Category: Family Health

• Analysis and culture of joint fluid

• Blood tests

• Sometimes sputum, spinal fluid, and urine tests

• Sometimes x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or ultrasound

Doctors typically suspect the diagnosis of infectious arthritis in people who have severe or unexplained arthritis and in people who have other combinations of symptoms that are known to occur in people who have infectious arthritis.

Usually, a sample of joint fluid is removed with a needle (called joint aspiration, or arthrocentesis) as soon as possible. It is examined for an increased number of white blood cells and tested for bacteria and other organisms. The laboratory can usually grow and identify the infecting bacteria from the joint fluid (called a culture), unless the person has recently taken antibiotics. However, the bacteria that cause gonorrhea, Lyme disease, and syphilis are difficult to recover from joint fluid. If bacteria do grow in culture, the laboratory then tests which antibiotics would be effective.

A doctor usually does blood tests because bacteria causing joint infections often appear in the bloodstream. Sputum, spinal fluid, and urine may also be tested for bacteria to help determine the source of infection and determine whether the infection is anywhere else.

If doctors suspect the infectious arthritis is caused by gonococci, samples are also taken from the urethra, cervix, rectum, and throat. Tests for chlamydial infection of the genitals (another sexually transmitted infection) are also done because many people who have gonorrhea also have a chlamydial infection.

To determine the correct treatment, doctors may analyze the joint fluid f to detect the DNA of gonococci and mycobacteria.

Doctors may take x-rays of the affected joint to rule out other conditions. Doctors may do magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) if the joint cannot be easily examined or aspirated. MRI or ultrasonography is also done to identify accumulations of fluid or collections of pus (abscesses).

Most people can treat DVT with medicines at home. Sometimes, more serious blood clots require you to stay in the hospital for treatment.

Your healthcare provider will likely prescribe blood-thinning medicine to keep blood clots from getting larger and prevent a DVT from becoming a life-threatening pulmonary embolism. If you are unable to take blood thinners, other medicines or procedures can help. Learn more about treatments for DVT.

As you recover from DVT, talk to your provider about what you can do to stay healthy.

• Be aware of possible complications. A condition called post-thrombotic syndrome can develop following DVT. If you experience pain, itchiness, or swelling, tell your healthcare provider.
• Prevent a repeat DVT. Talk with your provider about your risk, get regular checkups, and take all medicines as prescribed to help lower your chance of having repeat blood clots.
• Make healthy lifestyle changes. Talk to your provider about changes you may need to make, including choosing heart-healthy foods, getting physically active, aiming for a healthy weight, and quitting smoking.
• Take care of your mental health. Anxiety, fear, and stress can be common after a blood clot. Reach out to your healthcare provider if you need support.

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If you suffer from hay fever (allergic rhinitis) caused by pollen, your mouth or throat may become itchy after eating an apple or celery. This happens in up to 50 to 75% of adults allergic to birch tree pollen. This reaction occurs because the proteins found in some fruits and vegetables are very similar to those found in pollen. These proteins can confuse the immune system and cause an allergic reaction or make existing symptoms worse, which is referred to as cross-reactivity. In the case of pollen and foods, the result of cross-reactivity is called Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS) also known as Pollen Food Allergy Syndrome (PFAS).

OAS is a form of a contact allergic reaction that occurs upon contact of the mouth and throat with raw fruits or vegetables. The most frequent symptoms of OAS include itchiness or swelling of the mouth, face, lip, tongue and throat. Symptoms usually appear immediately after eating raw fruits or vegetables, although in rare cases, the reaction can occur more than an hour later. OAS is generally considered to be a mild form of food allergy. Rarely, OAS can cause severe throat swelling leading to difficulty swallowing or breathing. In a person who is highly allergic, a systemic reaction, called anaphylaxis (an-a-fi-LAK-sis), may be caused by a pollen cross-reactive raw fruit or vegetable, but this is very uncommon. OAS can occur at any time of the year.

Although there is no definitive test for OAS, affected individuals often have a positive allergy skin test or blood test for specific pollen, along with a history of symptoms after ingestion of the suspected foods.

Different Reactions Based on Different Allergies

Some people report symptoms with only one food and others with many different fruits and vegetables. Some people report that only certain varieties of the fruit cause symptoms, for example specific apple varieties.

