The common cold can be described as an infection of the higher reaches of the respiratory tract, or in other words the throat, the nasal passages and the nose. It is interesting to note that there are over two hundred different virus’ that can presently cause the common cold, but the main culprit in adults is the rhinoviruses, of which there are a hundred different strains and are classified as nose virus’.

When an individual becomes affected by a cold, the symptoms usually show up around two days later and these include a sore throat, a runny nose and sneezing. Later symptoms can consist of watery eyes, headache, muscle aches, stuffed nose, and a general feeling of being unwell. The symptoms of a cold can last anywhere from two to seven days but in some cases may even last up to two weeks.

Common Cold

People who have a common cold may find that is accompanied by bronchitis, laryngitis, an ear infection or with those who suffer from asthma, a worsening of the condition. Common cold infections are so prevalent that it is estimated that an adult will suffer between two and five colds each year. Because of this, the condition is the leading cause of people missing work days through illness.

Contrary to belief, colds are actually not very contagious when compared to other infections. Prolonged and close contact is required for the virus to spread and it must get into the nose for there to be infection.

Autism is a type of brain disorder that affects the way individuals understand and hence, react with the world about them. Because of this, these people tend to act differently to others. On encountering an autistic child, someone would be hard-pressed to distinguish between the child and other “healthy” children around them. As there are no obvious external clues that visually tell us a child or person is autistic, these individuals are often mistakenly identified as naughty (in children) or rude.

Most autistic people have an exceptionally hard time trying to convey what they want to say or require, and others may end up saying the same things over and over again. This difficulty in understanding causes great confusion among the autistic, and although they can hear everything that is said to them, they cannot grasp the gist of what is being said.

Autism In Children

Mood swings are another symptom of autism. A person may be fine one moment but will have a mood change in a flash. This often happens because they can’t explain to people properly what they want. There are simple things that can trigger the mood swings as well. Anything from using the wrong dish for a meal to parking in the wrong spot can cause the person to change.

Autism is classed as a “spectrum disorder” which basically means the symptoms and characteristics of the condition are never the same in any two people. One thing that is common to all autism sufferers though is that they all have a hard time making sense of the world around them.

A sore or hole in the lining of an organ is known as an ulcer.  A stomach ulcer is known as a gastric ulcer while a duodenal ulcer is an ulcer in the duodenum which is part of the small intestine. Duodenal ulcers occur more frequently in men and usually between the ages of 20-45, while stomach ulcers occur more often than not in people over the age of 50.

The stomach is protected from acid by a lining of mucus but if the lining is damaged then the acid can come into contact with the stomach or intestine wall, causing an ulcer.

Symptoms of an ulcer include abdominal pain, feeling sick after eating, loss of appetite, weight loss, or difficulty swallowing.  More serious symptoms include black or tar like stools, severe stomach pain, or vomiting blood.

Stomach Ulcers

Ulcers can be caused by bacteria known as Helicobacter Pylori and also use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin.  Other causes of ulcers are smoking and drinking alcohol and it is also thought to run in some families.  Stress can aggravate an ulcer as it causes the stomach to produce more acid.

Diagnosis of an ulcer is confirmed through a procedure known as an endoscopy.  This is done in a hospital and it involves a thin tube being passed down to the stomach through the mouth and gullet.  This can show the doctor whether an ulcer is present.

Treatment of an ulcer depends on whether the cause was a bacterium or by using NSAIDs. Proton pump inhibitors are prescribed for ulcers which have not been caused by the H pylori bacteria and they work by reducing the amount of acid in the stomach.  For ulcers caused by H pylori bacteria, treatment is usually a combination of proton pump inhibitors and two antibiotics.

Skin Ulcers