Culture and Sensitivity - Anal Swab Tips

Mastitis - How To Avert It?

Dr. Megha Tuli 93% (1878 ratings)
MD - Obstetrtics & Gynaecology, MBBS, Masters in Aesthetic Gynaecology
Gynaecologist, Gurgaon
Mastitis - How To Avert It?

Mastitis is primarily an infection that occurs inside or on women's breasts within the first three months after pregnancy. Sometimes the infection can also affect non pregnant women where it is referred to as periductal mastitis.

What are the causes and symptoms of Mastitis?
The most common reason behind such an occurrence is malfunctioning mammary ducts in pregnant women. Milk stasis or blocked milk ducts happen due to irregular feeding sessions, the baby's difficulty in sucking, or not being able to attach optimally to the breast for feeding.

The other plausible reason is bacterial infection that has somehow entered the ducts through a crack in the nipple area. Blocked milk ducts carry a lot of stagnant milk that provides the most suitable breeding ground for bacterial cultures. Steps must be taken so as not to pass on this bacterium to the baby who depends on breast milk almost entirely for nutrition.

1. It often manifests itself in the form of redness, swelling, pain, fever and exhaustion, resulting from inflammation of the breast tissues and mammary glands.
2. There is also a palpable warmth and tenderness of the breasts, accompanied by a general feeling of malaise.
3. Other common symptoms include lumpy formations, wedges, burning sensation especially during breast feeding.
4. Nipple discharge, body aches and relatively higher body temperatures might also occur in association.

You must consult with your doctor immediately after the appearance of similar symptoms; promptness is advisable when you are pregnant.

What problems does Mastitis cause?

1. Most commonly affecting nursing and recent mothers, Mastitis poses a pertinent problem in breastfeeding as it causes dysfunctional lactation.
2. Mastitis is therefore also as precarious for the new born baby who is left without its primary diet.
3. Doctors often recommend such mothers to continue breast feeding in spite of the disease, after prescribing some antibiotics which usually work in suppressing the infection after a maximum of 2 to 3 weeks.
4. The affected mothers usually feel too tired to take care of their child while suffering from this kind of infection.

Preventive measures

1. Avoid wearing tight clothes or undergarments.
2. Regularize breastfeeding schedules; do not stop before 6 months.
3. Encourage your baby to feed especially when you experience of build-up of milk.

Causes and Symptoms of Anorexia

Ph. D - Alternative Medicine, PG Diploma in Psycological Counseling
Psychologist, Mumbai
Causes and Symptoms of Anorexia

Anorexia is a common eating disorder which is identified by abnormally low body weight, intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of body weight. The problem is not only related to your dietary patterns but it also related to your mental state. People with this disorder are generally self-conscious, have a low self-esteem and are overly concerned about their external appearance.

Causes of anorexia

  • Biological factors - These factors represent that anorexia can be congenital or it may have developed over time. Congenital means that disorder is hereditary in nature and is passed on from the parents to the offspring. On the other hand, it may develop in people who are more sensitive and have an inclination towards perfection.
  • Psychological factors - Anorexia can also be caused due to certain specific personality traits and emotions that might be possessed by you. For instance, anorexia is more likely to happen to young women who are really worried and conscious out the way they look externally. Additionally, people who are either emotionally not too strong or suffer from anxiety issues can develop this disorder easily.
  • Environmental factors - The type of a cultural set up you are living in also plays an important role in developing this disorder. For instance, the western culture is all about slim and fit people, whereas the oriental countries are not so bothered about the same.

Symptoms of Anorexia

Emotional symptoms - This category of symptoms includes behaviors and a thought process aimed towards losing weight and minimizing your food intake. Some of the symptoms belonging to this type include:

  • Forceful vomiting to lose calories
  • Staying hungry
  • Excessive physical activity or exercise
  • Denial of hunger
  • Social withdrawal
  • Irritability
  • Depressed moods

Physical symptoms - These symptoms are self-explanatory and are clearly visible on the human body. These include:

'Consult'.

