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Cerebral atrophy is the loss of neurons from the brain and the connections between them. It can be widespread leading to shrinkage of the whole brain or focal at one point. It can occur due to several reasons: age, Alzheimer's disease, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, Huntington's disease, ...etc.
When the brain tissue shrinks.
Leta Davis
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What are the symptoms of lupus cerebritis?
Symptoms of lupus cerebritis may include headaches, seizures , stroke , psychosis, dementia , peripheral neuropathy , cerebellar ataxia
What is the medical definition of encephalitis?
Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain, usually caused by a direct viral infection or a hyper-sensitivity reaction to a virus or foreign protein. Brain inflammation caused by a bacterial infection is sometimes called cerebritis.
What is the medical condition known as brain fever?
Brain fever is an inflammation or infection of the brain which causes a fever. The most common causes of a brain infection are Meningitis, Encephalitis and Cerebritis. Most causes of brain fever are viral, but they can also be bacterial or fungal as well.
What systems are affected by dementia?
Lupus can and does affect any system in the body. 40% of lupus patient develop kidney disease. Lupus patients have double the risk of cardiovascular events. Lupus can cause liver failure, cerebritis, seizures, neuropathy, bone marrow and blood issues, inflammation of the heart and lungs, and digestive problems. In lupus, the immune system attacks healthy tissue.
What are the diseases of the central nervous system?
Motor neuron disease, syphilis, parkinsons, alzheimers, dementia, cerebral palsy, cancer, PANDAS,1. Strokes2. Brain tumors (glioblastoma multiforme, astrocytomas, as so forth)3. Trauma (subdural hematoma, subarachnoid hemorrhage, etc.)4. Infectious diseases (meningitis, cryptococcus, etc.)5. Demyelinating diseases6. Congenital diseases (Down Syndrome, Turner Syndrome, Tay-Sachs, etc.)7. Autoimmune diseases (Lupus cerebritis, etc.)8. Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease.9. Dementias (Alzheimer's Type, Vascular Type, Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, etc.)Mental illnesses, diseases, and disorders all affect the brain. Some of these are ADD, manic/depressive, depression, OCD, multiple personality disorder, PTSD, Schizophrenia, Parkinson's, and so on.Alcoholism, a chronic illness involving the excessive ingestion of alcohol. Alcoholism is thought to come from a combination of a wide range of physiological, psychological, social, and genetic factors. It is characterized by an emotional and often physical dependence on alcohol, and it frequently leads to brain damage or early death.Altitude Sickness or Mountain Sickness, condition caused by reduced oxygen pressure at high altitudes, sometimes occurring in hikers due to rapid ascent to high altitudes.The common symptoms of altitude sickness are headache, shortness of breath, sleep disturbances, and sometimes nausea.Alzheimer's Disease, is a progressive disease of the brain characterized by confusion, loss of memory, disorientation, restlessness, speech disturbances, inability to carry out normal movements, and hallucinations. It usually starts after age 65, but there is a rare and very aggressive form of the disease, known as early-onset Alzheimer's disease, that can affect people as young as age thirty. The doctors ability to diagnose Alzheimer's disease has improved over the years, but final diagnosis can be confirmed only at autopsy.Amnesia, loss of memory. It may be caused by brain injury or cerebral arteriosclerosis, or by functional nervous disorders, such as hysteria. Amnesia may be total, with complete loss of recall; or partial, occurring only immediately before or after a traumatic event; or systematic, relating to a particular type or group of experiences. Amnesia is a symptom rather than a disease, and treatment attempts to determine and remove the basic cause.Autism , is a disorder that impairs development of a person's ability to communicate, interact with other people, and maintain normal every- day activities. Symptoms of autism usually begin during infancy. Autistic infants may stiffen up or go limp when picked up by parents rather than clinging or cuddling up to them. Autistic infants often show little or no interest in other people and have trouble with social behaviors. Autistic children also have difficulties with language. Autism results from biological abnormalities in brain structure and function. Studies have found that autistic people have abnormally low blood flow to