Septic (pronounced septik, from Greek sepein = to rot, putrefy), literally means rotten.

In medicine, a term septic may have different meanings:

1. Septic - contaminated by microbes, as opposed to aseptic – microbes free, sterile.
2. Septic system, including septic tank, is a system for wastewater and sewage disposal.
3. Septic infection is an infection with localized pus collection in particular organ. Examples are septic wound, septic arthritis, septic meningitis, septic pleural effusion, etc.
4. Septicemia may, to some, mean bacteremia, and to others sepsis, what may be quite confusing, so finding out exact meaning of septicemia from the context of particular health text is important.
5. Sepsis or blood infection is a serious health condition, in which microbes invade the blood (usually from existing severe infection, like pneumonia) and trigger high fever, rapid breathing and heartbeat.
6. Septic shock is a life threatening condition with a sudden, severe drop in blood pressure during sepsis. 

Septicemia Is Not Clearly Defined

A term septicemia may cause a lot of confusion; for some it refers to bacteremia (presence of bacteria in the bloodstream) and for others it refers to sepsis (bacteremia + blood inflammation). Since a term septicemia is still widely used, a reader should be aware of its two possible meanings in different health articles.

Blood Poisoning Is Not An Appropriate Term

To ad to the confusion, a term blood poisoning is often used as a synonym for septicemia (or sepsis). Poisoning can be caused by substances other than those released by microbes, while sepsis is always caused by microbes, so a term blood infection is preferable as an informal name for sepsis.

Inflammation is an acute (short term) response by living tissue to any injury. It is usually followed by repair and regeneration after the injury, provided that the tissue was not severe enough to cause cell death (necrosis). Inflammation is a life sustaining mechanism to help the body cope during and just after an injury but inflammation often prevents proper regeneration and repair. Chronic inflammation may persist long term as seen in many chronic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and should be treated if there is no direct threat to living tissue.

continue reading Inflammation – Causes, Symptoms, Process, Treatment

What Are Tonsil Stones?

Tonsil stones or tonsilloliths are compacted and calcified stones formed in the tonsillar crypts or crevices of the throat and most frequently in persons suffering from recurrent chronic tonsillitis. Most cases of tonsil stones do not hamper daily functioning or cause discomfort and a person may not  even know that they have a tonsil stone.

continue reading Tonsil Stones Removal & Pictures

1. Nasal Congestion

A common cause of blocked nose in a baby is an infection or allergy resulting in nasal congestion with purulent or watery discharge.

2. Enlarged Adenoid Glands

Adenoid glands (pharyngeal tonsils) are located in the roof of the throat, behind the nose. They usually start to shrink after about age 5 and usually disappear until teenage years. Enlarged adenoid glands (adenoids) can be present from birth or can become temporary enlarged during an infection (adenoiditis), especially in early childhood. Symptoms are breathing through the mouth, snoring, difficult swallowing and throaty voice. When there is no infection, there is also no nasal discharge. A common complications are sinusitis and infection of the middle ear. If problems are constant, adenoids should be surgically removed (adenoidectomy). Sometimes adenoids are enlarged from no obvious reason and often shrink without treatment so pediatrician should be consulted about removal.

continue reading What Causes Blocked Nose in a Baby and Small Child?

Mushrooms, even edible ones, may cause diarrhea in some people. On the other hand, even some deadly poisonous mushrooms does not necessarily cause diarrhea, with the exception of the following (1):

• Amanita ocreata (Western North American destroying angel)
• Amanita phalloides (death cap)
• Clitocybe dealbata (ivory funnel)
• Hypholoma fasciculare (sulfur tuft)
• Lactarius torminosus (woolly milk-cap)

continue reading Can Mushrooms Cause Diarrhea?

Sudden Stress and Bowel Incontinence

It is known that strong fear, unpleasant surprise, pain, gross scene or other strong stimuli or feelings may cause temporary bowel incontinence – an inability to prevent the passage of the stool.

Strong sensory stimuli may cause excitation of the vagus nerve and pelvic nerves (parasympathetic nerve) that stimulate large intestinal motility (peristalsis) and push the stool toward the anus. At the same time, depression of the sympathetic nerves may cause relaxation of the internal anal sphincter (the muscle that keeps the anus closed) resulting in the involuntary bowel movement. Described mechanism is a part of “fight or flight” or “combat or escape” response to stress, in which flight (parasympathetic) response has prevailed.

Bladder incontinence may appear at the same time, since the passage of the urine is controlled by the same nerves as the passage of the stool (Picture 1). 

continue reading Bowel Incontinence & Diarrhea in Stress – How to Prevent It?

Swelling is the enlargement of a body part or organ beyond it normal size and usually causing a distortion of the shape and structure of the affected area.

continue reading What Is Swelling? Definition & Causes of Swelling

Diverticulitis is an inflammation of intestinal diverticles.

In the past it was recommended to avoid foods with hardly digestible peels like pop-corn or beans or those with small seeds like strawberries, blueberries, cucumbers or tomatoes because they could lodge in diverticles and cause its inflammation; to the date, there’s no scientific evidence for this. But if you believe these small food particles may harm you, avoid them anyway.

Related Articles:

• Left Lower Abdominal Pain

References:

• Foods to avoid in diverticulitis  (mayoclinic.com)

Dental surgery and related dental procedures are often feared to be painful experiences that can be avoided by attending to your dental needs. However dental surgery and related procedures are essential for :

• Maintaining the health and integrity of your teeth, gum and mouth.
• Restoring functioning of your teeth
• Preventing serious complications in the future.
• Improving the cosmetic appearance of the teeth and mouth.

Understanding dental procedures often helps allay unrealistic fears surrounding dental surgery. Advances in pharmaceuticals, anesthesia, investigative and therapeutic techniques means that your dental procedure should be fairly painless and quick in the hands of a skilled dentist, periodontist or orthodontist.

continue reading Dental Procedures & Surgery – Root Canal, Bridges, Implants