Related Tip: What risk factors are associated with anxiety disorders?

4956 people found this helpful

All About Mastitis

Dr. Namita Mehta 93% (577 ratings)
MD-Gynaecologist & Obstetrician , MBBS
Gynaecologist, Delhi
All About Mastitis

Mastitis is primarily an infection that occurs inside or on women's breasts within the first three months after pregnancy. Sometimes the infection can also affect non pregnant women where it is referred to as periductal mastitis.

What are the causes and symptoms of Mastitis?
The most common reason behind such an occurrence is malfunctioning mammary ducts in pregnant women. Milk stasis or blocked milk ducts happen due to irregular feeding sessions, the baby's difficulty in sucking or not being able to attach optimally to the breast for feeding. The other plausible reason is bacterial infection that has somehow entered the ducts through a crack in the nipple area. Blocked milk ducts carry a lot of stagnant milk that provides the most suitable breeding ground for bacterial cultures. Steps must be taken so as not to pass on this bacterium to the baby who depends on breast milk almost entirely for nutrition.

1. It often manifests itself in the form of redness, swelling, pain, fever and exhaustion, resulting from inflammation of the breast tissues and mammary glands.
2. There is also a palpable warmth and tenderness of the breasts, accompanied by a general feeling of malaise.

3. Other common symptoms include lumpy formations, wedges, burning sensation especially during breast feeding.
4. Nipple discharge, body aches and relatively higher body temperatures might also occur in association.

You must consult with your doctor immediately after the appearance of similar symptoms; promptness is advisable when you are pregnant.

What problems does Mastitis cause?
1. Most commonly affecting nursing and recent mothers, Mastitis poses a pertinent problem in breastfeeding as it causes dysfunctional lactation.
2. Mastitis is therefore also as precarious for the new born baby who is left without its primary diet.
3. Doctors often recommend such mothers to continue breast feeding in spite of the disease, after prescribing some antibiotics which usually work in suppressing the infection after a maximum of 2 to 3 weeks.
4. The affected mothers usually feel too tired to take care of their child while suffering from this kind of infection.

Preventive measures
1. Avoid wearing tight clothes or undergarments.
2. Regularize breastfeeding schedules; do not stop before 6 months.
3. Encourage your baby to feed especially when you experience of build-up of milk.

3547 people found this helpful

Self-Image - How Can You Boost It With Therapy?

Dr. Challa Subrahmanyam 87% (16 ratings)
M.S - Counselling & Psychotherapy, Post Graduate Diploma In Sexual & Reproductive Medicine, Certification In Counselling Process, LLB
Psychologist, Hyderabad
Self-Image - How Can You Boost It With Therapy?

The rise of social media along with the culture of digital editing has led to the escalating need to find validation in the society. This creates a huge population of individuals who feel compelled to see themselves in a harsh light. They suffer from low self-issues and undermine their own abilities. We immerse ourselves in the rat race of life. One-day we wake up to the realization of not being good enough.

You become prone to self-loathing and may develop the tendency to resort to substance abuse. Low self-esteem puts you into a vicious cycle of negativity. The inability to trust your own abilities destroys all prospects for you.

While poor self-image itself is not a disease, it can give rise to hordes of mental ailments. These include anxiety and depression. Therefore, if you are unable to find that inner strength to love yourself, therapy can show you the guiding light.

Reasons to Have Good Self-Image

Self-image is about feeling good about yourself, despite your looks or popularity. It is about accepting yourself with all your faults and strengths. If you are running out of reasons to love yourself, here are some reasons why you should.

