ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY
Doctors specialising in allergy and immunology treat adults and pediatric patients suffering due to weak immune systems. They are prone to respiratory tract illnesses. Patients are treated for disorders such as immune deficiencies, asthma, food and drug allergies, lung diseases, etc. 

Those wishing to pursue a specialisation in allergy and immunology can seek opportunities in: 

  • Education industry
  • R&D 
  •  Private medical practice.

ANESTHESIOLOGY
Anesthesiology is the medical branch specialising in pain relief for patients before surgery, whilst, and post-surgery.

According to the American Board of Anesthesiology, the following subspecialties are under its jurisdiction:

  •  Critical care medicine
  • Hospice and palliative care
  • Pain medicine
  • Pediatric anesthesiology
  • Sleep medicine

ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder)

WHAT IS ADHD?

ADHD is a chronic condition that affects millions of children and often persists into adulthood. The common issues ADHD patients experience are – difficulty sustaining attention, hyperactivity and impulsive behaviour. It can be one or combination of such problems that is considered as ADHD.

CAUSES OF ADHD

The exact cause of ADHD is unclear. Many factors have been implicated in its development.

  • Genetic inheritance
  • Maternal drug use, alcohol use, smoking during pregnancy and premature birth are other possible risk factors.

SYMPTOM CHECKER

In some children, signs and symptoms are noticeable as early as age 2 or 3 Signs and symptoms may include:

  • Difficulty paying attention
  • Frequently daydreaming
  • Difficulty following through on instructions
  • Difficulty organizing tasks or activities
  • Frequently forgets or loses needed items
  • Frequently fails to finish schoolwork, chores or other tasks
  • Easily distracted
  • Frequently fidgets or squirms
  • Difficulty remaining seated and seemingly in constant motion
  • Excessively talkative
  • Frequently interrupts or intrudes

DIAGNOSIS

There is no specific diagnosis for ADHD. Doctor examines the patient, takes their medical history, and gathers details in counselling sessions from family or caretakers. Doctors may even talk to their teachers in the school to know about behavioural patterns. To be diagnosed, your child must meet the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association. A child diagnosed with ADHD may be given a more specific diagnosis (a subtype), such as

  • Predominantly inattentive type ADHD,
  • Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type ADHD,
  • Combined type ADHD.

TREATMENT

Standard treatments for ADHD include medications, education, training and counselling. Many of the symptoms of ADHD can be relieved by these treatments and counselling, but it is not completely curable. It may take some time to determine what works best for your child and your family.
Stimulant medications

These are most commonly prescribed medications for ADHD .

  • methylphenidate (Concerta, Metadate, Ritalin, others)
  • dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine),
  • dextroamphetamine-amphetamine (Adderall XR)
  • lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse).

The drugs shouldn’t be taken if your child has any signs or symptoms of a heart condition or heart disease runs in the family.
Other medications

  • Atomoxetine (Strattera)
  • antidepressants (bupropion, Wellbutrin, others)
  • desipramine (Norpramin).
  • Clonidine (Catapres)
  • guanfacine (Intuniv, Tenex) Atomoxetine

Behaviour therapy and counselling

LIFESTYLE

To help reduce problems or complications:

  • Provide structure: means arranging things so that a child’s life is as predictable, calm and organized as possible. Be consistent, set limits and have clear consequences for your child’s behaviour.
  • Follow a daily routine : that include such things as bedtime, morning time, mealtime, simple chores and TV.
  • Avoid distraction. When talking with your child, don’t multitask. Make eye contact when giving instructions.

 

 

ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)

WHAT IS AMYPTROPIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS?

ALS is a disease related to neurological system, which causes muscle weakness and impacts physical function of the patient.
ALS is generally called Lou Gehrig’s disease, because this famous baseball player was diagnosed with it. Patients with ALS suffer with motor neuron disorder, which causes nerve cells to break down slowly and eventually causes death.

CAUSES OF ALS

  • The most commonly affected age group 40 and 60.
  • In most cases, doctors don’t know why ALS occurs. In about 5 to 10 percent of cases it’s inherited. Among people with inherited (familial) ALS, their children have a 50-50 chance of developing the disease
  • Smoking cigarettes increases a person’s risk of ALS.
  • Exposure to lead may increase risk of the disease.

SYMPTOM CHECKER

ALS often begins with muscle twitching and weakness in an arm or leg, or sometimes with the slurring of speech. Early signs and symptoms include:

  • Difficulty walking, tripping or difficulty doing your normal daily activities
  • Weakness in your leg, feet or ankles
  • Hand weakness or clumsiness
  • Slurring of speech or trouble swallowing
  • Muscle cramps and twitching in your arms, shoulders and tongue
  • Difficulty holding your head up or keeping a good posture.

