So here is your challenge: write an entry on a disability of your choice to go into a new LW Guide to Disability.
Your entry can be on ANY disability. It does NOT matter if more than one entry is submitted for the same subject.
Your entry should consist of the main facts about the disability, for example: how it is caused, who it affects, what it consists of, any different forms it can take... In general, include as much information as you can about the disability - the person reading it may know nothing about it at all.
There is no word limit, but bear in mind that short and concise can be better than long and wordy.
No plagiarism please. Small amounts of quoting can be contained in your entry (with a link to the source of the quote), but the majority must be your own work.
You can enter this contest as many times as you like.
The entries will be judged on the quality and accuracy of the information contained, and how well it educates people. There will be points for the three best entries (a winner and two runners-up).
Judges: myself (Arguia), Blank black
Deadline: 1st July (provisional date. May be subject to change)
All entries received that are of a good quality will be combined into a new guide to disability. If more than one entry on the same disability is received, the entries will be combined to form one entry in the final guide. Every author will receive credit for their work. A message from Blank black: Points will be awarded for the best entry and the two runners up, again judged by arguia and myself.
Thanks for the suggestion, I wish it had worked.
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My entry on Asperger's Syndrome: 1. Classification: Asperger's Syndrome is one of several autism spectrum disorders. Children with AS usually are characterized by their abnormalities of social interaction and communication that interfere with the individual's functioning level. Like most other mental conditions, AS begins in infancy or childhood. Autism is very similar to Asperger's and some believe that is what causes AS, although its diagnosis requires impaired communication and allows delays in cognitive development. Higher-functioning autism means the diagnosis is autism without any mental retardation. 2. Characteristics of AS: Many children with Asperger's are socially impaired and have stereotyped and restricted patterns of activities and interests. These children often have intense preoccupation with a narrow subject and have motor clumsiness. a. Social Interaction: A lack of demonstrated empathy is possibly a cause of AS. Individuals with Asperger's experience difficulties with basic social interaction. They often have a failure to make friends, enjoy spontaneous interests or achievements with others and have impaired nonverbal behaviors (such as eye contact, posture, and facial expression). Children with AS often go up to new people to meet them, unlike those with autism. They may also engage in a long conversation about a favorite subject without paying attention to the other person's thoughts about the subject (such as boredom). This is how they are insensitive to others. b. Restricted and repetitive interests & behaviors: Individuals with Asperger's often display repetitive behaviors and interests that can be abnormally focused or intense. Many of them prefer sticking to routines or schedules and preoccupy themselves with parts of objects. Stereotyped and repetitive behaviors are a part of AS. They can be hand or body movements such as flapping or twisting. c. Speech & Language: Most children with Asperger's do not have a significant delay in speech, however they may not know how to use certain words or put them in the correct order. Their speech may be abnormally loud or fast. Some individuals with AS have a sophisticated vocabulary at a young age, although they have difficulty understanding figurative language. 2. Causes: One cause of autism and related disorders is birth defects such as pesticides or maternal antibodies. Some believe that a lack of vitamin D can cause autism although there is no proof that this is true. 3. Treatment: There is no real cure of autism or related disorders. However, with medication and therapies, the individual can learn easier. Training of social skills done by a professional can also help if it is at the individual's level. Although no medication for AS exists, medicines for ADHD or depression can also help.
my brother has this. he refuses help. :[
I am surprised by how much you know about Asperger. One thing you might want to add is that sometimes people with the disorder can have multiple disabilities such as ADD or ADHD and sometimes Disgraphia.
I happen to have three of those.
Well, I have symptoms of Disgraphia.
In reverse order, the winners are:
Marshmellowman with his entry about cystic fibrosis...
Greatescape11 with her entry on HIV/AIDS...
And in first place: Bud2400 with his entry on diabetes.
Congratulations to the winners, and thanks to everyone who entered!
The entries will be placed into the final guide which I am working on now. Any other entries that you feel like writing will also be put in, so please feel free to write more (although there is no guarantee of points)!
