ResearchOutput

Submitted By:Prince Bryle VillasisJudy Ann GelladoCazzy Lynne AmarJestine AgodilosAlexandra Gavrielle Onato

Submitted To: Maam Yolly B. Suerte

SymptomsWEIGHT LOSS Weight loss, in the context of medicine, health, or physical fitness, is a reduction of the total body mass, due to a mean loss of fluid, body fat or adipose tissue and/or lean mass, namely bone mineral deposits, muscle, tendon, and other connective tissue. It can occur unintentionally due to an underlying disease or can arise from a conscious effort to improve an actual or perceived overweight or obese state.Characteristics Serious weight loss may reduce quality of life, impair treatment effectiveness or recovery, worsen disease processes and be a risk factor for earlier mortality. Malnutrition can affect every function of the human body, from the cells to the most complex functions, including: immune response; wound healing; muscle strength (including respiratory muscles); renal capacity and depletion leading to water and electrolyte disturbances; thermoregulation; and menstruation.

Weight loss issues related to specific diseases include: Cancer, a very common and sometimes fatal cause of unexplained (idiopathic) weight loss. About one-third of unintentional weight loss cases are secondary to malignancy. Cancers to suspect in patients with unexplained weight loss include gastrointestinal, prostate, hepatobillary (hepatocellular carcinoma, pancreatic cancer), ovarian, hematologic or lung malignancies. People with HIV often experience weight loss, and it is associated with poorer outcomes. Wasting syndrome is an AIDS-defining condition Renal disease. Patients who haveuremiaoften have poor or absent appetite,vomitingand nausea. This can cause weight loss. Connective tissue disease Oral, taste or dental problems (including infections) can reduce nutrient intake leading to weight loss.

FEVER Fever (also known as pyrexia or febrile response) is one of the most common medical signs and is characterized by an elevation of body temperature above the normal range of 36.537.5 C (97.799.5 F) due to an increase in the temperature regulatory set-point. This increase in set-point triggers increased muscle tone and chills.As a person's temperature increases, there is, in general, a feeling of cold despite an increase in body temperature. Once the new temperature is reached[clarification needed], there is a feeling of warmth.A fever can be caused by many different viral or bacterial conditions ranging from benign to potentially serious. Some studies suggest that fever is useful as a defense mechanism as the body's immune response can be strengthened at higher temperature, however there are arguments for and against the usefulness of fever, and the issue is controversial. With the exception of very high temperatures, treatment to reduce fever is often not necessary; however, antipyretic medications can be effective at lowering the temperature, which may improve the affected person's comfort.Fever differs from uncontrolled hyperthermia, in that hyperthermia is an increase in body temperature over the body's thermoregulatory set-point, due to excessive heat production or insufficient thermoregulation.

Signs and Symptoms A fever is usually accompanied by sickness behavior, which consists of lethargy, depression, anorexia, sleepiness, hyperalgesia, and the inability to concentrate.Fever is a common symptom of many medical conditions: Infectious disease, e.g., influenza, AIDS, malaria, infectious mononucleosis, or gastroenteritis Various skin inflammations, e.g., boils, or abscess Immunological diseases, e.g., lupus erythematosus, sarcoidosis, inflammatory bowel diseases, Kawasaki disease Tissue destruction, which can occur in hemolysis, surgery, infarction, crush syndrome, rhabdomyolysis, cerebral hemorrhage, etc. Reaction to incompatible blood products Cancers, most commonly kidney cancer and leukemia and lymphomas Metabolic disorders, e.g., gout or porphyria Thrombo-embolic processes, e.g., pulmonary embolism or deep venous thrombosisManagement Fever should not necessarily be treated. Most people recover without specific medical attention. Although it is unpleasant, fever rarely rises to a dangerous level even if untreated. Damage to the brain generally does not occur until temperatures reach 42 C (107.6 F), and it is rare for an untreated fever to exceed 40.6 C (105 F).Medications Medications that lower fevers are called antipyretics. The antipyretic ibuprofen is effective in reducing fevers in children. It is more effective than acetaminophen (paracetamol) in children. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen may be safely used together in children with fevers. The efficacy of acetaminophen by itself in children with fevers has been questioned. Ibuprofen is also superior to aspirin in children with fevers. Additionally, aspirin is not recommended in children and young adults (those under the age of 16 or 19 depending on the country) due to the risk of Reye's syndrome.Using both paracetamol and ibrupofen at the same time or alternative between the two is more effective at decreasing fever than using only paracetamol or ibuprofen. It is not clear if it increases child comfort.

