Brain-eating amoeba
TL:DR – The brain-eating amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, does not eat brains but it can cause fatal brain swelling. Avoid it by only using sterile water for nasal irrigation and a noseclip when swimming in warm freshwater lakes.
Mrs Sciencebase was a yoga teacher for 20 years or thereabouts and one of the most peculiar aspects of that art was the use of the neti pot. A kind of jug with a long spout that allowed to pour a little water into your nostrils as part of a cleansing ritual. Technically known as nasal irrigation, but put simply it’s nothing more than pouring water into your nose.
It always struck me as a b...
Source: David Bradley Sciencebase - Songs, Snaps, Science - March 7, 2023 Category: Science Authors: David Bradley Tags: Health and Medicine Source Type: blogs
The Art of the Chart: Documenting the Timeline
By HANS DUVEFELT
The timeline of a patient’s symptoms is often crucial in making a correct diagnosis. Similarly, the timeline of our own clinical decisions is necessary to document and review when following a patient through their treatment.
In the old paper charts, particularly when they were handwritten, office notes, phone calls, refills and many other things were displayed in the order they happened (usually reverse chronological order). This made following the treatment of a case effortless, for example:
3/1 OFFICE VISIT: ?UTI (where ciprofloxacin was prescribed and culture sent off)
3/3 Clinical note th...
Source: The Health Care Blog - April 7, 2021 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Christina Liu Tags: Medical Practice Physicians Primary Care EHR Hans Duvefelt Source Type: blogs
What's new in midwifery - 10th June 2020
Some recent things you might need to know...COVID-19Complications and outcomes of SARS- CoV-2 in pregnancy: where and what is the evidence?ResearchOral fluconazole use in the first trimester and risk of congenital malformations: population based cohort study (BMJ)Strategies for optimising antenatal corticosteroid administration for women with anticipated preterm birth (Cochrane systematic review)Acknowledgements: McMaster Evidence Alerts. (Source: Browsing)
Source: Browsing - June 10, 2020 Category: Databases & Libraries Tags: midwifery Source Type: blogs
Resolve Otitis Externa Fast with an Ear Wick
Emergency providers expeditiously sift and sort patients on their shifts and streamline procedures like how to place an ear wick in a patient with otitis externa, a quick and useful procedure for a patient who will reap the rewards.Standard ear wicks. The material is made from a dehydrated sponge composed of hydroxylated poly(vinyl acetate). It increases in size when liquid is applied. Photo by M. Roberts.Otitis externa can cause significant swelling, irritation, pruritis, and pain to the ear canal. Occasionally, the canal is so swollen it may be difficult to administer ear drops. An ear wick can be inserted between the...
Source: The Procedural Pause - June 2, 2020 Category: Emergency Medicine Tags: Blog Posts Source Type: blogs
Tropical Travel Trouble 009 Humongous HIV Extravaganza
LITFL • Life in the Fast Lane Medical Blog LITFL • Life in the Fast Lane Medical Blog - Emergency medicine and critical care medical education blog
aka Tropical Travel Trouble 009
The diagnosis of HIV is no longer fatal and the term AIDS is becoming less frequent. In many countries, people with HIV are living longer than those with diabetes. This post will hopefully teach the basics of a complex disease and demystify some of the potential diseases you need to consider in those who are severely immunosuppressed. While trying to be comprehensive this post can not be exhaustive (as you can imagine any patient with a low ...
Source: Life in the Fast Lane - July 7, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Amanda McConnell Tags: Clinical Cases Tropical Medicine AIDS art cryptococcoma cryptococcus HIV HIV1 HIV2 PEP PrEP TB toxoplasma tuberculoma Source Type: blogs
Notes to myself – 2
Pentobarb coma – BIS should be 10-20 and SR (suppression ratio) should be 70-80
Consider lev albuterol
Should give vaccines after coiling of spleen or before if possible
No calcium channel blockers post MI definitely and post op in general
Toradol inhibits spine healing
Don’t do endoscopes with patients in supine position
don’t ambulate patients with known dvt’s. wait 2-3 days until clots get stuck.
dvt’s even with filter get heparin as much as possible for post phlebitic syndrome and to retard new clot formation
diffuse alveolar hemorrhage – secondary to chemo, goodpasture’s, wege...