• People see us, how we see ourselves. A good self-image helps us make a good impression in our personal as well as professional lives.
• People with good self-image tend to accomplish more
• The sad and low feeling goes away once we start valuing ourselves
• Low self-image affects the mind and body, exposing us to a range of disorders

Role of Therapy in Boosting Self-Image

• Therapy, especially Interpersonal Therapy, helps a person to open up. A trained professional shows acceptance without judgement. This helps the patient a lot.
• Low self-esteem and self-image issues often begin in childhood. The role of a therapist begins by identifying the root cause. This follows a process of reforming the hostile feelings.
• Low self-esteem makes a person extremely sensitive to harsh judgement. They criticize themselves in an attempt to cope. The therapist helps to reshape the insecurities into motivation.
• Mindfulness increases with therapy that improves productivity and boosts self-image.
• Improving self-esteem is a process that requires patience. Therapy keeps a person motivated and helps them explore new facets of themselves.
• Therapy can change the perspective of how people view themselves and the world.

People who suffer from low self-image issues recognize their pessimistic outlook of themselves as the truth. They criticize themselves in a manner they would never criticize others. Therapy holds a mirror to this attitude. It makes people recognize that the error is in the self-depreciating attitude. Sometimes therapy and a person who listens to you is all you need. Sometimes all we need to do is reach out to help us love ourselves again.

4378 people found this helpful

UTI In Children - Understanding The Ways It Can Be Treated!

Dr. Rishavdeb Patra 89% (97 ratings)
MBBS, MS - General Surgery, MCh - Paediatric Surgery
Pediatric Surgeon, Kolkata
UTI In Children - Understanding The Ways It Can Be Treated!

UTI stands for urinary tract infections. In children a urinary tract infection (UTI) is a very common condition caused by bacteria. Bacteria that enter the urethra are flushed out through urination. But, when bacteria aren’t excluded out of the urethra, they may grow in the urinary tract and cause infections. The Survey state that up to 8% of girls and 2% of boys will get a UTI at an early age. Sometimes the symptoms of UTI are hard to detect in kids so it is better to get your child treated, as it turn into serious kidney diseases. With a right treatment your child will feel better within few days. 

Symptoms of a UTI include: 

  1. Burning and pain during micturation. 
  2. Urgent need to go, but having a few drops of urine. 
  3. Fever and vomiting commonly occur during UTI. 
  4. Foul smell and cloudy urine. 

Causes 

  1. Bladder outlet obstruction like posterior urethral valve in males 
  2. Vesico ureteric reflux (VUR) 
  3. Uretero pelvic junction obstruction (UPJ Obstruction) 
  4. Constipation: Being constipated makes difficult to empty your bladder, which means trapped bacteria which increases risk of UTI. So in order to reduce the UTI risk, avoid constipation 
  5. Dehydration: Drinking water not only quenches your thirst, but it also avoids the risk of getting UTI. We should drink enough water so that we can flush out bacteria that can cause UTI. Drinking water also avoids the constipation problem. 
  6. Holding urine: Holding urine for 6 hours make UTI more common as bacteria in the bladder has lots of time to grow and cause infection. So ask your child to pass urine after few hours. 

Prevention 

  1. Avoid tight fitting clothes, especially for girl children. 
  2. Drink more and more liquids and eat fibre rich food. 
  3. Change the diaper of young child frequently. 
  4. Ask your child to go for urine immediately rather than holding. 
  5. Don’t give bubble bath to the child as it is a major source of bacteria. 

Investigations: 

  1. USG (KUB
  2. Urine routine examination and culture sensitivity 
  3. MCU (Micturating Cysto Urethrogram) 
  4. Urodynamic study 
  5. DTPA Scan 
  6. DMSA Scan 

Treatments 
The most common antibiotics used for treatment are:Amoxicillin and clavulanic acid, Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, Ofloxacin, Cefixime etc Sometimes hospitalization is necessary in younger than 6 months old, if: 

  • The Child has a high fever and not improving. 
  • The child is vomiting and having dehydration.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

1949 people found this helpful

Erythrasma (Skin Disorder) - Signs You Are Suffering From It!

