Meningitis is a disabling ailment that involves swelling in the membranes, known as meninges, which surround the brain and spinal cord. The acute inflammation can cause troublesome symptoms such as headache, fever, and a taut neck. Few cases of meningitis resolve on their own without much need for treatment. On the other hand, some cases require immediate medical help. If not treated adequately, they can prove to be life-threatening. In this article, we will have a look at some of the most common causes of meningitis. Common causes of meningitis Mostly, meningitis is caused due to viral infections. However, it can also be caused by bacterial or fungal infections. Almost all acute cases of meningitis are caused due to bacterial infections and, thus, they need proper antibiotics treatment. Bacterial meningitis Occasionally, bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause inflammation in the brain and the spinal cord. On the other hand, sometimes, bacteria can directly invade the membranes through ear infections, sinus, or skull fractures. The most common bacteria that cause meningitis include: Streptococcus pnuemoniae – This is the most prevalent cause of bacterial meningitis in children and adults in the country. This type of bacteria commonly results in a sinus infection or pneumonia.

On their own psoriasis and arthritis are conditions that can be very difficult for patients to cope with, but sometimes, people diagnosed with psoriasis may also develop swelling, stiffness, and pain in and around the joints. This is known as psoriatic arthritis or PsA. PsA affects both the skin and the joints. It is characterized by a scaly, reddish rash and inflammation on the hands, feet, elbows, knees, and ankles. This is a chronic inflammatory disease that unfortunately cannot be cured. Types of psoriatic arthritis Not all psoriatic arthritis patients are diagnosed with the same type of the condition. There are 5 major types of psoriatic arthritis. The type of PsA plays an important role in determining the best course of treatment. Symmetric psoriatic arthritis As the name suggests, this type of psoriatic arthritis affects both sides of the body. In such cases, the same joints on both sides of the body appear inflamed with red, scaly rashes. Moving these joints may be very painful. As the disease progresses, it can cause a loss of function. It is important to note that some patients may have a mild loss of function while others may have a much more severe loss of function.

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that affects the respiratory and digestive tract. In this condition, the secretion of very thick and sticky mucus accumulates in the organs and causes damage. Some of the organs that are affected by cystic fibrosis include the liver, the lungs, pancreas, and intestine. This disorder typically affects the cells that secrete the digestive enzymes, mucus, and sweat. Under normal circumstances, the mucus produced by these cells is thin and flows easily. However, in cystic fibrosis, the secreted mucus is very thick and thus prevents the smooth flow of the mucus. This highly viscous mucus subsequently gets deposited in the airways and various ducts, causing a complete blockage. The higher viscosity also traps pathogens and disease-causing germs and causes inflammation and infections. Causes Cystic fibrosis is primarily caused as a result of a defect in the CFTR gene. Here CFTR stands for cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator and encodes a protein that regulates the movement of the salt and water into the cells. Some of the common causes of cystic fibrosis have been listed as follows: A mutation or sudden change in the DNA structure disrupts the normal functioning of the CFTR protein. The CFTR transports the chloride ions to the cell surface.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a condition that affects the lungs. It triggers the development of a scar tissue in the lungs that reduces oxygen flow from the lungs to the bloodstream. It can also make it difficult for the person to breathe. It may also keep the body from functioning optimally. The symptoms and severity of the disorder vary among patients with IPF. In some cases, it worsens quickly while others can live for many years after the condition has been diagnosed. There is no known cure for this condition but treatment can help reduce the rate of damage to the lungs and improve the patient’s quality of life. Unfortunately, treatment does not usually provide relief against the symptoms. In some cases, a lung transplant may be needed. To get the best form of treatment, it is essential to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Similarly, understanding the causes of IPF can help people reduce their risk of developing the condition to a certain extent. Symptoms of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis Many people suffer from IPF for many years before being diagnosed with the condition. This is because the symptoms may be confused with other respiratory infections.

Hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver, and it is commonly caused by a viral infection. But there are other possible causes for this health condition. These include autoimmune hepatitis and hepatitis that happens as a secondary effect of medicines, alcohol, drugs, and toxins. When the body makes antibodies against its own liver tissues, autoimmune hepatitis occurs. Hepatitis A Hepatitis A is caused because of hepatitis A infection. It leads to a highly contagious liver infection. Few people might get a mild infection and the condition can last for only a few weeks. Others might get a severe infection and that can last for months. Most people catch this infection when they consume food or liquids that have been in contact with the fecal matter of someone who already has the virus. Unlike other types of hepatitis infections, this is rarely dangerous and almost everyone fully recovers from the infection. This kind of hepatitis does not cause long-term inflammation of the liver. The good news is that there are vaccines for this disease that can prevent it. Hepatitis B This can cause scarring or even failure of the liver. It can potentially lead to cancer, and if left untreated, it can even lead to death.

