Brucella IgM Antibody Tips

Normally, the body’s immune system recognizes any foreign body as an antigen and produces what are known as antibodies. However, in autoimmune disorders, the body produces antibodies against the body’s own tissue. This is an abnormality and depending on what factor is triggering the production of antibodies, there are various types of autoimmune disorders (AID). When we look at the musculoskeletal system, there are quite a few, the top 4 being:

1. Scleroderma
2. Systemic lupus erythematosus
3. Sjogren’s syndrome
4. Rheumatoid arthritis

In all these conditions, the body produces antibodies against its own tissue, producing these conditions.

Causes:

1. Family history is definitely an attribute to developing autoimmune diseases
2. Environmental pollution
3. Lifestyle including lack of exercise, smoking, excessive alcohol use

Know more about these:

1. Scleroderma: Can be localized or generalized, the upper layers of the skin get thicker (sclerosis). This can be nodular or diffuse, and can also affect children. The skin and muscles are usually affected, but in severe cases, it can affect internal organs such as lungs and heart.
2. Systemic lupus erythematosus: SLE, as it is often called, is very common and can be diagnosed as scleroderma in the initial stages. It can also occur with other autoimmune conditions and some of the types include cutaneous lupus, systemic lupus, drug-induced lupus, and neonatal lupus.
3. Rheumatoid arthritis: The most common autoimmune rheumatic disease is RA, which causes inflammation of the joint spaces. There would be pain, stiffness, and swelling of the joints. This needs to be segregated as RA, as the symptoms are similar to any other form of arthritis. Treatment includes a combination of pain killers, heat and cold therapy, massage, steroid injections, and immune controlling agents.
4. Sjogren’s syndrome: The symptoms are characteristic with dry mucous membranes including those of the eyes, mouth, and vagina. There could be accompanying pain and redness, significant fatigue, fibromyalgia, and complications relating to other organs.

Diagnosis: Autoimmune diseases are tricky to diagnose as other diseases with similar symptoms need to be ruled out first. In some cases, there are specific antibodies, and checking their levels can help identify the underlying condition.

Management: For all the rheumatic autoimmune diseases, treatment is a multipronged approach with lifestyle changes, drugs, and alternative therapies.
Lifestyle changes: A healthy diet, regular exercise, and adequate vitamin and mineral supplementation is a must.

Drugs: Some drugs used are:

1. Anti-inflammatory drugs
2. Steroids
3. ACE inhibitors
4. Immunomodulatory therapy
5. Stem cell transplants

Alternative therapies such as massages with herbal oils, acupuncture, and cold therapy are widely used to control inflammation. In addition, alcohol and smoking and exposure to environmental pollution need to be controlled.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Necessity is the mother of invention. Ironically, accidents to end up in discoveries. Sir Alexander Fleming accidentally discovered Penicillin in 1928. After many years of research and experiments, Penicillin eventually came into use during World War II. Though it’s believed to be a blessing, it has opened the doors for various allergic reactions and bacterial resistance over the period of time. About 10% of people report allergies to Penicillin, wherein more than 90% of these patients are found not to be allergic to Penicillin after skin testing.

Reactions to Penicillin:
Penicillin belongs to a family of antibiotics known as beta-lactams which also comprises of Penicillin G, Cloxacillin, Ampicillin, Amoxicillin, Piperacillin, and many more which are believed to be effective in eradicating common bacterial infections and relatively inexpensive.

The major problem in the use of Penicillin is hypersensitivity reactions. Your immune system can work wonders when encountered with any foreign body (antigen) by producing its antibody, which fights against the antigen. When your body is attacked by bacteria the lymphocytes (T-Cells) trigger the production of antibodies (immunoglobulin) to fight against the bacteria. However, in some people Penicillin administration can be considered as an invader and their immune system produces antibodies against it, thereby resulting in allergic reactions.

Acute and Sub - acute reactions:
You can observe two clinical pictures resulting from penicillin allergy:
Acute allergic reaction:

• Mediated by IgE(Immunoglobulin E) antibodies as a result of previous exposure.
• Arises immediately within minutes to an hour or two.
• Results in release of histamine and other mediators from mast cells.

Sub-Acute allergic reaction:

• Mediated by IgG (Immunoglobulin G) antibodies.
• Occurs 7 to 10 days after Penicillin treatment.
• Results in the activation of the complement reactions producing inflammation.

Risk factors for IgE mediated reaction:

• Frequent or repetitive courses of Penicillin.
• High dose parenteral (rather than oral) administration.
• A history of other allergies, such as food allergy or hay fever.
• Certain illness commonly associated with allergic drug reactions, such as infection with HIV or Epstein - Barr virus.

