Nasalcrom (cromolyn sodium nasal) is a medication used to treat allergy symptoms. According to MedlinePlus, it is an anti-allergic medication that reduces sneezing, nasal congestion and a runny nose. Specifically, it prevents the body from...
Intal (cromolyn sodium inhalation) is a medication used to prevent asthma flare-ups and bronchospasms, which are characterized by trouble breathing and wheezing. According to Drugs.com, it is an anti-inflammatory medication that prevents your...
Most of us envision a child with a kerchief wrapped under his chin and tied above his head when we think of the mumps. This is because mumps is a viral infection that causes the parotid gland, a salivary gland just below and in front of the ear,...
Saliva is an important part of the digestive process for many different animals, including humans. Saliva helps moisten food and also starts the digestive process. Saliva is produced by the salivary glands. The Colorado State Pathophysiology...
Chlorhexidine is an antimicrobial medication used in dental care. Inserted in and around gum cavities, it treats periodontitis and gingivitis. The most common prescribed form of the medicine is an oral rinse. The liquid form of the medicine may...
Mumps is a childhood disease that is rarely seen in the twenty-first century. The vaccine for mumps was approved for use in the United States in 1967 and is routinely given as the "MMR" (measles, mumps and rubella) immunization at well-baby...
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a viral infection that causes progressive destruction of the body's disease-fighting white blood cells, eventually causing the onset of AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). Children who are born with HIV...
Nearly all HIV-infected children under the age of 13 in the United States contracted the virus during childbirth, according to the Children's Hospital in Boston. The symptoms of HIV and AIDS in children are highly dependent on the child's age....
Amitryptyline is a medication used to treat depression by balancing certain chemicals, called neurotransmitters, in your brain. It belongs to the class of drugs called tricylic antidepressants. Tell your doctor whether you suffer from medical...
Saliva plays an important role in your digestive system. It helps break down the food that you eat. Saliva is produced and secreted by three major salivary glands in your mouth. Salivary gland blockages prevent saliva from leaving your salivary...
Radioactive iodine ablation is a proven treatment for hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland), but is primarily used to treat papillary and follicular forms of thyroid cancer. Administered in capsule or liquid form, radioactive iodine...
The acid/base balance is expressed in terms of pH. An acidic environment has a pH of less than 7.4, whereas a basic or alkaline setting has a pH of greater than 7.4. Molecules that give off hydrogen maintain an acidic pH. In contrast, alkaline...
The largest salivary glands, the parotids, are also the most common site for salivary gland tumors. The parotid glands produce saliva necessary for food digestion and to prevent tooth decay. Green tea, made from unfermented Camellia sinensis tea...
Cancer can occur on the roof of the mouth, the floor of the mouth, the tongue, the lips, the tonsils or the throat. There are approximately 30,000 cases of mouth cancer in the United States each year, accounting for 2 percent of all cancer,...
The cranial nerves are 12 pairs of nerves that connect directly to the brain, unlike most other nerves which connect to the spinal cord. The nerves going out to the body may be voluntary, such as those controlling skeletal muscles, or they may be...
Chlorhexidine gluconate is an antimicrobial oral rinse that helps kill bacteria in the mouth. It is used to treat gingivitis, a condition characterized by redness and swelling of the gums, and bleeding from the gums after probing. Therapy can last...
Of the 12 cranial nerves that exit from the brain through openings in the skull, five serve functions having to do with the mouth. Some of these are sensory nerves, which allow the brain to detect sensation in and around the mouth. Some are motor...
Dry mouth, medically known as xerostomia, occurs when the salivary glands in your mouth don't secrete or produce enough saliva. It is a common condition, affecting 1 in 5 adults and predominantly women. Dry mouth happens to everyone occasionally,...
Mumps was once a common and contagious childhood illness. Thanks to the measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine -- introduced in 1967 -- the disease is now quite rare among American children and adults. According to the University of Maryland...
Although depression has genetic, social and environmental components, your risk of developing depression is 1.5 to three times higher if someone in your family has depression. Antidepressants, which include Wellbutrin, are the third most...
Children are susceptible to all kinds of infections. In fact, children can carry certain viruses in their oral (nose or mouth) mucosa and spread them to other children via sneezing or laughing. In some cases, the viruses can also contaminate...
Babies begin drooling at about 3 months of age, according to pediatrician Howard Bennett. Some babies drool a little bit; other babies seem to drool constantly. If you find yourself changing your baby's outfit several times a day or going through...
Many conditions can cause right jaw and ear pain. According to Family Doctor.org, a website produced by the American Academy of Family Physicians, ear pain is sometimes associated with jaw conditions. Because of their proximity, the ear and jaw...
Your digestive tract is long, continuous tube that chemically and mechanically digests food. Mechanical digestion describes a mashing or churning action; chemical digestion involves caustic substances that break food down into basic nutrients your...
Human parainfluenza virus is a common virus that causes a number of infections, inlcuding the common cold, in infants and children, as well as in those with compromised immune systems. The virus is transmitted from person to person by exposure to...
Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is an uncommon form of malignant cancer affecting the salivary glands. The generally slow-growing tumors, sometimes known as mucoepidermoids, frequently recur and may spread to other parts of the body. There are several...
Abnormally decreased saliva production causes dry mouth, also known as xerostomia. Dry mouth frequently leads to other symptoms and problems, including mouth sores, burning, decreased or altered taste, and an increased incidence of tooth decay....
The inside of your mouth is lined with three pairs of salivary glands -- the sublingual, submandibular and parotid glands. There are also hundreds of tiny ones tucked under the lining of your mouth, which makes it all the more baffling if you...
Iodine, a trace element that is essential for human health, is found in the oceans and soil. It is naturally present fish, shellfish, kelp and seaweed, and is added to table salt and vitamins for use as a supplement. While its primary health...
The mumps, or epidemic parotitis, typically presents as severe swelling of the salivary glands. Learn more about the mumps including treatment options in this medical video.
