Doctors recommend keeping a watchful eye over your health until all the symptoms have vanished. After this, give yourself a week, just to be sure, before resuming normal lifestyle. Here is more of what should be done:

Regular Check-ups

Many pneumonia patients are tempted to start living as they were before as soon as the symptoms begin to improve. However, you must be sure that all the signs have vanished prior to doing so. This is mainly because of the fact that pneumonia recovery demands regular checkups for successful recuperation. Secondary infections will be identified and treated promptly this way.

Get Plenty of Sleep

Pneumonia affects the immune system greatly. For it to recover, the body will require sufficient sleep. Resist the temptation of staying awake for long hours at night even when you’re feeling stronger. In addition to this, take a few minutes to nap during the day so that the antibiotics can take full effect.

Take Medication As Instructed

Make sure that the medication you’ve been prescribed by the doctor is taken as instructed. Antibiotics in particular should be taken at the exact same times on a daily basis until condition improves. An alarm clock will come in handy in helping you to succeed at pneumonia recovery. You’ll be able to take medication at the correct times.

Breath Fresh / Clean Air

When the lungs are irritated, pneumonia is consequently aggravated. To avoid such an occurrence, ensure that you inhale only clean air. You’ll be able to reduce coughing fits by a substantial percentage when you avoid breathing contaminated air. Install an air filtration system if you live in an area that is highly polluted. Wear a mask when outside to prevent dust and other pollutants from entering your lungs.

Keep Humidity High

Normal people avoid humid areas as much as they can. Nevertheless, those at the final stages of pneumonia recovery ought to consider buying a humidifier. The device acts quite effectively when it comes to reducing coughing and soothing the chest. Another great method of enjoying humid air is by taking steamy showers.

Use Expectorants

Contrary to normal perception, the use of suppressants for the coughs is ill-advised. This is because the resulting effect will make the pneumonia last for a longer period than expected. Instead, use expectorants to dispel the germs through the coughs. Consult your doctor before you start using this type of medication.

Stay Away from Sick People

As part of the pneumonia recovery strategy, you’ll be required to keep distance from sick people. Patients of pneumonia can contract other infections at a very high rate. For instance, a patient with common cold can really aggravate the condition of someone recovering from pneumonia. Be warned, other complications may arise as a result.

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The good news is that hope is not lost. There are several tips that will come in handy when dealing with this situation. Bear in mind that prevention is always better than cure. This means that you’ll be required to brush, gargle and floss properly.

What Are the Symptoms of Gingivitis?

There are several recognizable symptoms that include:

• Tender gums
• Swollen gums
• Bleeding
• Thin gum lines
• Loose teeth
• Bad breath

What Are the Causes of Gingivitis?

To solve a problem effectively, it’s imperative to understand the root cause. When managing gingivitis, make sure that you remove all food particles trapped between the teeth after eating. These particles infect the gums resulting to plaque.

As a result, the gums will get inflamed and start to bleed. Plaque is created by a mixture of the food particles, saliva and bacteria. This is bound to cause tooth decay and other gum diseases. Inhibit the buildup of plaque because when it becomes too much, tartar will form.

What Are the Treatment Options?

One of the most important steps in managing gingivitis is seeking treatment immediately after identifying the symptoms. There are several treatment options and the most suitable will depend on the particular case in question.

Some of the treatment techniques that do not involve surgical procedures include:

• Professional Cleaning– For mild cases, professional cleaning will get the job done. Dentists advise such patients to go for this cleaning procedure twice annually. The plague and tartar will be removed during these sessions.
• Rooting and Scaling- This is a cleaning procedure that is quite similar to the one above. However, anesthesia is administered before the cleaning commences. All rough spots including tartar and plaque are removed.
• When dealing with severe cases, the best treatment option in managing gingivitis is surgery. The doctor will consider all risk factors before settling for surgery. There are several types of surgical procedures namely:
• Pocket Reduction and Flap Surgery- Plaque, tartar, gum flaps and all other abnormalities are corrected during the procedure. This improves normal mouth functions such as chewing and talking.
• Tissue Grafts- Infected gums tend to become thin. Skin tissue is removed from soft areas inside the mouth and then used to reinforce the gums. Places that occur in between will also be filled.
• Bone Surgery- When managing gingivitis, some doctors may opt to resolve the condition through bone surgery. All bones that have been weakened by age and ailments can be treated this way. The bone can be removed from another part of the patient’s body.
• Tissue Regeneration- For patients with eroded gums, tissue regeneration is mostly used to treat the condition. The procedure will mostly be aimed at providing extra support to the eroded areas.

All in all, you’ll be required to take charge of the situation by observing oral hygiene. This is the most effective way of managing this ailment.