Watch out for:
While people are taking a Penicillin medication several different rashes can appear:

• Hives:
  • Suggest a true allergy.
  • Raised and intensely itchy spots.
  • Come and go over hours.
  • Occur with other allergic symptoms like wheezing or swelling of the skin or throat.
• Rashes:
  • Typically start after several days of treatment.
  • Flat, blotchy and non-itchy.
  • Spread over days but do not change by the hour.
  • Unlikely to be the result of a dangerous allergy.
• Anaphylaxis:
  • Very rare but life-threatening condition.
  • Causes the widespread dysfunction of the body systems.
• Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis include:
  • Itching of soft palate
  • Nausea, vomiting
  • Sub sternal pressure
  • Shortness of breath
  • Hypotension
  • Urticaria
  • Laryngeal edema
  • Bronchospasm
  • Cardiac arrhythmias
  • Diarrhea

Other conditions resulting from Penicillin allergy:

• Serum sickness
• Drug induced anemia
• Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms(DRESS)
• Inflammation of the kidneys (nephritis)

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

It is worth note that there are certain signs which show that you may get an illness. If these signs and symptoms are taken seriously then most probably you will be able to get rid of the illness a lot sooner.

Here are 5 indicators that you may acquire an illness sooner than you think.

1. Reduction in appetite

A reduction in appetite is never good. This is because a reduction in appetite is an indicator of many oncoming illnesses. These range from a simple cold all the way to a strep throat. Sometimes, a strep throat may also be the result of gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis is when a virus enters your stomach and causes diarrhea as well as vomiting. It is worth note that a reduction in appetite during summer can be normal. However, feeling nauseous or detesting food can mean that you are going to have one of the illnesses listed above. 

2. Swollen neck glands

The neck glands are just below the jawbones. When these glands swell, it is a sign that you may be falling ill. Common illnesses which may occur when you have swollen neck glands include ear infections, the common cold as well as skin infections. The reason why neck glands usually swell is that when there is an infection, the dead cells and bacteria accumulate in the neck glands.

3. Fatigue

Fatigue is not when you are tired after the day. It is characterized by being tired all the time or after very little work done. When you face fatigue, it is a sign you may be falling ill.

4. Muscle aches

Muscle aches are a common symptom of flu. This is because when you have flu, antibodies are released. When these antibodies produce histamines and cytokines, they may travel to muscles and trigger the pain receptors.

5. Fever

A fever is the body's way of fighting infections. When you have a fever, it usually means the body is increasing its temperature to kill invading bacteria. Therefore, this is another way of knowing you have infections.
 

It is worth noting that there are certain signs which show that you may get an illness anytime soon. If these signs and symptoms are taken seriously then most probably you will be able to get rid of the illness a lot sooner.

Here are the 5 indicators that you may acquire an illness sooner than you think:

1. Reduction in appetite:

A reduction in appetite is never good. This is because a reduction in appetite is an indicator of many oncoming illnesses. These range from a simple cold all the way to a strep throat. Sometimes, a strep throat may also be the result of gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis is when a virus enters your stomach and causes diarrhea as well as vomiting. It is worth noting that a reduction in appetite during summer can be normal. However, feeling nauseous or detesting food can mean that you are going to have one of the illnesses listed above. 

2. Swollen neck glands:

The neck glands are just below the jawbones. When these glands swell, it is a sign that you may be falling ill. Common illnesses which may occur when you have swollen neck glands include ear infections, common cold as well as skin infections. The reason why neck glands usually swell is because when there is an infection, the dead cells and bacteria accumulate in the neck glands.

3. Fatigue:

Fatigue is not when you are tired after the day. It is characterized by being tired all the time or after very little work done. When you face fatigue, it is a sign you may be falling ill.

4. Muscle aches:

Muscle aches are a common symptom of flu. This is because when you have flu, antibodies are released. When these antibodies produce histamines and cytokines, they may travel to muscles and trigger the pain receptors.

5. Fever:

A fever is the body's way of fighting infections. When you have a fever, it usually means the body is increasing its temperature to kill invading bacteria. Therefore, this is another way of knowing you have infections

It is worth noting that there are certain signs which show that you may get an illness. If these signs and symptoms are taken seriously then most probably you will be able to get rid of the illness a lot sooner.

