Medical science, drawn into focus.

Genital Prolapse

Overview Pelvic organ prolapse is a condition in which pelvic organs abnormally descend or herniate from their normal attachment sites or their normal position in the pelvis to or beyond the vaginal walls. There are varying degrees of prolapse. In the most severe cases, the pelvic organ can prolapse through the genital hiatus. It can be asymptomatic…

Post‑splenectomy Immunodeficiency

Overview Post‑splenectomy immunodeficiency refers to the increased susceptibility to infection following removal (or functional loss) of the spleen. The spleen plays a critical role in filtering bloodborne pathogens, especially encapsulated bacteria, and in mounting both innate and adaptive immune responses. Loss of splenic function leads to impaired opsonisation, reduced IgM production, and defective clearance of…

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,…

Community Acquired Pneumonia

Overview Community acquired pneumonia occur in individuals who are not in hospital (or have been in hospital in the past 48 hours) and who are not significantly immunocompromised. The World Health Organization estimates that lower respiratory tract infection is the most common infectious cause of death in the world. Choice of antibiotics are usually empirical…

Acute Appendicitis

Overview Acute appendicitis is an acute inflammation of the vermiform (worm-like) appendix. It is mainly caused by obstruction of the lumen of the appendix by stool, infective agents or lymphoid hyperplasia. Acute appendicits is the most common abdominal surgical emergency in the world, with a lifetime risk of 6.9% in females and 8.6% in males.…

Sjögren’s Syndrome

Overview Sjögren’s Syndrome is a chronic, systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by lymphocytic infiltration and destruction of exocrine glands, primarily affecting the salivary and lacrimal glands, leading to dry mouth (xerostomia) and dry eyes (keratoconjunctivitis sicca). It commonly affects middle-aged women, with a female:male ratio of approximately 9:1. It can be primary (isolated) or secondary (associated…

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,…

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