A Helicobacter pylori antigen test is used to determine if a patient is infected with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). H. pylori is a bacteria that grows in the digestive tract and attacks the stomach walls causing ulcers in the stomach and in the intestines. This bacteria causes peptic ulcers and gastritis. To avoid and/or cure the following diseases, early detection is a must. The Urea Breath Test is one of the many effective ways of antigen detection. The patient is to swallow a pill containing urea made from a carbon isotope. If H. pylori is present, it will breakdown urea into carbon dioxide that is absorbed by the stomach and eliminated upon exhalation. It is, then, collected and measured.
The patient is asked to fast for at least one hour before the test. Only water is allowed to be consumed by the patient. Avoids taking of antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors and bismuth preparations for two (2) weeks before the procedure. Do not test before four (4) weeks after H. pylori treatment. Before the testing, the patient is asked to take H2 antagonist (Tagamet, Zantac, Pepcid and Axid) or antacids (Tums, Rolaids and Maalox).
It helps in the early detection of the bacteria to avoid progression peptic ulcer or gastritis. It is the method of choice for patients who do not want to undergo invasive procedures for diagnosis. It is shortens the processing time. It also checks the patient’s treatment status, if it is successful or if the patient needs further therapy.
This procedure is done in the laboratory using UBT-KIT for H. pylori. Baseline breath sample is required before taking the capsule with urea. Patient swallows a urea labelled with an isotope. It can be a radioactive carbon-14 or non-radioactive carbon-13. For the next 10-30 minutes, isotope-labelled carbon dioxide is exhaled and detected. For carbon-14, scintillation is used for measurement. For carbon-13, it is detected by isotope ratio mass spectrometry or by mass correlation spectrometry. Results from the pretesting and post testing are compared.
| Type | Gender | Age-Group | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Helicobacter Pylori Antigen
|
Unisex
|
All age groups
|
detected in positive cases
|
Alopecia word meaning is loss of hair and areata meaans in patches.Hence Alopecia areata means loss of hair in patches.The bald patches occur very quickly, are round or oval in shape and have sharply defined margins.The affected scalp area either looks normal or has a glossy apperence.Alopecia areata(patchyhair loss) can occur anywhere on the skin but the scalp and beard area are the most common location.
Etiology:
Alopecia areata is considered to be an auto immune problem and that can be triggered by bacterial or viral infections,severe stress,trauma to the skin,vaccinations or exposure to any substance that caan become an antigen to the body.oftenly it is found that Alopecia areata is assoisiated with other Auto immune conditions such as vitiligo (Leucoderma),Thyroid problem,Rheumatoid Arthritis,Pernicious Anemia and Diabetes mellitus. About 40-50% of patient with Alopecia areata also have history of atopic diseases such as skin allergies,Asthma.Genetic and familial dispostion also seems to play a role in alopecia areata.
Complications:
If left untreated Alopecia Areata may progress further up to Alopecia totalis i.e complete loss of hair in scalp and alopecia universalis i.e complete loss of hair in the scalp, eyebrows, beard and all over the body.
Treatment:
Conventional treatment of Alopecia areata include the use of corticosteroids, application of minoxidil solution 5 %, etc., but none of them prevent the formation of new patches and actually curing the disease of its root cause. Homeopathic medicines selected after a full individualization, symptoms and case analysis which includes physical and mental symptoms and constitution as well give good and long-lasting results. Homeopathic medicines commonly found useful in these conditions are phosphorus, Fluoric Acid, lycopodium, Selenium, etc.
Along with medications some Lifestyle modifications such as practicing de stressing activity such as doing yoga and pranayam daily for 10-15 minutes, avoiding nonveg items esp red meat such as pork, mutton, beef, use of green tea for hair regrowth is also helpful. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a Homeopath.
What is typhoid fever?
Typhoid fever or enteric fever is a digestive tract infection in which there is fever, headache, and abdominal pain or discomfort. It is very common in developing countries like india.
What are the causes and risk factors?
