Treatment and Medication

What is Medication and Treatmen of Carbon Monoxida Poisoning

2012-05-01T12:10:00.001+07:00

Carbon monoxide poisoning is an illness caused by exposure to too much carbon monoxide — a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas. Too much carbon monoxide in the air you breathe can greatly diminish your ability to absorb oxygen, leading to serious tissue damage. Carbon monoxide poisoning can lead to death.
Carbon monoxide is produced by appliances and other devices that generate combustion fumes, such as those that burn gas or other petroleum products, wood and other fuels. The danger occurs when too much carbon monoxide accumulates in a contained, poorly ventilated space.
Although the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning can be subtle, the condition is a life-threatening medical emergency. Get immediate care for anyone who may have carbon monoxide poisoning.

Sign and Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may include:

Dull headache
Weakness
Dizziness
Nausea
Vomiting
Shortness of breath
Confusion
Blurred vision
Loss of consciousness

Carbon monoxide poisoning can be especially dangerous for people who are sleeping or intoxicated. The fumes may be fatal before anyone realizes there's a problem.

Causes of Carbon Monoxida Poisoning

Carbon monoxide poisoning is caused by inhaling combustion fumes. When there's too much carbon monoxide in the air, your body replaces the oxygen in the hemoglobin of your red blood cells with carbon monoxide. This keeps life-sustaining oxygen from reaching your tissues and organs.
Various appliances fueled by wood or gas produce carbon monoxide, including:

Fuel-burning space heaters
Furnaces
Charcoal grills
Cooking ranges
Water heaters
Fireplaces
Portable generators
Wood-burning stoves
Car and truck engines

Normally the amount of carbon monoxide produced by these sources isn't cause for concern. But if appliances aren't kept in good working order or if they're used in a closed or partially closed space — such as using a charcoal grill indoors or running your car in a closed garage — the carbon monoxide can build to dangerous levels.
Smoke inhalation during a fire also can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.

Medication and Treatment

If you or someone you're with develops signs or symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning — headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, confusion — get into fresh air immediately and call 911 or emergency medical help.
Once you're at the hospital, treatment may involve:

Breathing pure oxygen. In the emergency room, you may breathe pure oxygen through a mask placed over your nose and mouth. This helps oxygen reach your organs and tissues. If you can't breathe on your own, a machine (ventilator) may do the breathing for you.
Spending time in a pressurized oxygen chamber. In some cases, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is recommended. With this therapy, you're placed in a full-body pressurized chamber. Inside the chamber, air pressure is more than twice as high as normal atmospheric pressure. This speeds the replacement of carbon monoxide with oxygen in your blood. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be used in cases of severe carbon monoxide poisoning. It may also be recommended for pregnant women because unborn babies are more susceptible to damage from carbon monoxide poisoning.

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Treatment and Medication for Painful Intercourse (Dyspareunia)

2012-04-25T11:31:00.000+07:00

Painful intercourse (Dyspareunia) can occur for a variety of reasons — ranging from structural problems to psychological concerns. Many women experience painful intercourse at some point in their lives.

The medical term for painful intercourse is dyspareunia (dis-puh-ROO-ne-uh) — which is defined as persistent or recurrent genital pain that occurs just before, during or after intercourse. Talk to your doctor if you're experiencing painful intercourse. Treatments focus on the underlying cause, and can help eliminate or reduce this common problem.

Symptoms of Painful Intercourse (Dyspareunia)

If you experience painful intercourse, you may feel:

Pain only at sexual penetration (entry)
Pain with every penetration, even while putting in a tampon
Pain with certain partners or just under certain circumstances
New pain after previously pain-free intercourse
Deep pain during thrusting, which is often described as "something being bumped"
Burning pain or aching pain

Causes Of Painful Intercourse (Dyspareunia)

Physical causes of painful intercourse (Dyspareunia) tend to differ, depending on whether the pain occurs at entry or with deep thrusting. Emotional factors can be associated with many types of painful intercourse.

Entry pain Dyspareunia
Pain during penetration may be associated with a range of factors, including:

Insufficient lubrication. This is often the result of not enough foreplay. Insufficient lubrication is also commonly caused by a drop in estrogen levels after menopause, after childbirth or during breast-feeding. In addition, certain medications are known to inhibit desire or arousal, which can decrease lubrication and make sex painful. These include antidepressants, high blood pressure medications, sedatives, antihistamines and certain birth control pills.
Injury, trauma or irritation. This includes injury or irritation from an accident, pelvic surgery, female circumcision, episiotomy or a congenital abnormality.
Inflammation, infection or skin disorder. An infection in your genital area or urinary tract can cause painful intercourse. Eczema or other skin problems in your genital area also can be the problem.
Vaginismus. Involuntary spasms of the muscles of the vaginal wall (vaginismus) can make attempts at penetration very painful.

Deep pain Dyspareunia
Deep pain usually occurs with deep penetration and may be more pronounced with certain positions. Causes include:

Certain illnesses and conditions. The list includes endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, uterine prolapse, retroverted uterus, uterine fibroids, cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids and ovarian cysts.
Surgeries or medical treatments. Scarring from surgeries that involve your pelvic area, including hysterectomy, can sometimes cause painful intercourse. In addition, medical treatments for cancer, such as radiation and chemotherapy, can cause changes that make sex painful.

Emotional factors
Emotions are deeply intertwined with sexual activity and may play a role in any type of sexual pain. Emotional factors include:

Psychological problems. Anxiety, depression, concerns about your physical appearance, fear of intimacy or relationship problems can contribute to a low level of arousal and a resulting discomfort or pain.
Stress. Your pelvic floor muscles tend to tighten in response to stress in your life. This can contribute to pain during intercourse.
History of sexual abuse. Most women with dyspareunia don't have a history of sexual abuse, but if you have been abused, it may play a role.

Sometimes, it can be difficult to tell whether psychological factors are associated with dyspareunia. Initial pain can lead to fear of recurring pain, making it difficult to relax, which can lead to more pain. As with any pain in your body, you might start avoiding the activities that you associate with the pain.

Treatment and Medication

Treatment options will vary, depending on the underlying cause of the pain.

Medications
If an infection or medical condition is contributing to your pain, treating the underlying cause may resolve your problem. Changing medications known to cause lubrication problems also may eliminate your symptoms. For most postmenopausal women, dyspareunia is caused by inadequate lubrication resulting from low estrogen levels. Often, this can be treated with a prescription cream, tablet or flexible ring that releases very small amounts of estrogen directly to your vagina.

