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May 25, 2009

The Art of Avian Medicine

Filed under: Chlamydia — admin @ 5:35 am

The Art of Avian Medicine
By Paul Skellenger

In this article we discuss the tests that should be considered in a variety of different cases, or what we refer to as a sick bird decision tree.

  • First of all, is there any chance this could be a contagious infectious disease? In order for this to be the case, the bird must have been around other birds in the relatively recent past. If, for instance, the bird was just purchased from a pet store, it is very likely it came into contact with other birds before or during its stay at the store making infectious disease more likely.

  • Has the bird been exposed to an environmental toxin such as zinc or lead, or an inhaled toxin such as smoke or paint fumes?

  • What does the bird eat? Note that this is frequently not the same as what the bird is fed. Could the illness be diet related?

  • Could this be a reproductive problem?

  • Is there any evidence of organ disease such as heart, liver, kidney, or pancreas? Could there be a mass or tumor?

  • If the bird has been around other birds in the relatively recent past or is from a pet store, bird auction, breeder, or aviary within the last several months then testing for infectious diseases comes first. This includes a fecal float, fecal smear, fecal gram stain, choana gram stain, Chlamydia test, bacterial culture and sensitivity when indicated, testing for other specific infectious diseases when indicated, and a blood count or profile (a profile includes a complete blood count and a complete set of biochemical tests).

  • If the bird is being introduced into a home with other birds, an aviary, or a boarding facility, then testing for Polyomavirus and Psittacine Beak and Feather disease is also included. This is true for especially valuable or expensive birds also. Sexing can be submitted at the same time. Whenever infectious disease seems unlikely, the single most useful test in assessing the bird’s health is the profile; but a fecal float, fecal smear, fecal gram stain, choana gram stain, and Chlamydia test may be recommended. X-rays are extremely helpful in the investigation of any sick bird.

  • Birds showing symptoms such as twitching, dizziness, lethargy, seizures, falling, or even lameness may be suffering from heavy metal toxicity. Blood can be submitted to test for Zinc and Lead levels.

  • Chronically ill birds may have fungal cultures or titers run. In many cases, the use of Protein Electrophoresis is useful to characterize the nature of a chronic disease process. Whenever we notice a swelling or lump, aspiration and cytology is recommended to determine if there are tumor cells present.

  • Birds who are picking at themselves or who have lesions on the skin may need a skin scraping, impression cytology, or biopsy

  • If your bird has regurgitated or passed undigested food, X-rays including a GI contrast study should be performed to screen for Proventricular Dilatation Disease and other diseases that cause these symptoms.

  • Birds presenting with respiratory distress should be handled as little as possible. It is possible to take X-rays, to Transilluminate the trachea, and to examine the interior of the trachea to check for obstruction.

  • Sneezing, swelling or redness around the face or eyes is an indication for irrigation of the nasal cavity and collection of samples for wet mount, gram stain, culture, and Chlamydia testing. Whenever indicated, we can perform endoscopy to examine the interior of the trachea, abdomen, and air sacs for biopsy, culture, or cytology.

    • Whether infections or non-infectious, the most common problems we see involve the Gastrointestinal or Respiratory tract, are nutritional in nature, or have a behavior or psychological component.

    Dr Paul Skellenger is the Veterinarian for Veterinarian Care.US and has over 20 years in Veterinarian medicine and experience with bird care. For additional information you can contact one of our Veterinarians in your area.

    Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Skellenger
    http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Art-of-Avian-Medicine&id=1049415

    May 23, 2009

    Five Reasons You Should Get a Chlamydia Test

    Filed under: Chlamydia — admin @ 5:29 am

    Five Reasons You Should Get a Chlamydia Test
    By Eddie Bent

    Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the most common infections to be passed through sexual activity. The infection is caused by a virus-like microbe that can only reproduce once it has found its way into your body cells. Because it is so small, it is often undetectable using a light microscope and so specific tests to look for Chlamydia proteins and other genetic material have to be employed.

    According to the NHS, around 50% of men and 70% of women who carry the infection show no symptoms at all and so it is passed on without treatment. However, being a carrier without symptoms does not mean that your body is dealing with the infection; it simply means you don’t know you have it. If left untreated, Chlamydia can give rise to much more serious conditions.

    There are many reasons to seek a Chlamydia test; here are just 5:

    1) In women, if symptoms show, they can often appear ‘non-specific’. Cystitis, mild pain in the lower abdomen and a change in vaginal discharge can often be signs of the infection. If left untreated, this can give rise to pelvic pain, pain during sexual intercourse and bleeding between periods. Chlamydia can also spread to the womb and cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. This is one of the major causes of infertility, ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage.

