Dr. Priscilla Filippo wrote a brief explanation of the most frequent diseases seen in the daily routine of a doctor’s office. The goal is to help you understand, in a simple way, some common conditions that affect the skin, the respiratory system, and the immune system.
Note: there are many other diseases that have not been listed.
Allergic rhinitis – Allergic rhinitis is an inflammation of the nose caused by allergies, usually triggered by dust, mites, pollen, mold, or animal dander. The most common symptoms are frequent sneezing, runny nose, stuffy nose, and itching in the nose and eyes. Although it is not a serious disease, it can cause great discomfort and impair sleep and quality of life.
Asthma – Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways that causes difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, and a feeling of tightness in the chest. Attacks can be triggered by allergies, respiratory infections, physical exercise, or climate changes. With medical supervision and proper treatment, most people can control the disease well.
Atopic dermatitis – Atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory skin disease that causes intense dryness, itching, and redness. It is more common in children but can also occur in adults. The itching can be intense and cause skin lesions due to scratching.
Allergic contact dermatitis – This dermatitis occurs when the skin meets a substance that causes an allergy, such as cosmetics, metals, perfumes, or cleaning products. The skin may become red, itchy, blistered, or peeling at the site of contact.
Hives – Hives are characterized by the appearance of reddish plaques on the skin that itch intensely and can change location throughout the day. These lesions resemble “welts” or “plaques.” It can be caused by allergies, infections, medications, or even stress.
Insect bite allergy – Some people experience exaggerated reactions after insect bites such as mosquitoes, bees, or ants. In addition to local swelling, intense redness, pain, and itching may occur. In rarer cases, the reaction may be generalized.
Drug allergy – Drug allergy occurs when the body reacts inappropriately to certain medications. Symptoms can range from rashes and itching on the skin to more serious reactions.
Food allergy – Food allergy occurs when the immune system reacts against certain foods, such as milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, or shellfish. Symptoms may include itching in the mouth, rashes on the skin, swelling, vomiting, or difficulty breathing.
Anaphylaxis – Anaphylaxis is a severe and potentially dangerous allergic reaction. It can occur after ingesting food, using medication, or insect bites. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, drop in blood pressure, swelling in the throat, and dizziness. It is a medical emergency.
Primary immunodeficiencies or inborn errors of immunity – Primary immunodeficiencies are diseases in which the immune system does not function correctly from birth, usually due to genetic causes. This causes the person to experience frequent or more severe infections than usual.
Secondary immunodeficiencies – In this case, the immune system is weakened due to other factors throughout life, such as certain diseases, medications, or medical treatments. This can also increase the risk of infections.
Recurrent candidiasis – Candidiasis is an infection caused by fungi of the Candida genus. When it occurs repeatedly, it may indicate changes in immunity, frequent use of antibiotics, or hormonal imbalances.
Recurrent herpes simplex – Herpes is a viral infection that causes small, painful blisters on the skin or lips. After the first infection, the virus remains in the body and can reactivate during times of stress, fever, or decreased immunity.
Acne – Acne is a very common skin disease, mainly in adolescence, characterized by pimples, blackheads, and inflammation of the skin. It can occur on the face, back, and chest.
Rosacea – Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that causes redness on the face, especially on the cheeks and nose. In some cases, it can also cause small pimples and a burning sensation.
Melasma – Melasma is characterized by the appearance of dark spots on the skin, mainly on the face. It is often related to sun exposure, hormonal factors, and genetic predisposition.
Seborrheic dermatitis – It is an inflammation of the skin that causes flaking and redness, mainly on the scalp, eyebrows, and around the nose. It is popularly known as “dandruff”.
Psoriasis – Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that causes reddish plaques covered by whitish scales. It can appear on various parts of the body and usually progresses in phases. Furunculosis – Furunculosis occurs when multiple boils appear, which are deep skin infections caused by bacteria. These lesions are painful and usually contain pus.
Folliculitis – Folliculitis is an inflammation of the hair follicle, the structure from which hair grows. It causes small red or pus-filled bumps on the skin and can occur after hair removal, friction, or infection.
Dermatophytosis – Dermatophytosis is a fungal infection that affects the skin, hair, or nails, popularly known as ringworm. It can cause itching, circular spots, and scaling.
Onychomycosis – This is nail fungus. Nails may become thicker, yellowish, brittle, or deformed. Treatment is usually prolonged.
Alopecia areata – Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss in rounded areas of the scalp or other regions of the body.
Androgenetic alopecia – Known as baldness, it is a hereditary condition that leads to the progressive thinning of hair strands, being more common in men, but can also occur in women.
Telogen effluvium – Telogen effluvium is diffuse hair loss that occurs after situations such as intense stress, illness, surgery, childbirth, or hormonal changes.
Hidradenitis suppurativa – Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes painful nodules, inflammation, and abscesses, mainly in the armpits, groin, and genital area.
Skin cancer – Skin cancer occurs when there is abnormal growth of skin cells. It can appear as sores that do not heal, spots, or moles that change in appearance. Early diagnosis is essential for treatment and cure.
Attention!
This material is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical evaluation. If you experience persistent symptoms or have any questions, seek specialized medical attention.