Therapy
Different types of therapy also may be helpful, including:

Desensitization therapy. During this therapy, you learn vaginal relaxation exercises that can decrease pain. Your therapist may recommend pelvic floor exercises (Kegel exercises) or other techniques to decrease pain with intercourse.
Counseling or sex therapy. If sex has been painful for a long time, you may experience a negative emotional response to sexual stimulation even after treatment. If you and your partner have avoided intimacy because of painful intercourse, you may also need help improving communication with your partner and restoring sexual intimacy. Talking to a counselor or sex therapist can help resolve these issues.

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Treatment and Medication of Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome

2012-04-24T15:17:00.002+07:00

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is a complex condition in which one or more tumors form in your pancreas, the upper part of your small intestine (duodenum) or the lymph nodes adjacent to your pancreas. These tumors, called gastrinomas, secrete large amounts of the hormone gastrin, which causes your stomach to produce too much acid. The excess acid, in turn, leads to peptic ulcers.

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, also called ZES, is rare. The disease may occur at any time in life, but people are usually diagnosed between ages 20 and 50. It's slightly more common in men.

Treatment for Zollinger-Ellison syndrome most often consists of medications to reduce stomach acid and heal the ulcers. Surgery to remove the tumors may be an option for some people with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

Symptoms

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome causes signs and symptoms similar to those of a peptic ulcer. These may include:

Abdominal pain
Diarrhea
Burning, aching, gnawing or discomfort in your upper abdomen
Heartburn
Nausea and vomiting
Weakness
Bleeding in your digestive tract
Unintended weight loss
Decreased appetite
Anemia

Causes

The exact cause of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome remains unknown. But the sequence of events that occurs in Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is clear. The syndrome begins when a tumor (gastrinoma) or tumors form in your pancreas, duodenum or the lymph nodes adjacent to your pancreas.

Your pancreas is located behind and below your stomach. It produces enzymes that are essential to digesting food. The pancreas also produces several hormones, including gastrin, a hormone that controls stomach acid production. The duodenum, the upper part of the small intestine, begins at the lower end of your stomach. It's in the duodenum, where digestive juices from the pancreas, liver and gallbladder mix, that digestion reaches its peak.

The tumors that occur with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome are made up of cells that secrete very large amounts of gastrin, which in turn causes the stomach to produce far too much acid. The excessive acid then leads to peptic ulcers and sometimes to diarrhea.

In addition to causing excess acid production, the tumors may be cancerous (malignant). The tumors themselves grow slowly, but the cancer can spread elsewhere — most commonly to nearby lymph nodes or your liver.

Treatment and Medication

In treating Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, doctors treat the tumors as well as the ulcers. If your doctor can remove the tumors, which are what cause the ulcers, then ulcer treatment may no longer be needed.

Treatment and Medication of tumors

An operation to remove the tumors that occur in Zollinger-Ellison requires a skilled surgeon because the tumors are often small and difficult to locate. If you have just one tumor, your doctor may be able to remove it surgically, but surgery may not be an option if you have multiple tumors or tumors that have spread to your liver. On the other hand, even if you have multiple tumors, your doctor still may recommend removing a single large tumor.

In some cases, doctors advise other treatments to control tumor growth, including:

Removing as much of a liver tumor as possible (debulking)
A liver transplant
Attempting to destroy the tumor by cutting off the blood supply (embolization) or by using heat to destroy cancer cells (radiofrequency ablation)
Injecting drugs into the tumor to relieve cancer symptoms
Using chemotherapy to try to slow tumor growth

More radical surgical approaches, such as severing the nerves that promote acid secretion or removing the entire stomach, aren't generally done today because medications are usually successful in controlling acid production and ulcers.

Treatment and Medication of excess acid

Excess acid production can almost always be controlled. Medications known as proton pump inhibitors are the first line of treatment. These are the most effective medications for decreasing acid production in Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Proton pump inhibitors are powerful drugs that reduce acid by blocking the action of the tiny "pumps" within acid-secreting cells. Commonly prescribed medications include lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec), pantoprazole (Protonix), rabeprazole (Aciphex) and esomeprazole (Nexium). According to the Food and Drug Administration, long-term use of proton pump inhibitors, especially in people age 50 and older, has been associated with an increased risk of fractures of the hip, wrist and spine.

Your doctor may also suggest one of several operations to treat peptic ulcers, such as surgery to:

Stop an ulcer from bleeding
Relieve an obstruction caused by an ulcer
Close up the hole (perforation) that an ulcer has made in the wall of your stomach or duodenum

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Treatment and Medication of Triple X Syndrome

2012-04-20T16:10:00.002+07:00

Triple X syndrome is an abnormality of the chromosomes that affects about 1 in 1,000 females. Females normally have two X chromosomes, one from each parent. In triple X syndrome, a female has three X chromosomes — hence, the name.

Triple X syndrome usually results from an error in the formation of a mother's egg cell or a father's sperm cell. Sometimes, triple X syndrome occurs as a result of an error early in the embryo's development.

Many women with triple X syndrome have no symptoms or only mild symptoms. In other cases, symptoms may be more pronounced — possibly including developmental delays.

Treatment for triple X syndrome depends on which symptoms, if any, your daughter exhibits and their severity.

Symptoms of Triple X Syndrome

Triple X syndrome may not cause any signs or symptoms. If symptoms do appear, they may include:

Tall stature
Small head (microcephaly)
Vertical skinfolds that may cover the inner corners of the eyes (epicanthal folds)
Delayed development of certain motor skills, speech and language
Learning disabilities, such as dyslexia
Weak muscle tone

Causes of Tripel X Syndrome

Most people have 46 chromosomes, occurring in 23 pairs. These chromosomes contain genes, which carry instructions that determine everything from your height to your eye color.

One of these chromosome pairs determines your sex. You receive one sex chromosome from your mother and another from your father. Your mother can give you only an X chromosome, but your father can pass on an X or a Y chromosome. If you receive an X chromosome from your father, the XX pair makes you genetically a female. If you receive a Y chromosome from your father, then your XY pair means you're genetically a male.

Females with triple X syndrome have a third X chromosome. Although this condition is genetic, it's typically not inherited. Instead, what usually happens is that either the mother's egg cell or the father's sperm cell has not formed correctly, resulting in an extra X chromosome. This random error in egg or sperm cell division is called nondisjunction. Occasionally, the extra chromosome doesn't appear until early in the development of the embryo. If this is the case, then the female is said to have a mosaic form of triple X syndrome.

