Abdominal Pain
Diagnosing a patient with abdominal pain can be challenging. Causes can range from anxiety to life-threatening reasons. There are some symptoms that are more serious and can be considered alarm symptoms. These include weight loss, intestinal bleeding, anemia, fever or symptoms that occur after you have fallen asleep. If any of the alarm symptoms are present; you should be seen by a doctor as soon as you can.
Pain can be associated with a change in bowel habits. If the pain is relieved by having a bowel movement or associated with a change in the frequency or appearance of the bowel movements, try to correct the change in the bowel movements. If the pain is continuous, seek medical attention to try to determine the cause and to start treatment.
Source: American Family Physician
Allergies
Did you know that allergies affect nearly 20% of the U.S. population? The term allergy applies to an abnormal reaction by your immune system to a substance that is usually not harmful. Allergies come in a variety of forms and vary in severity from mildly bothersome to life-threatening.
No one knows why some people develop them, but heredity seems to play a role in their development. Allergies may flare up and subside throughout your life. The immune system protects the body from foreign substances by producing antibodies and other chemicals to fight against them. Usually the immune system ignores harmless substances, such as food, and fights only dangerous ones, such as bacteria. A person develops an allergic reaction when the immune system cannot tell the good from the bad and releases chemicals like histamine to attack the harmless substance as if it were a threat. Histamine produces many of the symptoms associated with allergies. Some of the hundreds of substances that may trigger allergic reactions range from pollen to pet dander to penicillin.
Allergies can't be cured outright, but a variety of treatments are available to relieve the symptoms. If your allergy is severe, see your doctor and get immediate treatment.
Source: www.WebMD.com
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Burns
Burns can be caused by scalds (hot water, coffee or cooking fluids), coming in contact with hot objects (flames or stoves), chemicals, electricity, or overexposure to the sun. Burns are classified by how badly or deeply the skin is damaged.
First-degree burns are the mildest and are limited to the top layer of skin. The skin is red and tender but there is no blistering. There may be minor swelling. Healing time is 3-6 days.
Second-degree burns involve layers below the top layer. There is more severe pain and redness and blisters form. The healing time varies with the severity of the burn, but is usually closer to 2 weeks.
Third-degree burns are the most serious and involve all the layers of the skin and may involve tissue below the skin. These types of burns can look waxy or white, leathery or charred. There is little or no pain with this type of injury because the burn has damaged the nerves. This injury is often treated by a skin graft.
WHAT TO DO:
- For first-degree burns, run cool water over it for 3-5 minutes. Keep it clean and use cool compresses and a loose dressing over the next 24 hours. An antibiotic cream applied 2-3 times daily will also help prevent infection. You may take acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain.
- For second and third-degree burns, remove clothing from the burned area and run cool water over the burned area for 3-5 minutes. Cover it with a loose dressing and see a doctor promptly. Do not break any blisters. You may take acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain.
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Bruises
Bruises are caused by blood leaking out of blood vessels and into the skin. They can be caused by trauma or illness. If caused by trauma, it can be accidental or caused by abuse. It is important for physicians to determine what has caused the bruising.
The presence of bruising is closely related to the person’s age and ability to walk. If someone can walk, they are more likely to bruise from accidents. Persons that cannot walk will most likely bruise from other reasons. Abuse is a cause of non-accidental bruising.
Medical conditions can also cause bruising. Hemophilia, Mongolian spots, infection, and some metabolic diseases are a few of the possible medical conditions. If you cannot easily explain why you or a family member has bruising, it is important to see a doctor to help determine the cause.
Source: American Academy of Family Practice (AAFP)
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Conjunctivitis “Pink Eye”
If your eyes are itchy, red or crusty more than usual in the morning, you MAY have pink eye. Pink eye, also known as “conjunctivitis”, is caused by inflammation or an infection in the eye. It’s called pink eye because the white of the eye becomes red or pink when you have it. You can also have drainage, itching or pain with it. Make sure you see a doctor right away because pink eye can spread very easily and it must be treated early. The best way to NOT spread the infection is to wash your hands often. Any time your hand touches your hair or face, the infection can get on your hands, so WASH THOSE HANDS! And STAY HOME for a couple days until the eye clears up. This lessens the chance of friends or co-workers getting pink eye, too.
