Author: vincentochiengde

A mammogram is a special type of x-ray that uses low energy x-rays to examine breast tissue for diagnosis and screening purposes.

A mammogram is useful for the early detection of breast cancer. It identifies micro and macro calcifications(lumps) and masses in breast tissue. Women over 40yrs are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer and thus it’s recommended that they get an annual screen. For ladies under 40yrs, a breast ultrasound is ideal.
The test can be performed on both male and female genders.

Did you know?

Hypertension affects about 10% of all pregnant women and is the commonest condition seen during pregnancy.
– Pre-existing hypertension is hypertension that is identified before the onset of pregnancy or diagnosed before 20 weeks of pregnancy.
– Gestational hypertension is diagnosed for the first time at or after 20 weeks gestation & resolves within 12 weeks post delivery.
– Preeclampsia is diagnosed after 20 weeks and resolves before 12 weeks postpartum.

All You Need To Know About Vaginal Discharge

Are you aware of the difference between normal vaginal discharge and abnormal vaginal discharge? With all things being equal, vaginal discharge is a natural part of being a woman, but sometimes changes in it can indicate a problem. Understanding these changes will help you know when there is a problem.

The Natural Vagina

Basically, the function of your vagina is to provide access to your uterus and the rest of your internal reproductive system. The natural, acidic, pH of your vagina acts to prevent infections by the natural, good, bacteria present in it.

Naturally, your vagina cleans itself by producing clear, mucus-like secretions. However, the natural balance of the vagina can be disturbed by anything that interferes with its normal environment.

Normal Discharge

Note that, all women experience some amount of vaginal discharge. This is because Glands in your vagina and cervix produce small amounts of fluid that flows out of your body every day, taking with it old cells.

This normal discharge cleans the vagina, keeps it lubricated and free from infection and other disease causing agents (germs). It doesn’t have a foul smell and normally has no odor at all. Normal discharge always appears clear or milky when it dries on your panties. Sometimes though, you may observe a discharge that is thin and stringy or stretchy looking.

Look at the list of things that can disturb the natural pH balance of your vagina and lead to vaginal infections:

Menstrual Period Affects Vaginal Discharge

Your menstrual cycle has a serious effect on the kind of vaginal discharge that you encounter throughout the month. Midway between your periods, you will observe a normal increase in clear vaginal discharge. This occurence (of increased wetness and clear vaginal discharge) shows you are ovulating. Ovulation is the time of the month when you are fertile and can get pregnant.

Please note that you’re more likely to have vaginal infections just before or during your period. The reason for this is that the pH balance of your vagina fluctuates during your monthly cycle. This in turn causes the acidic level of your vagina to be at its lowest point a few days before your period and also during your period.

Contraceptives can also affect vaginal discharge

Hormones contained in contraceptives affect women differently, some have reported increased discharge while others have noted a reduction. Your doctor can help you identify if this is the cause and advice on how to manage it.

Signs of Abnormal Discharge

A very important fact is that you need to recognize the signs of abnormal vaginal discharge because it could be an indication that you have an infection or other health condition. If your vaginal discharge suddenly and randomly increases, this is sign that there may be a problem. Another thing that may signal a problem is if your discharge is yellowish or greenish in color. If you have a thick clumped or chunky discharge or a very watery discharge, you can also suspect that things are not well in your vagina.

The following signs in your discharge may indicate an infection:

★Changes in color, consistency (sometimes similar to cottage cheese), or amount
★Itching, discomfort, or a rash
★Vaginal burning during urination
★The presence of blood when it’s not time for your period
★A foul odor accompanied by yellowish, greenish, or grayish white vaginal discharge

If you notice any of the above signs with your vaginal discharge, it is advised that you consult your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment.

Also NOTE What Different Kinds of Discharge Indicate

√ If your discharge is whitish to pale yellow and thick and clumped and you have vaginal itching or burning you most likely have a vaginal yeast infection.

√ If you have a discharge that is heavier than usual, and at the same time watery and grayish in color with a foul fishy odor, you may suspect bacterial vaginosis.

√ If your vaginal discharge suddenly increases in amount, is green or yellowish and has bad odor, or is causing vaginal symptoms you are advised to see a doctor to diagnose the cause and to provide treatment.

Most Common Causes Of Vaginal Infections

Here are the most notable causes of abnormal vaginal discharges:

1. Bacterial vaginosis (BV): This is the most common vaginal infection, caused by bacteria. It is treated with antibiotics and won’t respond to over-the-counter treatments for yeast infection.

2. Vaginal yeast infections: Vaginal yeast infections are also very common and over-the-counter treatments are available. However, it’s important to never self-diagnose a vaginal yeast infection unless you have previously been diagnosed by your health care provider.

