Articles
Hypothermia
Hypothermia exists when the core body temperature is below 35°C and is classified arbitrarily as mild (32-35°C), moderate (28-32°C), or severe (<28°C). The Swiss staging system, based on clinical signs, can be used by rescuers at the scene to describe victims: I –...
Heat Stroke
Heat stroke is defined as a systemic inflammatory response with a core temperature that is greater than 40.6°C accompanied by a change in mental state and varying levels of organ dysfunction. There are two forms of heat stroke: Classic non-exertional heat stroke –...
The Story of the Tendon Hammer
The tendon hammer is one of the most historically resilient medical instruments still in use today. It is a simple yet invaluable device that can be used to diagnose a wide variety of nervous system and muscular disorders. Almost 130 years after the invention of the...
Compartments and Fluid Spaces in Health
The amount of water in the body varies with a patient’s age, weight, and sex. Total body water (TBW) accounts for around 60% of an adult male’s total body weight; a normally hydrated 75 kg man will consist of approximately 45 L of water. There are two major fluid...
Dr. Joseph Bell: The Real Life Sherlock Holmes
I have been fascinated with the detective Sherlock Holmes since childhood. His almost supernatural powers of observation and deduction in stories such as ‘The Sign of the Four’, ‘The Speckled Band’, and ‘A Study in Scarlet’ captivated me and I have re-read them many...
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism is a clinical syndrome that results from an excess of circulating thyroid hormones. It is more common in women, and the incidence increases with age. In Europe, it affects approximately 1 in 2,000 people annually. Aetiology Hyperthyroidism can...
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a clinical syndrome that results from a deficiency of circulating thyroid hormones. It affects women more commonly than men and is most frequently seen in the over 60s. The term myxoedema refers to a more severe form of the syndrome where there has...
Acute Epiglottitis
Acute epiglottitis is inflammation of the epiglottis. When there is involvement of the soft tissues surrounding the epiglottis, then it is referred to as acute supraglottitis. It can result in life-threatening airway obstruction and death if rapid treatment is not...
The Russian Plague of 1770-1772
In the summer of 2016 a 10-year-old Russian boy cut himself skinning a marmot whilst hunting with his grandfather in the remote Kosh-Agach region in the Atlai Mountains. A few days later he developed a fever and a flu-like illness and was taken to a local hospital. He...
Diagnosing Pneumonia on Chest X-Ray
Pneumonia, which is defined as inflammation of the lung, is a common cause of morbidity and mortality around the world. Every year between 0.5% and 1% of adults in the U.K. will develop community-acquired pneumonia. Pneumonia is characterised by exudation and...
