Neural Tube Defects: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention

In the initial weeks of pregnancy, the foetus can suffer from neural tube defects. These cause abnormalities in the spinal cord and the brain growing inside the mother’s womb. After birth, neural tube defects can further cause serious abnormalities such as spina bifida, anencephaly, etc. It is because of these abnormalities that can develop in a child that pregnant women are advised to get regular ultrasounds, urinalysis, and triple marker test cost at a reputed pathology lab can be found out on the web. 

 

Causes 

The main cause of neural tube defects is still not known. However, certain genes can be responsible for abnormal spinal and brain development. Environment factors play a role in this condition as well. The health of the mother, her living conditions, and eating habits can affect the growth of the foetus. Women who have had a child with neural tube defects are at a higher risk of giving birth to another child with the same health condition. Along with this, pregnant women with Type 1 Diabetes, insulin resistance, and obesity can be at risk too. 

Treatment 

With the help of image testing such as ultrasounds and maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) screening, this condition can be detected. A morphology scan that is conducted eighteen weeks during the pregnancy can further help in proper diagnosis. As these abnormalities cannot be cured, the only treatment plan that can be provided after the child’s birth is to provide relief of the pain in the spinal cord.

Prevention 

One of the best ways to avoid abnormalities in the brain and spinal cord of the foetus is to increase the intake of folic acid during pregnancy. The optimal amount of folate in the mother’s system during the first three months of pregnancy can reduce the scope of neural tube defects developing in the foetus significantly. Eating a healthy diet rich in green and leafy vegetables along with cereals and legumes is highly recommended. 

Early detection of neural tube defects can help the mother prepare her mind for termination or plan life ahead to take care of the child efficiently.

Zinc Deficiency: Symptoms, Risk Factors, and Treatment

The role of zinc in the human body is considered to be crucial. This is mainly due to its ability to fight off infections and diseases attacking the immune system. Thus, if a patient’s zinc level is low in a blood test, then the chances of contracting bacterial infections are increased.

Symptoms

The most commonly occurring symptom caused by zinc deficiency is weak immunity in children as well as adults. Loss of smell or taste, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, and diarrhoea are other symptoms that exhibit themselves in a majority of cases. However, some patients experience unique conditions such as open sores all over their skin, loss of motor skills, depression, etc. It has also been observed that children suffering from this type of deficiency have stunted growth. Zinc blood test can be used to check  vitamin and mineral levels.

Risk Factors

To grow properly, children, as well as adolescents, require zinc in a higher amount. This is essential because this metal helps in rapid cell production. The same goes for pregnant women who require zinc not only for the foetus but for their cell regeneration as well. Individuals who are addicted to alcohol might suffer from this deficiency. As an excessive amount of alcohol in the body can restrict zinc to be absorbed properly, developing a deficiency is highly likely. Besides this, gastric diseases such as IBS, Crohn’s disease, and short bowel syndrome can increase the risk of zinc deficiency too. 

Treatment 

For diagnosing zinc deficiency accurately, a series of tests are conducted. This includes blood tests, hair strand test, urinalysis, etc. After evaluating the level of zinc deficiency, changes in the patient’s diet are made. Consumption of red meat, poultry, wild rice, oysters, and seeds is recommended. Along with this, eating baked beans, peas, almonds, and cashews can help in improving the zinc level in the patient’s system. A lot of times, medical practitioners might also prescribe supplements to give a boost to the patient’s cell production and immune system. 

Zinc deficiency can be cured with the help of an experienced physician in just a few weeks. Hence, we recommend a reputed doctor for a zinc level test to detect zinc deficiency.

Thyroid Cancer: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

The role of the thyroid gland in the human body is mainly to produce hormones. These hormones help in regulating the growth, development and metabolism of the individual. For this reason, if the thyroid gland is unable to function properly, then the supply of hormones to different organs and muscles would be disrupted. Thyroid cancer is known to have several types, however, each one of them affects this butterfly-shaped immensely. Patients suffering from thyroid-related issues should get regularly tested from a reputed pathology lab. The facility of at-home blood test further helps in diagnosing this condition easily. 

