During or shortly after birth, a baby may develop birthmarks on his or her skin. There are different
types of birthmarks for boys and girls, including those with flat, raised, irregular, and regular
borders and those coloured tan, brown, black, or pale blue to red, pink, or purple. There is no need
to worry about birthmarks as most are harmless and even disappear on their own. However, there
are times when birthmarks are connected to other health issues. The cause of most birthmarks
remains unknown. It is impossible to prevent them, nor can anything has been done during
pregnancy cause them. A lot of them are not caused by the trauma of childbirth. There may be a
genetic cause for some kinds, but none has been identified.
Macular stains. In general, there are two types of birthmarks, each with a different underlying
cause: Vascular birthmarks result from abnormal blood vessel formation. Either there are too many,
or they are more significant than average. Pigmented Birthmarks: An overgrowth of cells that create
pigments (colours) in the skin results in pigmented birthmarks. Birthmarks of the blood vessels
commonly found in vascular (blood vessel) include macular stains, haemangiomas, and port-wine
stains. The most common vascular birthmarks are salmon patches, angel kisses, and stork bites.
Typically, macular lesions appear on the back of the neck, the eyelids or forehead, the upper lip or
nose, or on the back of the head. Macular lesions are more apparent when the baby is crying. Most
children lose them on their own when they are between one and two years old, although some stay
until adulthood.
In most cases, macular stains disappear on their own without any treatment. Those at the back of
the neck may last a lot longer, but they are hardly noticeable. Many other vascular birthmarks can
be treated. Hemangiomas and port-wine stains are disfiguring and upsetting for children. Most
small hemangiomas can be ignored because they shrink back into themselves by ten years.
Different types of medicine can be used to treat more significant or more visible hemangiomas.
Some can be injected directly into a vein; others can be taken by mouth (oral). Children with port-
wine stains can be treated with lasers. With several pulsed-dye laser treatments, some stains
become lighter. Other stains may reappear and need to be treated again. It is common for laser
treatment to begin during early childhood when the blood vessels and stains are smaller. Treatment
of head and neck marks is particularly successful. Port-wine stains can also be less noticeable with
unique makeup.
Pigmented birthmarks are usually left alone except for congenital moles and sometimes café-au-lait
spots. In the case of large or giant congenital nevi, surgeons can remove them with surgery, though
large ones may be more challenging to remove. Café-au-lait spots can be removed by laser
treatment, but they often return.
Concept and Etiology: How does the disease affect the musculoskeletal and integumentary system
in particular? How does it deviate from the definition of health discussed in Module One?
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attach
healthy cells, causing inflammation. RA typically effects the joints, connective tissues, tendons and
even the bones.
RA deviates from health because it can be very pain, cause deformities and can even lead to other
diseases. “Studies have found an increased risk of bone loss and fracture in individuals with
Rheumatoid Arthritis. People with Rheumatoid Arthritis are at increased risk for osteoporosis” (NIH,
2018).
Classification:
Remission
When there is no visible signs or symptoms.
Exacerbation
Intense pain and stiffness
Clinical Manifestations:
Signs
Fever
Tender, warm swollen joints, and digitals
Digital deformities
Symptoms
Fatigue
Loss of appetite
Joint Stiffness
Pain
(mayo clinic, 2021)
Diagnostic Tests:
Joint MRI
Joint Ultrasound
Joint X-rays
Physical Examinations
Serum Rheumatoid Factor Test
“Measures the amount of Rheumatoid factor in your blood” (mayo clinic, 2021)
Serum Anticyclic Citrullinated Peptide Antibodies Test
“Measures CCP antibodies in the blood. CCP antibodies are proteins that are part of an immune
system attach on healthy tissues and cells, such as the joints” (Bandoim, 2021)
NIH. (2018). Osteoporosis. https://www.bones.nih.gov/health-info/bone/osteoporosis/conditions-
behaviors/osteoporosis-ra
Mayo Clinic. (2021). Signs and Symptoms. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-
conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20353648
Mayo Clinic. (2021). Serum Rheumatoid Factor Test. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-
procedures/rheumatoid-factor/about/pac-20384800
(Bandoim, 2021). Serum Anticyclic Citrullinated Peptide Antibodies Test.
https://www.verywellhealth.com/ccp-antibody-test-uses-side-effects-procedure-results-5089760
Kinsler, V. A., & Larue, L. (2018). The patterns of birthmarks suggest a novel population of
melanocyte precursors arising around the time of gastrulation. Pigment cell & melanoma research,
31(1), 95-109.
Saleh, Z. M. M., Mahmood, Y. A., & Aldeen, B. D. (2019). Assessment of the Effect of Some Social
Factors on the Occurrence of Birth Marks in Neonates Attending Salahaldeen General Hospital. The
Medical Journal of Tikrit University, 25(2).