I am going to be starting work on the Guide soon though, so all entries are still appreciated! =)
What is HIV? The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a retrovirus (a type of virus that replicates as a part of the cell's DNA) that primarily attacks the human immune system. As helper-T cells, macrophages and dendritic cells are attacked, the body slowly becomes more susceptible to opportunistic infections.
What is AIDS, and how is it different from HIV? AIDS is the set of symptoms and infections resulting from the infection of HIV. The condition results in chronic development of infections and tumors. Being HIV-positive is not the same as having AIDS. Many people are HIV-positive but don't get sick for many years. As HIV disease continues, it slowly wears down the immune system, which is what eventually triggers the onset of AIDS.
What are the symptoms of HIV/AIDS? HIV **As stated above, there are not many symptoms associated with an HIV infection. Some people may notice mild symptoms upon infection including: -Flu-like symptoms -Fever -Headache -Tiredness -Swollen Lymph glands **As HIV progresses and the immune system weakens, more severe symptoms may begin to appear. This could take a few months, or many many years. -Weight Loss -Fatigue -Frequent fevers and sweats -Reoccurring yeast infections -Persistent skin rashes, or dry flaky skin -Short-term memory loss -Mouth, genital or anal sores from herpes infection. AIDS **AIDS is the most severe stage of the disease. The definition of AIDS includes having 200 CD4+ cells per micro liter of blood, along with 26 conditions that are common in advanced HIV disease but that rarely occur in healthy people. Some of the main ones include: -Cough and shortness of breath -Seizures and lack of coordination -Difficult or painful swallowing -Mental symptoms such as confusion and forgetfulness -Severe and persistent diarrhea -Fever -Vision loss -Nausea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting -Weight loss and extreme fatigue -Severe headaches with neck stiffness -Coma -Various cancers such as Kaposi sarcoma, cervical cancer, and cancers of the immune system known as lymphomas -Round, brown, reddish or purple spots that develop in the skin or in the mouth.
What causes HIV/AIDS? As mentioned earlier, the syndrome is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which attacks the body's immune system. The specific actions of the disease progress as follows.
Normally, white blood cells and antibodies attack and destroy foreign organisms that enter your body. This response is coordinated by white blood cells known as CD4 lymphocytes. These lymphocytes are also the main targets of HIV, which attaches to the cells and then enters them. Once inside, the virus inserts its own genetic material into the lymphocytes and uses them to make copies of itself. 2.When the new copies of the virus break out of the host cells and enter the bloodstream, they search for other cells to attack. In the meantime, the old host cells and some uninfected CD4 cells die from the effects of the virus. The cycle repeats itself again and again. In the process, billions of new HIV particles are produced every day. Eventually, the number of CD4 cells in the body decreases, leading to severe immune deficiency, which means your body can no longer effectively fight off viruses and bacteria that cause disease.
How is HIV spread? HIV is a contagious virus. It is transmitted through the exchange of bodily fluids (blood, vaginal secretion, semen). There are three main methods of transmission. Sexual Transmission: You can become infected by having vaginal, anal or oral sex with an infected partner whose blood, semen or vaginal secretions enter your body. You may also become infected from shared sexual devices. The virus is present in the semen or vaginal secretions of someone who's infected and enters your body through small tears that can develop in the rectum or vagina during sexual activity. Due to a higher amount of tearing during anal sex, it is more likely to develop HIV through this form of intercourse. Blood Contact: Direct contact with whole blood, platelets, packed red blood cells and/or plasma can all result in the transmission of HIV. The infected blood must enter through an opening or tear in the body (meaning it could spread through an open wound, but not skin-to-blood contact). This type of infection has been known to occur with blood transfusions (although much less frequently, as blood is now screened for HIV), sharing of needles and syringes, accidental needle pricks, and unprotected medical treatment for someone with HIV. Mother-to-child: A mother infected with HIV/AIDS can spread the virus to her child during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. The chances of the virus being transmitted during pregnancy can be greatly reduced with several drugs, however these are often not available to the poor or to impoverished nations. In addition, Cesarean-section births can reduce the risk of transmission during the birthing process. Again, this option is often not available to everyone.