DIAGNOSIS

ALS is difficult to diagnose early because it can appear similar to several other neurological disorders. A diagnosis is often made after ruling out other possible conditions.

  • Electromyogram (EMG) and nerve conduction study: to evaluate the electrical activity of muscles and nerves.
  • Imaging tests may be used to look for brain and spinal cord abnormalities.
  • Blood and urine samples
  • Sample of spinal fluid is taken for analysis.

TREATMENT

  • No treatment can reverse the course of ALS.
  • Treatment focuses on slowing the progression of symptoms, preventing complications and maintaining comfort.
  • Devices that assist with breathing may become necessary at some point.
  • Nutritional needs also are monitored.

Medications

Riluzole (Rilutek) is the only medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment of ALS. It may slow the disease’s progression in some people

Therapy

  • Physical therapy can address pain, walking, mobility, bracing and equipment needs.
  • Low-impact exercises and stretching exercises.
  • Occupational therapy can help in the performance of daily activities
  • Speech therapy to help maintain speech and to assist in alternative methods of communication.

DERMATOLOGY

Dermatology is a medical branch that specialises in the treatment of skin including infections, inflammatory diseases, skin cancer, tumours,etc. A physician specialising in dermatology is called a Dermatologist. Treatment for adults and pediatric patients are for diseases related to the skin, nails, hair and surrounding mucous membranes.

Dermatologists also conduct dermatological surgeries and skin biopsies.

Scope of this specialisation

Subspecialties within the field of dermatology include:

  • Pediatric dermatology
  • Procedural dermatology
  • Dermatopathology

DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY

Diagnostic Radiology is the diagnosis and treatment of patients using x-rays, sound waves, ultrasounds, radioactive substances and magnetic resonance images(MRIs).

Physicians in this field can further pursue a subspeciality in:

  • Abdominal radiology
  • Breast imaging
  • Cardiothoracic radiology
  • Cardiovascular radiology
  • Chest radiology
  • Emergency radiology
  • Endovascular surgical neuroradiology
  • Gastrointestinal radiology
  • Genitourinary radiology
  • Head and neck radiology
  • Interventional radiology
  • Musculoskeletal radiology
  • Neuroradiology
  • Nuclear radiology
  • Pediatric radiology
  • Radiation oncology
  • Vascular and interventional radiology

EMERGENCY MEDICINE
Emergency medicine is a field of medicine that specialises in providing care for adult and pediatric patients, especially in emergencies. Specialists are trained to act on quick decisions which are useful in urgent situations to prevent further injury. Patients are directed to a pre-hospital setting through a structured organisation of medical technicians who assist them when they arrive at the emergency ward. 

Further subspecialties in this field include:

  • Anesthesiology critical care medicine
  • Emergency medical services
  • Hospice and palliative medicine
  • Internal medicine / Critical care medicine
  • Medical toxicology
  • Pain medicine
  • Pediatric emergency medicine
  • Sports medicine
  • Undersea and hyperbaric medicine

FAMILY MEDICINE
Family medicine is a medical speciality that focuses on a particular function of the body or an organ, unlike most other specialities. Treatment is amplified by caring for the patient as a whole. Family medicine involves treatment for patients of all ages. Specialists are substantially educated to treat most common illnesses and provide all-inclusive care.

Further specialities in this field include:

  • Adolescent medicine
  • Geriatric medicine
  • Hospice and palliative medicine
  • Pain medicine
  • Sleep medicine
  • Sports medicine

INTERNAL MEDICINE
Treatment of diseases concerning the heart, kidneys, joints, blood, digestive, respiratory and vascular systems of adolescent, young, middle-aged and elderly cases is called Internal Medicine. Physicians with this speciality are primed to direct disease prevention, substance abuse prevention, health & wellness treatment and building better mental health for patients.

A doctor with specialisation in internal medicine is called an internist.

Subspecialties under this field include:

  • Advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Clinical cardiac electrophysiology
  • Critical care medicine
  • Endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism
  • Gastroenterology
  • Geriatric medicine
  • Hematology
  • Hematology and oncology
  • Infectious disease
  • Internal medicine
  • Interventional cardiology
  • Nephrology
  • Oncology
  • Pediatric internal medicine
  • Pulmonary disease
  • Pulmonary disease and critical care medicine
  • Rheumatology
  • Sleep medicine
  • Sports medicine
  • Transplant hepatology

MEDICAL GENETICS
Medical genetics is a field in medicine that expertise in the treatment of genetic defects and disorders. A doctor who specialises in this field is known as a medical geneticist. Patient treatment includes a diagnosis of symptoms causing genetic disorders and how to cope with it. A geneticist’s responsibility includes research & development and radiologic, biochemical and cytogenetic testing.

