Rabies in cats – the signs and symptoms; scratches, bites and vaccination and what to do if you think your cat has rabies.What is rabies?Rabies is a disease caused by a virus that attacks the central nervous system of warm-blooded animals that (most importantly for us here) includes humans and cats.

The virus causes inflammation in the brain, paralysis and death, and is generally transmitted through the bites of infected animals.

It is found in land animals in most countries of the world. in North America the disease is most often spread by coyotes, raccoons and skunks; in Europe it’s generally spread by foxes.

It is not present in land animals in the United Kingdom and some parts of Scandinavia, nor in Australia, new Zealand or Japan. very occasional cases have come about in these countries through infection by bats.

In humans the disease is generally fatal if not treated before the onset of any symptoms, so if contact with a rabid animal is suspected it’s essential to get treatment immediately.

Early signs of the disease include weakness, fever and headache, which can later develop into sleeplessness, stress, difficulty swallowing, paralysis, and most tellingly, an increase in saliva production (which is what causes dogs with the disease to drool uncontrollably, although this does not generally happen in humans or cats) and a morbid fear of water.

In un-vaccinated animals, there is no cure.How does rabies infect cats?The virus lives in the saliva of infected animals, and although the virus isn’t able to get through unbroken skin, it can enter the body through open wounds or scratches, as well as through the mucous membranes, like those in the eyes or mouth.

So licks, and more particularly, bites from infected animals can spread rabies in cats.Transmission of rabies: how does it spread?The virus gets in to the nervous system through a nerve ending in the skin. It then travels up the nerve to the spinal cord, travelling up the spinal cord until it enters the brain.

From the brain, the rabies virus travels through the nerves leading to the salivary glands and into the saliva, from where it can be spread through a bite to another infected animal.

Until the virus reaches the brain a cat will show no symptoms of the disease. Does my cat have rabies? Cat rabies symptomsThe period of incubation for rabies in cats can be anywhere from ten days to around fifty days (on average, around eighteen days) before the cat shows any signs of infection.

Spotting rabies in cats you suspect may be infected can be difficult in the very early stages, and unfortunately once the more obvious symptoms appear it may already be too late to do anything about it.

The first thing you’ll notice in a cat with rabies is a change in behavior. Some cats become more aggressive, others become more friendly than usual. There’s a tendency at this stage for cats to hide away in dark corners.

This period is generally quite short, lasting only one or sometimes two days. After this, cats will become very aggressive and bite and scratch without warning. Their throat muscles will become paralysed, and they will have difficulty eating and drinking.

This stage (which lasts on average two to four days) is then followed by a day or two when cats will have convulsions and paralysis, followed by coma and eventually death.What to do if you suspect you (or your cats) have been bitten by an animal with rabies

Swab the bite area immediately with disinfectant and rinse with lots of water.

It is then URGENT that you seek medical help for yourself, and veterinary attention for your pet.

A vaccination program is available for humans bitten by rabid animals during the early stages of the disease. unfortunately for our poor cats, however, once the symptoms of rabies in cats become apparent, the disease is always fatal.

A cat with suspected rabies will be quarantined for observation.Cat rabies shotsIn the UK, cats are not vaccinated against rabies unless they are being taken out of the country.

In the USA, rabies vaccinations are mandatory in most States and are generally given to kittens between eight and twelve weeks old, with a follow-up booster a year later and on-going regular vaccination every two or three years after that, depending on local legislation.For more cat health information see:

• Diarrhea in kittens
• Cat hairballs

***************Return to Cat Illnesses from Rabies in CatsReturn to Life with Siamese Cats Home Pagefrom Rabies in Cats



]]> http://symptomadvice.com/rabies-in-cats/feed/ 0 http://symptomadvice.com/oklahoma-medical-research-foundation-to-open-ms-researchtreatment-clinic/ http://symptomadvice.com/oklahoma-medical-research-foundation-to-open-ms-researchtreatment-clinic/#comments Thu, 17 Feb 2011 20:17:09 +0000 Symptom Advice http://symptomadvice.com/oklahoma-medical-research-foundation-to-open-ms-researchtreatment-clinic/

Copyright ©2010. the Associated Press. Produced by NewsOK.com all rights reserved. this material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.  