Here are 5 indicators that you may acquire an illness sooner than you think:

1. Reduction in appetite

A reduction in appetite is never good. This is because a reduction in appetite is an indicator of many oncoming illnesses. These range from a simple cold all the way to a strep throat. Sometimes, a strep throat may also be the result of gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis is when a virus enters your stomach and causes diarrhea as well as vomiting. It is worth note that a reduction in appetite during summer can be normal. However, feeling nauseous or detesting food can mean that you are going to have one of the illnesses listed above. 

2. Swollen neck glands

The neck glands are just below the jawbones. When these glands swell, it is a sign that you may be falling ill. Common illnesses which may occur when you have swollen neck glands include ear infections, the common cold as well as skin infections. The reason why neck glands usually swell is that when there is an infection, the dead cells and bacteria accumulate in the neck glands.

3. Fatigue

Fatigue is not when you are tired after the day. It is characterized by being tired all the time or after very little work done. When you face fatigue, it is a sign you may be falling ill.

4. Muscle aches

Muscle aches are a common symptom of flu. This is because when you have flu, antibodies are released. When these antibodies produce histamines and cytokines, they may travel to muscles and trigger the pain receptors.

5. Fever

A fever is the body's way of fighting infections. When you have a fever, it usually means the body is increasing its temperature to kill invading bacteria. Therefore, this is another way of knowing you have infections.
 

In case you have a concern or query, you can always consult the best general physicians online & get answers to your question via online doctor consultation.

 

It is worth note that there are certain signs which show that you may get an illness. If these signs and symptoms are taken seriously then most probably you will be able to get rid of the illness a lot sooner. Here are 5 indicators that you may acquire an illness sooner than you think.

1. Reduction in appetite
A reduction in appetite is never good. This is because a reduction in appetite is an indicator of many oncoming illnesses. These range from a simple cold all the way to a strep throat. Sometimes, a strep throat may also be the result of gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis is when a virus enters your stomach and causes diarrhea as well as vomiting. It is worth note that a reduction in appetite during summer can be normal. However, feeling nauseous or detesting food can mean that you are going to have one of the illnesses listed above. 

2. Swollen neck glands
The neck glands are just below the jawbones. When these glands swell, it is a sign that you may be falling ill. Common illnesses which may occur when you have swollen neck glands include ear infections, the common cold as well as skin infections. The reason why neck glands usually swell is that when there is an infection, the dead cells and bacteria accumulate in the neck glands.

3. Fatigue
Fatigue is not when you are tired after the day. It is characterized by being tired all the time or after very little work done. When you face fatigue, it is a sign you may be falling ill.

4. Muscle aches
Muscle aches are a common symptom of flu. This is because when you have flu, antibodies are released. When these antibodies produce histamines and cytokines, they may travel to muscles and trigger the pain receptors.

5. Fever
A fever is the body's way of fighting infections. When you have a fever, it usually means the body is increasing its temperature to kill invading bacteria. Therefore, this is another way of knowing you have infections.
 

It is worth note that there are certain signs which show that you may get an illness. If these signs and symptoms are taken seriously then most probably you will be able to get rid of the illness a lot sooner.

Here are 5 indicators that you may acquire an illness sooner than you think.

1. Reduction in appetite

A reduction in appetite is never good. This is because a reduction in appetite is an indicator of many oncoming illnesses. These range from a simple cold all the way to a strep throat. Sometimes, a strep throat may also be the result of gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis is when a virus enters your stomach and causes diarrhea as well as vomiting. It is worth note that a reduction in appetite during summer can be normal. However, feeling nauseous or detesting food can mean that you are going to have one of the illnesses listed above. 

2. Swollen neck glands

The neck glands are just below the jawbones. When these glands swell, it is a sign that you may be falling ill. Common illnesses which may occur when you have swollen neck glands include ear infections, the common cold as well as skin infections. The reason why neck glands usually swell is because when there is an infection, the dead cells and bacteria accumulate in the neck glands.

3. Fatigue

Fatigue is not when you are tired after the day. It is characterized by being tired all the time or after very little work done. When you face fatigue, it is a sign you may be falling ill.

4. Muscle aches

Muscle aches are a common symptom of flu. This is because when you have flu, antibodies are released. When these antibodies produce histamines and cytokines, they may travel to muscles and trigger the pain receptors.

5. Fever

A fever is the body's way of fighting infections. When you have a fever, it usually means the body is increasing its temperature to kill invading bacteria. Therefore, this is another way of knowing you have infections.
 

It is worth note that there are certain signs which show that you may get an illness. If these signs and symptoms are taken seriously then most probably you will be able to get rid of the illness a lot sooner.

