Posts Tagged ‘cancer’

Can genital Herpes Kill You?

Thursday, November 27th, 2008

What’s The Big Deal?

Genital herpes is not life threatening in and of itself. But having herpes sores makes it easier for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, to enter your body. Not only is there an increased risk for getting HIV if you have genital herpes, but having the two diseases together may also make each one worse.

A pregnant woman can pass genital herpes on to her baby, so it’s particularly serious during pregnancy. If you get infected near the end of pregnancy, the risk is highest. At least 30% and as many as 50% of newly infected pregnant women give the virus to their babies. For moms who were infected long before delivery, the risk is much lower. Less than 1% of babies born to mothers with an older genital herpes infection get the virus. And if a woman has an outbreak at delivery, a cesarean delivery is usually done.

You may have heard that genital herpes causes cervical cancer. That’s not exactly true. It may be a factor, but it’s not the main cause.

Genital herpes is a lifelong condition for which there is no cure. Having it can force you to make inconvenient changes in your life, particularly in your sex life, and it can cause you a lot of pain and discomfort. You simply would rather not have it.

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Disclaimer: This drug information is for your information purposes only, it is not intended that this information covers all uses, directions, drug interactions, precautions, or adverse effects of your medication. This is only general information, and should not be relied on for any purpose. It should not be construed as containing specific instructions for any particular patient. We disclaim all responsibility for the accuracy and reliability of this information, and/or any consequences arising from the use of this information, including damage or adverse consequences to persons or property, however such damages or consequences arise. No warranty, either expressed or implied, is made in regards to this information.

Genital Herpes Virus Infects 28% of Women by Age 49

Saturday, October 4th, 2008

Genital herpes may infect 28 percent of women by age 49, according to the World Health Organization’s first global estimate of the prevalence of the incurable disease.

Women are more likely than men to have been infected with the main type of herpes simplex virus that causes the sexually transmitted infection, according to a report in the October edition of the WHO’s monthly bulletin. In some areas of sub- Saharan Africa, prevalence among women is as high as 70 percent.

The report is the first to estimate the global burden of the ulcer-causing disease, which increases the risk of HIV, can kill the babies of newly infected mothers, and causes distress and anxiety among sufferers. The reasons for the higher prevalence among women are unclear, and may suggest they are more susceptible to infection, authors Katharine Looker, Geoffrey Garnett and George Schmid wrote.

“Before HIV came along, genital herpes was everybody’s biggest fear,” Schmid, a medical officer with the WHO’s HIV/AIDS department in Geneva, said in a telephone interview today. “But it still is a disease with significant emotional and physical consequences.”

About 536 million people, or 16 percent of those aged 15 to 49 years, were living with HSV-2 in 2003, the report by WHO and researchers at London’s Imperial College said.

The estimate is based on a review of international blood-test data reported in at least 318 studies conducted since 1966. The authors estimate 12.8 million women and 10.8 million men aged 15 to 49 years were infected worldwide with the virus in 2003.

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Disclaimer: This drug information is for your information purposes only, it is not intended that this information covers all uses, directions, drug interactions, precautions, or adverse effects of your medication. This is only general information, and should not be relied on for any purpose. It should not be construed as containing specific instructions for any particular patient. We disclaim all responsibility for the accuracy and reliability of this information, and/or any consequences arising from the use of this information, including damage or adverse consequences to persons or property, however such damages or consequences arise. No warranty, either expressed or implied, is made in regards to this information.

How Can Pregnant Women Protect Themselves Against Infection?

Thursday, October 2nd, 2008

The surest way to avoid transmission of sexually transmitted diseases is to abstain from sexual contact, or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and is known to be uninfected.