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Cough
A productive cough produces phlegm or mucus. The mucus may have drained down the back of the throat from the nose or sinuses or may have come up from the lungs. A productive cough generally shouldn’t be suppressed; it clears mucus from the lungs. There are many causes of a productive cough, such as:
- Common cold
- Infections like pneumonia, bronchitis, and sinusitis (sinus infection)
- Nasal discharge draining down the back of the throat (postnasal drip syndrome)
A nonproductive cough is dry and doesn’t produce mucus. A dry, hacking cough may develop toward the end of a cold or after exposure to an irritant, such as dust or smoke. There are many causes of a nonproductive cough, such as:
- Common cold
- Allergies
- Exposure to dust, fumes, and chemicals in the work or home environment
- Asthma
Use over-the-counter or prescription cough medicine to relieve your cough symptoms. Of course, see a doctor if you have an infection that won’t clear up, or suspect allergies or asthma.
Source: www.WebMD.com
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Cuts
A laceration is a cut to the skin. If the cut is not deep, a “butterfly” band-aid may be all that is necessary. Be sure to keep the wound clean and as dry as possible. If it gets wet, pat it dry with a towel. If possible, blow dry the area to make sure it is dry. You can put an antibiotic ointment on the cut and cover it to protect it from infection and further injury.
If the cut is deep and you cannot stop the bleeding or if you cannot keep the edges of the cut together, you should be seen by a doctor within 6 hours of the time of the injury to be evaluated for the need for closing the wound. If you wait longer than that, there is an increased chance of infection by closing the wound. If the doctor determines closing the wound is advisable, it may be done by sutures, staples, tissue adhesive (glue), or steri-strips (similar to a butterfly band- aid). Special situations arise when animal bites are involved. Any type of animal bite (and human bite!) should be evaluated by a doctor as soon as possible. These have a very strong chance of getting infected.
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Ear Infections
Did you know that ear infections are more likely to occur after a cold or other upper respiratory infection has been present for a few days? During a cold, throat infection, or allergy attack, the eustachian tube that connects the throat and the middle ear swells and prevents air from entering the middle ear. This creates suction, which pulls fluid into the middle ear space. The fluid becomes trapped there, allowing viruses or bacteria to grow and cause infection. This condition is called otitis media. Ear infections are most common in children ages 8 and younger, since their ears have shorter, softer, and more horizontal eustachian tubes, which are more easily blocked. Symptoms include ear pain, fever, drainage from the ear, irritability, loss of appetite, vomiting, difficulty sleeping, and possible loss of hearing. Nonprescription pain medication, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin), may be all that’s needed. But always see your doctor to determine if further treatment may be necessary.
Source: www.WebMD.com
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Fever
A fever is a high body temperature that is the body's normal and healthy reaction to fighting infection and other illnesses, both minor and serious. Most people have an average body temperature of about 98.6°F. A temperature of up to 102°F can be helpful because it helps the body fight infection. Most healthy children and adults can tolerate a fever as high as 103°F to 104°F for short periods of time without problems. Children tend to have higher fevers than adults. The degree of fever may not indicate how serious the illness is. With a minor illness, such as a cold, you may have a temperature, while a very serious infection may cause little or no fever. It’s important to look for and evaluate other symptoms along with the fever. A fever without other symptoms that lasts 3 to 4 days, comes and goes, and gradually reduces over time is usually not a cause for concern. When you have a fever, you may feel tired, lack energy, and may not eat as much as usual. High fevers are not comfortable, but they rarely cause serious problems. In general, a fever can be treated with ibuprofen (Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol). Both medications help control pain and fever.
Source: www.WebMD.com
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Flu
Did you know that the flu and the commom cold have similar symptoms, but are caused by different viruses? Influenza or "the flu" develops when a flu virus infects your respiratory system, including your nose, throat, bronchial tubes, and possibly the lungs. (A cold virus usually infects only your upper respiratory tract: your nose and throat.) Flu symptoms are generally worse than illness caused by the common cold. Primary symptoms of flu are fever, fatigue, aches and pains, chills, and cough. The flu is usually at its worst for three to four days. About 24 to 72 hours after you're infected, you become contagious. STAY AT HOME while you've got the flu. You’ll recover quicker if you get some rest. There is no one treatment for the flu, but cold and flu medicines, decongestants, saline nasal sprays and lots of fluids all help to ease symptoms.
Source: www.WebMD.com
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Fractures
A broken bone is also called a fracture. Most fractures happen as a result of an injury. Not every injury results in a fracture. How do you tell if something is broken? In most cases of a fracture there is pain, swelling and a deformity.
If you suspect a fracture, you should seek medical attention immediately. Call 911 if there is a serious head, neck or back injury; or if the broken bone comes through the skin.
If the injury is less serious, stabilize the injured part as soon as possible and apply ice. You can make a splint by:
- Keeping the injured part in the position you find it
- Placing soft padding around the injured part
- Place something firm next to the injured part (like a rolled up magazine or newspaper). Make sure it is long enough to go past the joints above and below the injury
- Keep the splint in place with tape or an elastic bandage
Get to a medical facility and don’t eat anything, in case surgery is needed.
