ALLERGIES Discomforts of various kinds are considered allergies when they are brought on by substances or conditions that ordinarily are harmless. Not too long ago, perturbed allergy sufferers would say things like: “ I can’t use that soap because it gives me hives”. “Smelling roses makes me sneeze”. Nowadays such complaints are commonly recognized as indications of allergies.  SYMPTOMS Allergic symptoms can range from itching eyes, running nose, coughing, difficulty in breathing, welts on the skin, nausea, cramps, and even going into a state of shock, depending upon the severity of the allergic individual’s response. Almost any part or system of the body may be affected, and almost anything can pose an allergic threat to somebody. Back to top ANEMIA A condition in which there is a decrease in the number of red blood cells or in the hemoglobin content of the red blood cells. Hemoglobin is the compound that carries oxygen to the body tissues from the lungs. Anemia in itself is not a disease but rather s symptom of some other disorder, such as iron deficiency in the diet, excessive blood loss resulting from an injury or bleeding, infection by industrial poisons, or kidney or bone marrow disease. A person may also develop anemia as a result of hypersensitivity (allergy) to various medicines. In the simple form of anemia caused by a deficiency of iron in the diet, the symptoms are rarely severe. There may be feelings of fatigue, a loss of energy, and a general lack of vitality. Deficiency anemia is especially common among children and pregnant women, and can be corrected by adding foods high in iron into the diet, such as liver, lean meat, leafy green vegetables, whole wheat bread, and dried peas and beans.        If the symptoms persist, a physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment.   Back to top  ASTHMA             A disease of the respiratory system in which there is chronic (long term) inflammation of the lungs and periodic acute episodes called “attacks”. During attacks the airways contract or go into spasm, breathing becomes difficult, and a wheezing sound is produced. Lung spasms are also accompanied by secretion of excess mucus into the airways and swelling of the bronchia l tubes, causing breathing to be further restricted. Coughing, sweating, and a feeling of tightness in the chest may also accompany an attack.  TRIGGERS AND CAUSES: 1.        Cold weather 2.                  Pollen 3.                  House dust 4.                  Cockroaches 5.                  Mites 6.                  Animal dander 7.                  Cigarette smoke 8.                  Certain cleaning products 9.                  Emotional stress In some cases, asthma may accompany a bacterial or viral infection of the nose or throat.    Back to top THE ASTHMA ATTACK             If an attack occurs, a child may become very frightened because of the suffocating sensation. It can also be frightening to witness a child struggling to breathe. It is important to remain calm, be reassuring to the child, and call the child’s pediatrician promptly. Immediate symptoms can be alleviated by prescribed medications in a form of tablets or through an inhaler, or by injection. If the cause of the attacked can be determined it should be removed from the child’s presence as soon as possible. Back to top APPENDICITIS              The vermiform appendix is a narrow tubular attachment to the colon. It can become obstructed by the presence of undigested foods such as small seeds from fruits or by hard bits of feces. This irritates the appendix and cause the inflammation to sets in. If it is obstructed, pressure builds within the appendix because of increasing secretions that will result to the rupture of the appendix. A rupture appendix can be rapidly fatal if peritonitis  (inflammation of the peritoneal cavity) sets in.  SYMPTOMS: The onset of appendicitis is heralded by an acute attack of pain in the center of the abdomen, as the intensity of pain increases that will shift to the lower abdomen with nausea, vomiting and fever. Some individuals, however, suffer from recurrent attacks of dull pain without other signs of gastrointestinal disease, and these may not be significant enough to warrant hospitalization. Diagnosis of appendicitis is usually dependent on the above symptoms, along with tenderness in the right lower quadrant (appendix area), increased pulse rate, and decreasing blood pressure. The last two are very significant if the appendix ruptures and peritonitis sets in. Whenever these symptoms are observed, the patient must be rushed to the nearest hospital. Back to top BACKACHES   “Oh my aching back” is probably the most common complaint among people pat the age of 40. Most of the time, the discomfort – wherever it occurs, up or down the backbone- can be traced to some simple cause. However, there are continuous backaches that have their origin in some internal disorder that needs the attention of a physician. Among the serious causes are kidneys or pancreas disease, spinal arthritis, and peptic ulcer.    