For the patient with sudden dizziness, inability to walk, slurred speech or the host of other puzzling multiple sclerosis symptoms, a new clinic may offer reason to celebrate.

Officials Tuesday announced the upcoming opening of the OMRF Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence to be in the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation’s new research tower.

“It is a humongous day. It is basically awesome,” said Dr. Gabriel Pardo, a nationally recognized MS researcher and the new center’s director. “What we’re going to be able to achieve here is completely unique.”

Along with diagnosing and treating MS patients, the center’s physician-scientists will conduct clinical and laboratory research on MS. the inflammatory, degenerative disease of the central nervous system affects about 400,000 Americans. about 3,400 Oklahomans are self-identified as having an MS diagnosis, though the number is believed to be at least 4,200.

Pardo said he is excited about the planned March 15 move to the new clinic at OMRF, 825 NE 13.

“Ultimately, we have the goal of curing multiple sclerosis. the complexity of the disease is very, very big. That’s why it will take the approach that we are going to embark on here,” Pardo said.

The new center will allow doctors to treat MS patients at bedside, consult with each other and MS researchers inside the clinic, study how the disease works in patients and ultimately apply what they’ve learned to improve the lives of multiple sclerosis patients everywhere.

The center will feature rooms and equipment dedicated to MS evaluation and treatment. these include high-tech examining rooms, a tower infusion suite, ophthalmological and dental facilities, MS-dedicated physical therapy and computerized testing of the brain.

MS patients also will have the chance to participate in clinical trials so they can use experimental therapies and contribute to the understanding of the disease.

MS patient Lucy Fraser said patients and their loved ones have waited for this and now have reason to celebrate. the Oklahoma City woman was diagnosed 15 years ago, after years of strange symptoms — from leg numbness to arm numbness to vertigo — coming and going during the course of the disease.

She was finally diagnosed and eventually found her way to Pardo’s offices at the Neuroscience Institute at Mercy, where he will serve as the medical director of the MS Center of Oklahoma until he moves to OMRF. Fraser, who has since taken a job with the National MS Society, said she was initially hesitant to become one of his patients because he had 800 patients at the time, though it was a fraction of the 2,000 he now sees.

Pardo, an internationally recognized neurologist and neuro-ophthalmologist, impressed her so much she choked up in telling it. she overheard him telling a doctor, “When I was with the university (U.M. Nueva Granada, Bogota), I fell in love with MS.”

Along with Pardo, Dr. Farhat Husain also will join the center’s medical staff. Husain is a neurologist who currently treats more than 300 MS patients through Southwest Neurological Associates in Oklahoma City.

Fraser said the potential is significant because the doctors, scientists, physician assistants, physical therapists and other MS personnel are within arm’s reach of patients and the research laboratories.

“We really do feel like there is a cure out there. It is so exciting to know that now that OMRF is joining the fight, it’s going to move faster,” Fraser said.

Edmond MS patient Lori Evans said it’s amazing how important the new clinic is to MS patients.

“That is unbelievable. all these clinical trials will hopefully lead to a cure and a way to regenerate the nerves of people like myself,” she said.

After the March move-in, the OMRF Multiple Sclerosis center will ultimately take up three floors in its seven-floor research tower home. Supported by private donors and grants from the state and the federal government, the tower is believed to be the first medical facility anywhere that will harness the wind to help power its labs.

The tower is the biggest expansion project in the 64-year history of Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, increasing the 50 principal investigators and roughly 500 employees to 80 investigators and 800 employees.

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]]> http://symptomadvice.com/oklahoma-medical-research-foundation-to-open-ms-researchtreatment-clinic/feed/ 0 http://symptomadvice.com/sun-exposure-and-vitamin-d-linked-to-ms-risk/ http://symptomadvice.com/sun-exposure-and-vitamin-d-linked-to-ms-risk/#comments Sun, 13 Feb 2011 22:51:08 +0000 Symptom Advice http://symptomadvice.com/sun-exposure-and-vitamin-d-linked-to-ms-risk/



NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – People who have spent more time in the sun and those with higher vitamin D levels may be less likely to develop multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new study from Australia.

