A to Z of Medical Conditions

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Glomerulonephritis – what are the signs and symptoms of Glomerulonephritis?

Glomerulonephritis

Glomerulonephritis

Glomerulonephritis

Glomerulonephritis is damage to the tiny filters inside your kidneys (the glomeruli). It’s often caused by your immune system attacking healthy body tissue.

Glomerulonephritis doesn’t usually cause any noticeable symptoms. It’s more likely to be diagnosed when blood or urine tests are carried out for another reason.

Although mild cases of glomerulonephritis can be treated effectively, for some people the condition can lead to long-term kidney problems.

 

Symptoms of glomerulonephritis

In severe cases of glomerulonephritis, you may see blood in your urine. However, this is usually noticed when a urine sample is tested.

Your urine may be frothy if it contains a large amount of protein.

If a lot of protein leaks into your urine, swelling of the legs or other parts of the body (oedema) can also develop. This is known as nephrotic syndrome.

Depending on your type of glomerulonephritis, other parts of your body can be affected and cause symptoms such as:

  • rashes
  • joint pain
  • breathing problems
  • tiredness

Many people with glomerulonephritis also have high blood pressure.

When to get medical advice

See your GP if you notice blood in your urine. This doesn’t always mean you have glomerulonephritis, but the cause should be investigated.

If your GP suspects glomerulonephritis, they'll usually arrange:

  • a blood test - to measure your creatinine level; if your kidneys aren't working normally, the creatinine level in your blood rises and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGDR) falls
  • a urine test - to check for blood or protein in your urine, either by dipping special strips into a sample of your urine or sending the sample to a laboratory for further testing

If glomerulonephritis is confirmed, further blood tests may be needed to help determine the cause.

If your kidney problem needs to be investigated further, it may be recommended that you have:

  • an ultrasound scan - this is to check the size of your kidneys, make sure there are no blockages, and look for any other problems
  • a biopsy - this is to remove a small sample of kidney tissue, carried out using local anaesthetic to numb the area; an ultrasound machine locates your kidneys and a small needle is used to take a sample

Causes of glomerulonephritis

Glomerulonephritis is often caused by a problem with your immune system. It's not clear exactly why this happens, although sometimes it's part of a condition such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or vasculitis.

In some cases, the immune system abnormalities are triggered by an infection, such as:

In most cases, glomerulonephritis doesn't run in families.

If you're diagnosed with an inherited type of glomerulonephritis, your doctor can advise you about the chances of someone else in your family being affected.

They may recommend screening, which can identify people who may be at increased risk of developing the condition.

Treating glomerulonephritis

Treatment for glomerulonephritis depends on the cause and severity of your condition. Mild cases may not need any treatment.

Treatment can be as simple as making changes to your diet, such as eating less salt to reduce the strain on your kidneys.

Medication to lower blood pressure, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, is commonly prescribed because they help protect the kidneys.

If the condition is caused by a problem with your immune system, medication called immunosuppressants may be used.

Read about treating glomerulonephritis.

Complications of glomerulonephritis

Although treatment for glomerulonephritis is effective in many cases, further problems can sometimes develop.

These include:

If you're diagnosed with glomerulonephritis, your doctor may prescribe medication to help lower your blood pressure, lower your cholesterol or protect against blood clots.

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Tay-Sachs disease – what are the signs and symptoms of Tay-Sachs disease?

Tay-Sachs disease

Tay-Sachs disease

Introduction

Tay-Sachs disease is a rare and usually fatal genetic disorder that causes progressive damage to the nervous system.

Symptoms usually begin before a baby is six months old. Their development slows down and they gradually lose their ability to move.

The most noticeable early symptoms include a baby being excessively startled by sudden noises and red dots appearing near the middle of their eyes.

The child then develops problems such as muscle weakness, loss of vision, loss of hearing and seizures.

Most children with the condition die before they’re four years old.

Less common forms of Tay-Sachs disease can begin later in childhood or even early adulthood. These usually progress less rapidly, although it’s usually fatal.

Read more about the symptoms of Tay-Sachs disease.

What causes Tay-Sachs disease?

Tay-Sachs disease is caused by a mutation in the HEXA gene. A genetic mutation is a permanent alteration in the DNA sequence that makes up a gene. It causes one or more processes of the body to not work properly.

A mutated HEXA gene results in the body not producing an enzyme called Hexosaminidase-A (Hex-A). Without this enzyme, a fatty substance called GM2 ganglioside builds up in the cells of the brain and nerves, and stops them working normally, eventually destroying them.

Both parents have to be carriers of a HEXA mutation to be at risk of having a child with Tay-Sachs disease. If both parents are carriers, their children will have a 25% chance of developing the condition.

Read more about the causes of Tay-Sachs disease.