Latex condoms, when used consistently and correctly, are highly effective in preventing transmission of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Latex condoms, when used consistently and correctly, can reduce the risk of transmission of gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis. Genital ulcer diseases and human papillomavirus (HPV) infections can occur in both male and female genital areas that are covered or protected by a latex condom, as well as in areas that are not covered. Correct and consistent use of latex condoms can reduce the risk of genital herpes, syphilis, and chancroid only when the infected area or site of potential exposure is protected. While the effect of condoms in preventing human papillomavirus infection is unknown, condom use has been associated with a lower rate of cervical cancer, an HPV-associated disease.

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Disclaimer: This drug information is for your information purposes only, it is not intended that this information covers all uses, directions, drug interactions, precautions, or adverse effects of your medication. This is only general information, and should not be relied on for any purpose. It should not be construed as containing specific instructions for any particular patient. We disclaim all responsibility for the accuracy and reliability of this information, and/or any consequences arising from the use of this information, including damage or adverse consequences to persons or property, however such damages or consequences arise. No warranty, either expressed or implied, is made in regards to this information.

Should I Be Checked For STIs?

Sunday, September 21st, 2008

See your doctor if you’re at risk for having an STI or if you have any concerns about whether you have one. Most STIs can cause further problems if not treated.

Chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women (a disease that can cause women not to be able to have children) and epididymitis in men (painful swelling of the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles).

Gonorrhea can lead to arthritis and PID. HPV (the virus that cause venereal warts) can lead to cancer of the cervix or penis, and syphilis can lead to paralysis, mental problems, heart damage, blindness and death.

Most STIs can be diagnosed through an exam by your doctor, a culture of the secretions from your vagina or penis, a blood test or a urine test, depending on the type of infection.

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Disclaimer: This drug information is for your information purposes only, it is not intended that this information covers all uses, directions, drug interactions, precautions, or adverse effects of your medication. This is only general information, and should not be relied on for any purpose. It should not be construed as containing specific instructions for any particular patient. We disclaim all responsibility for the accuracy and reliability of this information, and/or any consequences arising from the use of this information, including damage or adverse consequences to persons or property, however such damages or consequences arise. No warranty, either expressed or implied, is made in regards to this information.

Herpes Zoster

Thursday, August 28th, 2008

What is Herpes Zoster?

Herpes Zoster, also called herpes zoster or zoster, is a painful skin rash caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV). VZV is the same virus that causes chickenpox. After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus stays in the body. Usually the virus does not cause any problems; however, the virus can reappear years later, causing Herpes Zoster. Herpes zoster is not caused by the same virus that causes genital herpes, a sexually transmitted disease.

What does Herpes Zoster look like?

Herpes Zoster usually starts as a rash on one side of the face or body. The rash starts as blisters that scab after 3 to 5 days. The rash usually clears within 2 to 4 weeks.

Before the rash develops, there is often pain, itching, or tingling in the area where the rash will develop. Other symptoms of Herpes Zoster can include fever, headache, chills, and upset stomach.

Are there any long-term effects from Herpes Zoster?

Very rarely, Herpes Zoster can lead to pneumonia, hearing problems, blindness, brain inflammation (encephalitis) or death. For about 1 person in 5, severe pain can continue even after the rash clears up. This pain is called post-herpetic neuralgia. As people get older, they are more likely to develop post-herpetic neuralgia, and it is more likely to be severe.

How common is Herpes Zoster in the United States?

In the United States, there are an estimated 1 million cases of Herpes Zoster each year.

Who gets Herpes Zoster?

Anyone who has recovered from chickenpox may develop Herpes Zoster, including children. However, Herpes Zoster most commonly occurs in people 50 years old and older. The risk of getting Herpes Zoster increases as a person gets older. People who have medical conditions that keep the immune system from working properly, like cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or people who receive immunosuppressive drugs, such as steroids and drugs given after organ transplantation are also at greater risk to get Herpes Zoster.

How often can a person get Herpes Zoster?

Most commonly, a person has only one episode of Herpes Zoster in his/her lifetime. Although rare, a second or even third case of Herpes Zoster can occur.

Can Herpes Zoster be spread to others?