    2) For men, symptoms can manifest themselves as penile discharge and the possibility of swollen testicles. If left untreated, there is the risk of conditions that can impair fertility, such as epididymitis. There is also the risk, although rare, of Reiter’s syndrome, which affects the joints and eyes with painful inflammation.

    3) If left untreated, you run the risk of passing the infection onto future sexual partners, as well as suffering yourself.

    4) The test itself is simple and painless. Usually it will consist of a urine sample or a vaginal swab. These samples then undergo specific tests to provide your results. With as many as 1 in 10 15 to 25 year-olds carrying the infection, the NHS has undertaken to test as many people from this age-group as possible, meaning that the Chlamydia tests are free of charge.

    5) Treatment of Chlamydia is also simple and painless. If Chlamydia is diagnosed, the treatment takes the form of a course of antibiotics, such as oxytetracycline or azithromycin. During the treatment, you will normally be asked to abstain from sexual intercourse, until the antibiotics have neutralised the infection and you are given the ‘all clear’. This is to prevent you spreading the infection and, ultimately, re-infecting yourself.

    Chlamydia is caught and transferred primarily through unprotected sex, although it must be noted that no form of contraception offers 100% guarantee against any form of sexually transmitted disease. Because it can often carry no symptoms, it often goes overlooked until more complicated issues arise. A Chlamydia test is a free, simple and painless way to ascertain whether you are carrying the infection. If you have had unprotected sex or are concerned about unusual symptoms, request a free Chlamydia test. It’s better to be in the know than to be infected.

    Eddie works for a company which offers free a Chlamydia Test to under 25’s across the UK.

    Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eddie_Bent
    http://EzineArticles.com/?Five-Reasons-You-Should-Get-a-Chlamydia-Test&id=2361633

    May 12, 2009

    Pneumonia: Easy steps to control lung inflammation & AIDS

    Filed under: Chlamydia — admin @ 5:27 am

    Pneumonia: Easy steps to control lung inflammation & AIDS

    Author: Nilutpal Gogoi
    KNOWING PNEUMONIA

    Pneumonia refers to lung inflammation. There are 50 such lung inflammatory ailments. During such situations, the lungs inevitably experience build up of fluids. Several micro-organisms cause pneumonia. Pneumonic inflammation of the lungs occurs due to collection of cellular wastes and blood cells within the air sacs within the lungs. Such pneumonic inflammation creates breathing problems.

    PNEUMONIA CAUSES

    Pneumonia is caused by infections. The culprits responsible for causing such pneumonic infections are protozoa or fungi, mycoplasma, rickettsia, and bacteria. Respiratory infections caused by rhinoviruses, adenoviruses, and influenza virus can also lead to pneumonia. Most of the viral pneumonia cases are mild. They also resolve within a week’s time with or without any particular treatment.

    HOW DANGEROUS CAN PNEUMONIA BE

    Every year, 90,000 deaths are reported to be because of pneumonia in the United States. What is more, approximately five million pneumonia cases are registered in that country.

    PNEUMONIA CAN BE LIFE THREATENING

    If detected early, a person with a good constitution and proper treatment can recover quickly from an influenza bout. However, acute pneumonia attacks can be life threatening as well. More often than not, pneumonia can prove to be fatal to patients having weak immune systems. Even healthy persons can have complicacies if pneumonia is not detected early. There can be serious consequences if pneumonia patients fail to get effective and prompt treatment.

    LOBAR PNEUMONIA

    Lobar pneumonia is an acute form of infection. It is caused by the Pneumococcus bacterium. The generic name of this bacterium is Streptococcus pneumoniae. Lobar pneumonia usually follows an extreme form of viral respiratory infection, particularly of the upper respiratory tract. The symptoms of lobar pneumonia are chest pain during breathing, or cough and fever accompanied by chill and shaking. The patient’s body temperature hovers around 104? F (roughly 40? C). The sputum is blood streaked.
    Notably, most of the deaths before the invention of antibiotics were due to lobar pneumonia. Lobar pneumonia generally attacks a lung lobe or a portion of it. At times, lobar pneumonia strikes both the lungs; then it is known as double pneumonia.