SOME COMMON CAUSES Generally a backache is the result of strain in the muscles, nerves, or ligaments of the spine. It can occur because of poor posture, carelessness in lifting or carrying heavy packages, sitting in one position for a long time in the wrong kind of chair, or sleeping on a mattress that is too soft. Backache often accompanies menstruation, and is common in the later stages of pregnancy. Emotional tension can also bring on back pain. PREVENTION Maintaining good posture during the waking hours and sleeping on a hard mattress at night – if necessary, inserting a bed board between the mattress and bed springs – are the first line of defense against backaches. Anyone habitually carrying heavy loads of books or groceries, or even overloaded attache’ case, should make a habit of shifting the weight from arm to arm so that the spine doesn’t always get pulled in one direction. Workers who are sedentary for most of the day at a desk or factory table should be sure that the chair they sit in provides firm support for back muscles and is the right height for the working surface. TREATMENT Most causes of simple backache respond to rest, aspirin, and the application of heat, applied by a hot water bottle or heating pad. In cases where the pain persists or becomes more acute, a physician should be consulted. He may find that the trouble is caused by the malfunctioning of an internal organ, or by pressure on the sciatic nerve (Sciatica). With x-rays he may also locate a slipped disk or other abnormality in the alignment of the vertebrae of the spine.            Back to top BRONCHITIS Usually referred to as chest cold, bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes that connects the windpipes and the lungs. If the bronchitis progresses down into the lungs, it can develop into pneumonia. Old people and children are especially susceptible to acute bronchitis. The symptoms include pain in the chest, a feeling of fatigue, and a nagging cough. If the infection is bacterial, it will respond to antibiotics. If it is viral, there are no specific medicines. The attack usually lasts for about ten days, although recovery may be speeded up with bed rest and large fluid intake. Back to top CHRONIC BRONCHITIS             Is a condition that may recur each winter, or may be present throughout the year in the form of a constant cough. The condition is aggravated by smoking and by irritants such as airborne dust and smog. The swollen tissues and abnormally heavy discharge of mucus interfere with the flow of air from the lungs and cause shortness of breath. Medicines are available that lessen the bronchial phlegm and make breathing easier. People with chronic bronchitis often sleep better if they use more than one pillow and have a vaporizer going at night.   Back to top BALDNESS / ALOPECIA                 Under the normal circumstances of combing, brushing and shampooing, a person loses anywhere from 25 to 100 hairs a day. Because new hairs start growing each day, the loss and replacement usually balance each other. When the loss rate is greater than the replacement rate, thinning and baldness result.             The medical term for baldness is Alopecia , the most common form of which is male pattern baldness. Dr. Eugene Van Scott, Professor of Dermatology of Temple University’s Health Sciences Center, sums up the opinion of medical authorities on the three factors of baldness: 1.                  Sex 2.                  Age 3.                  Heredity Unfortunately, theses are three factors over which medical science has no control.  TREATMENT:             Two drugs have been approved for regrowing hair: 1.                  Minoxidil – a topical solution which is available over the counter and is sold under the brand name Rogaine and as a generic drug. Approximately 25 % of men and 20% of women using the product experience some hair growth. 2.                  Finasteride – a pill marketed as Propeicia, was approved in 1997. More than 80% of men in trials experienced a slowing of hair loss and 60% grew new hair. This product is only available with doctor’s prescription.  Other forms of baldness may be a result of bacterial or fungal infections, allergic reactions to particular medicines, radiation, or continual friction. It has been suggested that stress from hair curlers or tight ponytails can cause loss of hair. These forms of baldness usually disappear when the cause is eliminated. Although diet has very little to do with baldness, poor nutrition can result in hair that is dry, dull, and brittle enough to break easily. Any serious illness can lead to hair loss as well. It is thought that Vitamin A taken in grossly excessive amounts can contribute to hair loss.             