Source: Inside Surgery - December 31, 2016 Category: Surgery Authors: Editor Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Longing for the QT
A 58-year-old man presented to the ED with a reported overdose of an unknown medication. The patient was agitated, combative, and altered. Initial vital signs included a heart rate of 115 beats/min, blood pressure of 154/93 mm Hg, respirations of 22/min, and temperature of 99.5°F. The patient was difficult to evaluate because he was agitated, and he was given 5 mg of haloperidol IV and 2 mg of lorazepam IV. The patient continued to be agitated, and was given another 10 mg of haloperidol IV, followed by a repeat dose of 10 mg IV 15 minutes later. The patient then became unresponsive, and his cardiac monitor demonstrated th...
Source: The Tox Cave - March 1, 2016 Category: Emergency Medicine Tags: Blog Posts Source Type: blogs
MKSAP: 25-year-old woman is evaluated for redness at mosquito bite
Test your medicine knowledge with the MKSAP challenge, in partnership with the American College of Physicians.
A 25-year-old woman is evaluated for redness that developed over her right leg at the site of a mosquito bite. She is otherwise healthy and takes no medications.
On physical examination, temperature is 37.2 °C (99.0 °F), blood pressure is 120/70 mm Hg, pulse rate is 70/min, and respiration rate is 14/min. There is an erythematous 3 × 3-cm patch on the right thigh. The area is warm to the touch with no evidence of purulence, fluctuance, crepitus, or lymphadenopathy.
Which of the following is the most appropria...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - May 23, 2015 Category: Journals (General) Authors: mksap Tags: Conditions Infectious disease Source Type: blogs
MKSAP: 35-year-old man with nonproductive cough and fever
Test your medicine knowledge with the MKSAP challenge, in partnership with the American College of Physicians.
A 35-year-old man is evaluated for a 2-week history of nonproductive cough and fever. He has a 20-year history of asthma. Three weeks ago, he visited friends in Indiana. He has no dyspnea, hemoptysis, or worsening of his baseline asthma symptoms. His only medication is an albuterol inhaler as needed.
On physical examination, temperature is 38.0 °C (100.4 °F), blood pressure is 130/70 mm Hg, pulse rate is 88/min, and respiration rate is 16/min. Crackles are heard in both lungs.
Laboratory studies show a normal ...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - March 15, 2014 Category: Family Physicians Tags: Conditions Infectious disease Source Type: blogs
Notes to myself – 2
Pentobarb coma – BIS should be 10-20 and SR (suppression ratio) should be 70-80
Consider lev albuterol
Should give vaccines after coiling of spleen or before if possible
No calcium channel blockers post MI definitely and post op in general
Toradol inhibits spine healing
Don’t do endoscopes with patients in supine position
don’t ambulate patients with known dvt’s. wait 2-3 days until clots get stuck.
dvt’s even with filter get heparin as much as possible for post phlebitic syndrome and to retard new clot formation
diffuse alveolar hemorrhage – secondary to chemo, goodpasture’s, wege...
Source: Inside Surgery - December 31, 2013 Category: Surgeons Authors: Editor Tags: General Source Type: blogs
MKSAP: 33-year-old woman with whitish spots in the mouth and throat
Test your medicine knowledge with the MKSAP challenge, in partnership with the American College of Physicians.
A 33-year-old woman is evaluated for a 5-week history of whitish spots in the mouth and the back of the throat and discomfort with swallowing solid foods. This is her first episode of these symptoms. She has had no mouth pain, trouble ingesting liquids or pills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, chills, sweats, or skin problems. She has a 3-year history of HIV infection and also has moderately severe asthma, which is now well controlled with inhaled medications that were recently prescribed. Her medications are...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - December 1, 2013 Category: Family Physicians Tags: Conditions Infectious disease Source Type: blogs