3. Trichomoniasis

4. Chlamydia

5. Gonorrhea

6. Forgetting to remove a tampon (A tampon is a feminine hygiene product designed to absorb the menstrual flow by insertion into the vagina during menstruation. Once inserted correctly a tampon is held in place by the vagina and expands as it soaks up menstrual blood)

4. Other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or infections (STIs)

Diagnosis

Common tests requested to confirm, rule out or identify type of infection are;

1. Urinalysis- it’s a basic test on your urine that checks for infection by analysing the color, pH, and presence of normal/abnormal cells in urine.

2. High vaginal swab (HVS)- a swab of vaginal discharge is put in culture media (food for microorganisms with nutrients essential for their growth) and incubated to allow time for growth. Growth identifies type of organism= type of infection and helps your doctor to prescribe the right type of medication.

NB: there are specific tests for different types of STIs. Your doctor will request for a specific test based on your symptoms and history.

Treatment

The treatment provided for vaginal discharge depends largely what caused it in the first place.

Prevention and management tips

1. Always wear cotton underwear
2. Practise good personal hygiene (keep your vagina clean and dry)
3. Avoid use of scented pads, tampons or soaps (they contain chemicals that alter vaginal pH)
4. Drink natural yoghurt
5. Drink lots of water
6. Avoid douching and inserting foreign objects into your vagina
7. Avoid clothing that is too tight (your vagina needs to breathe)

Ever had the urge to pass stool, you know the kind that makes you feel paralysed, like everything is about to come out right now….so you rush to the toilet and carry the full tissue roll just in case…lock the door behind you, position yourself and push with all the strength you can muster then after a full excruciating minute comes: Plonk!- a pebble sized product and staring at it you’re sure there’s like 5kg of those pebbles still stuck in the pipes….

It’s possible that you’re CONSTIPATED

Let’s talk about HSG today…

This is a special type of X-ray used to evaluate female (in)fertility.
It involves the placement of an iodine-based dye (contrast) through the cervix and taking x-rays to view the flow of dye into the uterus and fallopian tubes.
A doctor will normally request for the test if they suspect blockage.

Image guided biopsy has become the preferred procedure for extracting sample fluid/tissue for examination to check for presence,cause or extent of a disease.
It has added benefits compared to surgical biopsy in that;

* It increases the accuracy of sample collection since the extraction process has visual guidance.
* It decreases patient exposure to invasive procedure.
* The procedure leaves a smaller wound compared to surgery reducing scar size and recovery time.
* It much cheaper than surgical biopsy.

Did you know that Scanlab Nakuru offers professional Office & home collection (mobile phlebotomy) services? Get your sample collected and reports delivered at the convenience of your home or office at the dial of a button.
For this service,

call 0711443673 / 0717535037

Routine cancer screening is important because it checks your body for cancer before you have symptoms, at this stage, treatment is likely to work better. We encourage you to go for screening… early detection could save your life

Breast/ cervical cancer are the top 2 cancers in females. The 2018 Globocan data continues to verify the same https://gco.iarc.fr/…/factsheets/…/404-kenya-fact-sheets.pdf
Early diagnosis makes a difference. Take advantage of our reduced rates during the October awareness month to screen loved ones &/ or yourself.

Call 0722149505 for booking

The field of molecular diagnostics, which uses biological analysis to detect specific sequences in DNA or RNA that might be associated with disease, is growing rapidly.

The rapid improvement in workflow and turnaround time for most molecular testing methods has provided promising results. These tools now have the potential to replace many conventional microbiology laboratory assays. Developments in technology have also resulted in more user-friendly testing platforms that are automated, have lower risks for contamination and have the ability to deliver faster results.

Molecular methodologies offer numerous advantages to the clinical laboratory. These include:

Sensitivity: Amplification methodologies are particularly useful in increasing the sensitivity of a methodology and useful in the identification of target molecules of interest that are only present in low concentrations.

Specificity: Molecular methods minimize false positive test results by targeting the specific molecule of interest.

Turn Around Time: In comparison with standard traditional culture methods, molecular methodologies usually offer better turn around times from receipt to result reporting.

Application: broader application can be found with molecular methodologies such as infectious diseases, genetic testing, forensics, drug resistance, and tumor marker detection and monitoring.

 

Scan Lab is proud to be offering this. Contact us for more details.

The liver is an organ about the size of a football that sits just under your rib cage on the right side of your abdomen. The liver is essential for digesting food and ridding your body of toxic substances.

Liver disease can be inherited (genetic) or caused by a variety of factors that damage the liver, such as viruses and alcohol use. Obesity is also associated with liver damage.

Over time, damage to the liver results in scarring (cirrhosis), which can lead to liver failure, a life-threatening condition.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of liver disease include:

• Skin and eyes that appear yellowish (jaundice)
• Abdominal pain and swelling
• Swelling in the legs and ankles
• Itchy skin
• Dark urine color
• Pale stool color, or bloody or tar-colored stool
• Chronic fatigue
• Nausea or vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Tendency to bruise easily

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any persistent signs or symptoms that worry you. Seek immediate medical attention if you have abdominal pain that is so severe that you can’t stay still.