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| Oral Cancer |
Oral cancer is the abnormal growth of cancerous cells inside the mouth. This commonly affects the tongue, gums, palate or roof of the mouth, and the inside of the cheeks. The problem is due to irritation of the mucous membranes lining the oral mucosa as a result of smoking and heavy drinking of alcohol. The condition sometimes start as a small ulcer.
A high percentage of cases result from smoking and chewing tobacco. Aside from heavy alcohol drinking, other causes include use of loosefitting dentures, poor oral hygiene, biting of lips and inner linings of the mouth, and exposure to ultraviolet light. All of these factors contribute to the irritation of tissues causing the damage of cells which then function abnormally producing cancer cells.
Regular dental check up is very important. A small lump or mass inside the mouth must be seen at once by your physician before it starts to grow and affect surrounding structures. A cancerous lump is usually painless initially and may become painful when the problem is advanced. The condition often leads to difficulty chewing and swallowing, pain around the teeth, jaw, or anywhere inside the mouth, sometimes with numbness of the tongue.
A sore in the mouth that does not heal must be examined immediately. Early conditions can be treated with surgical excision. If there is already spread to adjoining structures and the lump is bigger then radiation therapy and chemotherapy is given.
To decrease the risk of acquiring the condition strictly avoid use of tobacco products, drink alcohol moderately, and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. |
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| Diphtheria |
Diphtheria is a serious and very contagious bacterial infection affecting the nose and throat. It can also affect other parts of the body like the skin, kidneys, and heart. It may cause damage to these areas especially if left untreated.
The symptoms usually appear 2-4 days after infection. These include hoarseness, sore throat, pain on swallowing, fever, swollen glands in the neck, and weakness. The individual may also experience difficulty of breathing due to the presence of a thick, gray covering at the back of the throat. The bacteria which causes the condition produces a toxin which is responsible for the thick, gray covering in the throat. It is also the one which causes the painful swallowing.
The causative organism is called Corynebacterium diphtheriae. This bacteria is acquired by inhalation of droplets sneezed or coughed out by an infected person. It can also be acquired from the use of contaminated items or from close contact with body discharges of an infected person.
There is a high rate of transmission in those people living in unsanitary living conditions particularly those in crowded areas. Transmission is also high in immunocompromised individuals, the very young and the very old, and in unimmunized individuals.
When acquired the bacteria will then attack the mucous membrane lining the nose and throat and cause inflammation. The inflammation will then spread to adjacent areas leading to airway obstruction and other symptoms. The bacteria may release a poison which may cause damage to the vital organs.
Widespread immunization worldwide have decreased the incidence of this condition. When infected, use of antibiotics can kill the bacteria and decrease the transmission rate. Use of ventilator for those with difficulty of breathing is very helpful. Once infected there is a need for isolation to prevent transmission to susceptible individuals. |
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| Pharyngitis |
Pharyngitis is a direct infection of the pharynx by a variety of microorganisms. It can be caused by viruses such as adenovirus or influenza virus. It can also be caused by bacteria such as the Group A beta hemolytic streptococcus, Chlamydia pneumoniae, or Neisseria gonorrhea. In some individuals, pharyngitis is caused by conditions which irritate the pharynx like for example postnasal drip,or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
The most common bacterial cause of pharyngitis is Group A beta hemolytic streptococcus which causes strep throat. This condition is serious and needs adequate treatment. If it is untreated it may cause some complications like rheumatic fever or kidney problems. This type of pharyngitis usually presents with fever, redness and swelling of the tonsils and pharynx, swelling and tenderness of the anterior cervical lymph nodes, petechiae on palate, and headache.
The presence of colds or conjunctivitis makes one suspect of a viral cause. There can be additional symptoms of vomiting and/or mouth breathing.