Dr. Hardik Pitroda 89% (237 ratings)
MD - Dermatology , Venereology & Leprosy, MBBS
Dermatologist, Ahmedabad
Erythrasma (Skin Disorder) - Signs You Are Suffering From It!

Erythrasma is caused by a virus called bacterium Corynebacterium minutissimum. This type of infection is mostly found in the moist folds of the body such as the groin, knees, and armpits. They are visible in the form of reddish patches and are itchy in nature. Although Erythrasma doesn’t lead to anything serious, they have a tendency to spread, if not treated in early stages.

Causes of Erythrasma
Erythrasma often occurs to people who live in shabby conditions and do not maintain good hygiene. People living in the tropical region have a tendency to get this infection too. Some medical conditions that lead to this disease are diabetes, obesity, etc. Even low immunity and hyperhidrosis is known to cause this sort of infection.

Common symptoms of Erythrasma
Erythrasma shows unmistakable symptoms. It looks like a patch of pink to red skin with a well-defined border. With passing time, the coloration turns from reddish to brownish in color. The skin outside the patch or border is normal. This being said, if proper medication is not taken on time, this might spread and affect the healthy skin. Some other symptoms include:

  1. Mild to heavy itching in the affected area.
  2. Scaly patches in the affected area.
  3. The patches often look like typical ringworm infections
  4. A burning sensation in the affected area (especially, if the affected area is groin)

Diagnosis of Erythrasma
While this infection is one of the easiest to identify by any dermatologist, a doctor might prescribe the scraping culture test to be absolutely sure of the diagnosis. A wood’s lamp test can also be performed in order to diagnose the infection. This is a test in which a doctor passes the UV rays of the lamp on the infected area only to find a coral red coloration.

Treatment for Erythrasma
Doctors mostly suggest the intake of antibiotics such as erythromycin to kill the bacterial infection. Ointments containing imidazole and fusidic acid are also prescribed for controlling the infection. Drugs of antibacterial origin such as Clarithromycin and Erythromycin are prescribed depending on the severity of the infection and patient’s general health. A patient with a surgical wound and low immunity might develop some minor complications. It is strongly suggested to refrain from over the counter medicines for patients with this medical complication.

How to prevent Erythrasma?
Some common tips to stay away from bacterial infections such as these include the following:

  1. To ensure the folds of your skin is moist free
  2. Wearing cotton clothes in summer and avoiding tight fitting clothes
  3. Keeping basic hygiene intact such as wearing clean clothes, taking bath twice a day etc
  4. Sticking to a healthy diet and following a workout plan

    If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a dermatologist.

3031 people found this helpful

Tips to Treat Herpes Zoster!

Dr. Jyoti Singh 91% (1202 ratings)
BHMS, MA Psychology & Traning Counselling
Homeopathy Doctor, Delhi
Tips to Treat Herpes Zoster!


What is herpes zoster?

Herpes zoster also known as shingles is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus which produces painful rash. Varicella-zoster virus also causes chickenpox. Once you are infected with the virus it remains dormant in the body near the spinal cord and brain and may reactivate anytime in life and produce shingles. Shingles is a very painful condition.

Location: although shingles may appear anywhere in the body but they usually appear as a single line of blisters either on the left or right side of the trunk of the body.

Risk factors

Weak immune system: certain diseases which weaken the immune system (hiv/aids, cancer) make you more prone to develop shingles.

Being 60 or older: shingles is seen in older people more

Cancer treatment: compromises the immune system thus predispose to development of shingles

Steroids: also increase the risk of development of shingles

Complications

Common complication of herpes zoster is infections with acute pain.

Postherpetic neuralgia:- is a condition commonly seen as a complication of shingles. The blisters get cleared but the pain continues long after the blisters have healed.

Vision loss:- if herpes developes around the eys then it causes painful infection developes which can affect the vision.

