News for May 15th 2009
IRITIS – INTRODUCTION
The iris is the colored portion of the eye. It acts like the shutter of a camera and its fine muscles open and close the pupil, the small hole in the centre of the iris, to admit more or less light, depending on how bright it is.
Inflammation of the iris or iritis, is not uncommon. It is not an infection. Conjunctivitis, or infection due either to viruses or to bacteria, usually affects both eyes and there is usually the production of pus, rather than just tears.
In iritis, there is pain in the eye, and sometimes around the orbit, even into the nose. There is photophobia, or dislike of light, an excess production of tears, and sometimes blurring of vision.
When the eye is examined, it has a diffuse pink flush around the cornea, the outer edges of the white of the eye are often unaffected.
In conjunctivitis, the eye is more red than pink, with prominent blood vessels and involving the whole of the white of the eye. The colored iris looks a greenish, muddy color and the normal markings on it are blurred. The pupil is often small and reacts sluggishly to light.
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Edited: May 15th, 2009
ASTHMA – DISCRIPTION
Asthma is a common disorder which causes shortness of breath and a wheeze.
It affects the bronchial tubes carrying the air in and out of the lungs.
Three things happen to these tubes — the muscles in the wall constrict or tighten, the lining is swollen, and there is an increase in the amount of sputum, all interfering with the air flow to the lungs.
The wheeze is most marked in expiration, that is, when the person breathes out. Although there is always some difficulty in inspiration or breathing in, there may be no noisy wheezing.
Asthma is usually associated with allergy and, like the other atopic or allergic disorders of hay fever and eczema, tends to run in families.
Most asthma starts in childhood and, fortunately, many children outgrow it but it can start at any age and, sometimes, persists throughout life.
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Edited: May 15th, 2009