Herpes Zoster cannot be passed from one person to another. However, the virus that causes Herpes Zoster, VZV, can be spread from a person with active Herpes Zoster to a person who has never had chickenpox through direct contact with the rash. The person exposed would develop chickenpox, not Herpes Zoster. The virus is not spread through sneezing, coughing or casual contact. A person with Herpes Zoster can spread the disease when the rash is in the blister-phase. Once the rash has developed crusts, the person is no longer contagious. A person is not infectious before blisters appear or with post-herpetic neuralgia (pain after the rash is gone).

What can be done to prevent the spread of Herpes Zoster?

The risk of spreading Herpes Zoster is low if the rash is covered. People with Herpes Zoster should keep the rash covered, not touch or scratch the rash, and wash their hands often to prevent the spread of VZV. Once the rash has developed crusts, the person is no longer contagious.

Is there a treatment for Herpes Zoster?

Several medicines, acyclovir (Zovirax), valacyclovir (Valtrex), and famciclovir (Famvir), are available to treat Herpes Zoster. These medications should be started as soon as possible after the rash appears and will help shorten how long the illness lasts and how severe the illness is. Pain medicine may also help with pain caused by Herpes Zoster. Call your doctor as soon as possible to discuss treatment options.

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Disclaimer: This drug information is for your information purposes only, it is not intended that this information covers all uses, directions, drug interactions, precautions, or adverse effects of your medication. This is only general information, and should not be relied on for any purpose. It should not be construed as containing specific instructions for any particular patient. We disclaim all responsibility for the accuracy and reliability of this information, and/or any consequences arising from the use of this information, including damage or adverse consequences to persons or property, however such damages or consequences arise. No warranty, either expressed or implied, is made in regards to this information.

Treating Common Skin Conditions such as Cold Sores

Saturday, August 23rd, 2008

An outcome of a viral infection, cold sores can manifest themselves on the skin and the nervous system and they are also called fever blisters. This highly infectious skin condition is caused by herpes virus which can lie latent in the body till it is pushed by something to get active. Sometimes people confuse these with impetigo which grows between the nose and the upper lip. The color of the impetigo fluid is like honey and it looks cloudy. Non-transmittable canker sores are actually ulcers which occur in the soft tissues of the mouth where sores do not develop.

As prophylactic step for the management of cold sore, always wash your hands well. Acyclovir (Zovirax) is a drug effective in reducing the duration of stay of this skin condition. However, treatment may include topical creams or ointments or sometimes antiviral medicines (such as acyclovir or famciclovir). If you have to manage accompanying pain, take paracetamol or take the help of witch hazel and apply on the sores. This local application medicine is a good anesthetic too. It is important to have a hearty yet balanced diet which is in no way deficit in vitamins A, C, E, zinc and iron, as this helps in boosting your immune system and combating this skin condition. You also need to do away with overtly salty, spicy or acidic foods and drinks which could harm the sores.

To prevent this skin condition, make your diet plan without salty or spicy foods. Some of the foods where you need to have only limited quantities include chocolates, peanuts, grains, peas, seeds, oatmeal and whole-wheat rich in arginine. Do completely without tea and coffee and make your diet vitamin-rich.

Rubbing ice on the infected skin for few minutes, repeated this every hour, is a very good home remedy for this skin condition. Alternatively you can apply a tea bag for few minutes on the blisters, repeating this every hour. Press a warm tea bag directly on the blisters for about half an hour.

Applying witch hazel on this skin condition has a miraculous relief effect. Take cover from sun-related cold sores by using sunscreen on the lips and arrest its recurrence.

When you mix 100ml of coconut oil, 2ml of disinfectant, and 3ml of carbolic acid you could expect fantastic results. Put this on the cold sores twice a day. Some even recommend this for other skin conditions, for example treating boils and mosquito bites.

A tried and tested home remedy for cold sores is having tea tree oil as a drink with herbal sage and violet. These ingredients are mixed together with a couple sage leaves and ginger powder, and put in with a cup of boiling water. If you want this skin condition to simply go away in a short span of couple of days, drink this at least 2 to 3 times a day.