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Joint Pain
Not all joint pain is from arthritis. It may be hard to tell if the pain is coming from the joint or the area around the joint. A physician needs to determine if the pain is coming from the joint or from the surrounding area.
Arthritis is inflammation of joint. There are over 100 forms of arthritis. It is important to get the right diagnosis, in order to get the correct treatment. You can do the following to help yourself until you see your doctor:
- Lose weight, if you are overweight
- Start exercising – but start off slowly. The “no pain, no gain” phrase is not good advise.
- Wear proper footwear.
- If you smoke, quit! This helps bone health.
- Heat or ice may provide temporary relief.
- Medications can help, but ask your doctor before starting any medicines for this; even over-the-counter medications have side effects.
Source: www.WebMD.com
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Muscle Pain
Most people have had pain in their muscles at one time or another. Most of the time, it is caused by an injury (see sprains and strains); sometimes it is not the result of an injury. The common reasons for muscle pain, not due to an injury, are overuse, diabetes, infection and a group of diseases called connective tissue diseases.
If pain is the only symptom, treat it with rest and an over-the-counter pain medicine (acetaminophen, ibuprofen or naproxen sodium) if your doctor has not told you to avoid them. There are warning signs associated with pain that can indicate a more serious problem which may require medical attention. These warning signs include: swelling, lumps or bumps, redness, warmth, numbness or a change in the color of the skin (to red, pale or blue). Be sure to see a doctor promptly if any of these warning signs are present.
Source: www.WebMD.com
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Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a lung infection that can make you very sick and develop into something serious. You may cough, run a fever, and have a hard time breathing. Pneumonia usually starts when you breathe bacteria or viruses into your lungs. You may be more likely to get pneumonia after having a cold or the flu since these illnesses make it hard for your lungs to fight infection. Symptoms usually come on quickly. They may include:
- Cough: you will likely cough up mucus from your lungs
- Fever
- Fast breathing and feeling short of breath
- Shaking and "teeth-chattering" chills
- Chest pain that often feels worse when you cough or breathe in
- Fast heartbeat
- Feeling very tired or very weak
The faster you get treatment, the faster you’ll recover from pneumonia. So see your doctor as soon as you exhibit symptoms. Doctors typically prescribe a 5 to 14-day course of antibiotics to treat pneumonia.
Source: www.WebMD.com
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Poison Ivy
Poison Ivy is one of several plants that can cause a skin rash called contact dermatitis. Other plants that can cause the same reaction include poison oak and poison sumac. Not everyone that comes in contact with the plant will develop a rash, but up to 80% of people will.
These plants can be found everywhere, including your backyard. When the plant is bumped, torn or brushed up against, it releases a chemical called urushiol. Once the oil is released, it can easily get on a person’s skin, causing the rash. The oil can be transferred from one person to another or through the air if someone burns the plants. Your dog can come in contact with the plants and bring the oil home to you.
The rash can begin as soon as a few hours after contact or as long as 5 days later. If you suspect you have come in contact with the plant, be sure to wash yourself (shower is preferred over a bath), your clothes and all tools you have touched since the exposure to make sure you don’t continue to spread the oil. You can try oral antihistamines to help with the itching, but chances are high that you will need some form of medication from a doctor to get rid of the rash. If you have a fever with a rash, seek medical attention as soon as you can.
Source: Kid's Health
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Rashes
Healthy skin is a protective barrier between the inside of the body and the environment outside the body. A rash is an area of skin that is not normal. Abnormal skin may result in a breakdown of the protective barrier usually provided by the normal skin.
Some rashes are localized to a certain area and may have many different causes. Generalized rashes affect most of the body and are usually associated with a virus or an oral medication allergy. Rashes can be caused by skin irritation, infections, exposure to an insect or parasite, or chronic medical conditions. Some rashes itch. Some may be painful. Some may have no abnormal feeling to them. Some are flat, and some you can feel are raised. The treatment of any rash depends on its cause.
Source: www.WebMD.com
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Shortness of Breath
Shortness of breath may feel like you can’t catch your breath or you may have a feeling of tightness in your chest. There are many possible causes.
Infections such as bronchitis or pneumonia may be at fault. Being a smoker makes you more likely to be short of breath. Asthma can cause breathing difficulty. Congestive heart failure, stress and panic attacks can also cause you to feel short of breath. There are less common reasons, such as lung cancer, blood clots, or air leakage from the lungs and scarring.
If you are experiencing breathing difficulties, it is important to see a doctor. How soon you have to be seen depends on how severe the difficulty is. In the meantime, if you smoke, stop! Also avoid strong chemicals and smells that can bother your lungs.