    DIFFERENT TYPES OF BACTERIAL PNEUMONIAS

    Besides the Streptococcus pneumoniae, the other bacterial pneumonias fall in the bronchopneumonias category. Bronchopneumonias fever is lower compared to the one experienced in Streptococcus pneumoniae. Moreover, bronchopneumonias symptoms appear slower than the Streptococcus pneumoniae signs. The bronchopneumonias primarily target the bronchial tubes known as the bronchioles. Since these small tubes are located nearest the lungs, they may become rather dangerous. The bacteria that can cause bronchopneumonias are streptococci, different types of staphylococci, Haemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and pneumococcus besides the bacterium causing the Legionnaires’ disease, namely Legionella pneumophilia.

    PNEUMONIA FORMS

    There are basically three forms of pneumonia. They are atypical pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, a mono cell organism lacking nucleus; the pneumonia caused by the harmless protozoan Pneumocystis carinii; and Chlamydia pneumoniae.

    Atypical pneumonia: This is a common type of pneumonia. Outbreaks of such forms of pneumonia are generally witnessed among students in educational institutions and also among soldiers. Normally, atypical pneumonia resolves by itself. However, antibiotics can also bring about relief. It is caused by a minute prokaryotic organism known as Mycoplasma pneumoniae. This single-celled micro organism is neither a virus nor a bacterium.

    Pneumocystis carinii Pneumonia: This form of pneumonia is caused by the protozoan Pneumocystis carinii. This micro organism is usually harmless. Such pneumonic incidences are common among people suffering from impaired immune syndromes or also among many leukemia patients. This form of pneumonia has been the primary cause of deaths among people suffering from AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

    Chlamydia pneumoniae: Chlamydia pneumoniae is a contagious ailment caused by the Chlamydia set of bacteria. Chlamydia pneumoniae affects the upper respiratory tract. Chlamydia pneumoniae infections can also strike the bronchitis, pneumonitis, and the pharyngitis. Chlamydia pneumoniae can also lead to heart attacks and coronary heart diseases. Besides Chlamydia pneumoniae, the other two species of Chlamydia bacteria are Chlamydia psittaci and Chlamydia trachomatis.

    THE SECOND MAIN CAUSE OF DEATH IN USA

    Chlamydia pneumoniae has been identified as the second main cause of pneumonia in US. Anybody between the ages of five to 35 can be affected by Chlamydia pneumoniae. The Chlamydia pneumoniae bouts are usually mild in nature. The Chlamydia pneumoniae symptoms are fever and cough. At times, there can be more sputum production. Sputum is a mixture of various mucus and saliva. It arises from the respiratory tracts.

    CHLAMYDIA PNEUMONIAE SYMPTOMS

    The Chlamydia pneumoniae symptoms may not be very visible initially. Or, at times, the Chlamydia pneumoniae signs may also point to the other forms of Chlamydia dysfunctions. One type is the chlamydia type of illnesses caused by various strains of the trachomatis species. Another severe type of chlamydia disease is caused by a strain of the fly-borne Chlamydia trachomatis.

    DIAGNOSING CHLAMYDIA PNEUMONIAE

    To diagnose Chlamydia pneumoniae infections, patients generally have to undergo various tests. These include cell cultures that exclude other illnesses with similar symptoms. The other ailments having similar symptoms are candidiasis, trichomoniasis, herpes, and gonorrhea. The modern method of diagnosing Chlamydia infections are immunoassays blood tests. These examinations pinpoint the specific antibody that may have been constituted by the patient’s immune system against chlamydia infection.
    In 1939, major advances were made in pneumonia therapy. Their wider application lowered pneumonia from the third to the fifth leading cause of death in the USA.

    TREATING PNEUMONIA

    More often than not, antibiotics effectively deal with the majority forms of bacterial pneumonia. For patients above 50 years, and for those suffering from the most acute types of pneumococcus, physicians generally recommend a vaccine. It also grants the people immunity against these virulent pneumonia states. The vaccine is further given as an immunity measure to patients who have chronic liver, lung or heart ailments.

    AUTHOR INTRODUCTION: Nilutpal Gogoi is a writer and a freelance journalist. He has published more than 1000 articles and a popular adventure book for children. For more information log on to
    http://www.makehealthcare.com/ http://www.yournicelife.com/ http://www.purejoyhealth.com/

    Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_103224_17.html
    Occupation: Journalist
    Nilutpal Gogoi is a writer and a freelance journalist having more than 18 years of service in several audio-visual and print media reputed organizations in North East India. He has published more than 1000 articles and a popular adventure book for children. For more information log on to http://www.fastrankingsonline.com/
    http://www.fastrankingsonline.com/

    May 11, 2009

    Chlamydia (STD) - Complications You May Face If Chlamydia Is Not Treated In Time

    Filed under: Chlamydia — admin @ 5:31 am

    Chlamydia (STD) - Complications You May Face If Chlamydia Is Not Treated In Time
    By CD Mohatta

    Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease. It is caused by a bacterium that is transmitted by sexual contact. Any sexual contact that causes your mucous membrane to get in touch with infected secretion may cause chlamydia. The complications of chlamydia are bad if it is left untreated. Please learn more so that you can prevent them.


