Autism screening and diagnosis overview Diagnosing autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) can be difficult, since there is no medical test, like a blood test, to diagnose the disorders. Doctors look at the child’s behavior and development to make a diagnosis. ASDs can sometimes be detected at 18 months or younger. By age 2, a diagnosis by an experienced professional can be...
Advance Medical Directives: Power of Attorney & Living Wills
Facts you should know about an advance medical directive Advance directives are designed to outline a person's wishes and preferences in regard to medical treatments and interventions. When a patient is incapable of making his/her own medical decisions, a health care proxy can act on the patient's behalf to make decisions consistent with and based on the patient's stated will....
Are Eggs Bad for Pancreatitis?
Eggs and the Mediterranean diet Egg yolks may be bad for pancreatitis due to their high-fat content. However, egg yolks may be swapped for egg whites in a regular diet because they are low in fat. Although fatty foods, such as egg yolks, won’t damage the pancreas, they do contribute to high triglyceride levels that are a common risk factor...
Common Cold: Treatment, Symptoms, Causes, vs Flu, COVID-19 & Contagious
A runny nose is a typical symptom of a common cold.Source: Getty Images/Image Source Common cold facts The common cold is an upper respiratory tract infection caused by many different viruses. The common cold is transmitted by virus-infected airborne droplets or by direct contact with infected secretions. Typical common cold symptoms include cough, sore throat, coughing, sneezing, and a runny nose....
What Is ALS? Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Symptoms & Life Expectancy
ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) definition and facts* *Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis facts medical author: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a rapidly progressive, invariably fatal neurological disease that attacks the nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscles. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, is sometimes called Lou Gehrig's disease. As many as 20,000 to 30,000 people in...
Antisocial Personality Disorder Symptoms, Treatment & Tests
Antisocial personality disorder (APD or ASPD) facts A personality disorder (PD) is a persistent pattern of internal experience and behavior that markedly differs from what people consider normal within the person's own culture. Mental health professionals group personality disorders into clusters A, B, and C based on the dominating symptoms. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,...
Ankle Pain (Tendonitis): Symptoms, Treatment, vs. Sprain & Heel
Ankle pain and ankle tendonitis facts Even small changes in the foot can unexpectedly undermine its structural integrity and cause pain with every step. The ankle is a "hinged" joint. Ankle pain can be caused by injury or disease of the ankle joint. The severity of ankle sprains ranges from mild (which can resolve within 24 hours) to severe (and...
Virtual Colonoscopy vs. Regular Colonoscopy: Pros & Cons
What is a colonoscopy? Virtual colonoscopy is a technique that uses a CT scan to construct virtual images of the colon. Colonoscopy is a procedure that enables an examiner (usually a gastroenterologist) to evaluate the appearance of the inside of the colon (large bowel). This is accomplished by inserting a long flexible tube (the colonoscope) that is about the thickness...
Is Chickenpox Contagious?
What is chickenpox? Share Your Story Chickenpox is a disease is caused by a virus (varicella zoster virus, varicella, or VZV) that results in a blister-like rash with intense itching, tiredness, and fever. In normal individuals without immune system problems, chickenpox usually will last about five to 10 days and then resolve. Before vaccination was available, about 4 million people...
Atopic Dermatitis vs Contact Dermatitis: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
Atopic and contact dermatitis are two of the commonest types of dermatitis. It generally begins as itching or irritation and redness of the skin. The word dermatitis refers to inflammation (redness and swelling) of the skin. Dermatitis includes various skin conditions that cause irritation or rashes on the skin. It generally causes no serious harm to the body and does not mean that the affected...