Mushroom Poisoning
Posted on June 15, 2010
Filed Under Diet & Food, Disease | Leave a Comment
Accidental consumption of toxic or poisonous mushrooms to be confused with other edible is a common problem as more people are inexperienced in the world of fungi and mushrooms. Mushroom poisoning can range from trivial to minor or severe, depending on the mushroom responsible.
The deadly amanita
the problem of the three deadly amanita (A. haloids, A. virus and A. Verna) is that they are perfidious; no poisoning is usually detected until the venom is completely absorbed by the body.
How these poisonings occur?
In less serious cases, symptoms appear between 15 minutes and 4 hours after ingestion and are mainly gastrointestinal with nausea, vomiting, crimpy abdominal pain or intermittent liquid stools that when there are many, can cause dehydration. Depending on the mushroom may be involved other signs and symptoms.
In severe poisoning by a mushroom known as Amanita haloids very dangerous or similar species, symptoms appear between 7 and 48 hours after ingestion and are manifested by nausea, intense vomiting, watery diarrhea prominent abdominal pain, muscle cramps and headaches. These symptoms gradually improved, but at 48-72 hours may be signs of serious liver failure in a massive cell death accompanied by acute kidney failure that can cause death in many cases. The cause of these problems is a toxin produced by this type of mushroom called aflatoxin.
Without cooking mushrooms in a bowl
Poisoning can be severe, depending on the mushroom responsible.
© PhotoDisc
How is diagnosed with this type of poisoning?
Mushroom poisoning is difficult to diagnose, primarily in severe cases, where the time from ingestion to onset of symptoms is long, so that patients do not relate the symptoms with the ingestion of wild mushrooms. This is the main characteristic of aflatoxin poisoning, as this was said in some varieties of amanita: when it comes to diagnosing the cause of the poisoning may be fatally late.
The diagnosis is mainly based on clinical suspicion and in the history of ingestion of the mushrooms. In some cases you can isolate the toxins produced by fungi in the stomach contents and faces.
What treatments are used?
Mild poisoning by mushrooms produces basically a box acute gastroenteritis most of which are small and self-gravity.
Do not ever take
A mushroom with three key characteristics (although this precaution does not guarantee the edibility excludes cart amanita three ‘bad’, which cause 90% of deaths from mushroom):
# White sheets,
# Ring and
# Return.
Medical treatment aims to prevent dehydration and to alleviate fever and malaise. Proposes the rich oral dehydration fluids (sugar water, alkaline water lemonade, various commercial preparations dehydration, etc…), Taken in small doses to test the tolerance of the stomach and prevent nausea and vomiting. After 24 hours and if there is no nausea or vomiting, will commence astringent diet to combat diarrhea.
Poisoning are treated with less severe intestinal cleaning (induction of vomiting or gastric ravage and induction of diarrhea), total diet, for intravenous dehydration and certain medicines to control the symptoms.
In severe poisoning, in addition to diet and absolute replenishing fluids and electrolytes, there are certain specific treatments depending on the cause of mushroom poisoning.
In severe poisoning, in addition to diet and absolute replenishing fluids and electrolytes, there are certain specific treatments depending on the cause of mushroom poisoning.
Worms
Posted on June 9, 2010
Filed Under Disease | Leave a Comment
What are worms?
“Worms” is the popular form is known with the infection of the intestine caused by a parasite called Entropies vermicular is. These parasites are also called osiers so the disease is also known as oxiurasis.
This infection is relatively common throughout the world and affects people of all ages and socioeconomic levels, but is especially common in children, especially those aged between 5 and 14 years.
What situations predispose to suffer this infection?
There are several risk factors:
* to live in congested and densely populated neighborhoods
* Poor hygiene
Overcrowding *
* the warm weather
* Reside in closed institutions or in families with infections by this parasite.
This infection is practically harmless, that is, does not cause significant damage and actually cause more social problems those doctors in the affected children and their families.
What is their cause and about the infection?
Human beings infected by ingestion of embrocated eggs of the parasite are normally found in the nails of the fingers or clothing of persons who have acquired the infection.
The eggs will hatch in the stomach and the larvae are directed to the blind, a portion of the large intestine, where they become mature worms or adult worms.
The worms are white and small, about one centimeter long.
Pregnant animals at night going to the margins of the anus which lay their eggs, which irritates it and causes itching. The autoinfection is produced by scratching the anus and the transport of infectious eggs with their hands or under the nails to the mouth, thus repeating the process again.
How the infection is manifested?
Most infections do not produce any symptoms. When they do, the predominant symptom is prorates or itching of the anus, which is more intense at night or worse, it can cause insomnia of the person submitting the infection. Less frequently can be expressed by one of the following ways:
* Itching in the perineum or area between the genitals and anus
* Infection of the vagina in girls or women
* Abdominal pain
* Wetting the bed at night.
How is the disease diagnosed?
The doctor may suspect the patient is suffering from the disease by the symptoms the patient tells you, but the final diagnosis is established when they are eggs of parasites or worms.
