Posted: May 15th, 2009 | Author: admin | Filed under: General health | Tags: General health | No Comments »
An uncommon hereditary disorder, which can have disastrous effects not only on the sufferer but also on the whole family, is known as Huntington’s chorea.
It is caused by a dominant gene, so the children of a sufferer have a one in two chance of inheriting the disease. Unfortunately, it may not appear until a person is in his forties, so the sufferer has usually married and reproduced before being aware that he has it. It affects men and women equally.
Once the disease declares itself, the sufferer shows involuntary muscular movements, incoordination and mental degeneration.
Although it occurs in most countries of the world, it has its greatest incidence in closed communities where there is a degree of inbreeding.
Tasmania has one of the highest prevalences of Huntington’s disease in the world and this has been traced to the arrival in the last century of an affected Somerset woman who had nine affected children.
Unfortunately, there is no treatment.
Considerable research is under way to improve the outlook for sufferers. Proper genetic counselling for those who have a family history of this disorder can help a couple to decide about having a family.
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Posted: May 15th, 2009 | Author: admin | Filed under: General health | Tags: General health | No Comments »
A doctor will insist that the mother lies down during the day. If she is still working then he will insist on her giving up her job.
If the blood pressure continues to rise bed rest at home or admission to hospital may be necessary.
Hypotensive drugs that lower the blood pressure may also be necessary. Once pre-eclampsia has developed it does not go away, until the baby is delivered.
It can be controlled and its effects minimised until the baby is spontaneously delivered or the pregnancy is terminated by induction of labor before the due date.
If untreated pre-eclampsia may go on to the condition of eclampsia, where the blood pressure is out of control. The mother develops fits and the baby usually dies. Eclampsia is rare only because pre-eclampsia is so well managed.
An instrument called an echograph can measure the size of the baby and see its progress. This uses ultrasonic waves in the same way as sonar is used to track submarines. The placenta produces a hormone, oestriol, and this is excreted in the mother’s urine.
Measurement of the levels of oestriol give a good indication of placental function and how well nourished is the baby.
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