When the cause is a malformed egg cell or sperm cell, as is usually the case, all the body's cells have the extra chromosome. In the mosaic form, only some of the body's cells have the third X chromosome. Because only some cells contain the extra X chromosome, females with the mosaic form of triple X syndrome may have less severe symptoms.

Triple X syndrome is also called trisomy X, triplo X syndrome and XXX syndrome. It's also referred to as 47,XXX syndrome because of the existence of a 47th chromosome, which is the extra X chromosome.

Treatment and Medication

If your daughter has triple X syndrome, treatment is based on her symptoms, if any are present. For instance, if she has a learning disability from the triple X, she would require the same counseling as anyone else with that learning disability. This counseling usually involves teaching new techniques and strategies for learning, as well as providing motivation and help with using these tips in daily life.

If your daughter has been diagnosed with triple X syndrome, her doctor may recommend periodic screenings throughout childhood to make sure that any developmental delays or learning disabilities that may occur receive prompt treatment.

Because people with triple X syndrome may be more susceptible to stress, it's important to make sure your daughter has a supportive environment as well. Psychological counseling may help, both by teaching you and your family useful methods of demonstrating love and encouragement, and by discouraging behaviors that you might not realize are negative.

The chromosome change that causes triple X syndrome cannot be repaired, so the syndrome itself has no cure. However, given the treatable nature of most symptoms and how frequently no symptoms appear at all, it's quite possible to lead a full and normal life despite having this syndrome.

Treatment and Medication of Celiac Disease

2012-03-29T02:34:00.004+07:00

Celiac disease is a digestive condition triggered by consumption of the protein gluten, which is primarily found in bread, pasta, cookies, pizza crust and many other foods containing wheat, barley or rye. People with celiac disease who eat foods containing gluten experience an immune reaction in their small intestines, causing damage to the inner surface of the small intestine and an inability to absorb certain nutrients.

Celiac disease can cause abdominal pain and diarrhea. Eventually, the decreased absorption of nutrients (malabsorption) that occurs with celiac disease can cause vitamin deficiencies that deprive your brain, peripheral nervous system, bones, liver and other organs of vital nourishment.

No treatment can cure celiac disease. However, you can effectively manage celiac disease by changing your diet.

Symptoms of Celiac Disease

There are no typical signs and symptoms of celiac disease. Most people with the disease have general complaints, such as:

Intermittent diarrhea
Abdominal pain
Bloating

Sometimes people with celiac disease may have no gastrointestinal symptoms at all. Celiac disease symptoms can also mimic those of other conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome, gastric ulcers, Crohn's disease, parasite infections and anemia.

Causes of Celiac Disease

It's not clear what causes celiac disease, which is also known as celiac sprue, nontropical sprue and gluten-sensitive enteropathy. Doctors know that something happens in people with celiac disease to cause the body's immune system to overreact in response to gluten in food.

Normally, your small intestine is lined with tiny, hair-like projections called villi. Resembling the deep pile of a plush carpet on a microscopic scale, villi work to absorb vitamins, minerals and other nutrients from the food you eat. Celiac disease results in damage to the villi. Without prominent villi, the inner surface of the small intestine becomes less like a plush carpet and more like a tile floor, and your body is unable to absorb nutrients necessary for health and growth. Instead, nutrients such as fat, protein, vitamins and minerals are eliminated with your stool.

While the exact cause of celiac disease is unknown, doctors have discovered that it often runs in families. If someone in your family has been diagnosed with celiac disease, you may have an increased risk of the disease. Researchers have discovered that some gene mutations seem to increase the risk of celiac disease, but having those gene mutations doesn't mean you're certain to have celiac disease. This means that other risk factors play a role in whether you'll develop celiac disease.

Treatment and Medication

Celiac disease has no cure, but you can effectively manage the disease through changing your diet.

To manage the disease and prevent complications, it's crucial that you avoid all foods that contain gluten. Once you've removed gluten from your diet, inflammation in your small intestine will begin to subside, usually within several weeks, though you may start to feel better in just a few days. Complete healing and regrowth of the villi may take several months, or as long as two to three years. Healing in the small intestine tends to occur more quickly in children than it does in adults.

If you accidentally eat a product that contains gluten, you may experience abdominal pain and diarrhea. Some people experience no signs or symptoms after eating gluten, but this doesn't mean it's not harmful. Even trace amounts of gluten in your diet can be damaging, whether or not they cause signs or symptoms.

If your nutritional deficiencies are severe, you may need to take vitamin and mineral supplements recommended by your doctor or dietitian to help correct these deficiencies. Your doctor may recommend supplements to increase your levels of Calcium, Folate, Iron, Vitamin B-12, Vitamin D, Vitamin K

Vitamin supplements can be taken in pill form. But in some situations, your digestive tract may have trouble absorbing vitamins. In these cases, your doctor may give the vitamins by injection.

In cases of severe inflammation in the small intestine, your doctor may recommend medications called steroids to control inflammation. Steroids may be used to give you relief from severe signs and symptoms until the effects of a gluten-free diet begin to become apparent.

To further a better understanding, read the following books:

Treatment and Medication of Achilles Tendon Rupture

2012-03-27T11:34:00.000+07:00

Achilles tendon rupture is an injury that affects the back of your lower leg. It most commonly occurs in people playing recreational sports.

The Achilles tendon is a strong fibrous cord that connects the muscles in the back of your calf to your heel bone. If you overstretch your Achilles tendon, it can tear (rupture). The tendon can rupture completely or just partially.

If you have an Achilles tendon rupture, you might feel a pop or snap, followed by an immediate sharp pain in the back of your ankle and lower leg that usually affects your ability to walk properly. Surgery is often the best treatment option to repair an Achilles tendon rupture. For many people, however, nonsurgical treatment works just as well.

Symptoms of Achilles Tendon Rupture

Although it's possible to have no signs or symptoms with an Achilles tendon rupture, most people experience:

Pain, possibly severe, and swelling near your heel
An inability to bend your foot downward or "push off" the injured leg when you walk
An inability to stand up on your toes on the injured leg
A popping or snapping sound when the injury occurs

Causes of Achilles Tendon Rupture

Your Achilles tendon helps you point your foot downward, rise on your toes and push off your foot as you walk. You rely on it virtually every time you move your foot.

