on to humans causing fever though human beings can also contract the disease directly from mosquito bites.

Rift Valley Fever History

The history of Rift Valley Fever can be traced back to the early decades of the last century. The Rift Valley Fever virus was first identified in 1931 when an investigation was being made to find the cause of a sheep epidemic in the Rift Valley of Kenya. The name struck ever since and the disease came to be known as Rift Valley Fever.

Rift Valley Fever Symptoms

The major symptoms of Rift Valley Fever in humans are :

Fever

In Rift Valley Fever humans typically suffer from a rise in body temperatures. Increase in body temperature is also one of the major Rift Valley Fever symptoms in cattle.

Headache

Fever is usually accompanied with a mild or acute pain in the head. Fever and headache are two of the most common Rift Valley Fever symptoms in humans.

Fatigue

Sufferers of Rift Valley Fever human disease also experience extreme tiredness due to this disease which impairs daily activities.

Myalgia

Patients also suffer from pain in the muscles in one or more region.

Back Pain

Individuals with Rift Valley Fever typically suffer from pain in the back. The pain may be mild or severe and can vary from person to person.

Dizziness

Sufferers also have a reeling sensation due to this highly discomforting syndrome.

Loss of Weight

Weight loss is very common in affected people, mainly during the early stages of this disease.