Source: American Family Physician
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Sinus Infections
Sinuses are air-filled spaces within the bones of the face and head. They can become congested during an infection (viral or bacterial) or from allergies. Sinusitis causes facial pain, headache, drainage (either from the nose or down the back of the throat), and may cause a fever.
Home care includes steam and plenty of liquids to make the drainage flow more easily out of the sinuses. Heat can be applied to the areas of facial pain. Use acetaminophen or ibuprofen to control pain and fever. Sometimes a decongestant nasal spray (Afrin® or Dristan®, for example) can help relieve pain and pressure in the sinuses. You must follow the instruction on the label and DO NOT USE FOR MORE THAN 5 DAYS. Oral decongestants with pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine can help relieve drainage and pressure, also.
The vast majority of sinus infections are viral. Viral infections cannot be treated with an antibiotic; your body has to fight off the infection. If bacteria cause the sinus infection, an antibiotic may be helpful. If symptoms are worsening after the fifth day of illness, if you have a fever after the fifth day of illness, or if your symptoms are not any better within 7-10 days, there is a greater chance of the sinus infection having a bacterial cause. These are clues that you should seek medical attention.
Warning signs of a more significant sinus infection include: severe headache; neck stiffness; drowsiness; confusion; swelling of the head, eyes, nose or cheek; vomiting; or blurred vision. Contact a doctor promptly if any of these occur.
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Sprains
Did you know that a severe sprain can act like a broken bone? Sprains occur when ligaments get stretched too far. Mild sprains occur when the ligament is simply stretched. Severe sprains occur when the ligament fibers are torn. This type of injury tends to hurt right away. There is swelling and bruising and it hurts to use that part of the body. Because sprains and broken bones can look the same, it’s advisable to get checked by a doctor soon after the injury occurs. Keep the injury part elevated above your heart and keep ice on it. If there is no broken bone, rest and acetaminophen or ibuprofen for the pain will be the best medicine.
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Stings
Two types of insects will sting people and other animals – “Vespids” and “Aphids”. Vespids are attracted to bright colors and strong odors. They can attack repeatedly for no reason at all. Examples of vespids are wasps, yellow jackets, hornets and fire ants. Aphids usually sting only in defense. Examples of these are honeybees and bumblebees.
Stings can be very mild with only slight redness and swelling, requiring only cold compresses and over-the-counter pain medicine, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Stings can also be very severe and possibly life-threatening. These more serious reactions develop larger local reactions and if they are progressing after 48 hours, they may be infected. These types of reactions can be treated with elevation, cold compresses, ibuprofen or naproxen, and antihistamines (for itching).
The most serious allergic reaction to a sting is called an “anaphylactic reaction”. This can result in severe hives, flushing, and difficulty breathing. This type of reaction is best treated in an emergency room and you should call an ambulance to get you to the nearest emergency room.
Source: American Academy of Family Practice (AAFP)
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Strains
Strains occur when muscles get stretched too far. These occur most commonly in the back, neck and legs. Pain may begin immediately or several hours after the injury occur. The area will be tender and swollen and may be bruised. The first thing to do if you experience a strain is to stop using that part of the body. Rest and acetaminophen or ibuprofen for the pain is the best medicine.
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Strep Throat
Did you know that these are NOT symptoms of Strep throat: coughing, sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose? Strep throat is a bacterial infection that irritates and inflames the tissues in the back of the throat and the tonsils. This in turn causes a sudden, severe sore throat. A Strep infection may also cause a headache and abdominal pain. Less commonly, strep throat can cause a red skin rash, vomiting, loss of appetite, and a general feeling of discomfort or illness. You’re considered contagious when you have the symptoms; you’re usually no longer contagious within 24 to 48 hours after starting antibiotics. However, if you don’t seek treatment, you may continue to be contagious for 2 to 3 weeks even if your symptoms go away. So make sure you see a doctor right away if you suspect a Strep infection.
Source: www.WebMD.com
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Urinary Infections
Urinary tract infections can affect the kidney, bladder, prostate or urethra. (Only bladder and kidney infections will be discussed here.) When most people speak of a urinary infection, they are talking about a bladder infection. Bladder infections are also called cystitis. This causes burning with urination, a constant urge to urinate, and a need to urinate more frequently, often in amounts smaller than usual.
Home care includes drinking lots of fluids to flush the bacteria out of your system and some people drink cranberry juice to help fight the bacteria that are present at the time of an infection. If these measures don’t eliminate the problem, seek medical attention.
A kidney infection is a more serious infection because the kidney can become scarred by this infection. Warning signs for this include: nausea, with or without vomiting; fever; and back pain. If you experience these symptoms, seek medical attention promptly.
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