Medical science, drawn into focus.

Rhinosinusitis

Overview Rhinosinusitis is one of the more prevalent chronic illnesses worldwide, affecting individuals of all ages. It is an inflammatory process that involves the nose and paranasal sinuses. Rhinosinusitis may be acute or chronic. Chronic rhinosinusitis can be subject to acute exacerbations. Rhinitis:  Irritation and inflammation of the mucosa lining the nasal cavity Sinusitis: Inflammation…

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…

Varicose Veins

Overview Varivose veins (VV) are long, torturous and dilated don't veins of the superficial venous system. There is a spectrum ranging from telangiectasias (dilated interdermal venules less than 1 mm), through to reticular veins (non-palpable subdermal veins 1–3 mm) to varicose veins (greater than 3 mm). 35% of the general population affected. The venous system of…

Psoriatic Arthritis

Overview Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory arthritis associated with psoriasis, affecting up to 30% of patients with skin psoriasis. It commonly presents in adults aged 30–50 years, with equal gender distribution. The disease is highly variable, involving peripheral joints, axial skeleton, entheses, and skin/nails. Delay in diagnosis is common and can result…

Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria +/- angioedema

Overview Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a mast-cell–driven skin disorder defined by recurrent wheals (hives), angioedema, or both for >6 weeks without a specific external trigger , with a point prevalence around 0.5–1% and a female predominance; median disease duration is ~2–5 years, but a subset persists longer and markedly impairs quality of life and…

Osteomalacia / Rickets

Overview Osteomalacia (adults) and rickets (children) are disorders of impaired bone mineralisation leading to soft, poorly mineralised bone. It arises when there is insufficient calcium–phosphate supply to the mineralising matrix due to vitamin D deficiency, calcium deficiency, phosphate deficiency (often FGF23-mediated). Nutritional rickets still occurs worldwide, while hypophosphataemic forms (e.g., XLH, tumour-induced osteomalacia) are rarer…

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) 

Overview CRPS is a disproportionate, regional pain syndrome of a limb that typically follows injury or surgery and features sensory, vasomotor, sudomotor/oedema, and motor/trophic changes. The prevalence after limb fracture/surgery varies widely (≈1–7% overall, higher in some distal radius cohorts) and early recognition with rehabilitation improves outcome. Important risk factors include fracture (especially wrist/ankle), immobilisation,…

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