Ten Things Not To Say To Someone With A Chronic Illness
Ten Things Not To Say To Someone With A Chronic Illness
Ten Things Not To Say To Someone With A Chronic Illness
A to Z of Medical Conditions
Tinea capitis – what are the signs and symptoms?
Tinea capitis or Ringworm
The symptoms of a tinea fungal infection depend on where the infection is.
Ringworm (on the skin)
The symptoms of ringworm include:
a ring-like red or silvery rash on your skin – your skin will look red and irritated around the ring, but healthy inside
scaly, itchy and inflamed skin
In more severe cases:
the rings may multiply, grow in size and merge together
the rings may feel slightly raised and the skin underneath may be itchy
blisters and pus-filled sores may form around the rings
The ring spreads outwards as it progresses. You can have one patch or several patches of ringworm, and in more serious cases, your skin may become raised and blistered.
Face and neck ringworm
Ringworm on the face and neck may not appear ring-shaped, but may be itchy and swollen, and it can become dry and crusted. If you have a beard, you may notice patches of hair breaking away.
Hand ringworm
Ringworm on the hand often causes the skin to become thicker on the palm and in between the fingers. It may affect one hand or both and normally only appears on one side.
Fungal scalp infection (tinea capitis)
The symptoms of a fungal scalp infection include:
small patches of scaly skin on the scalp, which may be sore
patchy hair loss
an itchy scalp
In more severe cases:
small, pus-filled sores on the scalp
crusting on the scalp
bald patches (if your hair is affected)
In very severe cases, a large inflamed sore called a kerion may form on your scalp. This can ooze pus, and you may also have a fever and swollen lymph glands.
Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis)
The main symptom of athlete’s foot is an itchy, dry, red and flaky rash, usually in the spaces between your toes. In more severe cases, you may have:
cracked skin in the affected area
blisters, which may ooze or crust
swelling of the skin
a burning or stinging sensation in your skin
scaling patterns around your sole, between your toes and on the side of your foot
Read more about athlete’s foot.
Jock itch (tinea cruris)
The symptoms of jock itch include:
red-brown sores, which may have blisters or pus-filled sores around the edge
itchiness and redness around your groin area, such as your inner thighs and bottom (the genitals are not usually affected)
scaly, flaky skin on your inner thighs
Exercising, walking and wearing tight clothing or underwear can make the symptoms of a groin infection worse.
Fungal nail infection (onychomycosis)
The symptoms of a fungal nail infection include:
a whitish thickening of the nail
discolouration (the nail can turn white, black, yellow or green)
the nail can become brittle and start to fall off
the skin around the nail may be sore and irritated
Read more about fungal nail infection.
When to seek medical advice
Make an appointment to see your GP if you:
or your child develop the symptoms of a fungal scalp infection
have ringworm that has not improved after two weeks of treatment with antifungal cream
have another medical condition, or you’re having medical treatment that is known to weaken your immune system, such as chemotherapy or steroid tablets
Read more about how fungal infections are diagnosed.
Thoracic outlet syndrome – what you need to know
Thoracic outlet syndrome
A cervical rib is an extra rib that forms above the first rib, growing from the base of the neck just above the collarbone.
You can have a cervical rib on the right, left, or on both sides. It may be a fully-formed bony rib or just a thin strand of tissue fibres.
A cervical rib is an abnormality that’s present from birth. It doesn’t usually cause problems, but if it presses on nearby nerves and blood vessels, it can cause neck pain, numbness in the arm and other symptoms, which collectively are known as thoracic outlet syndrome.
Thoracic outlet syndrome usually starts between 20 and 50 years of age, and is more likely to affect men than women.
Symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome
Not all people with a cervical rib develop thoracic outlet syndrome, and the syndrome can also be caused by other conditions.
Symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome include:
pain in your neck and shoulder, which spreads into your arm – this may be constant or come and go
temporary loss of feeling, weakness or tingling in the affected arm and fingers
temporary inability to carry out fine hand movements – such as doing up buttons
Raynaud’s phenomenon – a condition that affects the blood supply to the fingers and toes, turning them white
a blood clot that forms in the subclavian artery – which can affect the blood supply to the fingers, causing small red or black patches on the skin
swelling in the affected arm (although this is rare)
These symptoms vary widely from person to person. They may be constant or come and go.
Treating thoracic outlet syndrome
If you have thoracic outlet syndrome, your GP may refer you for physiotherapy. Shoulder exercises can help stretch and strengthen the neck area and correct poor posture. Massage may also help to release any tight or shortened neck tissues.
Seeing an occupational therapist may also be useful for advice about techniques to protect your back and neck while at work.
To relieve any pain and swelling, your GP may prescribe a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as naproxen or diclofenac.
If you develop blood clots you may be prescribed thrombolytics to break them up, and anticoagulants to prevent further clots developing.
If these treatments don’t help, surgery may be an option.