Typhoid fever is caused by a bacterium called salmonella typhi which is transmitted through contaminated water or food (feco-oral or urine-oral route).
Risk factors include:
How will you know if you have typhoid fever?
Signs and symptoms develop gradually over the period of 10-14 days after exposure to the bacteria.
Signs and symptoms include an irregular fever that can go up to 104.9 ˚f (40.5 ˚c), headache, pain in abdomen, tiredness, muscle pain, loss of appetite, nausea, constipation or diarrhoea, skin rash.
How is typhoid fever diagnosed?
Your doctor will do a physical examination and carry out some tests.
Physical findings in early stages include abdominal tenderness, enlarged spleen and liver, enlarged lymph nodes, and development of a rash (also known as rose spots because of their appearance).
Investigations include:
What is the treatment for typhoid fever?
What are the complications of typhoid fever?
If not treated and sometimes even after treatment, there can be serious complications due to typhoid like pneumonia, meningitis (inflammation of meninges of brain), infection in bones (osteomyelitis), intestinal perforation and intestinal haemorrhage.
A doctor needs to be consulted if a person starts developing the symptoms few days after travelling to a place where typhoid is prevalent.
How can typhoid fever be prevented?
Hot and spicy foods can numb your senses, quite literally! In every nook and corner, you will find people salivating over hot and spicy foods. For long, people were of the belief that such foods only harm your system, inviting unwanted health complications and disorders. Most parents try their best to keep their children away from such foods. But every cloud has a silver lining. Hot and spicy foods are not only about the cons.
Unfortunately, not many people are aware of the health benefits of hot and spicy foods. This article is an attempt to aware the readers of both the pros and cons of hot and spicy foods.
Health benefits associated with hot and spicy foods:
Hot and spicy foods, when consumed in moderation can work wonders for your system. Chillies, peppers, spices, the main ingredients which spice up a dish have many health benefits.
An excess of anything is bad. With merits come the demerits.
Cancer is one of the most fatal diseases in the world. Stomach cancer is also known as 'Gastric cancer'. Like other diseases, it is crucial that it gets identified in the early stages and gets treated before it reaches the incurable stage. Like other forms of cancer, the exact cause of stomach cancer is still not yet known. However, certain things make stomach cancer more likely to happen.
The possible causes of stomach cancer are given below:
Some of these causes apply to nearly all forms of cancer. However, some of them only apply to stomach cancer.
Some of the symptoms of stomach cancer are:
Stomach cancer like all other forms of cancer has various stages and it is crucial that it is diagnosed in the early stages so that the progression of it is stymied. At first, the symptoms of stomach cancer include indigestion, loss of appetite, slight nausea, heartburn and the feeling of being bloated after a meal.
However, indigestion and heartburn, doesn't always mean that you have stomach cancer, but if these conditions persist, you should visit a doctor to rule out the possibility of stomach cancer.
The growth of the tumor in your stomach can lead to various serious symptoms too, such as:
If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a Gastroenterologist.
Cancer is one of the most fatal diseases in the world. Stomach cancer is also known as 'Gastric cancer'. Like other diseases, it is crucial that it gets identified in the early stages and gets treated before it reaches the incurable stage. Like other forms of cancer, the exact cause of stomach cancer is still not yet known. However, certain things make stomach cancer more likely to happen.
The possible causes of stomach cancer are given below:
Some of these causes apply to nearly all forms of cancer. However, some of them only apply to stomach cancer.
Some of the symptoms of stomach cancer are:
Stomach cancer like all other forms of cancer has various stages and it is crucial that it is diagnosed in the early stages so that the progression of it is stymied. At first, the symptoms of stomach cancer include indigestion, loss of appetite, slight nausea, heartburn and the feeling of being bloated after a meal.
However, indigestion and heartburn, doesn't always mean that you have stomach cancer, but if these conditions persist, you should visit a doctor to rule out the possibility of stomach cancer.
The growth of the tumor in your stomach can lead to various serious symptoms too, such as:
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