>>>HIV is NOT transmitted through: -Skin to skin contact, such as hugging, shaking hands or other forms of basic touching -Coughing or breathing on someone
Treatment for HIV/AIDS There is currently no cure for HIV/AIDS, however there are a number of things one can do to enhance the quality of life, put off the onset of AIDS, and prolong life. Antiretroviral drugs: Antiretroviral drugs inhibit the growth and replication of HIV at various stages of its life cycle. There are six classes of the drug available. -Nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) inhibit the replication of an HIV enzyme called reverse transcriptase. -Protease inhibitors (PIs) interrupt HIV replication at a later stage in its life cycle by interfering with an enzyme known as HIV protease. This causes HIV particles in your body to become structurally disorganized and noninfectious. -Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) bind directly to the enzyme reverse transcriptase -Nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NtRTIs) interfere with the replication of reverse transcriptase and prevent the virus from inserting its genetic material into cells. -Fusion inhibitors suppress resistant strains of HIV. Fusion inhibitors stop the virus from replicating by preventing its membrane from fusing with the membrane surrounding healthy cells -Integrase inhibitors blocks replication of the HIV integrase enzyme, which keeps HIV DNA from inserting itself into human DNA CCR5 antagonists: A new class of drugs used to treat a particular type of HIV infection called CCR5-tropic HIV-1. It is the first drug that targets a human protein rather than components of the HIV virus itself.
Other lifestyle changes can also cause a lessening of symptoms and prolong immune system deterioration, although these changes vary from person to person. Stopping smoking and other drug use, exercise and a healthy diet have all had a positive impact on the lives of some patients.
Who gets HIV/AIDS? AIDS was first identified by the CDC in 1981, and is not considered to be a pandemic. In 2007, there were 30-36 million people worldwide with the disease, and 2-2.5 million AIDS deaths. Every 13 seconds, someone contracts HIV. SEE: "AIDS clock" http://www.unfpa.org/aids_clock/ The presence of HIV/AIDS is highest among: -Impoverished areas -People who use drugs, especially intravenous ones -People with no access to sexual barriers (i.e. condoms) -Areas where violence (especially rape) is high. -Areas with insufficient medical facilities -Homosexuals** -Refugee camps
**Although GLBT community has a higher rate of HIV/AIDS than the heterosexual community, the difference is much less than that for other factors, such as poverty. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS within the GLBT community is often exaggerated, as well as used as a form of prejudice and harassment.
Prevention Since there is currently no cure for HIV/AIDS, it is essential that care is taken to prevent the spread of the virus. There are a number of ways to do this. >Preventing Sexual Transmission< -Abstain from sex, or delay first sex -Stay faithful to sexual partners -Have sexual partners tested for HIV -Use barriers, such as male and female condoms >Preventing Blood Transmission< -Avoid sharing needles and syringes -Always wear gloves and barriers when contacting an open wound of another person -Check that blood transfusions have been screened -Use your own blood (this is an option; check with your doctor about it if you are interested) >Mother-Child< -Consult a doctor if you are HIV-positive and considering having children -Do not breastfeed without consulting a doctor if you are HIV positive
Resources for those dealing with HIV/AIDS United States National AIDS Hot-line English: 1-800-342-AIDS Spanish: 1-800-344-7432
National AIDS Information Clearinghouse Phone: 800-458-5231
American Foundation for AIDS Research 733 3rd Avenue 12th Floor New York, NY 10017 Phone: 212-682-7440
AIDS testing resource: http://www.hivtest.org/
Canada Canadian HIV/AIDS Information Centre (formerly Canadian HIV/AIDS Clearinghouse) 613-725-3434 E-mail: aidssida@cpha.ca Web site: www.clearinghouse.cpha.ca
Canadian AIDS Society http://www.cdnaids.ca/web/casmisc.nsf/cl/cas-gen-0002!OpenDocument&language=english
World Vision Canada http://www.worldvision.ca/Pages/Home.aspx
United Kingdom NHS Direct 0845 46 47
The National AIDS Helpline 0800 567 123
Local HIV/AIDS Service Organizations http://www.avert.org/hiv-uk.htm
Sources: 1. AIDS.ORG http://www.aids.org/ 2. Center for Disease Control: AIDS http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/ 3. Mayo Clinic Annual Health Report
Hmm.....time flies. I wont get around to posting everything I guess. Hold on, I've got one pretty close to ready..
