Osgood-Schlatter Disease

Disease: Tibial Tuberosity Apophysitis

Common Name: Osgood-Schlatter Disease

Age of Onset: Boys ages 13-14, Girls ages 10-11

Duration: Usually between 12 and 18 months, during a growth spurt.

Males/Females/Equal: Osgood-Schlatter disease affects boys more often than girls, but it is becoming more common with the increase in female athletes.

Cause: Osgood-Schlatter disease is an overuse injury. It occurs due to exercise when young athletes are going through a period of growth. Frequent use and physical stress cause pain and swelling at the point below the kneecap where the patellar tendon attaches to the tibia. The stress of the tendon pulling on the tibia often causes tiny fractures of the tibia.

Symptoms:

• Pain and tenderness below kneecap
  


• Swelling, large bump below kneecap



• Pain and discomfort during physical activity such as running and jumping



• Limping after physical ativity

Prognosis/Progression: Disease occurs during growth spurts during adolescence. Symptoms generally occur for around one to two years and the disease usually ends on its own after the growth spurt has ended. The disease will end sooner if physical activity is decreased.

Treatment Options:

• Decrease in physical activity such as running or jumping, though children may still participate in sports.
  


• Stretching exercises including quadricep and hamstring exercises to keep the area strong.



• Icing the affected area after physical activity to reduce pain and swelling.
  


• Anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen.



• Knee bands to help reduce stress and pain during physical activity.

http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/sports/osgood.html

http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/orthopedics/a/osgoodschlatter.htm

Lyme Disease

Proper Name: Borrelia Burgdorferi (in the United States)

Common Name: Lyme Disease

Age of Onset: It can occur at any age.

Duration: With antibiotic treatment, the rash typically lasts for one to two weeks.

Males/Females/Equal: Males and females are equally likely to get lyme disease.

Cause: The bacterial illness lyme disease is caused by a bacterium called a "spirochete." Ticks that live on deer and other animals store the bacteria in their stomachs. When these ticks bite the skin, the bacteria is released, causing lyme disease.

Symptoms:

• redness/rash
• headache
• swollen glands
• fatigue
• muscle stiffness
• joint stiffness

Prognosis (progression of the disease):

• There are 3 phases of lyme disease.
  1. Early Localized disease: Within the first few days of the bite, the skin around the bite will be surrounded by an unraised ring of redness that will continue to expand. The red rash is often accompanied by virus symptoms such as fatigue, headache, muscle and joint stiffness, and swollen glands.
  2. Early Disseminated disease: Weeks to months after the initial rash, the bacteria spread throughout the body and heart, joint, and nerve damage can occur. The bacteria enter and can cause inflammation of the heart, leading to an abnormal heart rhythm and heart failure.
  3. Late disease: If the disease reaches peripheral nerves, Bell's Palsy- facial muscle paralysis- can occur, along with meningitis and inflammation of joints (arthritis).

Treatment Options (Rx): Lyme disease can be treated in the early phases by oral medications such as doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime axetil. Nervous system disease may require drugs such as ceftriaxone. Swollen joints can be reduced by cortisone shots or medications such as ibuprofin or motrin.

http://www.medicinenet.com/lyme_disease/page3.htm