Asthma is the common term of such a disease which inflamed the lungs and its airways. The person who is affected with this disease will experience the various symptoms of the disease such as bronchospasm, chest tightness, coughing, wheezing and many others. These symptoms will emerge in the body several times in a day or in a week. The effectiveness of this disease is depended upon the age of the affected person. It has been thought that the main cause of this disease is the deadly combination of environmental factors and genetic inheritance. The different types of Asthma Based on the factors of severity and age, Asthma can be classified into different types. Each type of this disease denotes this disease with varied symptoms and causes. Moreover, it also denotes the age of the individual who can get affected with this disease. Given below are the details of some of its types: Seasonal Asthma This type gets activated mainly in the season of hay fever. At that time, people who are prone to cold might get affected with this disease due to the cold air and presence of allergens in the air. It only happens once a year. Severe Asthma (Difficult-to-control) This type of Asthma indicates the consistency of the disease.

An allergy is when the body is hypersensitive to the entry of any foreign bodies. It directly affects the immune system of the human body, leading to its improper functioning. Most people around the globe are allergic to some substance or material, because of which it is one of the most common health issues. People have different types of allergies like an allergy to mold, anaphylaxis, seasonal allergies, allergic asthma, latex allergy, and others. Contact dermatitis, food allergy, and allergy to certain medicines or animals are also a part of this long list. Treatment options are available according to the types of allergy. Effective treatment options for allergies A variety of treatment options are available for allergies. The treatment depends upon the area of the body affected as well as the type of allergy. Here are some methods which are effective in treating allergies: Allergy treatment is categorized into three groups. They are spray, allergy medications, and immunotherapy. This article provides information about various sprays and medications to treat allergies. The different ways are classified based on their style of treating the allergy. Sprays In this category, you can find the different sprays and drops which are helpful in providing relief from the symptoms of an allergy.

Muscular dystrophy is a disease where patients experience a physical weakness that progresses with time. It usually affects boys during their childhood and causes a gradual loss of muscle mass. The main cause behind this condition is abrupt gene mutations. These mutated genes restrict the protein production which is essential for the formation of healthy muscles. Some of the leading types of muscular dystrophy are given below, followed by the treatment measures. Types of muscular dystrophy There are some prominent types of muscular dystrophy. Here, they are given in the order of the most common type to the ones that occur least often. Duchenne muscular dystrophy Most often, young boys are affected by this type of muscular dystrophy. Family history plays a vital role in the case of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Faulty genes are responsible for the occurrence of sudden and abrupt changes in healthy muscle growth. The symptoms for this type of disease occur in the childhood and include signs like frequent falls, walking on the toes, enlargement of the calf muscles, and muscular stiffness. Some patients may also face learning disabilities. Becker muscular dystrophy This type of disease has roughly the same symptoms as Duchenne muscular dystrophy, but it generally occurs when patients are in their teens.

Renal cancer or kidney cancer is when the cells become malignant and start growing in an uncontrollable way in the lining of the tubules of the kidneys. The kidneys, which are vital organs in the human body, have tiny tubules that perform functions such as urine formation, blood filtration, and excretion of toxins from the body. This type of disease is also known as renal cell carcinoma. Various factors are responsible for causing renal cancer, such as the following: Exposure to asbestos or different dyes Consuming pain-relieving medicine for a long time Suffering from Hepatitis C, cystic kidney disease, obesity, or high blood pressure Continuous smoking habits Genetics Having a close relative, especially a sibling, who is suffering from the same disease Patients might not experience symptoms in the early stages. However, with time, the symptoms start showing up. Patients can experience symptoms like continuous pain in the sides, specifically near the kidneys, a lump in the back or in the abdomen, blood in the urine, anemia, losing weight, feeling fatigued, and also the loss of appetite. Different stages of renal cancer As the cancerous cells start growing and spreading, they are categorized as different stages of renal cancer. They are as follows:

A brain tumor is the excessive or mass growth of abnormal cells inside your brain. There are numerous brain tumors such as noncancerous, know as the benign tumor and cancerous, known as the malignant brain tumor. Malignant tumor primarily grows faster than that of those noncancerous tumors and aggressively invading the surrounded tissues. Brain cancer rarely spreads across another part of the body but, it might spread across the other parts of the brain and central nervous system. Symptoms of a brain tumor The symptom of any brain tumor depends on the stage or size of the tumor that has been growing inside the brain. Generally, the signs and symptoms of a brain tumor may include the following. Headaches, which are new onset Severe or frequent headaches Chills and fever while sleeping at night Difficulty in concentrating and analyzing any situation Unexplained nausea or vomiting Fatigue and muscle weakness Loss of sensation among different parts of the body Behavioral changes Memory loss and blurred vision Causes of brain tumor The causes of a brain tumor depend upon the place from where they have originated. In simpler words, the primary brain tumor develops inside the brain whereas the secondary brain tumor starts developing somewhere else in the body.