Skin Rashes: Types and Causes

There are many different types of skin rashes and many different causes of skin rashes. Although most skin rashes are harmless, some do need treatment (which may be tablets, creams or ointments) from your doctor or pharmacist. Some rashes (especially dark red or purple rashes that don't fade with pressure) may even need urgent medical treatment as they can be associated with meningitis and blood infection (septicaemia).

Finger Clubbing: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Nail clubbing, also known as digital clubbing or just simply, clubbing, is a deformity of the finger or toe nails which occur due to the presence of a number of associated diseases, mostly diseases of the heart and lungs. In a number of cases, however, nail clubbing has been known to run in families, where it occurs without any associated disease or medical problem. It is still not clear why soft tissue in nails increase to cause nail clubbing, whether in diseases that have brought it on, or in families where different affected members have inherited it.

Breathlessness and Difficulty Breathing (Dyspnoea)

Breathlessness is an unpleasant sensation of uncomfortable, rapid or difficult breathing. People describe it as feeling short of breath, puffed or winded. The medical term is dyspnoea. Your chest may feel tight and breathing may hurt. Everyone experiences breathlessness if they exert themselves to an unusual extent or run for a bus; however, if you experience breathlessness without unusual exertion, it is important to seek medical attention as it may be due to a serious underlying problem. The most common causes are mentioned below.

Wheeze: Causes, Tests and Treatment

Wheezing is a whistling sound that occurs when you breathe. It is a common symptom. There are various causes. If you have any breathing difficulty or other alarming symptoms in addition to wheezing - and you do not know what to do - then see a doctor immediately. This article discusses what wheezing is all about, including the main causes and treatment of wheezing.

Cough: Types, Causes, Treatment and Prognosis

Coughing is an automatic reaction to try to clear your airways. The cough reflex protects the airways of your lungs. However, it is important to seek medical attention if you have a cough that lasts for more than three weeks. If you're short of breath, cough up blood or have unexplained problems like weight loss or a high temperature (fever), you should see your doctor urgently. The most common causes are mentioned below.

Delirium (Confusion): An Overview of Acute Confusional State

Delirium (sudden confusion) is a serious disturbance in mental abilities resulting in confused thinking and reduced awareness of the environment. There is rapid decline from previous baseline mental functioning over a short period of time, typically hours to days. Delirium can have many different causes, and often traced to one or more contributing factors, such as changes in metabolic balance (like low sodium). Get medical help immediately if someone suddenly becomes confused (delirious).

Diarrhoea: An Overview of Acute Diarrhoeal Disease

Diarrheal disease is one of the top ten leading causes of death worldwide and a particular concern for children younger than five years old in resource-limited settings. Among adults in resource-rich settings, diarrhea is often a "nuisance disease" in the healthy individual. Diarrhoea can be of sudden onset lasting less than two weeks (acute) or more than two weeks (persistent or chronic). In most cases, diarrhoea eases and resolves within few days though sometimes it takes longer. The main risk is dehydration. The main treatment is drinking lots of fluid to avoid dehydration. You should also eat as normally as possible. See a doctor if you suspect that you are dehydrating, or if you have any worrying symptoms as listed below. This article deals with acute diarrhoea, which is common.

Causes of an Absent Apex Beat

When a doctor examines the point at which the beating of the heart is most felt on the chest (referred to as the cardiac impulse), s/he can expect to find valuable clues to help in the diagnosis of diseases of the heart. Surprisingly, in some cases, this cardiac impulse is absent.

Differential Diagnoses Of Ring Enhancing Lesions

When a patient undergoes a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computerized tomographic scan (CT scan), the doctor or radiologist expects to see a couple of signs which could suggest specific lesions in the body. One of the signs which may be seen is a ring-enhancing lesion.

Bell's Palsy

Bell's palsy is facial weakness (paralysis) that occur due to dysfunction of the nerve fibres of the seventh cranial nerve, also called the facial nerve, resulting in inability to control the muscles of the face on the affected side. The 7th cranial nerve originates in the brain and controls the muscles of the face.

How To Take A Full Medical History

Medicine has been described as both a science and an art. The overall purpose of medical practice is to relieve suffering. In order to achieve this purpose, it is important to make a diagnosis, to know how to approach treatment, and to design an appropriate scheme of management for each patient.

Branches of the External Carotid Artery

In human anatomy, the external carotid artery is a major artery of the head and neck. It arises from the common carotid artery when it bifurcates into the external and internal carotid artery.

Adrenal Gland and Its Hormones

The adrenal glands are vital organs which every medical student need to be familiar with. This article describe mnemonics for the layers and hormones of the adrenal gland.

Hormones Produced by the Ovary and Testis

The testes (singular: testis) in the scrotum produce the male gamete, sperm, which is ejaculated in seminal fluid by the penis. The female reproductive system primarily consists of internal organs. The female gamete, ovum, is produced in the ovaries and is released monthly to travel to the uterus via the Fallopian tubes.

Keratoderma

Keratoderma' is a term that means marked thickening of the skin. 'Palmoplantar' refers to the skin on the soles of the feet and palms of the hands; these are the areas keratoderma affects most often. Palmoplantar keratoderma is also sometimes known as 'keratosis palmaris et plantaris'.

Fever: Classes, Causes and Treatment

Fever, also called pyrexia, is abnormal rise in body temperature of a person above the normal level. Fever itself is not an illness. A fever is a symptom of an underlying condition, most often an infection, but may also occur in an inflammation or even tumour.