Skin infection:- the blisters should be treated properly

Neurological problem:- herpes zoster can cause an inflammation of the brain, facial paralysis, or hearing or balance problems.

Symptoms and causes

Symptoms:-

  • The first symptom of shingles is localized pricking, burning pain with itching which developes days before appearance of the rash.
  • After few days fluid filled red blisters appear on the site of pain as a stripe of blisters on either side of the body.
  • The typical feature of the rash is that it would not cross the midline of the body and would stay on one side only
  • The blisters may burst and crust forms at the site.
  • There is sensitivity to touch.
  • In few cases the pain and rashes can be accompanied by fever, headache and fatigue.
  • There could be sensitivity to light if the rash is near eye.

Causes:-

Herpes zoster is caused by varicella-zoster virus which also causes chickenpox. Once you are infected with chickenpox the virus stays dormant in the body and may reactivate anytime thus producing shingles.

Diagnosis and treatment

Diagnosis:-

Herpes zoster diagnosed with a physical examination of rashes and blisters. Sometimes doctor may also take a tissue scraping or culture of the blisters for laboratory examination.

Treatment:-

Treatment for herpes zoster is antiviral drugs, anti-inflammatory drugs, narcotic medications creams, gels but these treatments are not permanent and safe. Thus homeopathic treatment is the best treatment for herpes zoster.

Management

  • Take varicella vaccine and varicella-zoster vaccine.
  • Take healthy foods.
  • Maintain hygiene.
  • Don't get in contact with person having the rash.
  • Warm applications might help with pain

Homeopathic management

There are medicines like arsenic album, rhus tox, arsenic album, calc carb, causticum, graphites, hepar sulph, silicea, sulphur, variolinum, mezereum, etc. But medicine depends on the presentation of the case and should never be taken without consulting a registered homeopath. Homeopathy has permanent cure for herpes zoster.

Do’s and don’ts

Do’s:-

  • Take vaccinations.
  • Take healthy foods.
  • Maintain hygiene

Don’ts:-

  • Don't touch or get in contact with person having the infection.
2 people found this helpful

5 Signs of Hallucinations!

Dr. Safiya M S 88% (27 ratings)
MS - Counselling and Psychotherapy, Diploma in Psychological Medicine , MBBS
Psychiatrist, Bangalore
5 Signs of Hallucinations!

Serious mental disorders and side effects to varied medicines may cause hallucinations in many individuals. Psychosis and Schizophrenia are the most commonly known causes that may cause this condition. Hallucinations are sensations and feelings that may appear as real to the patient, convincing him or her of the occurrence of things that are not really happening in reality. Hearing voices, seeing people, and experiencing things that no one else can, are some of the ways in which hallucinations work.

Let us find out the varied signs and symptoms of this condition.

  1. Hearing voices: One of the most common signs of hallucinations includes hearing voices. You may hear voices from people who cannot be seen or heard by other people around you. In such cases, you may have the distinct feeling of hearing these voices from within or from a source outside your own mind and body. In many cases, you may feel like these voices are trying to talk to you or give you a certain message. Ringing of the ears on a persistent basis may also be experienced in such cases.

  2. Visual hallucinations: These hallucinations will make the patient see things. In such cases, the patient may be witness to a scene that cannot be seen by anyone else – a scene that may not be happening in reality. In visual hallucinations, the patient may also see people that other people in the room or the area cannot see. The patient may also see objects and other creatures like insects crawling across his or her hand, and may react with fear or anxiety, when in reality, no such scene may be happening. These kind of hallucinations also cause occipital seizures where the patient will see spots, shapes and rings of brightly coloured lights that may be coming towards him or her, or even encircle him or her.

  3. Feeling things: These kinds of hallucinations will make the patient feel things that may not really be happening. For example, these hallucinations will make the patient feel hot during winters or feel a blast of air even when there has been none.

