Crohn’s Disease is a painful and arduous disorder in itself; however, when you also take into consideration the complications that may arise as a result, the full effect of Crohn’s may be overwhelming. The most common complication that arises from Crohn’s is, due to excessive inflammation, swelling, and scar tissue, blockages or obstructions that occur throughout the digestive tract. As the walls of the bowel thicken, the intestinal passages become significantly narrower and more easily blocked. Symptoms of obstruction usually include abdominal cramping, bloating, and distending. Vomiting is also common. Inflammation may be controlled by medication, but if swelling is not reduced adequately enough for the blockage to pass, surgery may be required. Also, surgery to remove the affected area of intestine may be necessary if the blockage occurs frequently. Another complication common among Crohn’s sufferers is the formation of ulcers or sores within the intestinal tract. Sometimes deep ulcers may progress into fistulas, which may channel into the surrounding tissue of the vagina, bladder, or skin, or may join different areas of the intestine. Fistulas may lead to further complications if they become infected, such as excessive abdominal pain and fever. If they are relatively small, they may be treated by medication, but larger or more severe fistulas may require surgery. Another issue that arises occasionally is the formation of abscesses, or pockets of pus, from fistulas. These areas of infection typically require drainage through a catheter or surgical drain. Areas of around the rectum are often affected by abscesses. Another complication is the development of fissures, or cracks, around the lining of the anus. As a result of excessive blood loss from ulcers and sores, anemia is also common. From inadequate dietary intake, excessive loss of nutrients through vomiting and diarrhea, and poor absorption of food, nutritional deficiencies and malnutrition are often a complication arising from Crohn’s Disease. Although not typically encountered unless the disorder occurs in extensive durations, these deficiencies may include lack of vitamins, proteins and calories. Luckily, nutritional supplementation is usually effective in the treatment of malnutrition. This may include injections of the missing nutrients or ingesting it in liquid or pill form. Because supplements are usually in concentrated forms, they are more effective and absorbed in higher quantities than available in food intake alone. An often forgotten complication of Crohn’s Disease is the psychological impact it has on its sufferers. Depression, anxiety, and tension are common among patients.

Hepatitis A is an enterovirus that is transmitted by a orofecal route. A root such as contaminated food is an easy way for Hep A to be transmitted. The virus causes an acute form of hepatitis and as a result does not contain a permanent stage. Once a person is infected their bodies immune system will make antibodies against the virus that confer immunity against future Hepatitus A infection. Currently a vaccine is available that can prevent infection from hepatitis A for life. Three out of four people with Hep A will show the symptoms. Below is a list of some of the most common symtoms:

Currently There is no specific treatment forHepatitis A. With that said rest is always recommended during the severe phases of the disease when the symptoms are most at large. Hepatitis A can easily be prevented by keeping good hygiene and sanitation. Like earlier mentioned a vaccination is also available. This vaccination is recommended in areas of the world where the likelyhood of hepatitis A is large. Here is a quick and no-nonsense list of ways to prevent Hepatitus A:

Only Drink water from approved sources Always use a dental dam or sheet of plastic wrap during rimming Always Cook shellfish thoroughly before eating Always Keep bathrooms clean and disinfected after every use Wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water before preparing or eating food, and after sexual activity.