Rupture usually occurs in the section of the tendon located within 2.5 inches (6 centimeters) of the point where it attaches to the heel bone. This section may be predisposed to rupture because it gets less blood flow, which may impair its ability to heal.

Ruptures often are caused by a sudden increase in the amount of stress on your Achilles tendon. Common examples include:

Increasing the intensity of sports participation
Falling from a height
Stepping into a hole

Treatment and Medication

The best treatment for a ruptured Achilles tendon often depends on your age, activity level and the severity of your injury. In general, younger and more active people often choose surgery to repair a completely ruptured Achilles tendon while older people are more likely to opt for nonsurgical treatment. Recent studies, however, have shown fairly equal effectiveness of both operative and nonoperative management.

Nonsurgical treatment

This approach typically involves wearing a cast or walking boot with wedges to elevate your heel; this allows the ends of your torn tendon to heal. This method can be effective, and it avoids the risks, such as infection, associated with surgery. However, the likelihood of re-rupture may be higher with a nonsurgical approach, and recovery can take longer. If re-rupture occurs, surgical repair may be more difficult.

Surgery

Surgery is a common treatment for a complete rupture of the Achilles tendon. The procedure generally involves making an incision in the back of your lower leg and stitching the torn tendon together. Depending on the condition of the torn tissue, the repair may be reinforced with other tendons. Surgical complications can include infection and nerve damage. Infection rates are reduced in surgeries that employ smaller incisions.

Rehabilitation

After treatment, whether surgical or nonsurgical, you'll go through a rehabilitation program involving physical therapy exercises to strengthen your leg muscles and Achilles tendon. Most people return to their former level of activity within four to six months.

To further a better understanding, read the following books:

Treatment and Medication of Bad Breath

2012-02-15T15:03:00.001+07:00

Bad breath (halitosis) can be embarrassing and may cause anxiety. It's no wonder store shelves are overflowing with gum, mints, mouthwashes and other products designed to combat this condition. But many of these products are mere temporary measures.

Certain foods, health conditions and habits are among the causes of bad breath. In many cases, you can improve bad breath with proper dental hygiene. If simple self-care techniques don't solve the problem, you may want to see your dentist or doctor to be sure a more serious condition isn't causing your bad breath.

Symptoms of Bad Breath

Bad breath odors vary depending on the source or the underlying cause of the bad breath. Because it's difficult to rate your own breath, many people worry excessively about their breath even though they have little or no mouth odor. Others have bad breath and don't know it. Because it's difficult to assess how your own breath smells, ask a close friend or relative to confirm your bad-breath questions.

Causes of Bad Breath

Most bad breath originates in your mouth. The causes of bad breath are numerous. They include:

Food. The breakdown of food particles in and around your teeth can cause a foul odor. Eating foods containing certain oils is another source of bad breath. Onions and garlic are the best-known examples, but other vegetables and spices also can cause bad breath. After these foods are digested and the pungent oils are absorbed into your bloodstream, they're carried to your lungs and are given off in your breath until the foods are eliminated from your body.

Dental problems. Poor dental hygiene and periodontal disease can be a source of bad breath. If you don't brush and floss daily, food particles remain in your mouth, collecting bacteria that can emit chemicals, such as hydrogen sulfide — the same compound that gives rotten eggs their characteristic smell. A colorless, sticky film of bacteria (plaque) forms on your teeth and if not brushed away, plaque can irritate your gums (gingivitis) and cause tooth decay. Eventually, plaque-filled pockets can form between your teeth and gums (periodontitis) worsening this problem — and your breath. The microscopic uneven surface of the tongue also can trap bacteria that produce odors. And dentures that aren't cleaned regularly or don't fit properly can harbor odor-causing bacteria and food particles.

Dry mouth. Saliva helps cleanse your mouth, removing particles that may cause bad odors. A condition called dry mouth (xerostomia) can contribute to bad breath because production of saliva is decreased. Dry mouth naturally occurs during sleep, leading to morning breath. Dry mouth is even more of a problem if you sleep with your mouth open. Some medications can lead to a chronic dry mouth, as can a problem with your salivary glands.

Diseases. In about 10 percent of bad breath cases, the bad odors do not come from the mouth (extra-oral halitosis). For example, illnesses, such as some cancers and metabolic disorders, can cause a distinctive breath odor as a result of chemicals they produce. Diabetes and kidney or liver failure can lead to a fishy smell. Uncontrolled diabetes can also cause a fruity breath odor from chemicals called ketones. And chronic reflux of stomach acids (gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD) has been associated with bad breath. In addition, some medications — such as those used to treat high blood pressure, psychiatric conditions, or urinary problems — can indirectly produce bad breath by contributing to dry mouth. Other medications may be broken down in the body to release chemicals that can be carried on your breath.

Mouth, nose and throat conditions. Another source of bad breath is the nasal passages. For example, bad breath is associated with sinus infections because nasal discharge that drips from your sinuses into the back of your throat (postnasal drip) can cause mouth odor. Sometimes bad breath can be traced to upper and lower respiratory infections, or ulcers in the respiratory system. And malformations of the oral-nasal cavity, such as cleft palate, can lead to bad breath because they provide ideal environments for bacteria to multiply without being disturbed. Bad breath can occasionally stem from small stones that form in the tonsils. These stones can be covered with bacteria that produce odorous chemicals. Bad breath in young children is often traced to a foreign body, such as a toy or piece of food, lodged in a nostril.

Tobacco products. Smoking dries out your mouth and causes its own unpleasant mouth odor. Tobacco users are also more likely to have periodontal disease, an additional source of bad breath.

Treatment and Medication

Treatment for bad breath can vary, depending on the cause. If your bad breath is found to be caused by an underlying health condition, your dentist will likely attempt to help you better control that condition. Other dental measures may include certain mouthwashes and toothpastes or treatment of dental disease.

Mouth rinses and toothpastes. If your bad breath is due to a buildup of bacteria (plaque) on your teeth, your dentist may recommend a mouth rinse that kills the bacteria. Research shows that those containing cetylpyridinium chloride and those with chlorhexidine can prevent production of odors that cause bad breath. Other active ingredients, such as chlorine dioxide and zinc, are good at neutralizing odor-causing bacterial byproducts. Your dentist may also recommend a toothpaste that contains an antibacterial agent to kill the bacteria that cause plaque buildup.

