Medical science, drawn into focus.

Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis 

Overview Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (formerly Wegener’s granulomatosis) is a rare, chronic, systemic necrotising vasculitis affecting small-to-medium-sized vessels, characterised by granulomatous inflammation, necrotising vasculitis, and tissue destruction, primarily involving the upper and lower respiratory tracts and kidneys. It falls under the ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAV). Peak incidence is in the 5th–6th decade, with slight male predominance and…

Anorexia Nervosa

“ To lose confidence in one’s body is to lose confidence in oneself .” ― Simone de Beauvoir " Every woman knows that, regardless of all her other achievements, she is a failure if she is not beautiful ." – Germaine Greer Overview Eating disorders have traditionally been classified into two well-established categories. They are…

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)

Overview Acute kidney injury (AKI) (formerly acute renal failure) is the syndrome arising from a rapid fall in GFR (over hours to days). It is characterized by retention of both nitrogenous (including Urea and Creatinine) and non-nitrogenous waste products of metabolism, as well as disordered electrolyte, acid– base, and fluid homeostasis. AKI is neither a…

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…

Hydrocephalus

Overview Hydrocephalus is excessive accumulation of CSF in the cerebral ventricles. In children, look for increasing head circumference, increased intracranial pressure, a bulging fontanelle, scalp vein engorgement, and paralysis of upward gaze. The most common causes include: Congenital malformations Tumors Inflammation (i.e hemorrhage, meningitis). Treat the underlying cause, if possible; otherwise a surgical shunt is created…

Maternal infections

Overviews Maternal infections is a broad term for any infection that is acquired by a pregnant woman antepartum, intrapartum or postpartum. These infections may have detrimental impacts on the mother and the foetus/newborn. 1 Maternal infections covered in this page include TORCH infections as well as Group B Streptococcal infection and chorioamnionitis.  TORCH infections are…

Anal Haemorrhoids

Overview Haemorrhoid Plexi are normal anatomical structures located within the anal canal. The term “Anal Haemorrhoids” usually refers to a pathology where the Haemorrhoidal Plexi are enlarged. They are mainly caused by chronic constipation and frequent defecation leading to dilation and engorgement of haemorrhoidal tissue. Common symptoms are bleeding, pain and itching. There are internal…

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