When everything fails for you, 3 acidophilus pills twice a day in the morning and evening could work wonders and dry and clear up. Taking 2 pills a day would be the best option for those who suffer from this skin condition more than often. This is not a complete list of home cold sore remedies by any means but those that most commonly provide relief.

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Disclaimer: This drug information is for your information purposes only, it is not intended that this information covers all uses, directions, drug interactions, precautions, or adverse effects of your medication. This is only general information, and should not be relied on for any purpose. It should not be construed as containing specific instructions for any particular patient. We disclaim all responsibility for the accuracy and reliability of this information, and/or any consequences arising from the use of this information, including damage or adverse consequences to persons or property, however such damages or consequences arise. No warranty, either expressed or implied, is made in regards to this information.

Man Sexual Health

Thursday, August 14th, 2008

There are a lot of researches showing that not clearing out too many times the prostate can lead to the nasty prostate cancer. But if you do not enjoy having sex, in this case broccoli and cauliflower could help. An American team has found that the regular consumption of these vegetables decreases the risk of deadly prostate cancer. Besides impairing the life of the patients (who the heck likes going to pee from 5 to 5 minutes!?), surgery is even more tricky: it can leave the individual impotent.

Hayley Matic conducted the study for her Doctor of Psychology (Health) with Deakin’s School of Psychology under the supervision of Professor Marita McCabe. She found that while oral medications, known as PDE5 inhibitors, may restore a man’s ’sexual function’ they don’t necessarily restore a man’s ’sexual health’.

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Disclaimer: This drug information is for your information purposes only, it is not intended that this information covers all uses, directions, drug interactions, precautions, or adverse effects of your medication. This is only general information, and should not be relied on for any purpose. It should not be construed as containing specific instructions for any particular patient. We disclaim all responsibility for the accuracy and reliability of this information, and/or any consequences arising from the use of this information, including damage or adverse consequences to persons or property, however such damages or consequences arise. No warranty, either expressed or implied, is made in regards to this information.

How to Have Better Women’s Sexual Health

Saturday, August 2nd, 2008

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines women’s sexual health as “the state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being related to sexuality; it is not merely the abscence of disease, dysfunction and infirmity. Sexual health requires a positive, respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence. For sexual health to be attained and maintained, the sexual rights of all persons must be respected, protected and fulfilled.”

Women’s sexual health concerns change with age. Menopause and the months or years leading up to it (perimenopause) can bring a time of new sexual exploration. But it also means changes to your body that can bring new challenges to your sex life. All women experience menopause differently and react differently to its effects.

Few women experience orgasm from vaginal penetration alone. Rubbing or other less direct stimulation of the clitoris, is usually the easiest way for a woman to have an orgasm. Sometimes a woman may find her clitoris is very sensitive and direct stimulation is uncomfortable. If a woman rarely or never experiences orgasm, she may wish to explore her own responses through masturbation.

Female Sexual Dysfunction can involve any one of these categories individually or in combination. Male Sexual Dysfunction affects 31% of men and has relatively few causes. Female Sexual Dysfunction on the other hand affects 43% of premenopausal women, as many as 88% of menopausal women not on hormone replacement and has many causes.

Menopause (MEN-oh-paws), also called change of life, can affect your blood glucose. As your hormone levels change, you may also have hot flashes or other signs. Talk with your health care team about whether hormone replacement therapy (hormone pills or patches) is right for you. You also may need a change in your diabetes medicines because changes in hormone levels can affect blood glucose. Some women find that they gain weight during menopause. Changing your meal plan or exercise routine can help you keep your weight where you want it.

Women’s Sexual Health - Medication and supplements

The good thing about the pill is that it was always ready to evolve into something better. Today’s pills are much more improved than what it was with lower doses of hormones. Such improvement paved way to lessening the reputed risk of side effects. However, for the record, there are two sides about the pill that you should consider well before making a decision. There are both benefits and risks that are relative to where your priorities lie.