The eggs can be easily obtained through a test called “proof of zeal,” which consists in placing a transparent cellophane tape on the skin around the anus first thing in the morning after that is fixed on a slide and examined under microscope in the laboratory.
They often require repeated examinations to make the eggs in at least three different days to confirm the diagnosis. It may be advisable to examine all family members.
Other tests are less used to illuminate at night with a flashlight the anus to look for eggs or worms or even examine the remains of stool after a physical examination with a DRE.
What other diseases can be confused infection?
It is important to differentiate mild intestinal infection that causes itching of the anus, such as skin diseases such as dermatitis or psoriasis or other skin infections by fungi, viruses or other parasites, like scabies.
How is this disease?
It is essential to take a series of measures as initial treatment of this infection:
* the bed linen and underwear of infected persons should be washed with hot water.
* It is essential to good hand washing, and can help prevent the transmission of parasites and their eggs, and a shower with good hygiene, clean nails, etc…
* Wash the anus and genitals at least once a day, preferably in the shower.
* Do not scratch the anus or put your fingers near the nose or mouth.
Alongside these measures, medical treatment is based on a specific ant parasitic medicine to all individuals infected and symptomatic of his entire family, the high power of transmission of these parasites.
Sometimes (for example, children who sleep in institutions of any type) may be necessary to repeat the treatment every 3 or 4 months to ensure the elimination of germs.
What complications can arise in this disease?
We have seen that an infection is often little problematic. However, sometimes complications may arise:
* Scratching around the anus and can cause abrasions and infections of the skin added by other germs more aggressive as some bacteria.
* In girls infections can occur as their genitals vulvovaginitis, infections of the endometrial or fallopian tubes, etc…
* Also infections may appear in the urine.
Peruse Dr. Salvador Martinez, a specialist in Family and Community Medicine.
Amebic dysentery
Posted on June 1, 2010
Filed Under Constipation | Leave a Comment
Reviewed by Dr. Alberto de Miguel Fernández Baraga, a specialist in Internal Medicine
what is amebic dysentery?
The term dysentery is used to describe the infectious diseases that have bloody diarrhea. Different microorganisms capable of producing dysentery. When we talk about refers to amebic dysentery caused by a type of amoeba: Endameba histolytic.
Odorless
Avoid raw vegetables and fruits with skin, as well as ice cream or ice.
© Net Doctor / Geri
the amoebae are not bacteria or virus but protozoa, i.e., organisms from a single cell whose structure is similar to those of higher animals. This makes them resistant to antibiotics usual because, in general, they perform their action on the structures that characterize the bacteria and distinguish them from the higher animals.
The parasite is acquired by consuming water or food contaminated with amoebic cysts. The parasite is established in the intestine where they can live as “guests” without causing any disease, an intestinal inflammation or produce, through the intestinal wall, pass into the blood and cause disease in other organs like the liver, lungs or brain .
Amoeba infection is a very common problem, spread throughout the world, but that is more common in underdeveloped countries. Overall we can say that in 10% of the world population is detected intestinal meiosis, but this figure reaches 30% in less developed countries of the tropics, particularly Mexico, Central and South America, Africa, India and Southeast Asia .
Amoeba infection
Look at ‘Ask the doctor’ this query to our team on this type of infection
of ten people with amoeba cysts in their feces, only one developed symptoms of the disease. This large discrepancy could be explained by the existence of another species of ameba unable to produce disease: Endameba disbar, which microscopic examination was identical to Endameba histolytic.
Mortality is not negligible. Indeed it is, after malaria and schistosomiasis (malaria), the parasitic disease that causes more deaths in the world.
In Spain the disease is rare, with fewer than 50 cases annually in recent published data. The vast majority of cases develop in immigrants from tropical or subtropical countries, or tourists who have traveled to these countries in the past months. A small proportion of cases come from low hygiene measures, as, unfortunately, some nursing homes. The disease is also more common among gay men.
Related Articles
Diarrhea # Traveler
# Infant Diarrhea
# Diarrhea (general)
Salmonella #
# Worms
How the disease is acquired?
The disease is acquired through ingestion of food or water contaminated with Endameba histolytic. Contagion occurs following a pattern common to many other diseases, which is called fecal-oral transmission. This simply means that it acquires through the mouth that is swallowed with water or food and is excreted in the feces.
In nature, the parasite exists in two different forms or states, or free-form trophozoites which are the active form the parasite takes on form favorable environments and encysted or cyst that is transformed when the environment is adverse.
Infected patients eliminated in their feces million daily amoeba cysts, which are fairly resistant and can remain viable over time.
Poor management of faucal water and the absence of a network of water supply quality, allowing the contaminated water used for drinking, irrigation and for cooking. Poor hygienic habits like not washing their hands after the deposition, also contribute to contaminate food during preparation or handling.
If for any reason the encysted amoebae contaminate water or food and are ingested, they are able to resist stomach acid and pass into the small intestine where the trophozoites are released a new infection to occur. Some trophozoites will encysted in the colon and are eliminated by the feces, thus closing the circuit
will travel?