Testing for Tay-Sachs disease

Screening for Tay-Sachs disease is recommended for people in high-risk groups before planning a family. In the UK, this includes people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent and anyone with a history of the condition in their family.

Screening can take place at two points, either before or after a baby is conceived. If the condition is diagnosed in an unborn baby, the parents can decide whether or not to continue with the pregnancy.

Read more about testing for Tay-Sachs disease.

How is Tay-Sachs disease treated?

There’s currently no cure for Tay-Sachs disease, so treatment involves making the child feel as comfortable as possible by treating the associated symptoms.

Research is being carried out into possible cures for Tay-Sachs disease, but this is still at an early stage.

Read more about treating Tay-Sachs disease.

Who is affected?

Tay-Sachs disease used to be most common in people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. Most Jewish people in the UK are Ashkenazi Jews.

It’s thought that around 1 in 25 Ashkenazi Jewish people are carriers of the mutated gene that causes Tay-Sachs disease.

However, with screening, the condition is now rare and most cases now occur in people who aren’t of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. It’s estimated that only about 1 in every 360,000 children born worldwide has Tay-Sachs disease.

Information about your child

If your child has Tay-Sachs disease, your clinical team will pass information about him or her on to the National Congenital Anomaly and Rare Diseases Registration Service (NCARDRS).

This helps scientists look for better ways to prevent and treat this condition. You can opt out of the register at any time.

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6 Diseases You Could Have Right Now and Not Know It (Yikes!)

6 Diseases You Could Have Right Now and Not Know It (Yikes!)

6 Diseases You Could Have Right Now and Not Know It (Yikes!)

There are several diseases which affect people from different walks of life. Some diseases you may never know about them, but they affect many people. It is even worrying considering some of the diseases have no cure.

Diseases you could have right now and not know it

  1. Sudden Unexpected Death Syndrome

Just like the name suggests, it is a real disease, and it kills people from different parts of the globe. The health complication is common in young adult males from the ethnics of Laotian and Hmong descent. It affects healthy people, you just go to bed healthy, and you never wake up.

There are many cases of people from the ethnic group who have been affected by the health complication. It is worrying because there are no signs or even cure which can be tried to extend the life of people suffering from the disease. You can wake up with the death of your family member and stay worried not knowing when your day will come.

  1. Mad Cow Disease

The disease is incurable, and it is always fatal. The health complication eats holes in an individual’s brain hence leading to death. You will never know whether the meat you are eating is infected. To make it worse, even cooking the meat won’t sterilize the meat and get rid of the disease-causing agents. You may argue that you can avoid the disease by avoiding beef and dairy products, but you can’t know the type of meat or dairy product which has been affected by the disease.

  1. Huntington’s Disease

The disease causes your brain to unravel hence making the body move on its own. It leads to paranoia, hallucinations, speech impairment, anxiety, involuntary crying, involuntary limb movements among other complications.

The disease does not show up until you are above 35 years old. It is genetic and incurable which is sorrowful. You will struggle through the hard times in your 20s, after you reach 35 when you are about to settle, the disease ends your life. The uncontrolled movements can lead to accidents hence ending your life prematurely.

  1. Fish Odor Syndrome

It is an incurable illness. Fish odor syndrome is terrible. You can shower and apply those attractive perfumes before your date. But your body will produce an odor like the bad odor from rotting fish.

It can fluctuate depending on your diet. It is a condition which affects people, and it leads to embarrassments. The condition is genetic hence difficult to control. It just develops offering you no option to control it. Your life can be miserable with the disease. People will start avoiding you which will lead to stress. Remember stress can make your life short.

  1. Fatal Familial Insomnia

Many people nowadays fail to get enough sleep due to disruptions. The most common form of disruptions nowadays includes phones and watching till late night. But, the case is different if you are suffering from fatal familial insomnia. The condition will make you have an interrupted sleep as if you are watching an action movie.

The condition deteriorates to an extent where you will start losing weight. Hallucinations will set in at some point followed by panic attacks, and you will eventually die. It is a genetic condition which is incurable. If you have a relative who has never suffered from the condition, then you are probably in the line of developing the condition in the future.

  1. Pica

The disease creates cravings in your body for you to eat things which are not considered food. You can develop a craving for things such as plastic, rocks, paint, plaster and even dirt. You can imagine the damage the foreign particles will do to your body due to the increased and unreliable craving.

Normally people develop the craving for things such as pizza and popular snacks. But, the disease makes you develop a unique form of carving which can affect your body and health in general. Another health complication which you can face and it is incurable includes exploding head syndrome. The syndrome makes you hear things which are nonexistent. You will hear loud shots of guns and flashing lights when sleeping at night. It can make you unable to develop healthy sleep because it develops when you are about to sleep.

 

 

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Dupuytren’s contracture – what are the signs and symptoms of Dupuytren’s contracture?