Symptoms 

In most cases, this type of cancer does not exhibit any signs or symptoms in its early stages. As cancer progresses, the patient might experience changes in her/his voice accompanied by a lot of hoarseness. Besides this, a lump can be felt in the neck that indicates tumour in the thyroid gland. Some patients complain of difficulty in swallowing food, water or even saliva in this condition. Inflamed lymph nodes, pain in the neck and throat are other signs of thyroid cancer. 

Causes 

A definite cause of thyroid cancer is unclear until now. However, certain genetic mutations that cause abnormal accumulation of thyroid cells are known to be responsible for this cancer. Women are a higher risk of contracting thyroid cancer more than men. Besides this, patients suffering from other cancers who get radiation therapy can develop cancerous tumours in their thyroid glands as well. Moreover, there are inherited diseases that have caused thyroid cancer in patients. These include familial medullary thyroid cancer, multiple endocrine neoplasia and Cowden's syndrome. 

Treatment 

For proper diagnosis, a series of blood tests such as anti-Tg test, complete blood count, ultrasound, MRI, CT Scan, and genetic testing are conducted. After evaluating the severity of the condition, the medical practitioner comes up with a treatment plan. In most cases, complete removal of the thyroid gland is done through a thyroidectomy and half of the gland is removed by a thyroid lobectomy. In some cases, the surgeon might remove the lymph nodes in the neck area through a lymph node dissection. Certain medications are prescribed after the surgeries for regulating hormone production. External chemotherapy and radiation are other modes of treatment to kill the cancerous cells in the thyroid gland.

Reputed cancer hospitals and oncologists provide palliative care for patients suffering from chronic pain. Therefore, consulting them is highly recommended.

A Quick Overview of Allergy Testing

When your body suffers reaction due to things like food, pollens, pollution, etc., it can be said that your body is affected by an allergy. An allergy occurs when your body’s immune system, which can also be considered its defense mechanism, overreacts to something that we eat or something present in the environment. Some of the symptoms of allergy can be:

• Sneezing
• Indigestion
• Skin rashes
• Running nose 
• Itching in eyes
• Watery eyes

To examine which substance is causing allergy, allergy test is performed by the trained allergy specialist.

 Allergies are caused by allergens which are of three types.

• Inhaled allergens-They cause allergy when they come in contact with membranes of nostrils or enter the lungs.
• Ingested allergens-They cause allergy when consumed with food like peanuts, soya, or seafood.
• Contact allergens-They affect your skin and leads to the occurrence of itching and rashes.

Different type of allergy test performed

Skin Test

Skin tests are performed to detect airborne, food-related and contact allergens. There are three types of skin tests namely, scratch, intradermal or patch test.

• Scratch Test

When scratch test is performed, an allergen is dropped in a liquid and this liquid is then applied on a patch of your skin with the help of a special tool. The doctor keeps a close watch on that patch of the skin to see how your skin reacts to that allergen. The occurrence of swelling, redness, and itchiness on the skin proves that you are allergic to that particular allergen.

• Intradermal Skin Test

If the results of the scratch test show ambiguity, doctors tend to use intradermal skin tests. In test, the allergen is injected in your skin in a very small amount and the reaction is monitored.

• Patch Test

In a patch test, an adhesive patch having allergens is stuck to it is placed on your skin. The patches stay on your skin even after you leave the doctor’s clinic. The first examines the reaction after 48 hours of sticking the patch, and then again after 72 hours.

Blood Test

Blood test is usually performed with skin test to diagnose allergy. However, it is also performed under situations where you cannot stop certain type of medications for skin or you are suffering from dermatographism or where you are suffering from skin rashes or lesions. The blood test is called ImmunoCAP and helps in detecting IgE antibodies to major allergens.

Elimination diet

Under elimination diet certain types of food are first removed from your diet and later added back. It helps doctor diagnose the type of food that is causing allergic reaction. Once the doctor confirms that particular type of food is causing allergy, the doctor can eliminates that food from your diet.

If your doctor prescribes you to get allergy testing done, make sure that you visit a good diagnostic centre near you to get the test done. Results for these tests have to be accurate and only a reputed lab can provide accurate results. So, it is important that you search for a trustworthy lab when you are getting allergy tests done.