Medical science, drawn into focus.

Infective Endocarditis

Overview Infective endocarditis is a condition which occurs in the setting of bacteraemia whereby endothelial surfaces of the heart, such as valvular structures, become infected. It can present acutely or subacutely, and is often associated with fevers, new heart murmurs, constitutional symptoms and embolic phenomena. The classical organism associated is Staphylcoccus aureus, however there are…

Osgood Schlatter

Overview In this common disorder of adolescence the tibial tubercle becomes painful and ‘swollen’. Although often called osteochondritis and apophysitis, it is nothing more than a traction injury of the apophysis into which part of the patellar tendon is attached. Osgood-Schaltter disease typically occurs during the early adolescent growth spurt between 10-15 years of age,…

Brain Tumour

Overview Brain tumours: refers to a mixed group of neoplasms originating from intracranial tissues and the meninges with degrees of malignancy ranging from benign to aggressive. Classification WHO Classification of Primary Brain Tumors Neuroepithelial tumors Astrocytic tumors Oligodendroglial tumors Oligoastrocytic tumors Ependymal tumors Choroid plexus tumors Neuronal and mixed neuronal-glial tumors Pineal tumors Embryonal tumors…

Otitis Media

Overview Otitis media (OM) is one of the most common infections in children. OM is inflammation of the middle ear and is usually secondary to bacterial and/or viral infection. It is a complication of eustachian tube dysfunction that occurred during an acute viral upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). The URTI causes effusion in the middle ear…

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Overview ARDS is an acute, diffuse, inflammatory lung injury that leads to increased pulmonary vascular permeability, increased lung weight, and a loss of aerated tissue. Clinical hallmarks of ARDS are hypoxemia and bilateral radiographic opacities, while the pathological hallmark is diffuse alveolar damage. Pathophysiology Aetiology Indirect lung injury: sepsis, shock, trauma, pancreatitis, drug OD, intracranial haemorrhage,…

Chronic Lower Limb Ischaemia: Intermittent Claudication

Overview Chronic lower limb ischemia can be classified using the Fontaine classification: I – asymptomatic II – intermittent claudication III – rest pain IV – ulcers/gangrene Grades III and IV are classified as Critical Limb Ischemia. Intermittent claudication is a type of chronic lower limb ischemia that presents with muscle pain on exercise and is…

Microscopic Polyangiitis 

Overview Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) is a small-vessel necrotizing vasculitis, commonly associated with myeloperoxidase-ANCA (MPO-ANCA) positivity. It typically presents with glomerulonephritis and pulmonary capillaritis, but does not involve granulomatous inflammation, distinguishing it from GPA.Incidence: ~3–24 cases per million annually; more common in middle-aged adults and slightly more frequent in males. 1 MPO-ANCA (Myeloperoxidase-ANCA): An autoantibody typically…

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