Heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to supply output that is sufficient for the metabolic needs of the tissues, in face of acute venous return. Common causes of heart failure are hypertension, valvular heart disease, ischeamic heart disease, anaemia, and pulmonary thromboembolism. Clinical features Tachycardia, gallop rhythm, raised JVP, dependent oedema, tender hepatomegaly, […]
Month: January 2023
How To Live A Full Life Despite Hearing Impairment – Tips And Strategies
A high index of suspicion and proper history is important, especially amongst children born prematurely, those born with low birth-weight, those born after difficult delivery, those who develop yellowness of eye (neonatal jaundice), those whose mothers had febrile illness during pregnancy, and those treated for meningitis. Do not ignore a parent’s complaint of a child […]
The Facts About Mastoiditis: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
This is an infection of mastoid air cells and mastoid bone occurring as a complication of an acute otitis media or chronic suppurative otitis media. Clinical Features There is a painful swelling above the ear in children under 2 years of age. There is tenderness, oedema, and possible flatulence behind the ear in other children, […]
An Overview Of Glaucoma: What It Is, Symptoms and Treatment Options
Glaucoma is associated with approximately 25,000 blind cases in Kenya Clinical Features There is unexplained gradual decrease in central or peripheral vision In children, the corneal is bigger and hazy. Management Treat at level 4 and above. Tropical beta-blockers, e.g., timolo or betaxolol,1 drop BD. Surgery is definitive.
Stop Suffering From Lower Back Pain: Here’s How To Find Relief Now
Aetiological factors Trauma Inflammatory, e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, etc. Degenerative: Spondylosis (degenerative disease), prolapsed intervertebral disc, spondylolisthesis Neoplastic: Usually secondary tumors Infection: Pyogenic, non-pyogenic (Tuberculosis-Prott’s disease) Spinal stenosis: Congenital degenerative Others: Kyphoscoliosis Clinical Features History at presentation includes the following: Pain: Sharp and localized, chronic and diffuse Referred pain (sciatica): Pain radiates into the […]
Septic Arthritis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
This is an acute infection of the joint space. Aetiology Haematogenous spread from a primary focus elsewhere in the body. Directing penetrating injuries onto the joint. Extension of infection from a compound fracture of the neighbouring bone. The commonest causative organisms are staphylococcus aureus, streptococcus pyogenes, and haemophilus influenzae, and to a lesser extent salmonella […]
Tracheostomy Care: What You Need To Know About This Life-Saving Procedure
This is an artificial opening into the trachea through the neck in order to bypass an obstruction of the airway and/or to provide access to the lower airway to facilitate ventilatory support. This procedure should only be performed at level 4 and above. Indications for this procedure include: Emergency tracheostomy: Foreign bodies (in the upper […]
Cost-Effective Solutions to Trauma of the Orofacial Tissues
Injury to the teeth and the supporting alveolar bone occurs quite frequently,especially among children. Other more severe injuries to the soft and skeletal tissues of the orofacial area commonly arise through road traffic accidents, sporting activities, and interpersonal violence. Such violence where guns and other missiles are used may lead to extensive tissue destruction with […]
Understanding Bone Infections: Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment Options
Infection in the jawbones may be localized or generalized. Generally, the localized forms of infection are the most common, with the focal osteitis/alveolitis(dry socket) occurring 1 to 7 days following a dental extraction. This probably is the most common bone after dental extraction. Patients will complain so much more severe pain than a toothache. The […]
Gangrenous Stomatitis (Noma, Cancrum Oris): An Overview of Causes and Treatments
This is an infective condition of the orofacial tissues that may cause extensive tissue destruction with severe morbidity. The condition may initially manifest as an acute ulcerative necrotizing gingival infection that rapidly involves a block of the contiguous tissues culminating in their breakdown. Unfortunately, the clinical picture and changes associated with this condition may often […]