Eastern Equine Encephalitis
The death of a Brandon, Florida infant is the third fatality from the mosquito borne virus this month in Florida.
This is the second death in Hillsborough County from Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) this month; the other death was from Wakulla County in the Florida Panhandle.
This has prompted health official to issue a public health alert and increase mosquito spraying.
What is Eastern Equine Encephalitis?
It is a mosquito-borne virus that is quite rare in the United States, with only 5-10 cases reported annually according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). EEE virus is one of several mosquito-transmitted viruses that can cause inflammation of the brain (encephalitis).
It is not transmitted from person to person. Read more
Graves’ disease
Graves’ disease is the most common form of hyperthyroidism, occurring when your immune system mistakenly attacks your thyroid gland and causes it to overproduce the hormone thyroxine. This higher thyroxine level can greatly increase your body’s metabolic rate, which may affect you in numerous ways, from your moods to your physical appearance.
Graves’ disease is rarely life-threatening. Although it may develop at any age and in either men or women, Graves’ disease is more common in women and usually begins after age 20.
There’s no way to stop your immune system from attacking your thyroid gland, but treatments for Graves’ disease can ease symptoms and decrease the production of thyroxine.
Graves’ disease symptoms may include:
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Difficulty sleeping
- Fatigue
- A rapid or irregular heartbeat
- A fine tremor of your hands or fingers
- An increase in perspiration
- Sensitivity to heat
- Weight loss, despite normal food intake
- Brittle hair
- Enlargement of your thyroid gland (goiter)
- Change in menstrual cycles
- Frequent bowel movements
Cystic Fibrosis
What Is Cystic Fibrosis?
Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide). A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that:
- clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections; and
- obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.
In the 1950s, few children with cystic fibrosis lived to attend elementary school. Today, advances in research and medical treatments have further enhanced and extended life for children and adults with CF. Many people with the disease can now expect to live into their 30s, 40s and beyond.
Symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis
People with CF can have a variety of symptoms, including:
- very salty-tasting skin;
- persistent coughing, at times with phlegm;
- frequent lung infections;
- wheezing or shortness of breath;
- poor growth/weight gain in spite of a good appetite; and
- frequent greasy, bulky stools or difficulty in bowel movements.
Statistics
- About 1,000 new cases of cystic fibrosis are diagnosed each year.
- More than 70% of patients are diagnosed by age two.
- More than 45% of the CF patient population is age 18 or older.
- The predicted median age of survival for a person with CF is more than 37 years.