Treatment of dental disease. If your dentist discovers that you have gum disease, you may be referred to a periodontist (gum specialist). Gum disease can cause the gums to pull away from the teeth, leaving deep pockets that accumulate odor-causing bacteria. Sometimes these bacteria can be removed only by professional cleaning. Your dentist might also recommend replacing faulty tooth restorations, which can be a breeding ground for bacteria.

Treatment and Medication of Norovirus Infection

2012-02-07T12:04:00.000+07:00

Norovirus infection can cause severe diarrhea and vomiting. Noroviruses are a major cause of gastrointestinal illness in closed and crowded environments, such as hospitals, nursing homes and cruise ships.

Typically, people with norovirus infection develop diarrhea and abdominal pain and begin to vomit within 24 to 48 hours of exposure. Norovirus symptoms may last a few days, but most people recover completely without treatment. However, in some people — especially infants, older adults and people with underlying disease — vomiting and diarrhea can be severely dehydrating and require medical attention.

Norovirus infection is highly contagious. Noroviruses commonly spread through food or water contaminated by fecal matter during preparation. You can also acquire norovirus infection through close contact with an infected person — for instance, if you live in a nursing home or work in a day care facility.

Signs and Sypmtoms of Norovirus Infection

Signs and symptoms of norovirus infection include:

Nausea
Vomiting
Abdominal pain
Abdominal cramps
Watery or loose diarrhea
Weight loss
Malaise
Low-grade fever

The incubation period for norovirus infection is usually 24 to 48 hours after first exposure to the virus, and signs and symptoms usually last one to three days. You may continue to shed virus in your feces for up to three days after recovery. Some people with norovirus infection may show no signs or symptoms. However, they are still contagious and may unwittingly spread the virus to others.

Causes of Norovirus Infection

Noroviruses are highly contagious and are shed in the feces of infected humans and animals. Oysters, salads and raspberries are among foods that have been responsible for outbreaks. Infected food handlers can transfer the virus to any food product just before it is served.

Methods of transmission include:

Eating contaminated food
Drinking contaminated water
Touching your hand to your mouth after your hand has been in contact with a contaminated surface or object

Noroviruses are difficult to eradicate, because they can withstand hot and cold temperatures, as well as most disinfectants.

Treatment and Medication

There's no specific treatment for norovirus infection, and recovery generally depends on the health of your immune system. In most otherwise-healthy people, the illness usually resolves within a few days.

The key factor is to replace lost fluids. If you're unable to drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration, you may need to receive fluids intravenously.

Treatment and Medication for Athlete's Foot

2012-02-05T17:00:00.001+07:00

Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection that develops in the moist areas between your toes and sometimes on other parts of your foot. Athlete’s foot usually causes itching, stinging and burning. thlete’s foot, also called tinea pedis, is the most common type of fungal infection. It’s closely related to other fungal infections such as ringworm and jock itch. Although contagious, athlete’s foot often can be treated with over-the-counter antifungal medications.

Signs and Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of athlete’s foot can be numerous, although you probably won’t have all of them. They include:

Itching, stinging and burning between your toes
Itching, stinging and burning on the soles of your feet
Itchy blisters
Cracking and peeling skin, especially between your toes and on the soles of your feet
Excessive dryness of the skin on the bottoms or sides of the feet
Toenails that are thick, crumbly, ragged, discolored or pulling away from the nail bed

Onychomycosis — a fungal infection of the nail — may develop with or without other signs and symptoms of athlete’s foot.

If your athlete’s foot is mild, using an over-the-counter antifungal ointment, lotion, powder or spray. If your athlete’s foot doesn’t respond, you may need a prescription-strength topical medication or an oral (systemic) medication.

Treatment And Medication

Over-the-counter medications
There are numerous over-the-counter (OTC) medications on the market. Medicated powders also will help keep your feet dry. OTC medications include:

Butenafine (Lotrimin Ultra)
Clotrimazole (Lotrimin AF)
Miconazole (Desenex, Zeasorb, others)
Terbinafine (Lamisil AT)
Tolnaftate (Tinactin, Ting, others)

Prescription medications
If athlete’s foot is severe or doesn’t respond to over-the-counter medicine, you may need a prescription-strength topical or oral medication.

Topical medications. These include clotrimazole and miconazole.
Oral medications. These include itraconazole (Sporanox), fluconazole (Diflucan) and terbinafine (Lamisil). Side effects from oral medications include gastrointestinal upset, rash and abnormal liver function.
Taking other medications, such as antacid therapies for ulcer disease or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), may interfere with the absorption of these drugs. Oral medications for athlete’s foot may alter the effectiveness of warfarin, an anticoagulant drug that decreases the clotting ability of your blood.

Wash and dry the affected area. Then, apply a thin layer of the topical agent once or twice a day for at least two weeks, or according to package directions. If your athlete’s foot recurs frequently, it’s recommend that you use a medication continuously.

Treatment and Medication of Tetanus

2012-02-01T14:04:00.000+07:00

Tetanus is a serious bacterial disease that affects your nervous system, leading to painful muscle contractions, particularly of your jaw and neck muscles. Tetanus can interfere with your ability to breathe and, ultimately, threaten your life. Tetanus is commonly known as "lockjaw."

Thanks the tetanus vaccine, cases of tetanus are rare in the United States and the developed world. The incidence of tetanus is much higher in less-developed countries. Around a million cases occur worldwide each year.

Tetanus can be treated, but not always effectively. Fatality is highest in individuals who haven't been immunized and in older adults with inadequate immunization — wherever they may live. In countries with low vaccine rates, infants also are at high risk of severe illness and death.

Sign And Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of tetanus may appear anytime from a few days to several weeks after tetanus bacteria enter your body through a wound. The average incubation period is seven to eight days.

Common signs and symptoms of tetanus, in order of appearance, are:

Spasms and stiffness in your jaw muscles
Stiffness of your neck muscles
Difficulty swallowing
Stiffness of your abdominal muscles
Painful body spasms, lasting for several minutes, typically triggered by minor occurrences, such as a draft, loud noise, physical touch or light

Other signs and symptoms may include:

Fever
Sweating
Elevated blood pressure
Rapid heart rate

Causes of Tetanus

The bacteria that cause tetanus, Clostridium tetani, are found in soil, dust and animal feces. When they enter a deep flesh wound, spores of the bacteria may produce a powerful toxin, tetanospasmin, which actively impairs your motor neurons, nerves that control your muscles. The effect of the toxin on your nerves can cause muscle stiffness and spasms — the major signs of tetanus.

