Tulehduksesta

Tulehduksesta is the Finnish term referring to inflammation, the body's response to injury or infection. In medicine, inflammation is a complex biological process that aims to contain damage, clear debris, and promote repair.

Inflammation may be acute or chronic. Acute inflammation develops rapidly and typically resolves within days, presenting with redness, warmth, swelling, pain, and sometimes reduced function. Chronic inflammation persists for weeks or months and can occur with ongoing infection, autoimmune disease, or continued exposure to irritants, potentially causing tissue damage.

Key mediators include histamine, cytokines, prostaglandins, and leukotrienes, released by immune cells such as neutrophils and macrophages. The final outcome may be resolution and healing or progression to fibrosis if the injury endures.

Diagnosis combines clinical signs with laboratory tests (for example CRP and ESR) and imaging when needed. Treatment focuses on the underlying cause and reducing inflammation, using NSAIDs or corticosteroids, and disease-modifying therapies for chronic inflammatory diseases; targeted biologic drugs may be employed in some conditions.

Prevention and management involve addressing risk factors through healthy lifestyle choices, vaccination where appropriate, and prompt treatment of infections to limit inflammatory responses.

Inflammation is central to many diseases, including arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, dermatitis, and asthma. Understanding the mechanisms of inflammation helps in diagnosing, monitoring, and treating these conditions.