We suggest a look at our section on ‘Health of the traveler,’ where you will find information to prevent any possible health. Other sections of interest:
# Digestive system
# Infectious Diseases
why does this occur?
In most cases, the trophozoites bind to the lining of the colon (large intestine) and live there as guests, but without causing disease producing encysted forms are eliminated in feces and spread.
Less often, probably in relation to the ability of some strains to produce a series of proteins that damage our cells and tissues, producing ulcers in the lining of the colon. On rare occasions they penetrate the blood vessels and are transported by blood to the liver or other organs where they produce large tissue destruction.
What symptoms do you have?
As we have said the vast majority of infections are asymptomatic, so these people do not seek medical help and are not treated, but remove cysts in their feces and thus contribute to spreading the infection.
Patients with symptoms usually show a progressive picture which develops over a period of 10 to 20 days characterized by:
* Diarrhea: the most classical there are 8-12 stools per day. Despite the urgent desire to defecate volume removed in each deposition is small or at least lower than would be expected for the inconvenience that can not produce and relieve pain or desire to defecate.
* Blood in the stool
* Abdominal pain low
* Less frequent fever and weight loss
* some cases are more severe, with copious diarrhea and high fever and may have severe complications such as intestinal perforation and peritonitis (inflammation of the peritoneum).
Sometimes, with a prior history of dysentery or not, the amoebae are able to cross the wall of the large intestine, enter the bloodstream and reach distant organs of the intestine, where they produce amebic abscess (a hole filled with pus). As the blood leaves the intestine after passing through the liver, most of amebic abscesses are located in this body. In the case of tourists, this complication is often two to five months after having left the area where the infection.
Amebic abscess is usually manifested by fever, general deterioration and pain in the upper right abdomen.
How is it diagnosed?
The risk of developing one or another form of dysentery meiosis for a Spanish that has not traveled to an endemic area and who lives in the hygienic standard is very low.
The diagnosis of amebic dysentery is often suspected before the onset of diarrhea with blood during a trip to tropical countries or in the first two months after the return of it. However it will be necessary to confirm this suspicion because many intestinal infections by bacteria and some inflammatory bowel diseases may lead to bloody diarrhea boxes.
The doctor initially requested one or more studies of stool cultures to rule out that the problem has a bacterial origin and microscopic tests to demonstrate the fresh presence of amoeba. It could also indicate whether initially or stool examination is negative, the testing of blood for the development of defenses against Endameba. In other cases it may be necessary to perform an endoscope study of part of the intestine to view the status of the mucosa of the colon and take samples or perform ultrasound or CT (scan) to assess liver involvement.
Severe cases of dysentery caused significant overall effect, very high fever or abdominal pain, those with complications that are suspected of involvement of other organs should be referred to hospital.
Is it necessary if you do not have symptoms?
If you look at the stool of a person who has no dysentery, amoebas could be discovered of Endameba histolytic or Endameba disbar. In the event that the latter would not give problems, but most laboratories are unable to differentiate these two species, it is preferable to assume that this is Endameba histolytic and the treatment.
How is it treated?
Amebic dysentery is treated with metronidazole (Flaggy, Metronidazole EFG). The dose for adults is 750 mg every 8 hours for at least 5 days. During treatment you can not drink alcohol. Since metronidazole is not active against encysted forms, treatment is usually continued with paromomycin (Hum tin) for one more week to prevent the spread of the disease.
It is extremely important hygiene measures that should be routine, especially hand washing with soap after going to the bathroom and before eating or handling food.
In the case of infected without symptoms (carrier) is a sufficient treatment with paromomycin. If there are complications or involvement outside of the large intestine will require hospital treatment complex.
What can be done to prevent amebic dysentery?
Tourists traveling tropical countries where malaria is common should avoid consumption of potentially contaminated water or food by taking a series of measures that serve to prevent dysentery and other diseases from fecal-oral transmission.
Measures for water and drinks:
* Use bottled water.
* Do not swallow water from taps, fountains or springs without boiling for several minutes beforehand. You can also treat the water with a micron filter and then preferably by a chemical disinfection iodations (tincture of iodine 2%) because the amoeba chlorine resist quite well.
* Do not add ice cubes for drinks because they can be made with contaminated water.
* Do not brush your teeth with tap water or sources.
* Wine, beer, canned or bottled drinks and prepared with boiled water (coffee and tea) can be considered safe.
* In general it is better to drink directly from the bottle to use containers that may be dirty or bad dry.
Regarding food:
* Avoid street stalls and places of poor hygiene.
* Avoid raw foods, cooked or not cooked just recently.
* Avoid salads and other foods based on raw vegetables.
Take the fruit after peeling personally.
There is no vaccine. Metronidazole may be useful to bring a treat if you’re traveling to remote tropical areas where it can be difficult to gain access to a doctor or hospital.
What is the likely evolution of the disease?
The prognosis in asymptomatic cases and dysentery treated classical is good. By contrast, the intestinal disease with complications and impairment of organs outside the intestine has a high mortality even with proper treatment.