Women ordinarily lose some of their hair at the end of pregnancy, after delivery, and during the menopausal stage, but regrowth can be expected in a few months.             A surgical procedure of treating male pattern baldness and baldness in women is called Hair transplantation. Back to top CANCER Any of various diseases that probably have different causes and originate in different tissues, but which all involve an abnormal growth of new tissue as a tumor which may benign or malignant which spread by metastasis, resulting in progressive tissue degeneration. THE EIGHT WARNING SIGNS OF CANCER C         -            Changes in bowel or elimination pattern A         -            A sore that does not heal U         -            Unusual bleeding T          -            Thickening or lumps I           -            Indigestion O         -            Obvious change in warts or mole N         -            Nagging cough S          -            Severe anemia Back to top COMMON COLD             Common cold is the label attached to a group of symptoms that can be caused by one or more of some 20 different viruses. Colds are considered highly contagious, but some physicians think that people don’t entirely catch others’ colds – in a sense they catch their own. While the viruses that carry the infection are air borne and practically omnipresent, somebody in good health is usually less susceptible to a cold than someone who is run down. Both environmental factors (such as air pollution) and emotional ones (such as anxiety and depression) seem to increase susceptibility.  Symptoms differ from person to person and from cold to cold with the same person. Generally, a cold starts with sneezes, a running nose, teary eyes, and a stuffed head. Sometimes the nasal membranes become so swollen that a person can breathe only through the mouth; sometimes the sense of smell and taste simply disappear. The throat may be sore; a postnasal drip may cause a constant cough when the person is lying down at night.  When these symptoms are acute and are accompanied by fever and aching joints, the illness is usually referred to as influenza or “the flu”. There are many different viruses that cause influenza, and new ones are always turning up. Unfortunately, there is as yet no medicine that can cure either a cold or a flu attack, although many people do get relief from symptoms by taking various cold remedies. Doctors to prevent more serious bacterial diseases, such as pneumonia, from developing sometimes prescribe antibiotics, but antibiotics are not effective against the cold viruses.  TREATMENT             Some people can get away with treating a cold with contempt and an occasional aspirin, and go about their business. Others are laid low for a few days. If you are the type who is really hit hard by a cold, it isn’t coddling yourself to stay home for a couple of days. In any event, a simple cold usually runs its course, lasting anywhere from a few days to two weeks.             Discomfort can be minimized and recovery speeded by a few simple steps: 1.                  Extra rest and sleep 2.                  Drinking more liquids than usual 3.                  Taking aspirin as needed 4.                  Sucking on zinc-gluconate lozenges within 24 hours of the first sign of a cold may help lessen the duration of a cold, although this has not been proven definitively. Antihistamine preparations or nose drops should be avoided unless specifically prescribed by a physician. A painful sore throat accompanied by fever, earache, a dry, hacking cough, or pains in the chest are symptoms that should be brought to the attention of a physician. Back to top  CONSTIPATION              Difficult or infrequent passage of feces. Constipation can refer to hardness of stool, difficult defecation, a feeling of incomplete evacuation, or infrequent defecation. No body function is more variable and subject to extraneous influences than is defecation. Dietary, cultural, and individual physiologic factors modify normal bowel function. Normal frequency varies from 3 times / day to once / 3 days.  TREATMENT:  1.         The patient’s diet should contain sufficient residue to ensure adequate stool bulk. 2.                  Vegetable fiber, which is largely indigestible and unabsorbable, increases stool bulk; certain components of fiber also absorb fluid into the solid phase, making stool softer and thus facilitating their passage. 3.                  