Valium (diazepam) is a medication used for the management of anxiety disorders, alcohol withdrawal symptoms, seizures, or for the short-term relief of anxiety. You should not take Valium if you are pregnant, if you have an eye disorder known as...
Delsym, or liquid dextromethorphan polistirex, is a cough suppressant used for colds or flu. It should not be used in conditions where cough is chronic or when there is excessive mucus present such with emphysema and asthma. It works by reducing...
Going to regular physical therapy sessions can be an effective management tool for some people with acute cerebellar ataxia. This nervous-system disorder, which produces coordination difficulties and abnormal muscle movements, does not have a...
Establishing your child's level of development can prove useful in determining the most effective way of encouraging his progress. Each child is an individual and must be measured, in part, according to his own disposition and personal...
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) defines MS, or multiple sclerosis, as an autoimmune disorder caused by damage to the myelin shealth. Myelin is the protective covering on the neuron, which also helps with electrical signals being sent in...
Giardiasis is an infection caused by the presence of one-celled protozoal organisms in the small intestine. These parasites cause diarrhea, cramping, nausea, weight loss and dehydration. They can form cysts, which are expelled in feces. Exposure...
Phenobarbital is a prescription medication that is classified as a barbiturate. According to RxList.com, Phenobarbital is used as an anticonvulsant treatment for seizures and it is also used for short-term treatment for insomnia because of its...
Behcet's disease is a rare autoimmune disorder. Autoimmune illnesses are conditions in which the body attacks its own tissues. Behcet's disease is a chronic inflammatory condition categorized as a vasculitis, in which blood vessels around the...
Epilepsy is a medical condition caused by nerves in the brain firing rapidly in a disorganized fashion. According to the Epilepsy Foundation, it occurs in an estimated 3 million Americans and may be characterized by physical convulsions and loss...
Histamine is a chemical that is released by the body as a reaction to an allergic substance. Antihistamines block the effects of this chemical on the respiratory system, helping to prevent or relieve the symptoms of allergies. Although quite...
Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a debilitating autoimmune disease caused by the deterioration of protective nerve coverings, known as the myelin sheath. Without a protective covering, nerve impulses to the brain slow down or stop. Episodes of an MS...
Neuropathy is an umbrella term for diseases of the peripheral nerves, which are those that exist outside your brain and spinal cord. Symptoms including pain, weakness, abnormal skin sensations and even erectile dysfunction vary depending on the...
Encephalitis, in general, is an inflammation of the brain. Viral encephalitis refers to brain inflammation resulting from a viral infection. Viral encephalitis is rare, but when it does occur it can be serious and life-threatening. In its primary...
Alcohol affects many different organ systems. According to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," more than one or two drinks a day have a toxic effect. Some effects appear after only a few drinks, others after years of heavy drinking....
Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a disease in which the body's immune system attacks the protective covering of the nerves. When this covering is destroyed, communication between the brain and other parts of the body are disturbed. Symptoms of MS can...
According to the American Council for Drug Education, alcoholism is the habitual abuse and addiction to alcohol and alcoholic beverages. This chronic condition affects more than 10 million Americans, claiming the lives of 100,000 each year. An...
Anemia is a decrease in overall mass of circulating red blood cells from the normal limits. This coincides with a decrease in the amount of oxygen being transported to the tissues. Testing for anemia involves a complete blood count (CBC) and...
Cerebral palsy is a neurologic disorder that affects muscle movement and coordination and normally manifests during infancy or early childhood. Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to areas of the brain that control muscle movements. Brain damage...
Mercury is a naturally occurring substance that can be fatal when patients are exposed to or consume it in high concentrations. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, there are three types of mercury that can be dangerous: liquid...
Watch your child walk in order to spot symptoms of acute cerebellar ataxia. Look for a "drunken" walk with an unsteady gait. This nervous-system disorder produces uncoordinated muscle movements in the arms, legs and midsection area. Adults and...
If you've ever felt suddenly dizzy and it appeared that your surroundings were spinning or moving, you have experienced vertigo. Vertigo can be very disorienting and can cause symptoms like nausea, vomiting, loss of balance or unsteady gait....
Stroke, the third leading cause of death in America as reported by the National Stroke Association, occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted. A lack of blood and oxygen causes brain cells to die, which interferes with various abilities...
Chickenpox is a type of herpes virus also known as varicella zoster. It usually affects children but can also strike adults. Victims can develop hundreds of red, itchy, liquid-filled spots on the skin. These symptoms are often preceded by...
Chicken pox is an infectious disease which is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. This is the same virus that is responsible for causing shingles in adults. According to MayoClinic.com, It is highly infectious and can spread from direct contact...
Human survival depends on deriving vitamins and minerals from consuming foods. The National Institutes of Health lists 13 essential vitamins to maintain proper body function. When categorized, the vitamins break down into five basic groups--A, B,...
Motor, sensory and autonomic nerves connecting the spinal cord to the muscles, skin and internal organs are called peripheral nerves. Disturbance in the function of the nerves with this system is a condition termed as peripheral neuropathy....
Canes, crutches and walkers are assistive devices for patients who have an unsteady gait or weak muscles, and they reduce the burden on their physical frame, owing to age, disability or disease. The cane is the simplest of all the mobility...
Multiple sclerosis (MS) causes damage to the myelin--a fatty substance that protects nerves--in the central nervous system. This leads to the disabilities associated with MS that can include a few or many symptoms. The symptoms may come and go...
Shingles results when the varicella-zoster virus---the same virus that causes chicken pox---awakens within clusters of sensory nerve roots called "dorsal root ganglia." According to the American Academy of Dermatology, about 20 percent of people...