Famous People With Dyslexia
Famous People With Dyslexia
Famous People With Dyslexia
Find out more with this brilliant video!
Tietze’s Syndrome – some of the signs and treatments for Costochondritis
Costochondritis
Costochondritis is the medical term for inflammation of the cartilage that joins your ribs to your breastbone (sternum). This area is known as the costochondral joint.
Cartilage is tough but flexible connective tissue found throughout the body, including in the joints between bones. It acts as a shock absorber, cushioning the joints.
Costochondritis may improve on its own after a few weeks, although it can last for several months or more. The condition doesn’t lead to any permanent problems, but may sometimes relapse.
Tietze’s syndrome
Costochondritis may be confused with a separate condition called Tietze’s syndrome. Both conditions involve inflammation of the costochondral joint and can cause very similar symptoms.
However, Tietze’s syndrome is much less common and often causes chest swelling, which may last after any pain and tenderness has gone.
Costochondritis also tends to affect adults aged 40 or over, whereas Tietze’s syndrome usually affects young adults under 40.
As the conditions are very similar, most of the information below also applies to Tietze’s syndrome.
Signs and symptoms
When the costochondral joint becomes inflamed it can result in sharp chest pain and tenderness, which may develop gradually or start suddenly.
The pain may be made worse by:
a particular posture – such as lying down
pressure on your chest – such as wearing a seatbelt or hugging someone
deep breathing, coughing and sneezing
physical activity
When to seek medical help
It can be difficult to tell the difference between the chest pain associated with costochondritis and pain caused by more serious conditions, such as a heart attack.
However, a heart attack usually causes more widespread pain and additional symptoms, such as breathlessness, nausea and sweating.
If you, or someone you’re with, experiences sudden chest pain and you think there’s a possibility it could be a heart attack, dial 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance.
If you’ve had chest pain for a while, don’t ignore it. Make an appointment to see your GP so they can investigate the cause.
Causes of costochondritis
Inflammation is the body’s natural response to infection, irritation or injury.
It’s not known exactly why the costochondral joint becomes inflamed, but in some cases it’s been linked to:
severe coughing – which strains your chest area
an injury to your chest
physical strain from repeated exercise or sudden exertion that you’re not used to – such as moving furniture
an infection – including respiratory tract infections (RTIs) and wound infections
wear and tear – your chest moves in and out 20 to 30 times a minute, and over time this motion can lead to discomfort in these joints
Diagnosing costochondritis
If you have symptoms of costochondritis, your GP will examine and touch the upper chest area around your costochondral joint. They’ll ask you when and where your pain occurs and look at your recent medical history.
Before a diagnosis can be confirmed, some tests may need to be carried out to rule out other possible causes of your chest pain.
These may include:
an electrocardiogram (ECG) – which records the rhythms and electrical activity of your heart
a blood test to check for signs of underlying inflammation
a chest X-ray
If no other condition is suspected or found, a diagnosis of costrochondritis may be made.
Treating costochondritis
Costochondritis often gets better after a few weeks, but self-help measures and medication can manage the symptoms.
Self-help
Costochondritis can be aggravated by any activity that places stress on your chest area, such as strenuous exercise or even simple movements like reaching up to a high cupboard.
Any activity that makes the pain in your chest area worse should be avoided until the inflammation in your ribs and cartilage has improved.
You may also find it soothing to regularly apply heat to the painful area – for example, using a cloth or flannel that’s been warmed with hot water.
Painkillers
Painkillers, such as paracetamol, can be used to ease mild to moderate pain.
Taking a type of medication called a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) – such as ibuprofen and naproxen – two or three times a day can also help control the pain and swelling.
Aspirin is also a suitable alternative, but shouldn’t be given to children under 16 years old.
These medications are available from pharmacies without a prescription, but you should make sure you carefully read the instructions that come with them before use.
Contact your GP if your symptoms get worse despite resting and taking painkillers, as you may benefit from treatment with corticosteroids.
Corticosteroid injections
Corticosteroids are powerful medicines that can help reduce pain and swelling. They can be injected into and around your costochondral joint to help relieve the symptoms of costochondritis.
Corticosteroid injections may be recommended if your pain is severe, or if NSAIDs are unsuitable or ineffective.
They may be given by your GP, or you may need to be referred to a specialist called a rheumatologist.
Having too many corticosteroid injections can damage your costochondral joint, so you may only be able to have this type of treatment once every few months if you continue to experience pain.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
TENS is a method of pain relief where a mild electric current is delivered to the affected area using a small, battery-operated device.
The electrical impulses can reduce the pain signals going to the spinal cord and brain, which may help relieve pain and relax muscles.
They may also stimulate the production of endorphins, which are the body’s natural painkillers.
Although TENS may be used to help relieve pain in a wide range of conditions, it doesn’t work for everyone.
There isn’t enough good-quality scientific evidence to say for sure whether TENS is a reliable method of pain relief. Speak to your GP if you’re considering TENS.
Read more about transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).