  4. Taste hallucinations: In these hallucinations, the patient may get a salty taste from sweet food, or vice versa. These hallucinations make the patient imagine that he or she tastes a certain flavor when in reality, this may not be true. These are also called gustatory hallucination.

  5. Olfactory hallucinations: These hallucinations have to do with odd smells that the patient may get a whiff of. In these hallucinations, the patient imagines certain smells like burning, or other odours. Patients may also feel that their own bodies are letting out certain odours which may not be the actual case.  

Delusion vs. Hallucination

A delusion is a false belief based on incorrect inference about external reality that is firmly sustained despite what almost everybody else believes and despite what constitutes incontrovertible and obvious proof or evidence to the contrary. The belief is not one ordinarily accepted by other members of the person's culture or subculture (e.g., it is not an article of religious faith).

A hallucination occurs when environmental, emotional, or physical factors such as stress, medication, extreme fatigue, or mental illness cause the mechanism within the brain that helps to distinguish conscious perceptions from internal, memory-based perceptions to misfire. As a result, hallucinations occur during periods of consciousness. They can appear in the form of visions, voices or sounds, tactile feelings (known as haptic hallucinations), smells, or tastes.

Delusions are a common symptom of several mood and personality-related mental illnesses, including schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, shared psychotic disorder, major depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder. They are also the major feature of delusional disorder. Individuals with delusional disorder suffer from long-term, complex delusions that fall into one of six categories: persecutory, grandiose, jealousy, erotomanic, somatic, or mixed. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a Psychiatrist.

3751 people found this helpful

Five Most Common Problems That People Face In Their Sex Life!

Dr. Pahun 94% (30726 ratings)
Bachelor of Ayurveda, Medicine and Surgery (BAMS)
Sexologist, Jaipur
Five Most Common Problems That People Face In Their Sex Life!

Discrepancy in desire between partners is the most common type of issue that becomes the first reason for an unhealthy sex life. Generally with females the same could be because of four reasons as follows:

  • Fatigue or Stress
  • Physical Issue
  • A Severe Lifestyle Change
  • Financial Stress

Though as per the experts the sexual drive is a result of how attracted you find yourself towards your partner.

Here are top 5 reasons why your sex life can be disturbed:

  • Having “No time for Sex”: The biggest reason behind a hampered sex life could be having no time for sex. Generally people with busy lives claim that they love each other a lot, on the other hand they do accept they hardly get time to get intimate. Actually the reason behind the same is the lack of desire because of mental stress which they undergo for the whole day. Other than that erectile dysfunction, painful intercourse, negative body image, premature ejaculation and interpersonal conflict could be some of the other reasons which can create issues. The solution for the same is to confront the situation and discuss the problem openly with your partner.
  • Medical Illness: One of the most common problems is low desire. But there are many ways to approach the problem. This is exceptionally disappointing for the two patients and clinicians on the grounds that there is no 'little blue pill' for want. The issue of low want regularly sits comfortable crossing point between brain, body and relationship, and this isn't generally simple to hear in our convenient solution culture.  In my opinion one should definitely sit back and let the body undergo the repairing part all by itself.
  • Erectile Difficulty: The most common sexual issue that generally people face is erectile difficulty. In the event that there is no restorative premise or commitment to the erectile trouble, for the most part uneasiness is meddling with the man's ability to end up and stay excited. On the off chance that the man is in a conferred relationship, treatment for this as a rule includes having the man and his accomplice complete a graduated arrangement of touching activities, which are intended to help men physically interface with their accomplices with no strain to perform sexually.
  • Decreased sex-drive: The most serious issue which a couple can confront is either troubled with the decreased sex-drive in their sexual recurrence or the way that they have ceased all sexual movement. The arrangement isn't a one-assess fits-all model, in light of the way that there are different reasons that couples pertain from taking part in sexual relations can be erectile brokenness, severe pain in the midst of intercourse, weakness with the sexual timetable, loss of orgasm on account of sickness, pharmaceuticals or stress in the relationship. 
  • Lack of Emotional Intimacy: Sex is not at all centered to have intercourse rather; the main factor which drives sex is love and intimacy. People generally don’t know how to make love to each other. There had been many chances wherein the partners are too quick to enjoy the feeling of intercourse, and sometimes it becomes so slow that one actually gets irritated because of the same. In both the cases the solution is to get attached to the emotional sensitivity of your partner. In certain cases Dr.s do advise such couples to undergo certain sexual touch exercises which help them perform better between the sheets.
11134 people found this helpful