People with Down's syndrome have an extra chromosome in some or all of their body's cells, resulting in certain physical characteristics and some level of learning difficulty. Down's syndrome affects one in every 1000 babies in the UK.
this condition is caused by an extra chromosome when the child is developing in the womb, down's syndrome has physical features as well as the affects of it. the physical include; a flattened face; coarse, straight hair; and a fold of skin at the inner edge of the eye; flattening at the back of the head; low birth weight and short stature.
the syndrome can cause; 1.Poor immunity is common, so people with Down's syndrome are prone to chest infections, coughs and colds. 2.Eye problems, such as short- or long-sightedness or cataracts affect half of children with Down's syndrome by the age of four. 3.Hearing problems, ranging from mild to complete deafness, affect over half of people with Down's syndrome. 4.Thyroid problems, including low or high levels of the thyroid hormones, affect one in 10 people with Down's syndrome 5.Poor immunity is common, so people with Down's syndrome are prone to chest infections, coughs and colds. 6.Problems with the digestive system may cause diarrhoea or constipation; babies may have feeding problems and may not gain weight normally. 7.Dementia affects people with Down's syndrome at an earlier age: four out of ten 50-59 year-old with Down's syndrome have dementia.
The condition can be detected by prenatal testing. this condition is more like in woman who conceive at age 35 or over and is therefore better for them to have the testing, however the test which includes a giant needle being inserted into the stomach, can also increase the chance of miscarriage.
lol ya....I have all this information down from a project I had to do a while back....I'll keep em coming. All I have to do is change them into LW format and make a few additions/tweaks.
Fantastic! =)
What is Bipolar Disorder? Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in a person's mood, energy, and ability to function. Different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through, the symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe. One who suffers from Bipolar Disorder experiences periods of extreme "highs," which consist of euphoric moods, delusions and excessive energy; along with periods of severe depression and hopelessness.
Symptoms *Periods of mania: -Increased energy, activity, and restlessness -Excessively "high," overly good, euphoric mood -Extreme irritability -Racing thoughts and talking very fast, jumping from one idea to another -Easily distracted; poor concentration and focus -Little to no sleeping -Unrealistic beliefs in one's abilities and powers -Poor judgment -Excessive money spending -A lasting period of behavior that is different from usual -Increased sexual drive -Abuse of drugs -Provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behavior -Denial that anything is wrong >>A manic episode is diagnosed if elevated mood occurs with three or more of the other symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for 1 week or longer. If the mood is irritable, four additional symptoms must be present. *Periods of depression: -Lasting sad, anxious, or empty mood -Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism -Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness -Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed, including sex -Decreased energy, a feeling of fatigue -Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions -Restlessness or irritability -Sleeping too much, or insomnia -Change in appetite and/or unintended weight loss or gain -Chronic pain or other persistent bodily symptoms that are not caused by physical illness or injury -Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts >>A depressive episode is diagnosed if five or more of these symptoms last most of the day, nearly every day, for a period of 2 weeks or longer
What is the course of the disorder? Episodes of mania and depression usually recur across the life span. Between episodes, most people with bipolar disorder are free of symptoms, but as many as one-third of people have some residual symptoms. A small percentage of people experience constant symptoms despite treatment. People with bipolar disorder can lead healthy and productive lives when the illness is effectively treated. Without treatment, however, the natural course of bipolar disorder tends to worsen. Over time a person may suffer more frequent (more rapid-cycling) and more severe manic and depressive episodes than those experienced when the illness first appeared
What causes Bipolar Disorder? Most current research suggests that there is no single cause of Bipolar Disorder. It is believed to be a combination of both biological and environmental factors. Because it seems to run in families (the concordance rate is 80 percent for identical twins, as compared to only 16 percent for fraternal twins), researchers have been looking to isolate a gene or set of genes that influence the presence of Bipolar Disorder. The effect of different neurotransmitters also plays a key role. Some studies suggest that a low or high level of a specific neurotransmitter such as serotonin, norepinephrine or dopamine is the cause. Other studies indicate that an imbalance of these chemicals is the problem, and yet others predict that a change in the sensitivity of the receptors on nerve cells may be the issue. There also seem to be environmental factors. For mental, emotional and environmental issues, stressful life events are thought to be the main element in the development of bipolar disorder. These triggers are different for everyone; as an event in one person's life may seem like a catastrophe, while to another it may be nothing. That being said, it seems that once the disorder has been triggered, life events have a much less significant impact. Severe episodes can occur without any environmental trigger.