In the case of OAS, individuals react to different foods based on what type of seasonal allergies they are affected by. For instance, if you are allergic to birch tree pollen, a primary airborne allergen responsible for symptoms in the springtime, you may have reactions triggered by pitted fruit or carrot. Even peanuts, almond, and hazelnut may cause mouth itching in those with birch pollen allergy. If mouth itching is noted with nuts, you should see an allergist /immunologist because mild mouth symptoms may signal a more serious allergic reaction to nuts. People with allergies to grasses may have a reaction to peaches, celery, tomatoes, melons (cantaloupe, watermelon and honeydew) and oranges. Those with reactions to ragweed might have symptoms when eating foods such as banana, cucumber, melon, and zucchini. This convenient table lists the possible pollen and plant food cross-reactivities.  

Managing Your Symptoms

If you have symptoms of OAS, avoid eating these raw foods, especially during allergy season because in many patients, OAS worsens during the pollen season of the pollen in question. One way to reduce cross-reactions with food is to bake or microwave the food because high temperatures break down the proteins responsible for OAS. Eating canned food may also limit the reaction. And, peeling the food before eating may be helpful, as the offending protein is often concentrated in the skin.

Some studies have shown that treatment with allergy shots can improve the symptoms of OAS.

You should talk to your physician if:

• Your OAS symptoms are causing significant throat discomfort;

• Your OAS symptoms are getting progressively worse;

• Your OAS symptoms are caused by cooked fruits and vegetables;

• Your OAS symptoms are caused by nuts;

• You develop systemic reactions after eating raw fruits or vegetables such as hives, vomiting or difficulty breathing.



Please note that this list is not exhaustive.

Click here for a PDF version of the chart.

Find out more about allergic rhinitis or hay fever.

The AAAAI’s Find an Allergist / Immunologist service is a trusted resource to help you find a specialist close to home.

1/10/2024

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Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a chronic or reoccurring series of gastrointestinal symptoms that often causes distress for those who have it. IBS is associated with a group of symptoms that affect the large and small intestines. It is estimated that IBS affects 10% to 15% of adults worldwide. Though no specific cause is known, several factors may contribute to IBS, including genetics, certain mental health disorders, food sensitivities or intolerances, infection or a change in intestinal bacteria type or amount. Certain foods and stress may trigger symptoms; diet changes, stress management and a healthy, active lifestyle may help manage IBS.

Symptoms of IBS

Symptoms vary, but typically include one or more of the following:

• Abdominal pain
• Cramping
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Bloating
• Gassiness

Your doctor may order medical tests to rule out other causes of these symptoms.

IBS Triggers

People with irritable bowel syndrome have a sensitive intestinal tract in which stress and diet may play a role.

• Stress. The colon contains nerves that connect to the brain. For people with IBS, stress can stimulate spasms in the colon, causing discomfort and pain.
• Diet. Some people with IBS find symptoms worsen after eating large meals or high-fat foods. Specific foods also may trigger symptoms and can vary from person to person.

Changes for the Better

The best way to manage IBS can be highly individualized. It’s important to understand what may cause episodes of discomfort and then work to eliminate or minimize them. While medication, stress management and probiotics may help, eating habits also should be a focus, because they can have a significant impact. Some simple changes in the way you eat may offer relief and reduce future flare-ups.

• Establish regular eating habits. Eating your meals at the same time each day may help regulate your bowels.
• Eat small, frequent meals instead of large ones. This will ease the amount of food moving through your intestinal tract.
• Focus on a healthful eating pattern, including sources of dietary fiber. Try whole fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains including rolled oats, brown rice and whole-wheat bread. Make changes slowly. Fiber helps move food through your intestine, but it takes time for your body to adjust to eating more. Adding too much too quickly may result in gas, bloating and cramping.
• Drink enough fluids. Fiber draws water from your body to move foods through your intestine. Without enough water and fluids, you may become constipated.
• Watch what you drink. Alcohol and caffeine can stimulate your intestines, which may cause diarrhea. Artificial sweeteners that contain sugar alcohols such as sorbitol, mannitol and xylitol may cause diarrhea too. Carbonated drinks can produce gas.
• Consider FODMAPs. Fermentable, oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols — these short-chain carbohydrates are found naturally in many of the foods we eat. They may be poorly absorbed in the intestine by people with IBS. A registered dietitian nutritionist can help determine if there are high-FODMAP foods you may be sensitive to and if a modified eating pattern is right for you.
• Identify problem foods and eating habits. Recording your daily food intake in a food diary during flare-ups can help you figure out which foods contribute to IBS symptoms.

How an RDN Can Help

A registered dietitian nutritionist can help you manage irritable bowel syndrome by developing an individualized eating plan. An RDN will work with you to identify which foods and habits might cause you distress and review healthy eating strategies to help you manage your symptoms, along with other forms of treatment, if needed.