Hallucinations - 5 Most Common Signs You Must Not Ignore!

MBBS, MD - Psychiatry, CE (New York)
Psychiatrist, Delhi
Hallucinations - 5 Most Common Signs You Must Not Ignore!

Serious mental disorders and side effects to varied medicines may cause hallucinations in many individuals. Psychosis and Schizophrenia are the most commonly known causes that may cause this condition. Hallucinations are sensations and feelings that may appear as real to the patient, convincing him or her of the occurrence of things that are not really happening in reality. Hearing voices, seeing people, and experiencing things that no one else can, are some of the ways in which hallucinations work.

Let us find out the varied signs and symptoms of this condition.

  1. Hearing Voices: One of the most common signs of hallucinations includes hearing voices. You may hear voices from people who cannot be seen or heard by other people around you. In such cases, you may have the distinct feeling of hearing these voices from within or from a source outside your own mind and body. In many cases, you may feel like these voices are trying to talk to you or give you a certain message. Ringing of the ears on a persistent basis may also be experienced in such cases.

  2. Visual Hallucinations: These hallucinations will make the patient see things. In such cases, the patient may be witness to a scene that cannot be seen by anyone else – a scene that may not be happening in reality. In visual hallucinations, the patient may also see people that other people in the room or the area cannot see. The patient may also see objects and other creatures like insects crawling across his or her hand, and may react with fear or anxiety, when in reality, no such scene may be happening. These kind of hallucinations also cause occipital seizures where the patient will see spots, shapes and rings of brightly coloured lights that may be coming towards him or her, or even encircle him or her.

  3. Feeling Things: These kinds of hallucinations will make the patient feel things that may not really be happening. For example, these hallucinations will make the patient feel hot during winters or feel a blast of air even when there has been none.

  4. Taste Hallucinations: In these hallucinations, the patient may get a salty taste from sweet food, or vice versa. These hallucinations make the patient imagine that he or she tastes a certain flavor when in reality, this may not be true. These are also called gustatory hallucination.

  5. Olfactory Hallucinations: These hallucinations have to do with odd smells that the patient may get a whiff of. In these hallucinations, the patient imagines certain smells like burning, or other odours. Patients may also feel that their own bodies are letting out certain odours which may not be the actual case.  

Delusion vs. Hallucination

A delusion is a false belief based on incorrect inference about external reality that is firmly sustained despite what almost everybody else believes and despite what constitutes incontrovertible and obvious proof or evidence to the contrary. The belief is not one ordinarily accepted by other members of the person's culture or subculture (e.g., it is not an article of religious faith).

A hallucination occurs when environmental, emotional, or physical factors such as stress, medication, extreme fatigue, or mental illness cause the mechanism within the brain that helps to distinguish conscious perceptions from internal, memory-based perceptions to misfire. As a result, hallucinations occur during periods of consciousness. They can appear in the form of visions, voices or sounds, tactile feelings (known as haptic hallucinations), smells, or tastes.

Delusions are a common symptom of several mood and personality-related mental illnesses, including schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, shared psychotic disorder, major depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder. They are also the major feature of delusional disorder. Individuals with delusional disorder suffer from long-term, complex delusions that fall into one of six categories: persecutory, grandiose, jealousy, erotomanic, somatic, or mixed.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

3869 people found this helpful