SORE THROAT A sore throat refers to pain, itchiness, or irritation of the throat. You may have difficulty swallowing food and liquids, and the pain may get worse when you try to swallow. Throat pain is the primary symptom of a sore throat. However, other symptoms may include a dry throat, swollen glands in the neck, white patches on the tonsils, and hoarseness.A sore throat can affect people of all ages, however, the risk of a sore throat is higher in some people. This includes children, smokers, allergy sufferers, and people with a compromised immune system. Sharing a close space with others also increases the risk of upper respiratory infections that can present initially as a sore throat.CausesThere are several causes of a sore throat.Viral InfectionThe majority of sore throats are triggered by a viral infection. These are infections caused by a virus, such as the cold and flu.Other types of viral infections include: mononucleosis: infectious disease typically transmitted through saliva measles: contagious illnesses characterized by a distinct rash and fever chickenpox: infection that causes skin sores croup: infection of the larynxBacterial InfectionA bacterial infection can also cause a sore throat. These types of infections include: strep throat: inflammation of the throat caused by the Streptococcal bacteria diphtheria: infectious disease that causes throat inflammation whooping cough: disease of the respiratory mucous membraneTreatment The treatment for a sore throat depends on the cause. However, you can treat many sore throats at home. Home treatment options include: gargling with warm salt water drinking plenty of warm fluids, such as teas, soup, and water avoiding allergens and irritants, such as smoke and chemicals taking throat lozenges reducing inflammation with ibuprofen or acetaminophenIf a bacterial infection causes your sore throat, your doctor will prescribe a course of antibiotics to kill the infectious organisms. You should take your medication for 10 days or as prescribed by your doctor to treat the bacterial infection. A sore throat may recur if you stop treatment early.Prevention Many underlying causes of sore throats are infectious, and there are certain steps you can help you prevent future infection. Repeatedly washing your hands throughout the day kills germs and bacteria that can cause viral and bacterial infections. Additional steps that you can take to prevent a sore throat include: Do not share drinking glasses or utensils with others. Use hand sanitizers whenever soap and water are not available. Limit contact with commonly touched surfaces. Reduce exposure to allergens, such as pollen, dust, and mold. Avoid cigarette smoke. Keep a humidifier in your house to eliminate dryness.

RASHES A rash is a noticeable change in the texture or color of the skin. The skin may become itchy, bumpy, chapped, scaly, or otherwise irritated. Rashes are caused by a wide range of conditions, Including allergies, medication, cosmetics, and various diseases. Contact dermatitis is a common cause of rashes. Contact rashes occur when you touch something that causes a reaction. Most contact rashes can be treated without the help of a doctor. A rash may be itchy, but scratching can make it worse and prevent it from healing.CausesContact dermatitis can be caused by coming into contact with: beauty products, soaps, and laundry detergent dyes in clothing chemicals in rubber, elastic, or latex poisonous plants such as poison oak, poison ivy, or poison sumacDrug rashes are caused by medication. They can form as: an allergic reaction a side effect a result of sensitivity to sunlightTypes of RashesOther types of rashes include: eczema: a common rash for people with asthma or allergies. The rash is often reddish and itchy, with a scaly texture. bug bites: tick bites are of particular concern, as they can transmit disease psoriasis: a scaly, itchy, red rash that forms along the scalp and joints dandruff: an itchy, flaky rash on the scalp. On an infant, dandruff is called cradle cap. seborrheic dermatitis: dandruff that occurs on the ears, mouth, nose, or somewhere besides the scalpChildren are particularly prone to rashes from illnesses such as: chicken pox: a virus that causes itchy blisters measles: a respiratory infection scarlet fever: a bacterial disease (streptococcus infection) that requires antibiotics hand, foot, and mouth disease: a virus that causes red lesions fifth disease: a red, flat rash on the face, upper arms, and legs Kawasaki disease: an autoimmune disease that affects the blood vessels impetigo: a bacterial infection that forms red, wet sores that crust over Medical diseases can cause rashes as well. These include lupus erythematosus (a long-term disorder of the autoimmune system) and rheumatoid arthritis (long-term inflammation of the joints).TreatmentMost contact rashes can be treated at home by following these guidelines: Use gentle cleansers instead of soap. Use warm water instead of hot water for washing. Pat rash dry instead of rubbing. Let the rash breathedo not cover with clothing, if possible. Stop using new cosmetics or lotions, as these may have triggered the rash.Do not scratch your rash. If it itches, try an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream (one percent). Lotion with calamine can soothe rashes caused by chicken pox and poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac.

SHORT-TERM MEMORY LOSS When a person experiences short-term memory loss, he or she can remember incidents from 20 years ago but is fuzzy on the details of things that happened 20 minutes prior.There are a number of causes of short-term memory loss, some which are a result of medical conditions and others that are related to injuries or other outside influences.A lack of oxygen to the brain can affect short-term memory. Alcohol and drug abuse, concussions and other trauma to the head can impact short-term memory. Medical conditions such as seizures, epilepsy, heart bypass surgery and depression can also impact short-term memory. One of the first signs of dementia is short-term memory loss.Relationship with working memory The relationship between short-term memory and working memory is described differently by various theories, but it is generally acknowledged that the two concepts are distinct. Working memory is a theoretical framework that refers to structures and processes used for temporarily storing and manipulating information. As such, working memory might also be referred to as working attention. Working memory and attention together play a major role in the processes of thinking. Short-term memory in general refers, in a theory-neutral manner, to the short-term storage of information, and it does not entail the manipulation or organization of material held in memory. Thus, while there are short-term memory components to working memory models, the concept of short-term memory is distinct from these more hypothetical concepts. Within Baddeley's influential 1986 model of working memory there are two short-term storage mechanisms: the phonological loop and the visuospatial sketchpad. Most of the research referred to here involves the phonological loop, because most of the work done on short-term memory has used verbal material. In recent years, however, there has been a surge in research on visual short-term memory, and also increasing work on spatial short-term memory.Capacity of short-term memory Whatever the cause or causes of forgetting over the short-term may be, there is consensus that it severely limits the amount of new information that we can retain over brief periods of time. This limit is referred to as the finite capacity of short-term memory. The capacity of short-term memory is often called memory span, in reference to a common procedure of measuring it. In a memory span test, the experimenter presents lists of items (digits or words) of increasing length. An individual's span is determined as the longest list length that he or she can recall correctly in the given order on at least half of all trials.