Patients are treated through specialised counselling and treatment.

Subspecialties in this field include:

  • Biochemical genetics
  • Clinical cytogenetics
  • Clinical genetics
  • Molecular genetic pathology

NEUROLOGY
Neurology is a branch of medicine that deals with the nervous system. Neurologist expertise in the treatment of diseases relating to the nerves, spinal cord, brain, blood vessels, muscles, peripheral nerves and the autonomic nervous system.

Neurology is mostly consultatory, as patients are generally diagnosed after suffering from strokes, spinal cord diseases, seizures and Alzheimer’s disease. 

Subspecialties in this field include:

  • Brain injury medicine
  • Child neurology
  • Clinical neurophysiology
  • Endovascular surgical neuroradiology
  • Hospice and palliative medicine
  • Neurodevelopmental disabilities
  • Neuromuscular medicine
  • Pain medicine
  • Sleep medicine
  • Vascular neurology

NUCLEAR MEDICINE
Nuclear Medicine is a branch of medicine that deals with the utilisation of radioactive materials to diagnose and treat illnesses. Techniques such as scintigraphy are used where a physician examines images of an organ undergoing treatment to study few diseases. Radiopharmaceuticals are used for treating conditions such as thyroid cancer, bone cancer, hyperthyroidism and tumours. A medical professional who practices nuclear medicine is called a nuclear radiologist or nuclear medicine radiologist.

OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY

Obstetrics and Gynecology(OB/GYN) are similar fields of medicine that emphasise on the female reproductive system and diseases associated with it. Specialists are honed towards the treatment of pregnant women, oncology, surgery, gynecologic care and primary healthcare and wellness for women.

Specialists in the field of obstetrics are called obstetricians and those pursuing gynaecology are called gynaecologists.

Subspecialties within these fields include:

  • Female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery
  • Gynecologic oncology
  • Maternal-fetal medicine
  • Reproductive endocrinologists and infertility

OPHTHALMOLOGY

Ophthalmology is a branch of medicine dealing with extensive medical care and surgical procedures of the eyes. An ophthalmologist treats patients who are experiencing loss of vision and several other eye-related disorders. Doctors may treat diabetic retinopathy, strabismus and perform cataract or corneal transplantation surgeries.

Subspecialties in this field include:

  • Anterior segment/cornea ophthalmology
  • Glaucoma ophthalmology
  • Neuro-ophthalmology
  • Ocular oncology
  • Oculoplastics/orbit
  • Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
  • Retina/uveitis
  • Strabismus/pediatric ophthalmology

PATHOLOGY

Pathology is the study of medicine involving the analysis of the nature and cause of illnesses by studying bodily fluid, cell and tissue samples. It is used to foresee the actual development of an ailment. A pathologist will study biological samples through microscopic examinations and lab tests. Their expertise involves examining tissues of a body to understand its mechanisms of development and the result of its change. For example, pathological procedures can be used to determine whether a body requires an organ transplant or not. Another prominent implementation of this medical speciality is determining the health of a fetus by analysing the blood of a pregnant woman. Pathology is an important field in today’s era of medical research.

Subspecialties of this field include:

  • Anatomical pathology
  • Blood banking and transfusion medicine
  • Chemical pathology
  • Clinical pathology
  • Cytopathology
  • Forensic pathology
  • Genetic pathology
  • Hematology
  • Immunopathology
  • Medical microbiology
  • Molecular pathology
  • Neuropathology
  • Pediatric pathology

PEDIATRICS

Pediatrics is a medical speciality that focuses on treating infants, children and adolescents. A physician specializing in pediatrics is called a pediatrician.

Pediatricians identify commonly occurring diseases in childhood such as asthma, allergies, infections and croup. They also practice preventive medicine.

Pediatrics is a wide-ranging branch of medicine with many sub-specialities including:

  • Adolescent medicine
  • Child abuse pediatrics
  • Developmental-behavioral pediatrics
  • Neonatal-perinatal medicine
  • Pediatric cardiology
  • Pediatric critical care medicine
  • Pediatric endocrinology
  • Pediatric gastroenterology
  • Pediatric hematology-oncology
  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Pediatric nephrology
  • Pediatric pulmonology
  • Pediatric rheumatology
  • Pediatric sports medicine
  • Pediatric transplant hepatology

 

PHYSICAL MEDICINE & REHABILITATION

Physical medicine and rehabilitation is the study of medicine used for treating patients with maladies relating to the brain, spinal cord, nerves, joints, bones, ligaments, muscles and tendons. There is no age barrier and treatment can be applied for patients of all ages. Specialists in this field are called physiatrists.