Fruits and vegetables should be recommended or cereals containing bran, taken to tolerance can supplement the diet. Unrefined miller’s bran, taken as 2 to 3 tsp. on fruit or cereal b.i.d., may be preferred. 4.                  Plenty of liquid in-take is important, whether in the form of juices, soups, or large quantities of water. 5.                  Scheduling a certain exercise each day strengthens the abdominal muscles and stimulates muscle activity in the large intestines. 6.                  Confronting the source of worries and anxieties, if necessary with a trained therapist may also be helpful. 7.                  An enema or a laxative should be considered only once in a while rather than as regular treatment. The colon should be given a chance to function properly without relying on artificial stimulation. If constipation resists these common sense approaches, the problem should be talked over with a physician. Back to top COUGHING             Is usually a reflex reaction to an obstruction or irritation in the trachea (windpipe), pharynx (back of mouth and throat), or bronchial tubes. It can also be the symptoms of a disease or a nervous habit. For a simple cough brought on by smoking too much or breathing bad air, medicines can be taken that act as sedatives to inhibit the reflex reaction. Inhaling steam can loosen the congestion (a combination of swollen membranes and thickened mucus) that causes some types of cough, and hot drinks such as tea or lemonade help to soothe and relax the irritated area. Constant coughing especially when accompanied by chest pains should be brought to a physician’s attention. Back to top CHICKEN POX             Chicken pox is caused by a virus. The incubation period is from tow to three weeks after the exposure. It is highly infectious and spreads rapidly. It does not usually cause any severe complications in children but it can be serious in an adult.  SYMPTOMS: 1.                  Common colds 2.                  Fever 3.                  General malaise 4.                  Rash may be severe or mild differs from that of measles rash (red and blotchy). Chicken pox rash has bunches of blisters close together that are filled with fluids and a reddened area around each lesion, very itchy and the affected child must be prevented from scratching; otherwise he may develop a secondary infection and be left pitted and scarred. With the appearance of new blisters, the older one became crusted. The rash may affects the nose, ears, vagina, penis or scrotum. The symptoms may be severe in an older child than in a younger one and may accompany headache and vomiting. Vaccination is now available for immunization.   TREATMENT: Treatment of chicken pox is only symptomatic. Applying calamine lotion locally will relieve the itchiness.  If the child is old enough, it’s a good idea to let him paint on himself. The doctor can prescribe also medicine to be taken orally to help the child stop scratching the blisters. In a few days, the rash clears up, the lesions dry and the crusts fall off. Back to top COLIC             During the first three or four months, many babies have occasional attacks of colic, a general term applied to infantile digestive discomfort. After feeding, the baby may cry out in pain and draw up her arms and legs, her abdomen may feel hard. Apart from making sure the baby is as comfortable as can be, there’s not much that can be done for colic. You must try not to let the baby’s crying make you a nervous wreck, for your nervousness will be communicated to the baby, which will only create a vicious circle of increasing tension. Usually colic tapers off at about the third month. If the baby’s colic is very frequent or persistent, consult your pediatrician Back to top DIABETES MELLITUS              This is the most common disorder in metabolism that everyone is familiar with especially that this affects the children (Juvenile Diabetes Mellitus / Insulin dependent) and adults (Late On-set / Non-insulin dependent D. M.). A syndrome resulting from a variable interaction of hereditary and environmental factors. Diabetes mellitus is a disorder, which is caused by lack of Insulin hormone produce in our Endocrine glands specifically in the Islets of Langerhans that is responsible for the reduction of the blood sugar in our body.  The signs and symptoms that a person has a Diabetes mellitus are as follows:  a.                  Polyuria which means excessive passing of urine b.                  Polydepsia which means excessive thirst c.                  Polyphagia which means excessive hunger d.                  Weight loss  If you have experienced any of those signs and symptoms mentioned, it is better to consult your doctor for further management and possible treatment. The earlier that the illness will be diagnosed the better the possibility of medical management and the lesser the possibility of complication.  