In hypothyroidism, as the name indicates, there is a decline in the functioning of the thyroid gland The gland is either damaged as a result of an autoimmune disease of the thyroid gland, or in the case of an overactive thyroid gland, when more than the required amount of antithyroid drug has been administered

In the event that an early diagnosis has been missed in a case of hypothyroidism, it is never too late The disease must be diagnosed as soon as possible when it is in the most treatable condition

Snake-bite is one of the fatal diseases of the tropics A clinical epidemiological study shows that Asia occupies the first position in respect of the incidence of snake-bite

Rabies is a fatal acute viral infection of the central nervous system, and it is one of the most terrifying diseases which afflicts mankind Although the disease is more prevalent in tropical countries, it occurs worldwide, and its incidence is ever increasing

Following the poisonous sting, within minutes, the patient collapses suddenly, with grave symptoms and signs of poisoning If he does not collapse at once, beware, he is likely to collapse any time during the next half an hour, depending on the extent of the poison absorbed

Warning signals of tetanus should be kept in mind, because the disease could occur even when the injury is minor and totally forgotten In that case, probably, the injury was so minimal that the patient may not have cared to take a booster dose of the vaccination, or may have remained entirely unimmunized

Vaso - Vagal Syncope The exact mechanism of syncope is still under study In this condition, there appears to be a transitory fall in blood pressure due to the failure of peripheral resistance

It is the most difficult survey that we have encountered so far Even in various medical camps that we hold from time to time, history of epilepsy or convulsions are not forthcoming

It is very essential for everybody to be aware of a detailed account of the attack of major (or grand mal or generalized), focal or Jacksonian and petit mal epilepsies At times, tests like electroencephalogram (EEG) and / or computed tomographic (CT) scanning may be normal in a case of epilepsy, and, therefore, it is only the evidence of the eyewitness, who is in a position to report the details to the attending physician, when the patient is brol1ght to the hospital

In many patients, in spite of exhaustive efforts/investigations, no cause of epilepsy may be located Such cases are called idiopathic cases of epilepsy

Epilepsy is one of the common diseases that we see in everyday life It is not uncommon to see a person getting an epileptic fit/ convulsions in a public place or to see parents/teachers rushing to the physician to report such cases in children

Stroke/apoplexy commonly occurs as a result of disorders of cerebral/brain circulation, called cerebral vascular accident (CVA) It results in unconsciousness, paralysis either of a part or one half of the body (hemiplegia), or loss of speech or vision or balance of the body

The disease is quite prevalent in children, and as many as 30% of all epileptics fall into this category It needs urgent awareness that, usually, there is an excellent prognosis of epilepsy in children

Breasts in a woman may be small There is a misconception that unusually small breasts may not be normal, and it is seen that females, especially young unmarried girls, take hormonal treatment (oestrogens) unnecessarily which has severe adverse side-effects

At birth, breasts (mammary glands) are similar in size in both sexes The breasts remain rudimentary in males throughout life, while in females changes Occur during puberty and pregnancy as a result of the influence of various female hormones in the body

CAD is indeed a silent human killer Although the disease process starts in coronary arteries early in childhood, it continues progressing very gradually through years/decades, and becomes significant enough only later in life, say at the age of 40, or earlier

Whenever the blood supply of the muscular wall of the heart starts suffering, clinical manifestations of CAD – (Coronary Artery Disease) occur Although there may be a mild blockage in a coronary artery, and thus a depletion in the supply of blood to the walls of the heart, yet this supply may be enough when the patient is at rest

In case angina pectoris is ignored, and the disease is allowed to progress, the blockage in coronary arteries/or in its branches may go on increasing The end-result of such a severe blockage in coronary arteries/branches would be that the blood supply of a part of heart muscle (supplied by the respective branch of coronary artery) may suddenly stop completely leading to severe damage / injury / necrosis / death of the affected portion of the heart muscle

The CAD – (Coronary Artery Disease) starts in early childhood and remains asymptomatic till the third or fourth decade of life It means, prior to this, irrespective of exertion, no symptom of the disease occurs, and unless the symptom occurs, the patient, does not seek medical advice

The first and foremost is that an ECG of the patient concerned must be recorded Characteristic ECG changes may occur as a result of damage to the heart muscle