Treatment and Medication

Since there's no cure for tetanus, treatment consists of wound care, medications to ease symptoms and supportive care.

Wound care
Cleaning the wound is essential to preventing growth of tetanus spores. This involves removing dirt, foreign objects and dead tissue from the wound.

Medications

Antitoxin. Tetanus antitoxin, such as tetanus immune globulin neutralized tetanus toxin. However, the antitoxin can neutralize only toxin that hasn't yet bonded to nerve tissue.
Antibiotics. Antibiotics, (Penicillin G, Metronidazole (Flagyl), Doxycycline (Vibramycin) either orally or by injection, use to fight tetanus bacteria.
Vaccine. Having tetanus once doesn't make you immune to the bacteria afterward. So you'll need to receive a tetanus vaccine in order to prevent future tetanus infection.
Sedatives. Sedatives, powerfull sedatives use to control muscle spasms.
Other drugs. Other medications, such as magnesium sulfate and certain beta blockers, may be used to help regulate involuntary muscle activity, such as your heartbeat and breathing. Morphine may be used for this purpose as well as sedation.

Supportive therapies
Tetanus infection often requires a long period of treatment in an intensive care setting. Since sedatives may result in shallow breathing, you may need to be supported temporarily by a ventilator.

Treatment and Medication of Back Pain

2012-01-27T16:41:00.002+07:00

Back Pain

Back pain can be a symptom of many different illnesses and conditions. The main cause of the pain can be a problem with the back itself or by a problem in another part of the body. In many cases, doctors can't find a cause for the pain. When a cause is found, common explanations include:

Stress or injury involving the back muscles, including back sprain or strain; chronic overload of back muscles caused by obesity; and short term overload of back muscles caused by any unusual stress, such as lifting or pregnancy.
Disease or injury involving the back bones (vertebrae), including fracture from an accident or as a result of the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis.
Degenerative arthritis, a "wear and tear" process that may be related to age, injury and genetic predisposition.
Disease or injury involving the spinal nerves, including nerve injury caused by a protruding disk (a fibrous cushion between vertebrae) or spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the spinal canal).
Kidney stones or a kidney infection (pyelonephritis).

Treatment and Medication

Most episodes of back pain are not serious and may be treated with:

Limited bed rest (no more than two days)
Some medication such as acetaminophen (Tylenol and others) for pain or oral anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin and others) or naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), for pain and inflammation
Muscle relaxants or prescription pain relievers (Forres, Myonal, Myonep), if necessary, for a short period
Hot or cold compresses

People with back pain are encouraged to return to their normal activities gradually, and to temporarily avoid heavy lifting, prolonged sitting, or sudden bending or twisting.

If you are recovering from back pain, your doctor may ask you to call or return to his or her office for a follow-up visit in about two weeks to confirm that your symptoms are gone and that you can safely resume all of your normal activities.

If your back pain is related to more serious disorders of the vertebrae or spinal nerves or if it hasn't improved over a few weeks, you may be referred to a specialist, such as a pain specialist, an orthopedic surgeon (a doctor who specializes in diseases of the bones), a neurologist (a doctor who specializes in diseases of the nerves and brain) or a rheumatologist (an arthritis specialist).

Treatment and Medication of Head Lice

2012-01-24T19:31:00.003+07:00

Head lice are a very common problem, affecting millions of people each year — especially preschool and elementary school-aged children and their close contacts. Head lice are tiny, wingless, parasitic insects that live and feed on blood from your scalp.

Getting head lice isn't a sign of bad personal hygiene or an unclean living environment. This itchy infestation, also called pediculosis capitis, most commonly spreads through close personal contact and by sharing personal belongings.

Both over-the-counter and prescription medications are available to treat head lice. Following the directions properly and taking necessary steps at home are important to prevent head lice from recurring.

Signs And Symptoms of Head Lice

Common signs and symptoms of head lice may include:

Intense itching. An allergic reaction to the saliva that lice inject during feeding may result in itchy red bumps on your scalp, neck and shoulders. Some people, particularly if this is their first infestation, don't experience itching.
Adult lice on scalp. The most common spots to find adult lice are behind your ears and along the back of your neck. Lice are tiny, about the size of a strawberry seed, but they can be up to 1/8 inch (3 millimeters) in size.
Lice eggs (nits) on hair shafts. Nits resemble tiny pussy willow buds. Nits can be mistaken for dandruff, but unlike dandruff, they can't be easily brushed out of hair.

Head lice can't fly or jump, and they're not transmitted by pets. They spread by head-to-head contact or via contact with contaminated personal belongings or home furnishings.

Head-to-head contact
This is the most common mode of transmission and may occur as children or family members play or interact closely together.

Sharing personal items
Less commonly, head lice may be transmitted via such items as:

Caps, hats and scarves
Brushes and combs
Hair decorations, such as barrettes
Headphones

Home furnishings
Head lice may sometimes be contracted by contact with contaminated:

Towels
Clothing
Blankets
Pillows
Upholstered furniture

Treatment and Medication

Over-the-counter medication

Shampoos containing either pyrethrin (Rid, others) or permethrin (Nix) are usually the first option used to combat lice infestations. These work best if you follow the directions very closely.

In some geographical locations, lice have grown resistant to the ingredients in over-the-counter lice treatments. If over-the-counter preparations don't work, your doctor can prescribe shampoos or lotions that contain different ingredients.

Prescription medications

Malathion (Ovide). Malathion is intended for use in adults and children age 6 or older. You apply malathion to your hair, and then rub it into your hair and scalp. This medication is flammable, so keep it away from heat sources, such as hair dryers, electric curlers and cigarettes. If you're pregnant or breast-feeding, talk to your doctor before using this product, because the medicine could affect your baby.
Lindane. This prescription medication is available as a cream, lotion or shampoo. Your doctor may not recommend using lindane if you weigh less than 110 pounds (49.9 kilograms); are pregnant or breast-feeding; have seizures; or have HIV infection. Side effects may include skin irritation and seizures.
Benzyl alcohol lotion. This newer treatment should not be used in children younger than 6 months. Side effects may include irritations of the skin, scalp and eyes. According to the Food and Drug Administration, serious side effects — such as seizures, coma or death — may occur if this product is used on premature infants.

Combing wet hair

If you don't want to employ insecticides, a fine-toothed or nit comb can physically remove the lice from wet hair. Repeat every three to four days for at least two weeks. This method is recommended as the first line treatment for children under age 2.