The condition often spreads to family members hence the need to treat early. Antibiotics is usually given to those suspected of bacterial cause. Use of analgesics or pain relievers also help alleviate the condition. Other supportive measures include increase of fluid intake and warm salt gargles. |
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| Tonsillitis |
This condition is very common to preschool and school-age children characterized by inflammation of the tonsils. The tonsils are the tissues that you see on your throat located behind the tongue. They are part of the army that help prevent infection in our body. These are where the cells which fight invading viruses and bacteria are located. They become infected when the cells eat the invading substances leading to redness and swelling.
Tonsillitis is commonly caused by the bacteria called Streptococcus pyogenes. It can produce symptoms of severe pain in the throat which leads to difficulty of swallowing, tenderness in the jaw, patches of whitish discharge in the area, sometimes with headache, fever, and change in the sound and pitch of voice.
Use of antibiotics is the treatment of choice especially if it is caused by bacteria. Supportive measures like increase fluid intake, warm salt water gargle, and bed rest may improve the condition. Surgery can be done if recurrence is very frequent and if the condition affects breathing.
It is very important that treatment is instituted in this condition because some strains of the bacteria can spread to other parts or organs in the body and cause more problems. The bacteria may reach the skin, heart, or joints causing rheumatic fever. |
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| Oral thrush |
This condition is also called oral candidiasis. It is an infection of the mouth caused by the fungus Candida albicans. This fungus is present in the mouth and its growth is controlled normally. It becomes uncontrollable when the person’s immune system becomes compromised as is seen in times of illness, during pregnancy which causes hormonal changes, or after prolonged use of antibiotics which may disrupt the balance of the organisms normally thriving in the mouth.
This condition can be seen at any age group but it is common in infants, young children, diabetics, people with AIDS, and debilitated individuals. The lesion looks like an ulcer inside the mouth, creamy white like cottage cheese and is very painful. A child can have difficulty taking in meals during times of infection. The lesion can spread to other areas in the mouth and even up to the esophagus causing the condition called esophagitis.
It is important to prevent the spread of the infection by giving antifungal medicines for about 10 days. Maintaining good oral hygiene helps a lot. |
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| Pulmonary Tuberculosis |
PTB is a very common infectious disease usually seen in immunocompromised individuals. It primarily affects the lungs but other organs in the body may be involved. It is transmitted from person to person through inhalation of contaminated droplets coming from the sneeze or cough of an infected person. Once inhaled the bacteria enters and travels through the airways and becomes deposited in the lungs. The progression of the disease in the infected person depends now on the ability of the host to combat infection.
Normally our immune response is able to contain the infection so that the disease will not manifest clinically. If our body is not able to destroy the bacteria, this may stay and manifest sometime later in our life (dormant) or it may travel in other areas of the body and produce disease. This is called the primary infection and is usually seen in the young population. These children may have signs and symptoms of mild cough and fever, weight loss, night sweats, body malaise, and difficulty of breathing.
Individuals with compromised immune response are not able to contain the infection. The disease manifest clinically and they become acutely ill. Aside from fever, weight loss, fatigue, and breathing difficulty these individuals may cough up blood. This is called progressive primary tuberculosis.
Post primary tuberculosis is a reactivation of an old infection when the bacteria which is still in the body manifest signs and symptoms because the host’s immune response becomes compromised as a result of diseases or old age. This is usually seen years after the first infection.
Treatment includes use of multiple drugs taken daily for about six months or longer depending upon the response of the individual. It is important that the individual is free of the bacteria before discontinuing the medications. Early intervention is also important to prevent damage in the lungs. |
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| Cellulitis |
Cellulitis is a skin infection affecting the different layers of the skin. It is commonly seen in the face and in the skin of the lower extremities. It presents as red, tender, swollen, and warm skin which may be accompanied by fever. If not treated, the bacteria may reach the bloodstream and cause further problems.
The streptococcus and staphylococcus bacilli are the common causative organisms. The bacteria may enter through cracks in the skin caused by insect bites, cuts, punctured wounds, or any other opening in the skin.
