Hepatitis is a group of infectious diseases that cause both short term and long term liver disease. There are different types of hepatitis, such as A, B, and C. According to the CDC and World Health Organization (WHO), there are about 325 million people in the world who suffer from hepatitis B or C.

July 28th is World Hepatitis Day, during this time it is important to learn more about this disease. As mentioned above, there are different types of hepatitis:

• Hepatitis A which is a contagious infection on the liver, causes inflammation and affects
  the liver’s ability to function properly. Most people recover without any damage to the
  liver. Type A spreads through food, water, or someone who is infected.
  ○ Prevent by having good hygiene and getting vaccinated.
• Hepatitis B can become chronic, which increases the risk of developing liver failure, liver
  cancer, or cirrhosis. Type B spreads through bodily fluids.
  ○ Prevent by getting vaccinated. Treatments are available but not a cure.
• Hepatitis C can be silent for years, until it causes damage to the liver. It is believed to be
  the most serious of all. It can spread through contaminated blood.

In order to prevent, it is important to not use not share needles, avoid direct contact with blood, and protect from bodily fluids. There are different forms of treatment, such as medications, liver transplant, and vaccinations. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with any type of hepatitis, please contact SecondOpinions.com to get an opinion that will give you and your loved ones peace of mind to help you find the best treatment option.

In the United States, about 300,000 children have been diagnosed with some type of juvenile arthritis. Juvenile Arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which there is swelling in the tissues that line the inside of your joints. The cause of this disease is unknown but some of the factors could be genetics, infections, and the environment.

The symptoms differ based on the type of juvenile arthritis you suffer from. The common symptoms among the different types of juvenile arthritis are pain, joint swelling, redness, and warmth. The most common types of juvenile arthritis are idiopathic arthritis, juvenile-onset scleroderma, and juvenile myositis.

Treatments to help are physical therapies, medications, and in severe cases, surgery. To help you, your child, or anyone you know find the right treatment contact us. We will connect you with an American Board Certified doctor who will give you a second opinion for your peace of mind.

About 1 in 4 pregnant women carry Group B Strep Throat (GBS), which is the leading cause to newborns suffering from sepsis and meningitis. GBS is not seen as a big deal but for those who are infected the effects can be devastating, it can lead to miscarriages, stillborn,
premature births, sickness, or death.

GBS can present before birth, through the first week after birth, or through several months after birth. If its an early onset the symptoms will be fever, difficulty feeding, and lethargy. If it’s late onset the disease includes the same as early on set, along with difficulty breathing and irritability. If you carry the disease you might not present signs or symptoms.To prevent GBS from spreading to your infant during labor the doctors will give you antibiotics during labor.

If you or someone you know carries GBS and would like a second opinion on what the best steps to take are please contact us at, SecondOpinions.com for your baby’s health, your health, and for your peace of mind.

July is National Cleft & Craniofacial Awareness & Prevention Month. During this month it is important to bring awareness and understanding of birth defects that could affect the head and face along with conditions caused by trauma, burns, and disease. In the United States, about 7,000 babies are born with orofacial clefts every year.

Some of the craniofacial birth defects a child could suffer from are cleft lip, cleft palate, or both. These cause many problems, such as difficulty eating, speaking, and misaligned teeth. The cause for most cases is unknown but the environmental exposure during pregnancy could be a reason why. In 2014 it was confirmed by the Surgeon’s General report that smoking during early pregnancy can cause orofacial cleft. If you are pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant it’s very important to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

To correct both cleft lip and palate is possible through surgery. If you would like to get a second opinion, contact us to get an opinion from one of our American Board Certified doctors.