Physical medicine and rehabilitation aim to enhance the quality of life and reinstate the functional ability of patients rather than simply cure the illness. Physiatrists create patient-centric treatment plans for conditions including brain and spinal cord injuries, musculoskeletal rehabilitation, multiple sclerosis and pediatric rehabilitation.

Subspecialties in this field include:

  • Brain injury medicine
  • Hospice and palliative medicine
  • Neuromuscular medicine
  • Pain medicine
  • Pediatric rehabilitation medicine
  • Spinal cord injury medicine
  • Sports medicine

 

PREVENTIVE MEDICINE

Preventive medicine is a branch of medicine that focuses on precautionary methods of healthcare for prevention of diseases. Besides clinical practices, this field also covers the study of epidemiology, environmental and occupational medicine and constituents of biostatistics. Preventive medicine is used to evaluate and manage healthcare organizations and services. This proactive medical speciality contends to understand the cause of disease and injury in populations by combining social, economic, behavioral sciences and the multidisciplinary constituents of medicine.

Further specialities under this field include:

  • Aerospace medicine
  • Medical toxicology
  • Occupational medicine
  • Public health medicine

PSYCHIATRY

Psychiatry is a field of medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of mental health. A psychiatrist conducts physical and psychological tests to understand the connection between genetics, the emotional response of a person and mental illness. Specialists treat patients that show dysfunctional behavior that is correlated to mental and physical consequences. 

Subspecialties of psychiatry include:

  • Addiction psychiatry
  • Administrative psychiatry
  • Child and adolescent psychiatry
  • Community psychiatry
  • Consultation/liaison psychiatry
  • Emergency psychiatry
  • Forensic psychiatry
  • Geriatric psychiatry
  • Mental retardation psychiatry
  • Military psychiatry
  • Pain medicine
  • Psychiatric research
  • Psychosomatic medicine

RADIATION ONCOLOGY

Radiation oncology is the treatment of cancer through the use of radiation. A radiation oncologist specialises in focusing on active radiation doses in minuscule quantities in certain areas to treat and prevent the growth of cancer cells in the body. Cancer patients have prescribed treatment either for curing or reducing the pain caused by the ailment while monitoring its effects on the body.

Subspecialties under radiation oncology include:

  • Hospice and palliative medicine
  • Pain medicine

SURGERY

Surgery is a branch of medicine that specialises in the use of medical instruments to perform operational procedures for treating certain conditions or a body part to repair its functionality. General surgery covers a huge range of surgeries of different levels of complexities such as splenectomies, appendectomies, etc. A surgeon receives training and knowledge on physiology, the anatomy of human bodies, intensive care and wound healing.

According to the American College of Surgeons & Association of American Medical Colleges, subspecialties in this field include:

  • Colon and rectal surgery
  • General surgery

o Surgical critical care

  • Gynecologic oncology
  • Plastic surgery

o Craniofacial surgery

o Hand surgery

  • Neurological surgery

o Endovascular surgical neuroradiology

  • Ophthalmic surgery
  • Oral and maxillofacial surgery
  • Orthopaedic surgery

o Adult reconstructive orthopaedics

o Foot and ankle orthopaedics

o Musculoskeletal oncology

o Orthopaedic sports medicine

o Orthopaedic surgery of the spine

o Orthopaedic trauma

o Pediatric orthopaedics

  • Otolaryngology

o Pediatric otolaryngology

  • Otology neurotology
  • Pediatric surgery

o Neonatal

o Prenatal

o Trauma

o Pediatric oncology

  • Thoracic Surgery

o Congenital cardiac surgery

o Thoracic surgery-integrated

  • Vascular surgery

UROLOGY

Urology is a medical speciality that deals with medical and surgical treatment of the male and female urinary tract system including the urethra, kidney, ureters, bladder and the male reproductive organs.

A doctor specialising in urology is called a urologist who expertise in internal medicine, gynecology, pediatrics, surgery, etc

 

A urologist may pursue opportunities in the following subspecialties:

  • Pediatric urology
  • Urologic oncology
  • Renal transplant
  • Male infertility
  • Calculi
  • Female urology
  • Neurourology