Taking good care of wounds especially those in the legs is a good preventive measure. It is important to clean wounds daily and apply topical antibiotics to prevent spread of infection. Since the bacteria may also enter on dry skin, moisturizing the skin is also important. Once cellulitis has set in, oral antibiotics is given.
The risk of having this condition is higher in people with poor immune response, poor circulation, and people with chronic diseases which impairs the immune system." |
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| Pertussis |
Also known as whooping cough, this condition is a very contagious respiratory problem caused by the bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. The condition can be seen in all age groups but it is more severe in infants because of the violent coughing and difficulty of breathing it can cause. It may even produce permanent disability in these age group.
Bordetella pertussis is a gram negative aerobic coccobacillus spread from an infected person through the air after a cough or a sneeze. Inhaling the contaminated droplets allows the bacteria to enter and colonize the airway thus interfering with the normal mechanism of the body to eliminate foreign materials. It will then begin to produce signs and symptoms which include slight fever, sneezing, red watery eyes, runny nose, and coughing which increases in intensity over several days.
After about two weeks, the infected person begins to have severe prolonged coughing which usually ends with a whooping sound as the individual tries to breathe in air. The sound is common in older children. Severe coughing often leads to vomiting and appearance of tiny red spots on the skin surface and on the white of the eyes. This is called petechiae and is due to rupture of superficial blood vessels. Severe prolonged coughing also interfere with normal breathing and cause difficulty eating and drinking.
The condition can be treated with the use of antibiotics. Other supportive measures can be given depending on the needs of the patient. Oxygen, IV fluids, or sedatives if the patient has trouble in sleeping because of the severe cough.
The vaccine is given to children less than 6 years of age in combination with diptheria and tetanus vaccine (DPT vaccine). With the advent of immunization the incidence of pertussis has already declined. But still the adult population can still have the condition after the effect of the vaccine wanes. Adults are infected to a milder degree but they can still transmit the disease to unimmunized children. It is therefore very important for infants and children to have their immunization. |
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| Croup |
Croup is a condition characterized by a barking cough with difficulty of breathing. It is common in the young population during infancy and childhood. Causative factors may include allergy, viral, bacterial, or irritants but the most common of these is a viral cause.
The causative organism may enter the airway through the nose. It later on cause edema and swelling of the vocal cords. These vocal cords are the ones which vibrate and produce sound when air pass through them. Their swelling causes the symptoms of hoarseness, stridor, and barking cough.
Aside from the symptoms mentioned there can be bluish discoloration of the skin and dehydration if the condition becomes severe. Intubation of the patient is done with progressive airway obstruction and IV fluids given for dehydration. Oral medications are given depending on the needs of the patient. |
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| Bronchiectasis |
Bronchiectasis is a condition characterized by abnormal dilation of the large airways called bronchi because of destruction of its walls which is made up of muscular and elastic components. Destruction and inflammation leads to collapsible airways causing obstruction to airflow and impairment in the clearance of bronchial secretions. Accumulation of secretions causes colonization of infecting organisms which leads to production of foul-smelling sputum and more bronchial damage. This condition can be congenital or acquired. The congenital type is usually seen in the young population. This commonly results from problems in the normal development of the bronchial tree. The acquired type is seen in older children and in the adult population. It usually results from severe infections of the respiratory tract, airway obstruction by a foreign body or tumor, or a defect in host defense. Symptoms include cough productive of foul-smelling sputum, difficulty of breathing, fatigue, wheezing, coughing out blood because of bleeding of the bronchial artery, weight loss, bluish skin discoloration or cyanosis. For treatment, antibiotics are given to control the infection. In addition to that, expectorants are added to help expel the brochial secretions and bronchodilators to help relieve the airway obstruction. Avoiding smoking or exposure to second-hand smoke, avoiding air pollution, good nutrition, and childhood immunizations are some of the preventive measures for this condition. |
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