The results are consistent with previous reports showing that people living close to the equator are less likely to get MS, a chronic disease that affects the central nervous system, than those at higher latitudes. Greater sun exposure, leading to higher vitamin D levels, might explain that difference in risk.

"We've known for decades that the farther away from the equator you live and grew up, the higher the risk of MS," Dr. Thomas Mack, who studies MS at the University of Southern California and was not involved with the research, told Reuters Health. "the question is, what is it that's responsible for that increase? Sunlight is a good bet, and of course vitamin D is a function of sunlight exposure."

In MS, the protective coating around nerve fibers starts breaking down, slowing the speed of signals traveling between the brain and body. Symptoms include problems with balance and muscle coordination and sometimes memory loss and trouble with logical thinking. There is no effective treatment for the condition.

About 350,000 people in the United States suffer from MS, and women are twice as likely as men to get the disease. Health care costs associated with MS are more than $10 billion each year in the U.S.

Vitamin D occurs naturally in certain foods and can be taken in supplements, but it is also manufactured by the body in response to the ultraviolet (UV) radiation in sunlight hitting the skin.

In the current study, researchers led by Dr. Robyn Lucas of the Australian National University identified 216 adults who had just started having the first symptoms of MS between 2003 and 2006. Then they found a comparison group of 395 people from the same regions of Australia as the subjects, who matched them in age and gender, but had no signs or symptoms of MS. the researchers asked everyone in both groups how much time they had spent in the sun and where they had lived at different points in their lives. All participants' skin damage from sun and the levels of vitamin D in their blood were also measured.

On average, people with the first signs of MS had been exposed to a smaller total "UV dose" over the course of their lives, calculated based on how much time they had spent in the sun and how close to the equator they had lived.

People with early MS were also less than half as likely to have high levels of skin damage caused by exposure to sunlight. In addition, vitamin D levels were five to 10 percent lower in subjects with MS than in those without MS, according to the report published in the journal Neurology.

The finding that sun exposure and vitamin D levels may be linked to MS is not a new one — UV light and vitamin D are known to dampen the kind of abnormal immune system activity that is believed to contribute to MS. but the current study differs from others in an important way, researchers say.

"our study is the first to be able to look at both sun exposure and vitamin D status right at the very first symptoms that might precede development of MS," Lucas wrote in an e-mail to Reuters Health.

"People, after they are diagnosed with MS, they change their lifestyles," said Dr. Alberto Ascherio, who studies the link between vitamin D and MS at the Harvard School of Public Health and was not involved in the current study. That might include, for example, taking more vitamin D to try to prevent their symptoms from getting worse, which could skew analyses of whether the vitamin has any protective properties before disease sets in.

The current findings do not prove that being exposed to very little sunlight or having low vitamin D levels causes MS. And while the authors tried to show that both sun exposure and vitamin D levels influence risk of MS on their own, other researchers aren't so confident it's possible to separate their effects.

"they may have independent roles, but the reality is it's extremely difficult to sort them out," Ascherio explained. for example, the authors don't know the participants' blood levels of vitamin D over the course of their lives, and it's possible that measuring someone's sun exposure over the years is really just another way of measuring how much vitamin D they had at those times.

Even though more time in the sun might help protect against MS, it is also associated with a higher rate of skin cancer — so the message of the study is not that more time outside is always better. Nor do the results mean that everyone should load up on vitamin D supplements, said Mack. "Most people have enough vitamin D anyway, at least those people that live in the sunny areas of the world," he explained. "I don't think we know yet that taking vitamin D is going to prevent MS."

The main message of the study, Lucas said, is that "small amounts of sun exposure … occurring frequently, are probably optimal both for maintaining vitamin D levels and for other health effects."

SOURCE: bit.ly/Q5TNl Neurology, online February 7, 2011.