certain parts of the brain and reduced numbers of certain brain cells.Concussion of the Brain, injury to the brain from a fall or a blow to the head, usually with loss of consciousness. When you have a concssion you do not want to take aspirin for the pain. The doctors recommened that you do not let the person fall asleep. Pressure on the brain stem slows down your breathing and your pulse rate goes down. More symptoms include pallor, sweating, and a drop in blood pressure. Dizziness, nausea, and a dull, restless feeling often follow a return to consciousness. Aftereffects such as headaches, dizziness, and nervousness may continue for several days, weeks, or even years after the initial injury. A concussion may temporarily or permanently damage the nerve tissue, causing amnesia, irritability, and fatigue. Memory is sometimes affected. Recovery from a concussion is usually complete.Epilepsy, called seizure disorder. It is a brain disorder that briefly interrupts the normal electrical activity of the brain. It causes seizures, by a variety of symptoms including uncontrolled movements of the body, disorientation or confusion, sudden fear, or loss of consciousness. Epilepsy can also result from a head injury, stroke, brain tumor, lead poisoning, genetic conditions, or severe infections like meningitis or encephalitis.Fainting, dizziness or weakness accompanied by brief loss of consciousness, associated with insufficient oxygen in the brain. The cause is usually a disturbance in blood circulation due to fatigue, pain, shock, abnormal blood pressure, arterial blockage, or heart failure. The person fainting should be placed in a position that will quickly bring blood to the brain.Headache, pain in any part of the head.The majority of headaches belong to one of three main groups: migraine, a recurrent, severe headache. Some headaches can be accompanied by nausea and sometimes loss or impaired vision. Most tension headaches can be treated with mild analgesics such as aspirin and acetaminophen.Mental Retardation, disorder in which a person's overall intellectual functioning is well below average, with an intelligence of around 70 or less. People with mental retardation also have trouble with everyday situations. The impairment may interfere with learning, communication, self-care, independent living, social interaction, play, work, and safety. Mental retardation appears in childhood, before age 18.Stroke, is damage to the brain from blockage in blood flow and loss of blood from blood vessels in the brain. Without oxygen and nutrients from blood in the circulatory system, sections of brain tissue quickly deteriorate or die, resulting in paralysis of limbs or organs controlled by the affected brain area. Rehabilitation from stroke requires help from neurologists, physical therapists, speech therapists, and other medical persons... and quite a few more.Acoustic NeuromaAcquired Brain InjuryAgenesis Corpus CallosumAlzheimer's DiseaseAmyotrophic Lateral DiseasesAneurysmAphasiaArteriovenous MalformationBatten DiseaseBehcet's DiseaseBlepharospasmBrain Tumour and Brain CancerCerebral PalsyCervical DystoniaCharcot-Marie-Tooth DisorderChiari MalformationChronic Inflammatory Demyelinated PolyneuropathyComa and Persistent Vegetative StateConcussionCreutzfedlt-Jakob DiseaseDementia (non-Alzheimer type)Down SyndromeDysautonomiaDyslexiaDyspraxiaDystoniaEncephalitisEpilepsyEssential TremorFriedreich's AtaxiaGaucher DiseaseGuillain-Barre SydromeHuntington's DiseaseHydrocephalusLeukodystrophyMeniere's DiseaseMeningitisMeningococcal DiseaseMigraineMotor Neurone DiseaseMultiple SclerosisMuscular DystrophyMyasthenia GravisNarcolepsyParkinson's DiseasePeripheral NeuropathyPrader-Willi SydnromeProgressive Supranuclear PalsyRestless Legs SyndromeRett SyndromeShy Drager SyndromeSleep DisordersSpasmodic DysphoniaStrokeSubarachnoid HaemorrhageSydenham's ChoreaTay-Sachs DiseaseTourette SyndromeTransient Ischaemic AttackTransverse MyelitisTrigeminal NeuroalgiaTuberous SclerosisVon-Hippel-Lindau SyndromeOne brain disease is called polymicrogyria, also called PMG. People who have PMG can never be able to walk, talk, move by themselves, understand people, and their symptoms are drooling, crossed eyes, seizures, and many other things.Diseases of the brain are known as 'neurological disorders.' Psychological disorders also fall into this category, though they are usually branched off due to the vast amount of them, and the fact that many can be treated via therapy.There are far too many neurological/psychological disorders out there than can be named in this post, but some common ones are schizophrenia, Alzheimer's, Huntington's Chorea, Parkinson's Disease, Seasonal Anxiety Disorder, etc.
Malaria?