Back to top DIARRHEA            Increased in volume, fluidity or frequency of bowel movements relative to the usual pattern for a particular individual. Normal bowel habits vary considerably from one person to another, being modified by age and by social and cultural patterns.  In an urban civilization, the normal frequency of bowel movements ranges from 2 to 3 movements/day to 2 to 3 weeks. Increased stool frequency or fecal volume, changes in stool consistency, or blood, mucus, pus, or excess fatty material (oil, grease or film) in the stool may indicate disease. The principal cause of diarrhea is infection in the intestinal tract by microorganisms. Chemical and food poisoning also brings on spasms of diarrhea. Long standing episodes of diarrhea have been traced to inflammation of the intestinal mucosa, tumors, ulcers, allergies, vitamin deficiency, and in some cases emotional stress. Diarrhea, inconjuction with other symptoms, can also indicate infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the suspected cause of AIDS. Patient’s with diarrhea commonly suffer abdominal cramps, lose weight from chronic attacks, or have vomiting spells. A physician must always be consulted for proper diagnosis and treatment; this is especially important if the attacks continue for more than 2 to 3 days. Untreated diarrhea can lead to dehydration and malnutrition; it may be fatal, especially in infants.  Back to top EAR INFECTIONS              Ear infection related to colds, sore throats, or tonsillitis can now be kept from spreading and entering the mastoid bone by the use of sulfa drugs and other antibiotics. Any acute earache should therefore be called to a physician’s attention promptly. Aspirin, in adults can be taken for temporary relief from pain; holding a heating pad or a hot water bottle to the affected side of the face may also be helpful until proper medication can be prescribed. Back to top EAR WAX              An excessive accumulation of earwax can cause pain and interfere with hearing. A small wad of cotton should be used to gently clean the ear canal, and sharp objects such as hairpins and matchsticks should never be used.             A few drops of hydrogen peroxide can soften hardened earwax. Sometimes a doctor may have to flush out earwax that is deeply imbedded. Back to top EAR BLOCKAGE             A stopped-up feeling in the ear can be caused by a cold, and also by the change in air pressure experienced when a plane makes a rapid descent. Swallowing hard or yawning can usually open the obstruction of the Eustachian tube. Back to top EYE STRAIN              With symptoms of fatigue, tearing, redness, and a scratchy feeling in the eyelids – can be caused by a need for corrective glasses, by a disorder of t he eye, or by overuse of the eyes. One of the most common causes of eyestrain, however, is improper lighting. Anyone engaged in close work, such as sewing or miniature model building, and at all times when reading, should have light come from behind and from the side so that no shadow falls on the book or object being scrutinized. The light should be strong enough comfort – not dazzling. Efforts should be made to avoid a shiny or highly polished work surface that produces a glare. To avoid eyestrain when watching television, be sure the picture is in sharp focus; the viewer should sit at least six feet from the screen; and see that the room is not in total darkness. Back to top RINGING IN THE EAR              The general word for a large variety of noises in the ear is tinnitus. Tinnitus can be ringing, buzzing, or other low-level continual sounds. Everyone experiences some form of ear ringing on occasion, such as after listening to loud music or noise. However, chronic noise is symptomatic of other problems. Tinnitus can be caused by tension in the jaw muscle from stress, grinding of the teeth, or structural problems with the jaw. It can also be caused by high blood pressure, infections, or as a reaction to chemicals, such as nicotine. If you experience continual or chronic ringing, you should discuss it with your physician.            Tinnitus is treated by: 1.                  Avoiding excessive noise 2.                  Masking irritating ear noises with music or amplified sounds from a hearing aid or cleaning earwax out of ears. A doctor’s opinion should also be sought to determine if the ringing is caused by an inner ear infection. Avoiding caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol also helps.  Back to top FAINTING A sudden loss of consciousness usually caused by an insufficient supply of blood and oxygen to the brain. Among the most common cause of fainting are: 1.             