Author: Saroj Kumari

Pulmonary Embolism Pulmonary embolism is a condition where the pulmonary artery becomes blocked. The pulmonary artery is a blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the lungs. The material blocking the pulmonary artery is usually a blood clot that originates from the leg or another part of the body. The size of the blood clot that blocks is usually quite small, so it is not life-threatening. Even though the blood clot is small, it can still block the blood supply to certain organs. Therefore, it is important to treat this condition as soon as possible to avoid serious…

Emphysema Definition Emphysema is a lung disease that usually develops after years of smoking. It is part of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) group. When you have emphysema, the walls of the air sacs (alveoli) in your lungs are damaged. This makes the alveoli unable to function properly, causing obstruction (blockage) and trapping air in the lungs. Too much air trapped in the lungs can cause problems and symptoms. Also, because there are fewer functioning alveoli, less oxygen can get into the bloodstream. Many people often confuse chronic bronchitis with emphysema. Symptoms of Emphysema In some cases, people with emphysema may…

Empyema Definition Empyema is an accumulation of pus between the lung and the membrane that covers it (pleural space) that can occur when a lung becomes infected.  Symptoms of Empyema The initial symptoms, especially in thoracic empyema, are bacterial pneumonia. Patients who are treated inadequately or with inappropriate antibiotics may have an interval of several days between the clinical pneumonia phase and evidence of empyema. Most patients have fever, tachycardia, shortness of breath, cyanosis, and cough, and physical examination will reveal signs such as pleural effusion. Causes of Empyema More than 50 percent of empyema causes are parapneumonic effusions, while 25…

Encephalomalacia Encephalomalacia or brain softening is a condition caused by inflammation or bleeding in certain areas. This brain softening usually occurs in the leukoencephalomalacia or white matter of the brain and polioencephalomalacia or gray matter of the brain. This condition can be experienced by anyone of any age, from fetuses to the elderly. Encephalomalacia can cause brain changes with varying clinical manifestations. Almost all cases reported in infants and children are usually associated with neurological disorders. Symptoms of Encephalomalacia Symptoms of brain softening vary widely, depending on the part of the brain affected. Some common symptoms experienced by sufferers include:…

Encopresis Encopresis is a condition that usually occurs in children over the age of four. This condition causes a child to pass feces involuntarily, even though he or she should be able to use the toilet. The inability to hold a bowel movement due to encopresis is not something that is intentional. In general, encopresis is caused by an underlying medical condition, either physical or mental. Symptoms of Encopresis Symptoms of encopresis that can appear include: Large stools. Not wanting or refusing to defecate. Defecating in the pants is often considered diarrhea. Constipation and hard, dry stools. Long gap between…