Dupuytren's contracture

Dupuytren’s contracture

Dupuytren’s contracture (Dupuytren’s disease) is a condition that affects the hands and fingers. It causes one or more fingers to bend into the palm of the hand. It can affect one or both hands, and sometimes affect the thumb.

Dupuytren’s contracture occurs when the connective tissue in the palm thickens. Often the tissue thickens in one small area first and a “nodule” forms (a small, hard lump about 0.5-1cm) under the skin of the palm. The nodule sometimes feels tender to begin with, but this usually passes. More nodules may then develop.

 The nodules are non-cancerous (benign) and the condition isn’t life-threatening for those who develop it, although it can be a nuisance to live with.

Over time, the nodules can extend and form cords of tissue. These cords can shorten (contract) and, if the cords run along a finger or thumb, they can pull it, so it becomes bent towards the palm. These contractures are often mild and painless, but they can get steadily worse over time.

Read more about the symptoms of Dupuytren’s contracture and diagnosing Dupuytren’s contracture.

Why it happens

The exact cause of Dupuytren’s contracture is unknown, but it’s thought to be related to your genes, as it often runs in families.

If you have the gene that causes Dupuytren’s contracture, other factors such as diabetes, smoking and certain medications (for example, medication for epilepsy) may activate the condition. However, it’s not clear how significant these factors are.

Read more about the causes of Dupuytren’s contracture.

Who’s affected

Dupuytren’s contracture is fairly common. It can affect both sexes, but affects men more than women. The condition usually occurs during later life, although cases have been reported in children. Most cases occur in men over 50 and women over 60.

The condition seems to be more common in people of North European descent. It’s thought the gene associated with the condition was brought to the UK by the Vikings.

Preventing Dupuytren’s contracture

As the exact cause of Dupuytren’s contracture is unknown, it may not be possible to prevent the condition.

However, if you’re at risk of developing the condition – for example, if you’ve had it in the past, or if you have a family history of it – stopping smoking (if you smoke) may reduce your risk.

Treating Dupuytren’s contracture

Many cases of Dupuytren’s contracture are mild and don’t need treatment. Treatment may be helpful if the condition is interfering with the normal functioning of your hand.

Non-surgical treatments include radiation therapy and injections with a medication called collagenase.

Alternatively, a minor procedure that involves using a needle to cut the contracted cord of tissue (needle fasciotomy) may be used in the early stages of the condition.

In more severe cases, surgery can help to restore hand function. The two most common surgical techniques are:

open fasciotomy – where the shortened connective tissue is cut to relieve tension

fasciectomy – where the shortened connective tissue is removed

Surgery for Dupuytren’s contracture can’t always fully straighten the affected finger or thumb, and the contracture can recur after surgery. If a contracture does recur, further surgery may be possible.

Having surgery to remove the first nodule that appears won’t stop the condition from progressing, as this won’t stop the condition occurring elsewhere in the palm. It’s usually best to avoid surgery until a contracture develops that interferes with use of the hand.

Read more about treating Dupuytren’s contracture and recovering from Dupuytren’s contracture surgery.

Ongoing research

Some other treatments have been suggested for Dupuytren’s contracture, but there’s currently not enough medical evidence to support their use.

For example, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) doesn’t recommend the use of vitamin E cream or ultrasonic therapy. Trials into other possible treatments are under way.

Dupuytren’s contracture often runs in families and genetic research hopes to identify the genes responsible for the condition. This could lead to the development of treatments that prevent contractures occurring in the first place.

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Charles Bonnet syndrome – what are the cause, signs, symptoms and treatments of Charles Bonnet syndrome?

Charles Bonnet

Charles Bonnet

In Charles Bonnet syndrome, a person whose vision has started to deteriorate sees things that aren’t real (hallucinations).

The hallucinations may be simple patterns, or detailed images of events, people or places. They’re only visual and don’t involve hearing things or any other sensations.

It’s important to be aware that hallucinations associated with Charles Bonnet syndrome are caused by failing eyesight. They’re not caused by a mental health problem or dementia.

People with Charles Bonnet syndrome are usually aware that the visions aren’t real, even if they’re vivid.

Always see your GP if you’re experiencing hallucinations so they can investigate the cause.

Types of hallucination

There are two main types of hallucination that people with Charles Bonnet syndrome tend to experience. They may see:

simple repeated patterns

complex images of people, objects or landscapes

Simple repeated patterns can take the form of grids, shapes or lines, which can appear in bright or vivid colours. The patterns may lay across or cover everything the person sees.

More complex hallucinations can involve people, places, animals and insects. Most people don’t see hallucinations of people they know or past events they’ve experienced.

The hallucinations aren’t usually unpleasant or threatening, but they may be slightly frightening when first experienced. The can sometimes occur out of the blue, and can last for a few minutes or several hours. They may be moving or static.