Here are 5 indicators that you may acquire an illness sooner than you think:

1. Reduction in appetite: A reduction in appetite is never good. This is because a reduction in appetite is an indicator of many oncoming illnesses. These range from a simple cold to all the way to a strep throat. Sometimes, a strep throat may also be the result of gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis is when a virus enters your stomach and causes diarrhea as well as vomiting. It is worth note that a reduction in appetite during summer can be normal. However, feeling nauseous or detesting food can mean that you are going to have one of the illnesses listed above. 

2. Swollen neck glands: The neck glands are just below the jawbones. When these glands swell, it is a sign that you may be falling ill. Common illnesses which may occur when you have swollen neck glands include ear infections, the common cold as well as skin infections. The reason why neck glands usually swell is because when there is an infection, the dead cells and bacteria accumulate in the neck glands.

3. Fatigue: Fatigue is not when you are tired after the day. It is characterized by being tired all the time or after very little work done. When you face fatigue, it is a sign you may be falling ill.

4. Muscle aches: Muscle aches are a common symptom of flu. This is because when you have flu, antibodies are released. When these antibodies produce histamines and cytokines, they may travel to muscles and trigger the pain receptors.

5. Fever: A fever is the body's way of fighting infections. When you have a fever, it usually means the body is increasing its temperature to kill invading bacteria. Therefore, this is another way of knowing you have infections.

There are a variety of reasons why a person can fall sick. A good number of these illnesses cannot be prevented though a person may take general precautions. Having said that, in the case of influenza, it can be prevented to a large extent and it does not seem all that smart to avoid taking easy precautions when one has an option, right?

Every year, thousands of people die from influenza, which is so unfortunate because an annual shot can reduce that number by almost 60 percent. So what exactly makes a flu shot or vaccine work? As a result of the vaccine, after about two weeks or so, antibodies begin to develop in the body. These antibodies help fight off infection, specifically the kind that is targeted by the vaccine. It is important to get vaccinated for this flu on an annual basis.

Choosing the right flu shot
Considering the great number of options there are when it comes to flu vaccines, which are the ones to be injected? It is a good idea to get the opinion of a doctor to see which one to choose. This is because the choice is dependent on a variety of factors, which a medical professional would be able to assess appropriately. Note that it is important not to use the nasal spray version of the vaccine as the medical authorities have recently found that it is not as effective a method as it once was.

When should you get it?
Flu season does vary across the world, but in the US, it starts in about October and goes on till May. During this time, the flu viruses are a lot more active. When one gets a flu shot, it is this period that one needs to look out for. So, it is better to get vaccinated in late September or the start of October, so that there is minimal unprotected exposure to the viruses.

Who is it for?
It is to be kept in mind that every individual who is older than six months should be vaccinated. While it is said that getting a vaccine shot year after year reduces its effectiveness, it is still important to do so. This is because each year, the shot is altered to reflect the biggest virus threats in that year. There might be few side effects of the flu vaccine such as redness in the injected area, soreness or swelling. However, as long as one gets a flu shot in time, it is almost a given that there will be almost no time spent ‘down with the flu’.

It is important to note that there are certain signs, which show that you may get an illness. If these signs and symptoms are taken seriously then most probably you will be able to get rid of the illness a lot sooner.

Here are 5 indicators that you may acquire an illness sooner than you think:

1. Fatigue: Fatigue is not when you are tired after the day. It is characterized by being tired all the time or after very little work done. When you face fatigue, it is a sign you may be falling ill.
2. Reduction in appetite: A reduction in appetite is never good. This is because a reduction in appetite is an indicator of many oncoming illnesses. These range from a simple cold all the way to a strep throat. Sometimes, a strep throat may also be the result of gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis is when a virus enters your stomach and causes diarrhea as well as vomiting. A reduction in appetite during summer can be normal. However, feeling nauseous or detesting food can mean that you are going to have one of the illnesses listed above. 
3. Muscle aches: Muscle aches are a common symptom of flu. This is because when you have flu, antibodies are released. When these antibodies produce histamines and cytokines, they may travel to muscles and trigger the painreceptors.
4. Fever: A fever is the body's way of fighting infections. When you have a fever, it usually means the body is increasing its temperature to kill invading bacteria. Therefore, this is another way of knowing you have infections.
5. Swollen neck glands: The neck glands are just below the jawbones. When these glands swell, it is a sign that you may be falling ill. Common illnesses, which may occur when you have swollen neck glands include ear infections, common cold as well as skin infections. The reason why neck glands usually swell is that when there is an infection, the dead cells and bacteria accumulate in the neck glands.