Medical science, drawn into focus.

Anaphylaxis 

Overview Anaphylaxis is a severe, systemic hypersensitivity reaction that is rapid in onset and potentially fatal, most often triggered by foods, medications, or venom; global incidence is ~50–112 per 100,000 person-years with rising emergency presentations in many regions, including Australia [1,2,4] .  Mortality is low but non-trivial and is driven by airway obstruction, severe bronchospasm,…

Pneumonia

Overview Pneumonia is infection in the lower respiratory tract and is characterised by fevers, purulent sputum, leucocytosis, low oxygen levels and new lung infiltrates (consolidation) on radiographic imaging. The infection is identified by the site of consolidation. Consolidation is where the lung tissue is filled with fluid (ie. water, blood, pus, microbes). Types of pneumonia…

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea

Overview Sleep apnea syndrome is an extremely common medical disorder associated with important morbidity. Sleep Apnea and can be classified as: Obstructive Sleep Apnea – is the most common, characterized by repetitive, intermittent collapse of the upper (pharyngeal) airway during sleep, which causes apnoeic episodes terminated by partial arousal Central Sleep Apnea - characterised by repetitive absent or diminished…

Septic Arthritis

Overview Septic arthritis refers to infection in a joint; it is usually caused by bacteria but can be caused by fungi or mycobacteria. Septic arthritis due to bacterial infection is often a destructive form of acute arthritis. Arthritis: Inflammation of joint Arthrosis: Degeneration of joint Septic Arthritis: Infection of joint Pathophysiology Septic arthritis involves bacterial…

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Overview   Inflammatory bowel disease is a common condition. It is divided into two types: Crohn disease and Ulcerative colitis. Both these condition differ in pathology, progression and complication, but they do share a lot similar characteristics as well. Colitis: Inflammation of the colon, which may be due to infectious, autoimmune, ischemic, or idiopathic causes. Inflammatory…

Sjögren’s-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease 

Overview Sjögren’s-associated interstitial lung disease (Sjögren’s-ILD) is a significant extra-glandular manifestation of primary Sjögren’s disease (pSS), occurring in ~9–20% of patients clinically, with subclinical involvement detectable in up to 50% on HRCT. It may precede sicca symptoms or develop late in the disease course. The most common ILD pattern is nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP), followed…

Percarditis

Overview Pericarditis is the most common form of pericardial disease and a relatively common cause of chest pain. The etiology of pericarditis may be infectious (eg, viral and bacterial) or noninfectious (eg, systemic inflammatory diseases, cancer, and post-cardiac injury syndromes). Tuberculosis is a major cause of pericarditis in developing countries but accounts for less than 5%…

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