Despite the fact that millions of Americans are living with genital herpes, the disease can be surprisingly difficult to detect in some cases. However, many people with genital herpes have at least some detectable signs. The most obvious sign of genital herpes is the appearance of red bumps in and/or around the genital area, often starting around two weeks after the initial exposure to herpes. The bumps may spread to the anus and/or surrounding skin, and in some cases also develop within the vagina and/or urinary tract. These bumps turn into blisters, which in turn become sores. Often these sores become encrusted and very itchy; after a period of time, however, they will clear up. An outbreak can involve a large number of sores, but can just as easily involve just a single one. Because genital herpes is incurable, these outbreaks will recur over time. Certain medications are available to increase the length of time in-between herpes outbreaks. Other symptoms of genital herpes may or may not accompany an outbreak. These include a reddening and/or sudden extreme dryness of the genital area; a burning, itching, and/or painful sensation in the genital area; vaginal discharge; difficulty urinating; headache; fever; and/or swollen glands. The most difficult aspect of genital herpes, and a large contributor to its spread, is that the herpes virus can remain inactive in many individuals and never cause them to show any signs or symptoms of the condition. However, they are still able to spread genital herpes to others. Many times the symptoms of genital herpes are confused with other conditions, such as yeast infections, urinary tract infections, and even ingrown hairs. While it’s important to know and be able to recognize the symptoms of genital herpes, you should always seek an official diagnosis from a medical professional if you are at all concerned that you may have contracted the disease. Only they will be able to say for certain whether your symptoms are the result of herpes. If you do have genital herpes, they can provide you with medication and important information necessary to handle the condition. If you are currently experiencing an outbreak of genital herpes, a doctor can diagnose your condition visually. A blood test or a viral culture can also check for the herpes simplex virus, although results can be vague and/or inaccurate in many cases. Two different strains of the herpes simplex virus lead to genital herpes: HSV-1 and HSV-2. The former, HSV-1, can indicate any form of herpes, including mouth sores, and does not necessarily translate into a genital herpes diagnosis. However, HSV-2 is almost always linked to genital herpes, and is a more reliable sign of the disease. Disclaimer: This article is for information only and you should seek the advice of a professional regarding your particular situation.

Food allergies affect approximately 4 million Americans with symptoms that can include difficulty breathing, an outbreak of hives, asthma, vomiting, and even death. Oftentimes food allergies are confused with an inability to tolerate certain foods. Food intolerance usually brings about an entirely different set of symptoms including a bloated feeling, gas, or other similar type of discomfort. Food Allergies or Food Intolerance An easy way to distinguish food allergies from food intolerances is to understand that an allergic reaction actually originates in a person’s immune system. A severe allergic reaction can result in suffocation when the throat or the tongue swells so much that a person cannot breathe. Given the fact that approximately 150 people in the United States die each year from food allergies, this condition is no laughing matter. Individuals with known food allergies usually inherit this condition from another member of the family. When food allergy patients are studied, it is common to see that conditions such as eczema, hay fever, and asthma affect other family members. http://www.withallergies.com/helpwithallergies/ Foods That Cause Allergies A few different kinds of foods seem to trigger the most allergic reactions. And it seems that adults and children each have a different set of foods that cause problems. The majority of food allergy cases in children involve peanuts, milk, eggs, soy and wheat. In adults, the foods most involved with allergies include shellfish (such as shrimp, crab and lobster), peanuts, walnuts, eggs, other fish and nuts that grow in trees. Food allergies are so serious in some people that even smelling the food can trigger an allergic reaction. However, food allergies mostly become an issue after a person has eaten a food to which he or she is allergic. Symptoms can begin right at the point of entry with lips that begin to tingle or a tongue that begins to itch. Gastrointestinal trouble follows with cramping, or the need to vomit, or the development of diarrhea. As the troublesome food breaks down and enters the bloodstream, it travels towards the lungs and at that point conditions such as asthma, eczema, shortness of breath, or low blood pressure can all develop. Dealing with Food Allergies To protect themselves, people with known allergies to food simply have to avoid coming into contact with these foods. That sounds easy enough, however the reality is that it is not always possible to avoid the foods that cause problems. Processed foods can contain so many ingredients that sometimes the food culprit is buried deep in the fine print. Legislation aimed at improving food labeling as it pertains to food allergies has recently been enacted and hopefully these new labeling requirements will better protect those with food allergies. Keeping children away from food allergens is difficult unless a parent is vigilant about what goes into the child’s mouth. Parents of children with food allergies must inform everyone from school officials to neighbors about the child’s food allergies and even then, accidents happen. Fortunately for children with food allergies, most will outgrow this condition.