Who’s affected and why?

Charles Bonnet syndrome affects people who’ve lost most or all of their eyesight. It’s more likely to occur if vision loss affects both eyes.

According to the Macular Society, up to half of all people with macular degeneration – a gradual loss of central vision – may experience Charles Bonnet hallucinations at some time. It’s thought there are more than 100,000 cases in the UK.

People of any age can be affected by Charles Bonnet hallucinations, but they tend to occur later in life after a person starts to lose their sight. The hallucinations often begin when a person’s sight suddenly deteriorates.

The main cause of Charles Bonnet syndrome is thought to be vision loss and how the brain reacts to it. It’s not clear how loss of vision leads to hallucinations, but research is beginning to help us better understand the relationship between the eyes and the brain.

When a person starts to lose their sight, their brain doesn’t receive as much information as it used to. It’s thought the brain sometimes responds by filling in the gaps with fantasy patterns or images that it’s stored. These stored images are experienced as hallucinations.

What effect can hallucinations have?

Visual hallucinations are a normal response the brain has to the loss of vision.

However, as Charles Bonnet syndrome isn’t widely known, many people worry about what it means and fear they may be developing a serious mental illness or dementia.

It can also cause practical problems. People who see complex hallucinations may find it difficult to get around.

Streets and rooms may be distorted, and brickwork or fencing may appear directly in front of you, making it difficult to judge exactly where you are and whether you can walk straight ahead.

Some people can overcome this problem by having good knowledge of their surroundings.

Complex hallucinations can be unsettling. Although the visions may not be frightening, it can be disturbing to suddenly see strangers in your home or garden.

For most people, the hallucinations will improve over time, with episodes becoming shorter and less frequent. Recent evidence suggests most people will still have occasional hallucinations five years or more after they first started.

If the hallucinations do stop entirely, there’s always a chance they’ll reappear after a further decline in vision.

Diagnosing Charles Bonnet syndrome

There isn’t a specific test for Charles Bonnet syndrome. Doctors diagnose it by:

talking to the person about their symptoms

taking a detailed medical history

in some cases, carrying out tests to rule out other possible causes of hallucinations, such as Alzheimer’s disease

If a person has vision loss and they’re experiencing simple or complex hallucinations and they don’t have signs of dementia or mental illness, they probably have Charles Bonnet syndrome.

Treating Charles Bonnet syndrome

There’s currently no cure for Charles Bonnet syndrome.

Simply understanding that the hallucinations are a normal consequence of vision loss, rather than a mental health problem, can be very reassuring and help the person cope better.

No specific medication has been shown to stop hallucinations caused by Charles Bonnet syndrome. Some medications that are designed to treat epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and dementia have proved effective for some people.

However, these powerful medications can have serious side effects, and are therefore only recommended for people who are severely affected and under close supervision.

Self-help measures

You could try some self-help measures to help relieve your hallucinations when you experience them. For example, when a hallucination starts, you could:

change the lighting conditions to see if it disappears – for example, if you’re in a dimly lit area, switch on more lights or move to somewhere that’s brighter; if in a brightly lit area, make it dimmer

move your eyes from left to right – do this once every second 15 times without moving your head, then pause for a few seconds and repeat; it’s worth trying this up to four or five times

stare at the image and blink rapidly or reach out to touch the vision – try this for a few seconds

move around or perform a task – for example, get up to make a cup of tea

make sure you’re well rested and are getting enough sleep at night – the hallucinations may be worse when you’re tired or stressed

Some people overcome their fear by getting to know the figures in their visions.

For example, one man with Charles Bonnet syndrome has described how when he wakes up in the morning, he says, “Right, what have you got in store for me today?” to the figures he’s seeing. This allows him to have some control over the way he feels about his visions.

Help and support

If you have Charles Bonnet syndrome, talking about your hallucinations and how they make you feel may help you cope better. You could try talking to your family, friends, GP, optician, or ophthalmologist.

Mental health professionals, such as counsellors, psychologists or psychiatrists, may also be able to help if you’re finding the hallucinations particularly upsetting.

Although Charles Bonnet syndrome isn’t a mental health condition, many mental health professionals have experience of helping people come to terms with hallucinations. Your GP should be able to refer you to your local mental health team.

Read more about counselling and psychotherapy.

There aren’t many specific support groups and forums for people affected by Charles Bonnet syndrome, but there are lots of support groups for people with vision loss.

The Macular Society runs a buddy service for people affected by Charles Bonnet syndrome, where they can put you in touch with someone who’s also experienced visual hallucinations for support and reassurance. Their helpline is available on 0300 30 30 111, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Esme’s Umbrella, an awareness campaign for Charles Bonnet syndrome, has a website with links to information and helpful resources for both patients and healthcare professionals.

The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) also has more information and advice about Charles Bonnet syndrome.