Disease

Causes

Symptoms

Treatment/Management

AIDS

Human immuno-deficiency virus type 1 & 2

Variable symptoms: fever, diarrhea, loss of weight, Kaposi's sarcoma, infections with opportunistic microorganisms

No cure.  Symptomatic treatment. Zidovudine, Didanosine drugs

Alzheimer's disease

Not known.  Genetic predisposition

Loss of recent memory, language problems, mood swings, need assistance with eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, getting lost, unable to       walk, incontinent

No cure.  Frequent orientation to time and place, validation, sensory stimuli with radio and TV

Arthritis, Rheumatoid

Not known.

Hormonal imbalance,

genetic predisposition

Painful swollen joints, tiredness, impaired function

Diclofenac, Ibuprofen  drugs.  Local steroids, mild exercise

Asthma

Genetic predisposition,

viral infections,

pollution,

environmental chemicals

Wheezing, dyspnea, chest tightness, coughing

Inhaled & oral corticosteroids, Aminophylline, Salbutamol drugs

Diabetes Mellitus Type II

Not known.  Risk factors - obesity, genetic factors, physical inactivity

Frequent thirst, urination and hunger, weight loss, fatigue

Therapeutic diet, exercise and oral hypoglycemic drugs-Acarbose, Glipizide  

Disease

Causes

Symptoms

Treatment/Management

Epilepsy

Not known.  Risk factors-Brain tumors, trauma, infections

Auras, seizures, rigidness, olfactory and visual hallucinations

During seizures put patient on one side, loose clothing around neck.  Phenytoin, Clonazepam drugs

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A virus

Headache, anorexia, nausea, fever, jaundice, yellow color of eyes and urine

No specific treatment. Symptomatic improvement with Silymarin drug.  Bed rest, therapeutic diet

Hypertension

Not known. Risk factors-  smoking, high fatty & salty foods, obesity, alcoholism, stress, physical inactivity

Symptomless, occasional-  headache, dysnpea, fatigue

Decrease salt and fatty foods, quit smoking and alcohol. Propranolol, Frusemide  drugs

Malaria

Plasmodium species like P. falciparum and P.vivax

Periodic chills, fever, anemia

Bed rest. Chloroquine Phosphate, Quinine Sulphate drugs

Multiple Sclerosis

Not known-Risk factors- genetic predisposition, viral infections

Visual loss, diplopia, fatigue, urinary frequency, impotence, symptoms remit and relapse

For spasticity- Baclofen drug.  

For prophylaxis-  Interferon-beta drug.

Physical therapy

Diseases continued

Disease

Causes

Symptoms

Treatment/Management

Myocardial Infarction (MI) (Heart attack)

Risk factors -smoking, genetic predisposition, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, choleric temperament

Chest pain (precordial) radiating to left lower jaw and neck,  sweating, breathlessness malaise, nausea, vomiting, fainting, feeling of fear or doom

Immediate hospitalization, immediate treatment, I.V-Morphine Sulphate; oxygen; Aspirin, I.V- thrombolytic treatment with Streptokinase; bed rest; quit smoking; low fat and low cholesterol diet

Pneumonia

Streptococcus pneumoniae and sometime anaerobic bacteria

Fever, cough with sputum, breathlessness vomiting, mental confusion

Antibiotics-Ampicillin drug. Therapeutic diet

Psoriasis

Multifactorial- genetic predisposition, precipitating factors like trauma, stress, streptococcal infection

Itching, plaques, sometimes pustules, joint pain, unpleasant odor, chills, pitting or loosening of nails

Topical treatment-coal tar, steroids; phototherapy with ultraviolet B, systemic therapy with Methotrexate drug

Syphilis

Treponema pallidum

Primary stage-chancre; secondary stage-skin rashes, loss of hair; latent stage asymptomatic; tertiary stage- cardiovascular, nervous system damage

Penicillin drug for all stages - patient with hypersensitivity with Penicillin can be treated with Erythromycin drug

Diseases continued

Disease

Causes

Symptoms

Treatment/Management

Tuberculosis,

Pulmonary

(TB)

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Night sweats, fever, weight loss, fatigue,anorexia, cough-  mucoid sputum, hemoptysis

Prolonged treatment with regimen of drugs-Rifampin, Isomniazid and Ethambutol; vitamin pyridoxine supplement; smoking should be stopped;  balanced diet, increased      calorie intake

Vitiligo (Leuko-derma)

Not known, association with Addison's disease, diabetes mellitus, pernicious anemia, thyroid dysfunction, trauma especially to head

Depigmental patches on most of the skin

Topical corticosteroids; psoralens with ultra violet A; Methoxsalen/am-moidin drug; cover up cosmetics,   epidermic autografts; psychotherapy;  prolonged treatment