The old glucose/insulin provocative testing can cause life-threatening symptoms and should not be used.Also of note is that potassium levels do not have to range outside of normal limits to cause serious, even life-threatening paralysis. These diseases are not the same as having a very low level of potassium (hypokalemia) or high potassium (hyperkalemia) and must not be treated as such. The total body store of potassium is usually normal; it is just in the wrong place. Treatment
Treatment of the periodic paralyses may include carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (such as acetazolamide, methazolamide or dichlorphenamide), taking supplemental oral potassium chloride and a potassium-sparing diuretic (for hypos) or avoiding potassium (for hypers), thiazide diuretics to increase the amount of potassium excreted by the kidneys (for hypers), and significant lifestyle changes including tightly controlled levels of exercise or activity. However, treatment should be tailored to the particular type of periodic paralysis.Treatment of periodic paralysis in Andersen-Tawil syndrome is similar to that for other types. However, pacemaker insertion or an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator may be required to control cardiac symptoms. Prognosis
While the disability can range from minor, occasional weakness to permanent muscle damage, inability to hold a normal job and use of a powerchair, most people function fairly well with drugs and lifestyle changes. References
Song, YW; Kim, SJ; Heo, TH; Kim, MH; Kim, JB (Dec 2012). "Normokalemic periodic paralysis is not a distinct disease". Muscle & Nerve. 46 (6): 908–913. doi:10.1002/mus.23441. PMID 22926674. S2CID 43821573. External links
NIH information page on periodic paralysis
Pneumocystosis is a fungal infection that most often presents as Pneumocystis pneumonia in people with HIV/AIDS or poor immunity. It usually causes cough, difficulty breathing and fever, and can lead to respiratory failure. Involvement outside the lungs is rare but, can occur as a disseminated type affecting lymph nodes, spleen, liver, bone marrow, eyes, kidneys, thyroid, gastrointestinal tract or other organs. If occurring in the skin, it usually presents as nodular growths in the ear canals or underarms.It is caused by Pneumocystis jirovecii, a fungus which is usually breathed in and found in the lungs of healthy people without causing disease, until the persons immune system becomes weakened.Diagnosis is by identifying the organism from a sample of fluid from affected lungs or a biopsy. Prevention in high risk people, and treatment in those affected is usually with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (co-trimoxazole).The prevalence is unknown. Less than 3% of cases do not involve the lungs. The first cases of pneumocystosis affecting lungs were described in premature infants in Europe following the Second World War. Signs and symptoms
Pneumocystosis is generally an infection in the lungs. Involvement outside the lungs is rare but, can occur as a disseminated type affecting lymph nodes, bone marrow, liver or spleen. It may also affect skin, eyes, kidneys, thyroid, heart, adrenals and gastrointestinal tract. Lungs
When the lungs are affected there is usually a dry cough, difficulty breathing and fever, usually present for longer than four weeks. There may be chest pain, shivering or tiredness. The oxygen saturation is low.