Treatment and Medication of Chickenpox

2012-01-19T14:37:00.002+07:00

Treatment And Medication - Chickenpox or chicken pox is a highly contagious illness caused by primary infection with varicella zoster virus (VZV). It usually starts with vesicular skin rash mainly on the body and head rather than at the periphery and becomes itchy, raw pockmarks, which mostly heal without scarring. On examination, the observer typically finds lesions at various stages of healing.

Chickenpox is an airborne disease spread easily through coughing or sneezing of ill individuals or through direct contact with secretions from the rash. A person with chickenpox is infectious one to two days before the rash appears. They remain contagious until all lesions have crusted over (this takes approximately six days). Immunocompromised patients are contagious during the entire period as new lesions keep appearing. Crusted lesions are not contagious.

It takes from 10 to 21 days after initial infection for the disease to develop.

Sign and Symptom

The signs and symptoms of chickenpox are:

A red, itchy rash, initially resembling insect bites, on your face, scalp, chest and back
Small, liquid-filled blisters that break open and crust over
Fever
Abdominal pain or loss of appetite
Mild headache
General feeling of unease and discomfort (malaise) or irritability
A dry cough
Headache

Once infected, you can spread the virus for up to 48 hours before the rash appears, and you remain contagious until all spots crust over.

The disease is generally mild in healthy children. In severe cases, the rash can spread to cover the entire body, and lesions may form in the throat, eyes and mucous membranes of the urethra, anus and vagina. New spots continue to appear for several days.

Treatment and Medication

In otherwise healthy children, chickenpox typically requires no medical treatment. Your doctor may prescribe an antihistamine to relieve itching. But for the most part, the disease is allowed to run its course.

For people who have a high risk of complications from chickenpox, doctors sometimes prescribe medications to shorten the duration of the infection and to help reduce the risk of complications.

If you or your child falls into a high-risk group, your doctor may suggest an antiviral drug such as acyclovir (Zovirax) or another drug called immune globulin intravenous (IGIV). These medications may lessen the severity of the disease when given within 24 hours after the rash first appears. Other antiviral drugs, such as valacyclovir (Valtrex) and famciclovir (Famvir), also may lessen the severity of the disease, but have been approved for use only in adults. In some cases, your doctor may recommend getting the chickenpox vaccine after exposure to the virus. This can prevent the disease or lessen its severity.

If complications do develop, your doctor will determine the appropriate treatment. Treatment for skin infections and pneumonia may be with antibiotics. Treatment for encephalitis is usually with antiviral drugs. Hospitalization may be necessary.

Don't give anyone with chickenpox — child or adult — any medicine containing aspirin because this combination has been associated with a condition called Reye's syndrome.

Treatment and Medication of Stretch Marks

2012-01-18T14:29:00.001+07:00

Stretch marks (striae) are pink, reddish or purplish indented streaks that often appear on the abdomen, breasts, upper arms, buttocks and thighs. Stretch marks are particularly common in pregnant women, especially during the latter half of pregnancy.
You may be concerned about these bright streaks on your skin, but stretch marks aren't serious and fade over time. In some cases, however, widespread stretch marks are a sign of a medical condition such as Cushing's syndrome or another adrenal gland disease. Treatments can fade the appearance of stretch marks but won't completely remove them.

Signs and Symptoms of Stretch Marks

Signs and symptoms of stretch marks include:

Indented streaks or lines in the skin
Multiple pink, red or purple streaks
Bright streaks that fade to light pink, white or grayish color

Stretch marks are common on the abdomen, breasts, upper arms, buttocks and thighs. Sometimes they can cover large areas of the body.

Causes of Stretch Mark

Stretch marks seem to be caused, literally, by a stretching of the skin, coupled with an increase in cortisone, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands. Cortisone may weaken elastic fibers in the skin.
Stretch marks develop in a variety of circumstances, including:

Pregnancy. Most pregnant women develop stretch marks by the end of their pregnancy. The physical stretching of the skin, along with hormonal factors, likely plays a role.
Weight gain. Stretch marks sometimes occur during substantial weight gain. Weightlifters also can develop stretch marks, particularly on the arms. Adolescents may notice stretch marks during growth spurts.
Medication use. Corticosteroid creams, lotions and pills, and chronic use of oral or systemic steroids can cause stretch marks.
Conditions or diseases. Cushing's syndrome and adrenal gland diseases can cause widespread stretch marks, as can Marfan syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and other hereditary (genetic) disorders.

Treatment and Medication

Although they may be a cosmetic concern, stretch marks are harmless and often fade over time. They don't require medical treatment. If you do seek treatment for stretch marks, know that treatments are only partially effective and won't remove the stretch marks completely.
The following treatments are among those available to help improve the appearance of stretch marks. None has been proved to be more consistently successful than the others.

Tretinoin cream. Some research has shown that tretinoin cream (Retin-A, Renova) may improve the appearance of recent stretch marks — those that are less than six weeks old and still pink or red in color. Tretinoin should never be used during pregnancy. Tretinoin, when it works, helps to rebuild collagen, making the stretch mark look more like your normal skin. Tretinoin can irritate your skin. This treatment isn't effective on older stretch marks.
Pulsed dye laser therapy. Used at wavelengths of light that are nonwounding (nonablative), this type of laser therapy remodels underlying skin (dermis) by stimulating the growth of collagen and elastin. Pulsed dye laser therapy is most effective when stretch marks are new, but it may still be effective on older stretch marks. This type of treatment may alter skin color on darker skin tones.
Fractional photothermolysis. Like pulsed dye laser therapy, this nonablative laser treatment uses wavelengths of light to stimulate new growth of collagen and elastin. The difference is that it causes partial (fractional) damage to small dot-like areas within a targeted zone. Because most of the treated area remains undamaged, the skin heals quickly.
Microdermabrasion. This type of treatment involves a hand-held device that blows crystals onto skin. These crystals gently abrade or "polish" the skin's surface. Then, a vacuum tube removes the crystals and skin cells. Microdermabrasion gently removes the skin's topmost layer, which may result in new skin growth that is more elastic. This therapy is an option for older stretch marks.
Excimer laser. The excimer laser does nothing for collagen or elastin growth. Instead, its aim is repigmentation by stimulating melanin production. If it works, the old and lighter streaks become similar in color to the surrounding skin, and therefore less visible. This is often used for older stretch marks.

