ARTICLES BY STEVEN GUPTHA

Abdominal pain usually results from a GI disorder, but it can also be caused by a reproductive, genitourinary , musculoskeletal, or vascular disorder; drug use; or ingestion of toxins Abdominal pain arises from the abdominopelvic viscera, the parietal peritoneum, or the capsules of the liver, kidney, or spleen

Depression is a mood disturbance characterized by feelings of sadness, despair, and loss of interest or pleasure in activities These feelings may be accompanied by somatic complaints, such as changes in appetite, sleep disturbances, restlessness or lethargy, and decreased concentration

Hypopigmentation is a decrease in normal skin, hair, mucous membrane, or nail color resulting from deficiency, absence, or abnormal degradation of the pigment melanin This sign may be congenital or acquired, asymptomatic or associated with other findings

Paralysis, the total loss of voluntary motor function, results from severe cortical or pyramidal tract damage It can occur with a cerebrovascular disorder, degenerative neuromuscular disease, trauma, tumor, or central nervous system infection

COPD includes emphysema, an anatomically defined condition characterized by destruction and enlargement of the lung alveoli; chronic bronchitis, a clinically defined condition with chronic cough and phlegm; and small airways disease, a condition in which small bronchioles are narrowed Epidemiology: COPD is the fourth leading cause of death and affects more than 16 million persons in the United States

Urinary incontinence is the inability to control urination Types: There are five types urinary continence: Stress incontinence, urge incontinence, overflow incontinence, mixed incontinence and functional or environmental incontinence

Takayasu's arteritis is a chronic (long-term) disease in which arteries become inflamed It is also known as Takayasu's aortitis, pulseless disease and aortic arch syndrome

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is comprised primarily of three related conditions - chronic bronchitis, chronic asthma, and emphysema In each condition there is chronic obstruction of the flow of air through the airways and out of the lungs, and the obstruction generally is permanent and may be progressive over time

COPD symptoms from smoking: • Typically, after smoking 20 or more cigarettes a day for more than twenty years, patients with COPD develop a chronic cough, shortness of breath (dyspnea), and frequent respiratory infections Emphysema symptoms of COPD: • In patients affected predominantly by emphysema, shortness of breath may be the major symptom

Rhabdomyolysis is the rapid destruction of skeletal muscle resulting in leakage into the urine of the muscle protein myoglobin There are three different types of muscle in the human body; a

High blood pressure (HBP) or hypertension means high pressure (tension) in the arteries It is known as the "silent killer" since it has no initial symptoms but can lead to long-term disease and complications

Gonorrhea is caused by Neisseria gonorrhea, a bacterium that grows and multiplies quickly in moist, warm areas of the body such as the cervix, urinary tract, mouth, or rectum In women, the cervix is the most common site of infection

Hemophilia is a rare bleeding disorder in which blood doesn't clot normally If a patient presents with hemophilia, they may bleed for a longer time than others after an injury

Tremors are regular rhythmic oscillations that result from alternating contraction of opposing muscle groups INTRODUCTION: They are typical signs of extra pyramidal or cerebellar disorders and can also result from the use of certain drugs

Diphtheria is a nasopharyngeal and skin infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae Toxigenic strains of C

Hydrocephalus (dilatation of the ventricular system) may be due to obstruction of the CSF circulation Types: Hydrocephalus is said to be 'communicating' if the obstruction is outside the ventricular system (usually in the basal cisterns) Obstruction within the ventricles is most common in the narrow channels of the third ventricle and aqueduct, and may be caused by tumour or a congenital anomaly such as aqueduct stenosis CAUSES OF HYDROCEPHALUS Communicating (obstruction outside ventricular system) • Bacterial meningitis (especially tuberculous) • Sarcoidosis • Sub arachnoid haemorrhage • Head injury • Idiopathic (normal pressure) Non-communicating (obstruction within ventricular system) • Tumours • Colloid cyst • Arnold-Chiari malformation • Aqueduct stenosis • Cerebellar abscess • Cerebellar or brain-stem haematoma Clinical features: This usually occurs as the congenital abnormality The infant is born with a very large head , and the survival rate of the child is very low Even if the child survives he is sustained with mental retardation and late milestone developnment Investigations: • Routine hematology investigations • CSF fluid examination • Lumbar puncture for fluid examination • CT scan of brain • MRI scan of brain Homoeopathic approach: Calcarea phosphorica: Indicated in children with a pale or sallow face; the ears and nose are cold, there is retarded dentition

Dysmenorrhea is painful menstruation and affects more than 50% of menstruating women and it is the leading cause of lost time from school and work among women of childbearing age Type of pain: Dysmenorrhea may involve sharp, intermittent pain or dull, aching pain

This disorder is most common in the legs Intermittent claudication is cramping limb pain brought on by exercise and relieved by 1 to 2 minutes of rest

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) of epithelium and commonly manifests as cervicitis, urethritis, proctitis, and conjunctivitis Microbiology Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a gram-negative, nonmotile, non-spore-forming organism

Dilated or congested blood vessels produce red skin, or erythema, the most common sign of skin inflammation or irritation Erythema may be localized or generalized and may occur suddenly or gradually

A scotoma is an area of partial or complete blindness within an otherwise normal or slightly impaired visual field Usually located within the central 30-degree area, the defect ranges from absolute blindness to a barely detectable loss of visual acuity

Hysterical disorders are characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling, and interpersonal behavior that are relatively inflexible and cause significant functional impairment or subjective distress for the individual The observed behaviors are not secondary to another mental disorder, nor are they precipitated by substance abuse or a general medical condition

The prostate is a small organ located at the base of the bladder and wrapped around the urethra, the tube that empties the bladder through the penis The prostate's purpose is to help with the male reproductive system

Cystitis Inflammation of urinary bladder AETIOLOGY: •Common in women due to short urethra •Hematogenous infection from kidneys •Lymphatic spread from infected cervix •Bowel infections like appendicular abscess ,diverticulitis •In men it is often secondary PREDISPOSING CAUSES: 1Presence of calculus, foreign body and neoplasm in the bladder 2

TENNIS ELBOW Inflammation resulting from strain of the common extensor tendon which arises from lateral epicondyle of the humerus is called tennis elbow This is also known as lateral epicondylitis People of all ages and races develop tennis elbow disease Middle aged atheletes and manual workers like carpenters and house painters are at more risk Children who play computer games for a long time may also develop this Initially a part of the tendon and the muscle covering have minor tears Generally first injury heals but chances of injury in this area are more Repeated injury may cause bleeding in this area and lead to rough granulated and calcium deposits within the surrounding area Pressure develops due to inflammation and this further irritates the radial nerve one of the major nerve controlling the muscles of arm and hand CAUSES: • Tennis players • Making aggressive twist with a screw driver or other implements • House painters and carpenters • Lifting heavy weights with your elbow locked and arm extended • Those who work a lot with the hands SYMPTOMS: 1