The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction (JHR) is a transient immunological reaction seen commonly in patients during antibiotics treatment, classically in syphilis but also seen in other diseases like lyme disease and relapsing fever among others. The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction manifests clinically with symptoms such as fever, chills, headache and myalgias, besides exacerbation of existing cutaneous lesions. Jarisch–Herxheimer reactions […]
Presentation
Rigors – Causes, Mechanism and Management
Rigors refer to episodes of shaking or exaggerated shivering which can occur with a high fever. It is an extreme reflex response which occurs for a variety of reasons. Chills is a feeling of coldness occurring during a high fever, but sometimes is also a common symptom which occurs alone in specific people. Severe chills with violent shivering are called rigors. Both […]
Night Sweats – Causes and Treatment
Night sweats, also known as nocturnal hyperhidrosis, is the occurrence of excessive sweating during sleep. It is also called sleep hyperhydrosis. The condition is not related to day-time perspiration. The person may or may not also perspire excessively while awake. There are repeated episodes of extreme perspiration that may soak the nightclothes or bedding. An occasional sweaty awakening particularly if you […]
Ulcer – Definition, Types, Causes and Treatment
An ulcer is a loss of epithelial lining and is a kind of open wound. Ulceration can occur on the skin or mucous membranes like the surface of the stomach or inside the mouth. Ulcers form when the surface of the skin or mucous membrane gets injured. This leads to necrosis of the top layer […]
Sinuses and Fistulas
A sinus in Latin stands for a hollow or a bay or gulf. A sinus is a blind track leading from an epithelial surface into the surrounding tissues. The track is oftgen covered with granulation tissue. Frontal and nasal sinuses are normal anatomical sinuses. Different pathologies may cause sinuses. Sinus Sinus usually represents the path […]
Palpitations Causes and Treatment
Palpitations are defined as abnormal perception of the heartbeat and are described by patients as a disagreeable sensation of pulsation or movement in the chest and/or adjacent areas. Normally, the activity of the heart is not perceived by the individual in resting condition. During or immediately after intense physical activity or emotional stress, one may […]
Thickened Nerves – Examination and Causes
Thickened nerves is a physical sign that can occur in few diseases. Leprosy is by far most common cause of thickened nerves. Therefore most of the clinical examination of thickened nerves is also based on experience with leprosy. How to Palpate Thickened Nerves For examination of thickened nerve, the tips of the index, middle and […]
Hemorrhage or Bleeding – Causes and Types
Hemorrhage or bleeding refers to is blood escaping from the circulatory system. A hemorrhage may be external and visible on the outside of the body or internal, where there is no sign of bleeding outside the body. Bleeding from a cut on the face is an external hemorrhage. Bleeding into the spleen or liver are […]
Different Types of Wounds
Wound is an injury to living tissue caused by a cut, blow, or other impact, typically one in which the skin is cut or broken. Once wound occurs body tries to repair the defect and the process of wound healing is summation of a number of processes which follow injury including coagulation, inflammation, matrix synthesis […]
Poststernotomy Pain and Post Thoracotomy Pain
Poststernotomy Pain Postesternotomy pain is the pain in the sterum which usually occurs after surgery. Not all patients develop the post sternotomy chronic pain syndrome, but a large group of patients express their inability to perceive normal sensation following surgery. Sternum is also called breast bone and resembles a Romon sword. The upper portion resembling […]