]]> http://symptomadvice.com/sun-exposure-and-vitamin-d-linked-to-ms-risk/feed/ 0 http://symptomadvice.com/what-is-the-latest-in-multiple-sclerosis-research/ http://symptomadvice.com/what-is-the-latest-in-multiple-sclerosis-research/#comments Mon, 31 Jan 2011 06:00:14 +0000 Symptom Advice http://symptomadvice.com/what-is-the-latest-in-multiple-sclerosis-research/



Many people rely on Member States to control the symptoms of this disease. Microsoft attacks the central nervous system, and patients suffering from pain and fatigue, loss of vision and hearing and coordination problems. however, thanks to MS research, medications and therapies have been developed to help control these symptoms. Many believe it's only a matter of time before scientists find a cure for multiple sclerosis. in this article we will see the latest advances in research. in the investigation of multiple sclerosis, earnings have been important in defining the role of the immune system in the development of MS lesions. This finding is important because it allows scientists the opportunity to devise ways to modify the immune response. This work is expected to produce a variety of new potential therapies that could cure MS without harmful side effects. Genetic factors related to immune system that predispose an individual to the development of MS have been identified, and may lead to new ways to treat or prevent disease. MRI monitoring multiple sclerosis has proved valuable. Scientists can now see and follow the development of MS lesions in the brain and spinal cord. This is a great help in evaluating new therapies and can speed the process of evaluating new therapies. There are a number of test treatments that can reduce attacks or improve function of damaged nerve fibers. more than a dozen clinical trials testing potential therapies are underway, and new treatments have been developed and tested in animal models. Of multiple sclerosis in the news, bio pharmaceutical company MediciNova inc. announced data from a double-blind analysis in the first year of treatment from two-year phase II clinical study of MN-166 in multiple sclerosis . The second year of phase II clinical trial in progress with results expected in April 2008. The analysis showed that MN-166 decreased the formation of brain lesions believed to indicate the death of the nerves in the brain on MRI in MS patients. Treatment with 30 mg / day dosing regimen of MN-166 showed a trend towards reduced risk of new lesion evolution to persistent black holes compared to placebo. This means that when diagnosed early, patients can avoid the symptoms of MS. While great strides in the search for MS have been made, much remains to be done. If you have MS and wants to support multiple sclerosis research, the human brain and cerebrospinal fluid Resource Center of Los Angeles requiring tissues of patients with neurological disorders and others to do their studies. The tissue of people with MS is needed to allow scientists to study this disorder more intensely. For those who do not have MS, the best way to help both with financial donations. with this joint effort, maybe some day a world without MS.

Incoming search terms for the article:clinical testing (1),latest monitoring multiple sclerosis research (1),Latest Multiple Sclerosis Tips (1),latest research about nervous system (1),MN-166 (1),multiple sclerosis (1)

]]> http://symptomadvice.com/what-is-the-latest-in-multiple-sclerosis-research/feed/ 0 http://symptomadvice.com/12-symptoms-of-feline-rabies/ http://symptomadvice.com/12-symptoms-of-feline-rabies/#comments Tue, 25 Jan 2011 02:51:07 +0000 Symptom Advice http://symptomadvice.com/12-symptoms-of-feline-rabies/



also see Cat Rabies Shot

also see Feline Rabies

also see Rabies in Cats

also see Feline Rabies

also see Rabies in Cats

also see Feline Rabies

also see Rabies in Cats 

Feline rabies is a disease of the central nervous system. Cat rabies develops in three stages: prodromal, furious and paralytic.

The virus is transmitted by bites from a rabies-infected animal. Be cautious if your cat got bit by another animal-rabies will not present symptoms right away. it takes 2 to 5 weeks for the virus to spread in the cat’s body and for the symptoms to occur. Keep a watchful eye for the following 12 symptoms of feline rabies:

Poor coordination and the lack of balance are among the earliest signs of rabies. If you notice your pet banging his head into a lot of objects you need to look into the problem.

Manifested in the early stages of rabies, yowling can point to health disorders. The voice of the cat with rabies suffers changes.

Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the eye membranes so you will notice swollen, red eyes.

The cat is producing excessive saliva due to the rabies, and will be constantly drooling.

Cats with rabies are very irritable and will reject any type of affection. This is typical to the stage two of rabies: the furious stage. Cats having rabies are vicious and will bite and scratch more than usual. they will also knock over objects they come across with.

Your cat is fighting imaginary objects or eating stones.

If your cat has elevated fever, this may be a sign of an infection or it may as well be a sign of cat rabies. In any case, it is vital to visit a vet.