DefinitionMalaria is a parasitic disease that involves high fevers, shaking chills, flu-like symptoms, and anemia.Alternative NamesQuartan malaria; Falciparum malaria; Biduoterian fever; Blackwater fever; Tertian malaria; PlasmodiumCauses, incidence, and risk factorsMalaria is caused by a parasite that is transmitted from one human to another by the bite of infected Anophelesmosquitoes. In humans, the parasites (called sporozoites) travel to the liver, where they mature and release another form, the merozoites. These enter the bloodstream and infect the red blood cells.The parasites multiply inside the red blood cells, which then rupture within 48 to 72 hours, infecting more red blood cells. The first symptoms usually occur 10 days to 4 weeks after infection, though they can appear as early as 8 days or as long as a year after infection. Then the symptoms occur in cycles of 48 to 72 hours.The majority of symptoms are caused by the massive release of merozoites into the bloodstream, the anemia resulting from the destruction of the red blood cells, and the problems caused by large amounts of free hemoglobin released into circulation after red blood cells rupture.Malaria can also be transmitted from a mother to her unborn baby (congenitally) and by blood transfusions. Malaria can be carried by mosquitoes in temperate climates, but the parasite disappears over the winter.The disease is a major health problem in much of the tropics and subtropics. The CDC estimates that there are 300-500 million cases of malaria each year, and more than 1 million people die. It presents a major disease hazard for travelers to warm climates.In some areas of the world, mosquitoes that carry malaria have developed resistance to insecticides. In addition, the parasites have developed resistance to some antibiotics. This has led to difficulty in controlling both the rate of infection and spread of this disease.Falciparum malaria, one of four different types of malaria, affects a greater proportion of the red blood cells than the other types and is much more serious. It can be fatal within a few hours of the first symptoms.SymptomsAnemiaChillsComaConvulsionFeverHeadacheJaundiceMuscle painNauseaStools, bloodySweatingVomitingSigns and testsDuring a physical examination, the doctor may identify an enlarged liver or an enlarged spleen. Malaria blood smears taken at 6 to 12 hour intervals confirm the diagnosis.TreatmentMalaria, especially Falciparum malaria, is a medical emergency requiring hospitalization. Chloroquine is a frequently used anti-malarial medication, but quinidine or quinine plus doxycycline, tetracycline, or clindamycin; or atovaquone plus proguanil (Malarone); or mefloquine or artesunate; or the combination of pyrimethamine and sulfadoxine, are given for chloroquine-resistant infections. The choice of medication depends in part on where you were when you were infected.Aggressive supportive medical care, including intravenous (IV) fluids and other medications and breathing (respiratory) support may be needed.Expectations (prognosis)The outcome is expected to be good in most cases of malaria with treatment, but poor in Falciparum infection with complications.ComplicationsDestruction of blood cells (hemolytic anemia)Liver failure and kidney failureMeningitisRespiratory failure from fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema)Rupture of the spleen leading to massive internal bleeding (hemorrhage)Calling your health care providerCall your health care provider if you develop fever and headache after visiting the tropics.PreventionMost people living in areas where malaria is common have acquired some immunity to the disease. Visitors will not have immunity, and should take preventive medications. It is important to see your health care provider well before your trip, because treatment may begin is long as 2 weeks before travel to the area, and continue for a month after you leave the area. The types of anti-malarial medications prescribed will depend on the area you visit. According to the CDC, travelers to South America, Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Asia, and the South Pacific should take one of the following drugs: mefloquine, doxycycline, choroquine, hydroxychoroquine, or Malarone.Even pregnant women should take preventive medications because the risk to the fetus from the medication is less than the risk of acquiring a congenital infection.People on anti-malarial medications may still become infected. Avoid mosquito bites by wearing protective clothing over the arms and legs, using screens on windows, and using insect repellent.Chloroquine has been the drug of choice for protection from malaria. But because of resistance, it is now only suggested for use in areas where Plasmodium vivax, P. oval, and P. malariae are present. Falciparum malaria is becoming increasingly resistant to anti-malarial medications.For travelers going to areas where Falciparum malaria is known to occur, there are several options for malaria prevention, including mefloquine, atovaquone/Proguanil (Malarone), and doxycycline.Travelers can call the CDC for information on types of malaria in a given geographical area, preventive drugs, and times of the year to avoid travel. See: www.cdc.govReferencesKrogstad DJ. Malaria. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds.Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier. 2007: chap 366.
