HELLP syndrome is a serious condition affecting approximately 0.6 per cent of pregnancies. The acronym HELLP stands for the different parts of this syndrome. H stands for hemolysis which is a condition which causes the breakdown of blood cells; EL stands for liver enzymes and LP stands for low platelet count. One per cent of [...]
More women than ever before are opting to have children in their late thirties and early forties. There are certain risks associated with this, especially once you pass the age of thirty five. Minimize Risk You can minimize the risk by being aware of what they are. Genetic counseling is an important part of this [...]
Many women experience nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Sometimes called morning sickness, vomiting can occur at any time of the day or night and can continue throughout pregnancy. In approximately two per cent of cases, hyperemesis gravidarum develops which is a more serious condition leading dehydration and malnutrition. Symptoms of Hyperemesis Gravidarum There is no [...]
Multiple birth pregnancies have increased significantly in the last twenty years or so. There are two main reasons for this. First, advances in technology have meant that more and more children are born as a result of fertility treatment. Fertility treatment significantly increases the chances of multiple births. The second reason is that more [...]
Hydramnios, also known as amniotic fluid disorder, is a condition in which too much amniotic fluid surrounds your baby. Amniotic fluid is basically urine produced by your baby. It surrounds the baby and cushions him in your womb. It is a sterile solution and your baby swallows it to absorb it. Under normal circumstances, the [...]
The APGAR scoring system was first introduced by Virgina Apgar in 1952. The scoring system measures the vital signs of new born babies at one minute and five minutes after birth. Five signs are measured to test what help the baby may need immediately after birth and each sign is given a grade of zero [...]
Necrotizing Fasciitis is a form of flesh-eating disease and a rare skin infection that affects the lower layers of the skin and can easily spread to the subcutaneous tissue. The term “Necrotizing” is medically used to refer to an organism that brings about tissue death. There are a number of bacteria that are known to be [...]
Neutropenia is a medical term that is used to define the reduction of the number of neutrophils that are found in the bloodstream. Neutrophils are types of white cells, along with basophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes and monocytes. Neutrophils are also referred to as polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Since white cells act as a defense force against infections, neutropenia [...]
A Norovirus Infection is a type of a virus that contains RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) and is covered by a protein coating. Today, scientists have discovered that there are different types of Norovirus by simply changing the sequence of the RNA chain. The Norovirus infection is known to be one of the most common causes behind [...]
West Nile encephalitis is an infection that affects the brain and it is caused by a virus called the West Nile virus. This virus was first identified in Uganda in 1937, but it is usually found in Africa, West Asia, and the Middle East. Encephalitis is term that refers to the inflammation of the brain. [...]
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