Fear 2.             Acute hunger 3.             A sight of blood   4.            Prolonged standing in a room with too little fresh air. Fainting should be confused with a loss of consciousness resulting from excessive alcohol intake or insulin shock. A person who is about to faint usually feels dizzy, turns pale, and feels weak in the knees.  TREATMENT: 1.                  Let the person lie down or sit with his head between his knees for several minutes 2.                  If he looses consciousness, position him in a trendelenberg position where in the legs are elevated or higher than his head. 3.                  Loosen his clothing 4.                  Adequate air ventilation. 5.                  If aromatic spirit of ammonia or salts is available held it under the nose so the patient can smell it. With the above procedures the patient will be revived, if not the attention of a physician must be sought.             Back to top GASTRITIS             Is the inflammation of the mucosa of the stomach. The patient complaints of epigastric pain – in the middle of the upper abdomen – with distension of the stomach, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting.             Attacks of acute gastritis can be traced to bacterial action, food poisoning, peptic ulcer, the presence of alcohol in the stomach, the ingestion of highly spiced foods, or overeating and drinking. Occasional gastritis, though painful, may disappear spontaneously. Gastritis may also cause serous bleeding. The general treatment is similar to the treatment of gastric ulcer.   Back to top GOUT             An arthritic disease associated with an abnormality of body chemistry. There is an excessive accumulation of  uric acid in the blood resulting from the chemical abnormality, and the uric acid, in the form of sharp urate crystals may accumulate in the joints, where it causes an inflammation with symptoms like those of arthritis. A frequent target of the urate crystals is the big toe, which is why gout patients occasionally are pictured as sitting in a chair with one foot propped upon a pillows. Back to top HEADACHE             The common headache is probably as ancient as primitive man. The headache, a pain or ache across the forehead or within the head, may be severe or mild in character, and can last anywhere from under half an hour to three or four days. It may be accompanied by dizziness, nausea, nasal stuffiness, or difficulty in seeing or hearing. It is not a disease or illness but a symptom.  CAUSES Headache in today’s modern world can arise from any of underlying causes. These include: 1.                  Excessive drinking or smoking 2.                  Lack of sleep 3.                  Hunger 4.                  Drug abuse 5.                  Eye strain, which commonly results, from overuse of the eyes, particularly under glaring light, or from failure to correct defective vision. Treatments for headaches are as varied as the causes of headaches. Diagnosis may take sometime, but if you suffer from severe or chronic headaches, it is important to consult your doctor. Headaches may point to an underlying problem, such as high blood pressure. Headaches that are non-debilitating may be treated with analgesics such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Debilitating headache such as tension, migraine, or cluster headaches can be treated with prescribed drugs if your doctor advises it. Chronic headache should be diagnosed so the sufferer does not have to always depend on medication to treat the problem. Long- term solutions may include meditation, relaxation exercises, and exercise to reduce tension and stress. Dietary changes such as eliminating chocolates, caffeine, cheese, alcohol, sugar, or other products may also help.    Back to top CLUSTER HEADACHE             Cluster headache cause pain around a specific area of the head, and eye tearing, nasal stuffiness, and a burning sensation on the side of the head affected. The headache usually lasts only a few hours but are usually described as excruciating. This usually occurs after a person has fallen asleep and typically affect men and heavy smokers. Since the pain is resistant to over-the counter medicine, cluster headache can be treated with corticosteroids, such as prednisone, or inhaling 100 percent oxygen.   