Orbital Cellulitis

Orbital Cellulitis is an acute infection of the tissues that are immediately surrounding the eye, this includes the eyelids, the eyebrow, and the cheek. The symptoms that are involved in orbital cellulitis are: painful or difficult eye movements, general malaise, bulging eyes, decreased vision, eye pain, especially with movement, shiny, red or purple eyelid, painful swelling of upper and lower eyelids, and fever that is geneally 102 degrees F or higher. The causes for orbital cellulitis is a dangerous infection that can have very severe complications to it. The complications that are included in this is: hearing loss, optic nerve damage and loss of vision, meningitis, septicemia or blood infection, and cavernous sinus thrombosis. Haemophilus influenzae is often the infection that occur in children. This bacteria from a sinus infection is usually the cause of this condition. Children from the ages of 6 to 7 seem to be particularly susceptible to this infection from this bacteria. It has been stated that the rate of this severe orbital cellulitis has dropped steadily ever since the introduction of HiB vaccince which means Haemophilus influenzae B. Other bacteria that might also cause orbital cellulitis is: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and beta-hemolytic streptococci. Some more causes could be a stye on the eyelid, bug bites, or a recent eyelid injury. The infection orbital cellulitis that are in children could get worse very quickly and can lead to blindness. The treatments that need to be taken would be that the patient would have to stay in the hospital. Other treatments are giving antibiotics that are given through a vein. Surgery might also be an option because they would have to drain the abscess. The tests that could be ran to to discover this infection is: CBC which means a complete blood count, a bloood culture, and a spinal tap for very sick children. Other tests that could be run to discover this infections could be: an x-ray of the sinuses and the surrounding area, throat culture, a culture of the eye and nose drainage, and a CT scan or MRI scan of the sinuses and orbit. A prevention of this infection could be receiving the HiB vaccine according to recommened schedules that will generally prevent most haemophilus infections in children. Other younger children that are in the same household who have been exposed to this bacteria may receive antibiotics to prevent getting sick. With the proper detection and early treatments of sinus, dental, or other infections may prevent the spread of infection to the eyes. A doctor should be contacted about orbital cellulitis because it is an emergency that requires immediate treatment. Signs to confirm this infection that you can tell you doctor is swelling of the eyelids, especially with a fever.

Inc, A.D.A.M. (2010). Orbital cellulitis. Retrieved from http://health.google.com/health/ref/Orbital+cellulitis

Rubin, Peter A.D. (1999). 4 year old boy with proptosis of the left eye and an afferent pupillary defect. Retrieved from www.djo.harvard.edu/print.php?url=/physicians/gr/324&print=1

Craniopharyngioma

Craniopharyngioma is a benign tumor that develops near the pituitary gland. It is a small endocrine gland that is at the base of the brain. Symptoms of craniopharyngioma can happen in three different ways: by damaging the optic nerve, by disrupting the function of the pituitary gland, and by increasing the pressure on the brain. When people start to have increased pressure on their brain they start to have symptoms: headache, nausea, vomiting, and problems with their balance. When the pituitary gland is damaged it can cause hormonal imbalances that eventually will lead to thirst and frequent urination. Also if a person damages their optic nerve it will cause vision problems. Most of the patients will have some visual damages and a decrease in the hormone production at the time of the diagnosis. The causes for craniopharyngioma can affect children from the ages of 5 to 10 years old. Sometimes adults can be affected also with this tumor. Male and females are equal in the being afftected with this condition. For most people with craniopharngioma, surgery has always been the main treatment. Instead of the surgery though, radiation treatment might be a better option for patients. The reason for this is because if the tumor cannot be completely removed during surgery, then radiation therapy would be the next choice. Sometimes surgery is not even necessary, radiation therapy being planned alone would be fine. This tumor would best be treated at a center with the experience in craniopharyngiomas. The following tests can be done to find craniopharyngiomas: CT scan and/or MRI scan of the brain, a neurological examination, and endocrine hormone evaluations that can be ran for any imbalances. For patients that do not get the tumor completely removed, the tumor can come back. Patients should contact a doctor if they are having symptoms of headache, nausea, vomiting, any problems with imbalances, visual problems, increased thirst and urination, and poor growth in a child.

A.D.A.M., inc. (2010, March 11). Craniopharyngioma. Retrieved from http://health.google.com/health/ref/Craniopharyngioma.

Eve, Tsai C. (2010). Tumors of the skull base in children: tumors of the middle cranial base in children. Retrieved from http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/436107_3.

Mastoiditis

Mastoiditis is an infection of the mastoid bone of the skull. The mastoid is located just behind the outside ear. Some symptoms would include: hearing loss, headaches, redness of the ear, swelling or redness behind the ear, drainage from the ear, fever and ear pain or discomfort. Mastoiditis is sometimes caused by a middle ear infection. The infection that is in the ear may spread from the ear to the mastoid bone of the skull. The masoid bone would then fill with infected materials and it may deteriorate. Mastoiditis affects children the most. Mastoiditis was one of the leading causes of death before medicine was available. It is uncommon and less dangerous now. Some tests that are ran to determine Mastoiditis would be: CT scan of the ear, head CT scan, and Skull x-ray. The infection is hard to treat because medicines do not reach deep enough to the mastoid bone. It sometimes takes repeated or long-term treatment. Mastoiditis is treated with an injection of antibiotics, then taking antibiotics by the mouth. If this does not work, Surgery to take out part of the bone and drain the mastoid. Because this is hard to treat, it may come back in time.

A.D.A.M., inc. (2010, March 11). Mastoiditis. Retrieved from http://health.google.com/health/ref/Mastoiditis

Welleschik, B. (2009, September 11). Mastoiditis. Retrieved from http://common.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mastoiditis1.jpg

Tourette Syndrome

Tourette Syndrome is defined as a neurological disorder that is characterized by tics. Tics are involuntary, rapid, and sudden movements or vocalizations that occur repeatedly. Tourette Syndrome have both multiple motors and vocal tics that happen at different times. Tics occur many times, at random times, throughout the day, almost everyday. This typically occurs for more than one year. Tics can come and go for weeks or sometimes even months at a time. This all happens before the age of 18. Tourette Syndrome has been researched for years, and it is still an ongoing process. Scientists believe that it has to do with an abnormal metabolism of the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin. It is genetically transmitted. Parents with the gene of Tourette Syndrome have a 50% chance of giving that gene to the child. Females that have the gene of Tourette Syndrome have a 70% chance while the males have a 99% chance of showing signs of this specific syndrome. Persons with this syndrome may have connections to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Other disabilities could possibly include Disinhibition (Difficulty with Impulse Control), Dyslexia and other learning disabilities, and several sleeping disorders.

Peiss, Raenna (n.d.). The Facts About Tourette Syndrome. Retrieved February 2, 2010 from http://tourette13.tripod.com/

Jankovic (2007). Jankovic NEJM Article on Tourette's. Retrieved February 2, 2010 from http://tourettenowwhat.tripod.com/jankovicNEJM.htm