Pediculosis is an infestation of the hairy parts of the body or clothing with the eggs, larvae or adults of lice. Head lice infestation is most affected on children aged 3 to 10 and their families. Females get head lice more often than males, and in the United States, African-Americans have head lice less often.
Causes
Pubic lice are known scientifically as Phthirus pubis. Lice infestation is a common sexually-transmitted condition and is found mostly in adolescents. Transmission generally occurs during sexual activity, but it can occur through physical contact with contaminated objects or clothing such as toilet seats, sheets, blankets, hats, combs, brushes, or other personal items that were in contact with the infected persons head, lice die soon after leaving a persons head. Some women have acquired it while trying on swimming suits at the store.
Symptoms
Head lice infection doesnt often cause symptoms. The primary symptom associated with head lice infestation is an itchy scalp. Itching in the groin area should lead to an examination for louse nits (eggs) in that area. Severe scratching may result in secondary bacterial infection in these areas. Pubic/crab lice do not spread disease. Body lice are capable of spreading certain diseases like epidemic typhus, relapsing fever, and trench fever, none of which are common in United States.
The first time a person is infested with lice, it may take several weeks or months for itching to develop or to be noticed. In a repeat case of lice, a person may begin to itch within 2 days of infestation because the immune system reacts more quickly when exposure has occurred previously.
Treatment
There are several ways to treat head lice. After washing the hair apply lots of conditioner and comb it thoroughly with a fine-tooth comb - the lice and nits will be caught on the comb. Products containing pyrethrins are available over-the-counter, but those containing lindane are available only through a physician's prescription. Lindane-based shampoos are also available but not recommended for infants, young children and pregnant or lactating women.Chemical-free treatments can be used as often as needed. They do not kill lice or nits. They slow down the lice and make it easier to comb them out.
Your doctor may recommend a topical cream to relieve itching, or an antibiotic if you have a bacterial infection. Wash bedding, towels, and clothes in hot water and detergent, and dry them thoroughly at a high heat setting to get rid of any dead lice. Although it is not necessary, you may want to throw away old combs or brushes and buy new ones to use after the lice are gone.
Metatarsalgia is pain in the ball of the foot. Metatarsalgia frequently affects runners and other athletes who participate in high-impact sports. Metatarsalgia often is referred to as a symptom, rather than as a specific disease. This is a common foot disorder that can affect the bones and joints at the ball-of-the-foot. Metatarsalgia (ball of foot pain) is often located under the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th metatarsal heads, or more isolated at the first metatarsal head (near the big toe). Metatarsalgia is a symptom, not a diagnosis. A careful study of ninety-eight patients who had complaints of pain in the fore part of the foot revealed twenty-three distinct diagnoses. These diagnoses were grouped as primary metatarsalgia, secondary metatarsalgia, and pain under the fore part of the foot. Metatarsalgia occurs in the region between the arch and the toes. The medical term for foot pain, metatarsalgia, comes from the name of the bones that are in this part of the foot: the metatarsals. It is usually felt in the sole of the foot and sometimes feel like "walking on pebbles". Other people feel a more diffuse vague pain, ache or burning. Some people hve trouble around only one or two toes, others have it throughout one or both feet. Occasionally, pain is felt throughout the sole of the foot.
Metatarsalgia can be due to a number of different biomechanical conditions of the foot. And in many cases, the foot is simply predisposed to developing metatarsalgia. It is a diagnostic challenge and a good example of the importance of careful history taking and examination in the foot, as it has many causes and sometimes more than one is present. People with certain foot shapes that create more stress on the metatarsal bones also may have these problems. Other factors can cause excessive pressure in the ball of foot area that can result in metatarsalgia. These include shoes with heels that are too high or participating in high impact activities without proper footwear and/or orthotics. Metatarsalgia experts indicate that high arches, deformities of the toes, stiff ankles, irritated nerves in the forefeet, bunions, poor circulation to the feet (due to diabetes), gout, arthritis, weight gain, and shoes with too-high heels are also predisposing factors. Metatarsalgia can readily be treated with orthotics to alleviate pressure in the area and ?create' a metatarsal arch. It is also important to decrease the pressure on the ball of the foot by lowering heel height and having a flexible ankle joint.
Causes of Metatarsalgia
The common causes and risk favtor's of Metatarsalgia include the following:
Muscle fatigue.
Avascular necrosis, sesamoiditis.
The foot frequently is injured during sports activities.
Vascular insufficiency.
Poor blood supply to the feet.
Tight toe extensors.
Interdigital neuroma.
Metatarsophalangeal synovitis.
Being overweight.
Neurological problem.
Symptoms of Metatarsalgia
Some sign and symptoms related to Metatarsalgia are as follows:
Pain in the middle of the foot.
A feeling in your feet as if you're walking on pebbles or have a bruise from a stone.
Sharp or shooting pain in your toes.
Tingling/Numbness in toes.
Swelling.
Increased pain when you're walking barefoot, especially on a hard surface
Callousing under 2/3/4th toes.
Treatment of Metatarsalgia
Here is list of the methods for treating Metatarsalgia:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) to help reduce pain and inflammation.
Wearing a more supportive shoe.
Applying an ice pack or package of frozen peas to the affected site several times during the first 24 hours can reduce inflammation and help relieve pain.
Other products often recommended include gel metatarsal cushions and metatarsal bandages.When these products are used with proper footwear, you should experience significant relief.
If inflammation is present (synovitis), a local corticosteroid/anesthetic injection may be useful.
Surgery may be needed if conservative therapy is ineffective.
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