Vomiting is an indicator of many cat conditions starting from parasites to pregnancy, however rabies can cause the cat to throw up.

When your cat leaves food untouched, that’s an alarming sign. This is caused by the lack of appetite, but may also be because the face muscles are partially paralyzed-and this means that the rabies is in its last stage.

This symptom goes hand in hand with the lack of appetite.

This is caused by the partial paralysis. The cat cannot breathe normally and this can lead to respiratory failure.

This is a symptom of the paralytic stage; by this time there is nothing to be done to save the cat.

Feline rabies is not a common disease, but it can be fatal. Rabies may cause different secondary diseases such as urinary infections, respiratory infections or renal insufficiency. Rabies can be prevented by proper vaccination. The sooner you act the better; identify early signs and get help from your vet.

also see Cat Rabies Vaccine: what You need To Know

also see Cat Eye Disorders Explained

also see is your Kitten Sick? Distinguishing Illness From Fatigue

also see does Predinisone for Cats Cause Diabetes?

also see Managing Kidney Disease with Feline Prescription Diet Formulas

also see five Most Common Cat Eye Problems

also see Cat Vaccines

also see Drooling , Salivation and Nausea

]]> http://symptomadvice.com/12-symptoms-of-feline-rabies/feed/ 0 http://symptomadvice.com/multiple-sclerosis-symptoms/ http://symptomadvice.com/multiple-sclerosis-symptoms/#comments Fri, 17 Dec 2010 14:17:15 +0000 Symptom Advice http://symptomadvice.com/multiple-sclerosis-symptoms/



Author: Groshan Fabiola

Multiple sclerosis is a complex disorder of the nervous system which can generate a wide range of symptoms, varying in intensity and duration. Each patient’s experience with multiple sclerosis is different and symptoms are perceived differently from a person to another. Multiple sclerosis can involve visual, sensory and motor symptoms, depending on the body systems which are affected by the disease. in more advanced stages of progression, multiple sclerosis can also determine dysfunctions of the internal organs, often causing impairments of the kidneys, lungs and heart. in the absence of the specific medical treatment or in case of late medical intervention, multiple sclerosis can cause permanent disability or even death.

Multiple sclerosis is a very intriguing disorder of the CNS (central nervous system), encompassing multiple patterns of progression. while persons with slow progressing multiple sclerosis may perceive symptoms at low intensities or even have no symptoms at all, persons with fast progressing forms of the disease may be confronted with very intense symptoms and may be at risk of developing severe, life-threatening complications.

Due to the fact that multiple sclerosis primarily affects the central nervous system, the first symptoms experienced by patients are of sensorial or cognitive nature. Some of the first symptoms that occur in persons with multiple sclerosis are decreased visual acuity, blurred vision, double vision or difficulty in distinguishing colors. in addition, the tissues around the eye may become inflamed and painful; some patients may experience intense pain and discomfort when moving their eyes.

Most of these symptoms occur due to optic neuritis, condition often associated with multiple sclerosis. When the condition is timely discovered and patients receive the appropriate medical treatment, most visual symptoms can be completely eliminated within weeks. However, in the absence of medical treatment, patients may remain with permanent visual defects. in some cases, unattended visual symptoms of multiple sclerosis can even lead to permanent blindness.

When multiple sclerosis affects the cerebellum (the area of the brain responsible for motor function and balance), the results are poorly coordinated movements and difficulty to maintain balance. Sometimes patients may experience difficulty walking and performing various activities that require precise, properly coordinated movements.

When it affects other areas of the brain, multiple sclerosis can generate symptoms such as hearing loss, dizziness and vertigo. Patients with multiple sclerosis may also suffer from decreased judgment, inability to concentrate, short-term memory loss, states of mental confusion and pronounced difficulty in expressing themselves in speech.

Symptoms such as muscular weakness, numbness and pain, as well as decreased or increased sensitivity to heat or light stimuli are possible signs that multiple sclerosis has also reached the peripheral regions of the nervous system. at this stage, patients may also suffer from bladder or kidney dysfunctions, liver dysfunctions and impairments of the gastrointestinal tract. Internal organs such as the liver, lungs and heart may also be involved in advanced stages of multiple sclerosis.

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