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Tuberculosis, also called TB, is a bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis that spreads to the different parts of the body through the lymph nodes or bloodstream. It frequently attacks the lungs but can also damage the other parts of the body, such as the brain, spine and kidney. Tuberculosis spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It cannot be spread by touching things that have been touched by an infected person or the actual person, sharing food, drinks or toothbrushes, or kissing. Tuberculosis is a potentially serious disease and if left untreated, can be life-threatening.

Types of Tuberculosis

There are two conditions concerning tuberculosis, wherein difference stems from its ability to cause sickness. These TB-related conditions are:

• Latent tuberculosis infection
  • Bacteria is inhaled and lives in the body of the host but does not cause sickness
  • The immune system of the body fights the bacteria and halts growth à bacteria will stay in the body but will remain inactive until activated
  • Usually asymptomatic
  • Cannot spread TB to other persons
  • Tuberculosis disease
    • Bacteria becomes active and multiplying in the body
    • Causes symptoms to appear
    • Infectious to other persons

Risk Factors for Tuberculosis

There are several ways to getting tuberculosis. Risks are particularly higher in individuals with any of the following conditions:

• Comprised immune systems such as HIV/ AIDS, diabetes, certain cancers, malnutrition, and very young or advanced age, among others
• Recent infection with TB bacteria, within the last two years
• Traveling to countries with high rates of tuberculosis
• malnutritiion
• Drug or alcohol abuse
• Use of tobacco
• Living or working in overcrowded areas with poor ventilation, such as in prisons, immigration centers, etc.

Signs and Symptoms of Tuberculosis

Signs and symptoms for tuberculosis will vary based on where the bacteria are growing. The common signs and symptoms are the following:

• TB in the lungs
  • Cough that lasts for 3 weeks or longer that may be with or without blood
  • Chest pain
  • TB in other parts of the body
    • Fever and chills
    • Sweating at night
    • No appetite
    • Unintentional weight loss
    • Weakness and fatigue

Treatment for Tuberculosis

Treatment will slightly vary for latent tuberculosis and tuberculosis disease. The main purpose of treatment for latent tuberculosis is to stop the bacteria from progressing into its active state. On the other hand, the main purpose of treatment for tuberculosis disease is halting the growth of bacteria:

• Latent tuberculosis
  • Medications including isoniazid, rifampin and rifapentine
  • Tuberculosis disease
    • Medications including isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol and pyrazinamide for two months
    • Continuation phase for four to seven months to build up immunity

Disclaimer: This article should not be used for medical diagnosis or advice. Seek medical attention when necessary. It is highly suggested to take first aid courses to detect symptoms of serious conditions. Enrol in First Aid Courses to learn how to recognize symptoms and act aptly in cases of potentially serious conditions, such as tuberculosis.

Sources:

Tuberculosis (TB). (2012). Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved on October 8, 2013, from http://www.cdc.gov/tb/

Tuberculosis. (2013). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved on October 8, 2013, from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tuberculosis/DS00372

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Symptoms

• Low blood pressure
• Nausea and vomiting
• High fever
• Diarrhea
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Rashes that seem like sunburns may appear on the skin. You may find skin peeling off your toes or fingers

Risk factors

While menstruating women are usually at risk, there are many other victims of the disease—male or female. A person recovering from an open wound, surgery or burn may also suffer from this condition. Women who have just given birth may also incur the disease. Super absorbent tampons provide a suitable environment for bacteria therefore; you must change it regularly and never wear it overnight—wear a sanitary pad before sleeping instead. It is important to note that people who have suffered from the condition once are more likely to experience it again at any point of their life.

Treatment

If any of the above mentioned symptoms such as high fever, diarrhoea,  confusion or rashes appear after or during your menstrual period or after surgery, it is important that you seek medical attention immediately. It is important to know that toxic shock syndrome is a very fatal condition, if left untreated as it may even lead to death in some cases. If you notice symptoms that may make you suspect toxic shock syndrome, remove your tampon or diaphragm immediately if you are wearing one.

Prevention

• Use low absorbency tampons and change them frequently
• Do not sleep with tampons, use sanitary pads instead
• If you can wear sanitary napkins instead of pads or tampons, it will be better
• If you have recently undergone a surgery or if you have recently given birth, make sure you are aware of the symptoms of toxic shock syndrome and seek medical help if any of the symptoms take place.

Further Training

This topic is not covered in any St Mark James first aid program, however, it is still important for women to know the symptoms and how to manage toxic shock syndrome before it enters the bloodstream and worsens. If you suspect that you have toxic shock syndrome contact a medical doctor immediately.

Video Related to Toxic Shock Syndrome

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