Back to top HEAT EXHAUSTION             This condition is different from sunstroke. Heat exhaustion sets in when large volume of blood accumulates in the skin as the body’s way of increasing its cooling mechanism during exposure to high temperatures. This in turns lowers the amount of blood circulating through the heart and decreases the blood supply to the brain. If severe enough, fainting may result. Other symptom may include unusual pallor and profuse cold perspiration. The pulse may be weak and breathing shallow. Back to top HEATSTROKE OR SUNSTROKE            Sunstroke is much more of an emergency than heat exhaustion and requires immediate attention. The characteristic symptom is extremely high body temperature brought on by cessation of perspiration. If hot, dry, flushed skin turns ashen gray, a physician must be called immediately. Too much physical activity during periods of high temperature and high humidity is a direct contributing cause.    Back to top HEMORRHOIDS             Also commonly called piles, are swollen veins in the mucous membrane inside or just outside the rectum. When the enlargement is slight, an itching sensation in the area may only be the discomfort. In Acute cases, it may accompany pain and bleeding. Hemorrhoids are common complain and affecting people in all ages. Usually the result of prolonged straining in eliminating hard, dry stools. The extra pressure causes a fold of the membranous rectal lining to slip down, thus pinching and irritating the vein. Because hemorrhoids may be a symptom of a disorder other than constipation, a physician should treat it. If neglected, it may bleed frequently and profusely enough to cause anemia. Surgery may be needed if a blood clot will develop in an irritated vein.  TREATMENT: 1.      Hot sitz bath could be done at home twice daily will provide a temporary relief. 2.      Preventing constipation is of most importance by eating high fiber diet.  Back to top HEPATITIS             Infectious hepatitis or hepatitis A virus (HAV) is spread in food and water contaminated by the feces of infected individuals. HAV often infects day care workers and travelers in Third World Countries. The incubation period lasts from one to six weeks.             Symptoms includes: 1.                  Fever 2.                  Nausea 3.                  Vomiting 4.                  Aching Muscles 5.                  Fatigue 6.                  Loss of Appetite 7.                  Jaundice (Yellowish discoloration of the skin , tissues and sclera of the eyes) HAV can usually be cured by a few weeks of bed rest. Treatment of Immune globulin will halt the virus if given early enough to those exposed. It is important to note that those infected with HAV will not become carriers upon full recovery. Vaccines against HAV are already available. Good sanitary practices can prevent the spread of the virus. Vigorous hand washing after restroom use or changing diapers and before preparing and eating food is strongly recommended.  The Hepatitis B Virus is more serious than HAV because it often causes long-term infection and chronic liver disease such as cancer and cirrhosis. The HBV is transmitted to the 5 S of infected person: 1.                  Serum or blood through prick or sharing of needles in illicit drug use 2.                  Semen through sexual contact 3.                  Sweat through a break in the skin 4.                  Stool 5.                  Saliva   A newborn can also be infected if the mother is a carrier. The incubation period of HBV is from forty days to six months. Symptoms are similar to HAV but are usually more severe and often lead to chronic infection. A small percentage of adults and a high percentage of babies who contract HBV will become chronic carriers of the virus, placing them at risk for serious health problems late in life. Vaccines are already available for children and adolescents and high-risk groups such as health care workers, intravenous drug users, those with multiple sex partners. Treatment of Interferon or Lamivudine also reduces the severity of infection.  The Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is transmitted through blood transfusions or blood to blood contact. 10% of HCV cases are transmitted through sexual contact. Many people infected with HCV may remain healthy for years and even decades before symptoms will appear. Those with asymptomatic infection eventually develop serious liver disease. About 75 % develop cirrhosis and 20 % develop liver cancer. Symptoms include: 1.                  Darkening of the urine 2.                  Abdominal discomfort 3.                  Loss of appetite 4.                  Nausea and vomiting 5.                  Severe fatigue 6.                  Muscle pain and tenderness 7.                  Accumulation of fluid in the abdomen (Ascitis) and sometimes the legs 8.                  Jaundice  NO VACCINE EXISTS FOR HCV   Back to top HICCUPS             Are contractions of the diaphragm, the great muscle responsible for forcing air in and out of our lungs. They may be brought on by an irritation of the diaphragm itself, of the respiratory or digestive system, or by eating or drinking too rapidly.