The benefits of the pill include a generally improved menstrual cycle with a more establish pattern of lighter periods, as well as lesser menstrual cramps. The pill has also been studied to lower the risk for ovarian and endometrial cancer as well as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

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Disclaimer: This drug information is for your information purposes only, it is not intended that this information covers all uses, directions, drug interactions, precautions, or adverse effects of your medication. This is only general information, and should not be relied on for any purpose. It should not be construed as containing specific instructions for any particular patient. We disclaim all responsibility for the accuracy and reliability of this information, and/or any consequences arising from the use of this information, including damage or adverse consequences to persons or property, however such damages or consequences arise. No warranty, either expressed or implied, is made in regards to this information.

The Transmissibility Factor

Sunday, July 6th, 2008

The burden of a microorganism in the body is not necessarily related to the likelihood of transmission of that organism (with the exception of helminths). 90% of you answered this question correctly, so clearly you got it. But there were a few of you who aptly wondered… What about viruses like HIV? HIV viral load is related to infectiousness. Wouldn’t the load of other viruses be related to infectiousness as well?

Intuitively, it makes sense - someone who is infected with more microorganisms would be more likely to transmit that infection to others. But practically it is usually not true. Let’s look at viruses.

* First of all, the amount of virus infecting an individual does not necessarily correspond to amount of viral shedding.

* Secondly, while we can often detect the level of virus shedding, we do not necessarily know if there is a difference between virus that is shed, and virus that is shed that is transmissible.

* Finally, if there is a difference in shed virus that is transmissible, we don’t necessarily know how to differentiate it from non-transmissible virus.

This week’s disease of the week, Herpes simplex virus, is an illustration of this line of thinking. HSV-2 is one of the most common causes of genital ulcer disease worldwide, and most infections are asymptomatic. It is known that detectable viral shedding is related to transmission, but it is not clear whether viral shedding is related to viral load. To top it off, there is a lack of evidence that virus detected when measuring viral shedding is the same virus that is transmissible.

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Disclaimer: This drug information is for your information purposes only, it is not intended that this information covers all uses, directions, drug interactions, precautions, or adverse effects of your medication. This is only general information, and should not be relied on for any purpose. It should not be construed as containing specific instructions for any particular patient. We disclaim all responsibility for the accuracy and reliability of this information, and/or any consequences arising from the use of this information, including damage or adverse consequences to persons or property, however such damages or consequences arise. No warranty, either expressed or implied, is made in regards to this information.

Research Links Herpes Virus and Brain Tumors

Tuesday, June 17th, 2008

If Ted Kennedy’s cancerous lesion is a glioblastoma multiforme, the most common kind of brain tumor, it may have been caused by a virus from the herpes family.

Last year, Duane Mitchell and his colleagues at Duke University learned that cytomegalovirus is present at elevated levels in more than 90 percent of glioblstoma multiforme tumors. Armed with that knowledge, they are testing a vaccine that fights the common virus as a brain-cancer remedy.

Their patients also receive standard cancer treatments a staple in the treatment of some gliomas, that may also enhance the effects of the vaccine.

Mitchell is testing daclizumab, an antibody that can suppress the immune system, in combination with the vaccine. When the natural defenses bounce back after being knocked down by the drug, they may more vigorously attack the cancer-causing virus.

Brain tumors are not the only type of cancer that can be caused by a virus. Most cases of cervical cancer can be prevented by taking the vaccine Gardasil, which wards off human papillomavirus.

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Disclaimer: This drug information is for your information purposes only, it is not intended that this information covers all uses, directions, drug interactions, precautions, or adverse effects of your medication. This is only general information, and should not be relied on for any purpose. It should not be construed as containing specific instructions for any particular patient. We disclaim all responsibility for the accuracy and reliability of this information, and/or any consequences arising from the use of this information, including damage or adverse consequences to persons or property, however such damages or consequences arise. No warranty, either expressed or implied, is made in regards to this information.