Did you know that April 24 th  is also celebrated as World Meningitis Day? This infection  affects 2.8 million people globally as per studies carried out. When the protective membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord get inflamed, it is known as meningitis. Meningitis affects people of all ages but infants, young children, teens, and older people stand a greater risk of it than others. The cause of this inflammation could either be a bacterial or a viral infection. Meningitis can also be caused by other factors such as injury, cancer, infection, and specific drugs. Treatment is based on the specific type of meningitis. The key to preventing the infection is timely vaccinations. There are many vaccines that prevent meningitis. It is essential to discuss the type of vaccine needed with the physician to protect one from this disease. It is crucial to recognize the symptoms and act fast as meningitis can cause death within 24 hours. In cases of suspected meningitis, it is best to seek immediate medical attention. Meningitis can strike in a matter of hours but its effects can last for a lifetime. Some life-altering effects of this condition include: Deafness Loss of memory Loss of sight Loss of limbs Epilepsy Paralysis Organ damage Brain damage Types of meningitis Viral meningitis (aseptic meningitis):

Dyskinesia is a type of movement disorder which leads to uncontrollable body movements. This involuntary movement is in one part of the body, like an arm or the head, or the whole body may be affected. The intensity of this disorder can vary from person to person. Some people may have a mild attack while others may have a severe and painful attack. Dyskinesia can affect a patient’s regular routine too. There is a no specific time for the occurrence of this disorder, and it can occur at any time to anyone who is prone to it. Cause Dyskinesia is mainly caused due to prolonged use of a medicine called levodopa. Many people with Parkinson’s disease use levodopa for treating the symptoms of this disease. When they consume this medicine for a long period, it leads to an increase in the dopamine level in the brain. Usually, people who have Parkinson’s disease have low levels of dopamine in the brain, but utilizing levodopa can enhance its levels. So, when these people stop consuming levodopa, their dopamine level drops suddenly. This sudden rise and drop in the level of dopamine causes dyskinesia in most people. Symptoms The primary symptom of this disease is an involuntary movement in a specific body part.

An inflammatory condition of the liver is referred to as hepatitis. Hepatitis is mainly caused by a viral infection and there are additional factors as well that contributes to this inflammatory condition. It generally consists of autoimmune hepatitis and other types of hepatitis that are caused due to drugs, medications, alcohol, and toxins. Hepatitis is a severe condition that disrupts your liver functioning and causes other ailments related to the liver. It is very important to start the treatment of hepatitis as soon as one is diagnosed with it. The treatment will be mostly dependent on the type of hepatitis you are suffering from. There are five types of hepatitis: Hepatitis A Hepatitis A is the most common condition, which generally transfers from one person to another through direct contact of contaminated feces or through the consumption of contaminated food and water. The main symptoms that you can find in an infected person are fever, dark urine, light stool, and jaundice. This type of hepatitis infection can be prevented by adopting the habit of frequent and proper washing of hands. This type of infection can be cured in about two months. This type of hepatitis can also be prevented through vaccination.

Fibromyalgia is a musculoskeletal pain accompanied by issues in sleep, fatigue, memory, and  mood. Research says that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations. It often affects the way your brain processes pain signals. Symptoms of fibromyalgia sometimes show after surgery, infection,  physical trauma, or significant psychological stress. There are other cases where symptoms gradually grow over time with no apparent single triggering event. Women are more susceptible to fibromyalgia than men. People with fibromyalgia also suffer from tension headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, and depression. Though there is no particular cure for fibromyalgia, there are medications that can help control its symptoms. Even relaxation, exercise, and stress-reduction help to manage fibromyalgia. Symptoms of fibromyalgia: Widespread Pain With fibromyalgia, the pain is often described as a constant dull ache that lasts for at least three months. Though, to be considered widespread the pain must occur on both your upper body and lower body. Fatigue Fibromyalgia often keeps people tired even though just woke up from a sleep. They report sleeping for long periods of time, but often get disrupted by pain. Many patients with fibromyalgia have other sleep disorders too, like sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome. Cognitive difficulties In fibromyalgia, there is a symptom that is commonly referred to as “fibro fog” which impairs the ability to pay attention, concentrate and focus on mental tasks.

Psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis that generally develops in people who have psoriasis disease. Psoriasis is a skin condition in which the skin will become dry and have red patches in the affected area, and these patches have silver-colored scales on them. There are a lot of people in the country suffering from psoriasis, and about thirty percent of these people develop psoriatic arthritis. The intensity of psoriatic arthritis varies in different people. It can be severe or mild, and it can also affect one or more joints. Symptoms The symptoms of psoriatic arthritis are different for different people. Some people have very mild symptoms of the disease, and some have severe symptoms, but there are some symptoms that are common for this disease, irrespective of its severity: Some people having psoriatic arthritis may experience swelling and tender joints on either one side or both sides of the body. Many people experience stiffness in the joints in the morning when they suffer from psoriatic arthritis. Another common symptom of this disease is swollen fingers and swollen toes. In psoriatic arthritis, many people experience pain in the muscles and tendons. When the pain in the joints increases, the scaly skin patches may worsen in some people with psoriatic arthritis.