An autoimmune disease, Ulcerative Colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that causes cramping & stomach pain due to inflammation of the innermost lining of the large intestine.

The 3 main factors believed to cause Ulcerative Colitis, UC, are the immune system, genetics, & environmental factors.

UC symptoms vary from person to person and can range from mild to severe depending on what part of the large intestine is inflamed. It is also a progressive disease and will change in your body over time. You may have periods of few or mild symptoms & then suddenly have frequent, moderate or severe flare-ups that can last for a while. It is best to have an open & honest conversation with the doctors online to provide the best prognosis for you.

Symptoms of UC include:

• Abdominal pain and/or cramping
• Weight loss
• Rectal bleeding
• Frequent diarrhea
• Bloody stools
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Constipation
• Joint pain

Although there is no known cure or preventative measures, UC treatments include diet, medication, & in severe cases, surgery, to manage the condition.

If you think you may have UC there are many doctors online now that can help. If you would like to receive a second opinion regarding your UC diagnosis and/or treatment plan, please contact one of the many online doctors at www.secondopinions.com, for your peace of mind.

Chlamydia or Chlamydia trachomatis is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by bacteria that is curable. The infection is caused by a pathogenic bacterium that can afflict the cervix in women and the urethra and rectum in both men and women. Sometimes other parts of the body (lining of the eyelid, throat, and rectum) can also become infected. Most who are infected do not have any signs or symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they may occur several weeks later; the incubation period between exposure and being able to infect others is around two to six weeks. Other symptoms in women may include vaginal discharge or burning sensation with urination. The infection can spread to the upper genital tract in women, causing pelvic inflammatory disease, which may result in future infertility or ectopic pregnancy. Some symptoms in men may include discharge from the penis, burning sensation with urination, or pain and swelling of one or both testicles. If you would like to find out more and receive a second opinion regarding your diagnosis and treatment with a doctor online, please contact us at secondopinions.com, for your peace of mind.

Epilepsy is a disorder in which nerve cell activity in the brain is altered causing seizures. Epilepsy can be a result of a genetic disorder or a trauma to the brain. In an event where someone is actively having a seizure, the best thing for you to do is to lay the person on their side to decrease the risk of them injuring themselves or choking on their saliva. Timing a seizure is another responsibility a bystander has because if the person is seizing for more than 5 minutes, there is a very high risk of the person developing brain damage.

If it is a patient’s first time experiencing a seizure, a neurologist might suggest tests such as an EEG to investigate the patient’s brain waves after doing a series of tasks, for instance, flashing lights, hyperventilating, or sleeping. The neurologist will also tell the patient that they will not be allowed to drive to protect themselves and others. Even though epilepsy is a serious disorder, there are medications that can be administered daily to reduce the number of seizures the patient experiences.

A virtual consultation with a professional can give you peace of mind so you can live a fulfilled life. If you have any questions or concerns about these symptoms, you can always consult a doctor online at SecondOpinions.com, for your peace of mind.

Eczema is a common skin condition that causes itchy and inflamed patches of skin. It is common in babies and young children, appearing on the faces of infants. Eczema comes in a variety of types in children, teens, and adults.

When people refer to eczema, they usually mean atopic dermatitis, which is characterized as dry, itchy skin that often appears with a red rash. This is the most common and chronic type of eczema. Other types are contact dermatitis, dyshidrotic dermatitis, nummular dermatitis and seborrheic dermatitis.

Scratching eczema further irritates and inflames the skin. This can cause infections that must be treated with antibiotics. The cause of eczema is not fully understood, but it’s believed to be triggered by an overactive immune system that responds aggressively when exposed to irritants. Several factors can increase your risk of developing eczema.

There’s no specific test that can be used to diagnose eczema. If your doctor has seen the condition before, they may be able to recognize it by looking at your symptoms. A dermatologist, allergist, or primary care doctor can help you identify the correct treatment for eczema.

If you would like to find out more and receive a second opinion regarding your diagnosis and treatment, please contact us at secondopinions.com, for your peace of mind.

West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne illness. It is most commonly spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. Most people infected with WNV will have no symptoms. About 1 in 5 people infected will develop a fever with other symptoms. Less than 1 percent of those infected will develop a serious, sometimes fatal, neurologic illness. There are no vaccines to prevent or medications to treat WNV in people. Humans and horses both exhibit disease symptoms from the virus, and symptoms rarely occur in other animals. The virus can cause severe disease and death in horses. Vaccines are available for use in horses but not yet available for people. Birds are the natural hosts of West Nile virus. If you would like to find out more and receive a second opinion regarding your diagnosis and treatment, please contact us at secondopinions.com, for your peace of mind.

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition, it is the body’s extreme response to an infection.  Although some people have a higher risk of infection, anyone can get sepsis. Causes are  bacterial, viral or fungal infections. Though fairly common (More than 200,000 cases per year  in the US) Severe cases of sepsis can lead to septic shock, which is a medical emergency.

There are three stages of sepsis: sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock.

Common symptoms include:

• A fever above 101ºF (38ºC) or a temperature below 96.8ºF (36ºC)
• A high heart rate more than 90 beats per minute
• Difficulty or heavy breathing
• Fever and chill
• Body swelling
• Mental Confusion
• Probable or confirmed infection

Having a severe case of sepsis increases your risk of a future infection. Severe sepsis or septic  shock can also cause complications.

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with sepsis and you would like a second opinion  please visit secondopinions.com, for your peace of mind.