    Chlamydia - early symptoms

    The early symptoms of chlamydia include- painful intercourse in women, vaginal discharge, penile discharge, difficult urination, etc. Sometimes these symptoms are very mild and are ignored. These symptoms appear after about two weeks of sexual contact. If chlamydia is left untreated it can cause serious complications. In the early stage antibiotics can clear chlamydia within a week or two and you are free of the disease. Afterwards, it becomes a long drawn process to get treated. Therefore it is important that you get treated immediately as soon as you see any symptoms described above. Your doctor will take a swab and test you. If the test is positive, you will be prescribed antibiotics. Let us find out about the later complications.

    Chlamydia and women-

    Women may lose fertility if chlamydia is left untreated. Untreated chlamydia leads to Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women. This is an infection of the reproductive organs of women. She may get her ovaries, cervix, and uterus, fallopian tubes infected. If the diseases progresses, she may lose her ability to be fertile. Many times PID develops without showing any outer signs. Some women may have lot of pelvic pain with PID.


    Chlamydia and men-

    Men may develop swelling and pain in the testicles. This is an inflammation that is quite painful. Men may also develop complications of the prostrate gland.

    Chlamydia and eye infection-

    If you touch infected fingers to your eyes, you may infect your eyes. Please consult your doctor immediately if you suspect anything like that. To know more about chlamydia, please click here - http://www.doctorgoodskin.com/ds/chlamydia/

    This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

    DoctorGoodSkin.com is a popular online skin care guide where you can find a lot of information, articles and tips about skin diseases and conditions, skin treatments and procedures, , skin care products, etc. You will also find much information about hair and nails. A unique feature of this portal is the skin and health quizzes, by which you can test your knowledge about various skin, hair and nail conditions. The popular topics on the site include AHAs, retinoids, bo-tox, acne, oily skin, microdermabrasion, corns, herpes, hirsutism, moles, scabies, skin tags, etc.

    Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=CD_Mohatta
    http://EzineArticles.com/?Chlamydia-(STD)—Complications-You-May-Face-If-Chlamydia-Is-Not-Treated-In-Time&id=256085

    May 9, 2009

    Do You Know the Signs and Symptoms of Chlamydia?

    Filed under: Chlamydia — admin @ 5:25 am

    Do You Know the Signs and Symptoms of Chlamydia?
    By Gerd Cornelius Pacher

    Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria are the number one sexually transmitted disease in North America. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that there were 1,030,911 confirmed cases of chlamydia infections reported to them in the year 2006 for the United States alone. It is one of those diseases that is particularly insidious because there are often no symptoms, which is why it is best to be informed so that you know what to look out for should you suspect a chlamydia infection.

    Women are usually infected in the cervix and the urethra. Women often report having a burning sensation while urinating coupled with unusual vaginal discharge. Other symptoms include pain during intercourse or bleeding in between menstrual cycles. If left untreated, women can develop PID (pelvic inflammatory disease), which can cause damage to the fallopian tubes. PID can lead to infertility or ectopic pregnancies, which can be fatal. 75% of all women report having no symptoms whatsoever.

    Men frequently report feeling a burning sensation during urination or a mucus discharge from the head of the penis. Less frequently men report swelling and pain in the testicles. It is important to know that 50% of all men exhibit absolutely no symptoms whatsoever. If left untreated, chlamydia can cause infertility in men.

    Both men and women who in engage in anal sex can contract rectal chlamydia. This results in blood or discharge coupled with rectal pain. Chlamydia can found in throats of men and women who engage in oral sex with an infected partner. Symptoms, if they appear, will occur one to three weeks after exposure to the infection.

    The best way to avoid contracting chlamydia is to use a latex condom when engaging in sexual contact. It is good to know your sexual partners well and to limit the number of partners that you do have.

    Need advice on Chlamydia? Know the early signs and symptoms and learn how to avoid of Chlamydia at http://www.chlamydia-symptoms.net

    Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gerd_Cornelius_Pacher
    http://EzineArticles.com/?Do-You-Know-the-Signs-and-Symptoms-of-Chlamydia?&id=1384656

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