Treatment and Medication for Cellulite

2012-01-17T15:39:00.003+07:00

Treatment and Medication - Cellulite refers to the appearance of dimpled skin on the thighs, hips, buttocks and abdomen of most women and some men, too. Cellulite is most common in areas of fat deposits and is the result of the unevenness of this fatty tissue beneath the skin surface. It is not a serious medical condition, but cellulite can be unsightly, and it may make you self-conscious when wearing shorts or a swimming suit.
Many cellulite treatments, including massages or cellulite creams, advertise remarkable results. But unfortunately, most of these treatments don't live up to their claims. Researchers are studying possible medical treatments. In the meantime, you can take a couple steps to slightly improve the appearance of cellulite.

Cellulite is caused by fibrous connective cords that tether the skin to the underlying muscle, with the fat lying between. As the fat cells accumulate, they push up against the skin, while the long, tough cords are pulling down. This creates an uneven surface or dimpling.

Cellulite looks like dimpled or bumpy skin. It's sometimes described as skin with a cottage cheese texture. Cellulite ranges in severity. Mild cases can be seen only when the skin is pinched — the dimpling appears in the pinched skin. More-severe cases make the skin appear rumpled and bumpy with areas of peaks and valleys. Cellulite is most common around the thighs and buttocks, but it can be found on the breasts, lower abdomen and upper arms as well.

Treatment and Medication

Weight loss
Weight loss — through healthy diet and regular exercise — is probably the most beneficial cellulite treatment. Losing pounds and strengthening muscles in your legs, thighs, buttocks and abdomen can improve the appearance of the dimpled skin. The benefits of weight loss alone are limited, however. Though the cellulite may be less noticeable after weight loss, it won't go away completely.
Lasers and radiofrequency systems
Perhaps the most promising medical therapy is lasers and radiofrequency systems. One system uses combined negative tissue massage, radiofrequency and infrared light to treat cellulite. Another system delivers combined tissue massage with diode laser energy. A third system uses radiofrequency at deep and superficial levels simultaneously to treat cellulite. All three systems offer improvements to cellulite after a series of treatments. Results may last up to six months.
Liposuction
Some people may turn to liposuction as a treatment for cellulite. During liposuction, a surgeon inserts a narrow tube under your skin through tiny incisions and then suctions out fat cells. Though liposuction can shape the body, it won't remove cellulite, and it may make the cellulite appear worse. Laser-assisted liposuction is a newer, less invasive form of this treatment that destroys fat cells while tightening the skin, and may be a more effective treatment for cellulite.
Topical treatment
A twice daily application of 0.3 percent retinol cream has been shown to improve the appearance of cellulite after six months.

Tips and Medication for Motion Sickness

2012-01-17T14:52:00.005+07:00

Treatment and Medication - Any type of transportation can cause motion sickness. It can strike suddenly, progressing from a feeling of uneasiness to a cold sweat, dizziness and then vomiting. Motion sickness usually quiets down as soon as the motion stops. The more you travel, the more easily you'll adjust to being in motion.
You may escape motion sickness by planning ahead. If you're traveling, reserve seats where motion is felt least:

By ship, request a cabin in the front or middle of the ship, or on the upper deck.
By plane, ask for a seat over the front edge of a wing. Once aboard, direct the air vent flow to your face.
By train, take a seat near the front and next to a window. Face forward.
By automobile, drive or sit in the front passenger's seat.

If you're susceptible to motion sickness:

Focus on the horizon or on a distant, stationary object. Don't read.
Keep your head still, while resting against a seat back.
Don't smoke or sit near smokers.
Avoid spicy and greasy foods and alcohol. Don't overeat.
Take an over-the-counter antihistamine, such as meclizine (Bonine), or one containing dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) at least 30 to 60 minutes before you travel. Expect drowsiness as a side effect.
Consider scopolamine (Transderm Scop), available in a prescription adhesive patch. Several hours before you plan to travel, apply the patch behind your ear for 72-hour protection. Talk to your doctor before using the medication if you have health problems such as asthma, glaucoma or urine retention.
Eat dry crackers or drink a carbonated beverage to help settle your stomach if you become ill.

Treatment and Medication of Ramsay Hunt Syndrome

2012-01-16T15:08:00.001+07:00

Treatment and Medication – Ramsay Hunt syndrome (herpes zoster oticus) occurs when a shingles infection affects the facial nerve near one of your ears. In addition to the painful shingles rash, Ramsay Hunt syndrome can cause facial paralysis and hearing loss in the affected ear.
Ramsay Hunt syndrome is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. After chickenpox heals, the virus lies dormant in your nerves. Years later, it may reactivate. If the virus reactivates and affects your facial nerve, the result is Ramsay Hunt syndrome. High doses of antiviral medications and corticosteroids are used to treat Ramsay Hunt syndrome. Prompt treatment can reduce your risk of complications, which can include permanent facial muscle weakness and deafness.

Causes of Ramsay Hunt Syndrome

Ramsay Hunt syndrome occurs in people who have had chickenpox. Once you recover from chickenpox, that virus can lie dormant in your body for years — sometimes reactivating in later years to cause shingles, a painful rash with fluid-filled blisters.
Ramsay Hunt syndrome is a shingles outbreak that affects the facial nerve near one of your ears. It typically also causes varying degrees of one-sided facial paralysis and hearing loss.

Symptoms of Ramsay Hunt Syndrome

The two main signs of Ramsay Hunt syndrome are:

A painful red rash with fluid-filled blisters on, in and around one ear
Facial weakness or paralysis on the same side as the affected ear

Usually, the rash and the facial paralysis develop at the same time. But in some cases, the rash will occur before the facial paralysis, or the paralysis before the rash. Sometimes, the rash never materializes.

The Treatment and Medication

Prompt treatment of Ramsay Hunt syndrome can ease pain and decrease your risk of long-term complications. Medications may include:

Antiviral drugs. Medications such as acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir) or valacyclovir (Valtrex) often help combat the chickenpox virus.
Corticosteroids. A short regimen of high-dose prednisone appears to boost the effect of antiviral drugs in Ramsay Hunt syndrome.
Anti-anxiety medications. Drugs like diazepam (Valium) can help relieve vertigo.
Pain relievers. The pain associated with Ramsay Hunt syndrome can be severe. Narcotic drugs — such as those containing oxycodone (Percocet, Oxycontin, others) or hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab, others) — may be needed.