Who is affected by Bipolar Disorder? Bipolar disorder affects approximately 5.7 million adult Americans, or about 2.6% of the U.S. population age 18 and older every year. (National Institute of Mental Health). The median age of onset for bipolar disorder is 25 years but the illness can start in early childhood or as late as the 40's and 50's. An equal number of men and women develop bipolar illness and it is found in all ages, races, ethnic groups and social classes. More than two-thirds of people with bipolar disorder have at least one close relative with the illness or with major depression.
Treatment Most people with bipolar disorder can achieve substantial stabilization of their mood swings and related symptoms with proper treatment. Because bipolar disorder is a recurrent illness, long-term preventive treatment is strongly recommended and almost always indicated. A strategy that combines medication and psychosocial treatment is recommended for managing the disorder over time. In addition, keeping a chart of daily mood symptoms, treatments, sleep patterns, and life events may help people with their disorder. This chart also can help the doctor track and treat the illness most effectively. Medications: Medications usually are prescribed to help control bipolar disorder. Several different types of mood stabilizers are available. In general, people with bipolar disorder continue treatment with mood stabilizers for extended periods of time (years). Other medications are added when necessary, typically for shorter periods, to treat episodes of mania or depression that break through despite the mood stabilizer. -Lithium, the first mood-stabilizing medication is often very effective in controlling mania and preventing the recurrence of both manic and depressive episodes. -Anticonvulsant medications also can have mood-stabilizing effects and may be especially useful for difficult-to-treat bipolar episodes. Anticonvulsant medications may be combined with lithium, or with each other, for greater benefits. Research has shown that people with bipolar disorder are at risk of switching into mania or hypomania, or of developing rapid cycling, during treatment with antidepressant medication.15 Therefore, "mood-stabilizing" medications generally are required, alone or in combination with antidepressants, to protect people with bipolar disorder from this switch.. -Atypical antipsychotic medications are being studied as possible treatments for bipolar disorder. Evidence suggests clozapine may be helpful as a mood stabilizer for people who do not respond to lithium or anticonvulsants. >>>Side Effects Unfortunately, the drugs used to treat Bipolar Disorder, like many other drugs, may have some side effects. The most common of these include weight gain, nausea, tremor, reduced sexual drive or performance, anxiety, an emotional "flat effect", hair loss, movement problems, or dry mouth.
Types of Bipolar Disorder Bipolar I disorder: Involves episodes of severe mood swings, from mania and depression. Bipolar II Disorder: A milder form, involving milder episodes of hypomania that alternate with depression. Cyclothymic Bipolar Disorder: Cycling from hypomania to mold/moderate depression. Mixed Bipolar Disorder: Both mania and depression occur at the same time. The person feels grandiose, with racing thoughts, all this energy -- but is also irritable, angry, moody and down. Rapid-cycling Bipolar Disorder: Characterized by four or more mood episodes that occur within a 12-month period. Some people experience multiple episodes within a single week, or even within a single day. Rapid cycling tends to develop later in the course of illness. A rapid-cycling pattern increases risk for severe depression and suicide attempts.
Sources: 1. National Institute of Mental Health: Bipolar Disorder. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder/complete-publication.shtml 2. Web MD: Bipolar Disorder. http://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/guide/bipolar-disorder-overview-facts
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