Gas gangrene can develop in any part of the body, but usually on the legs or the arms. Gangrene involves death of the body tissue typically caused by a bacterial infection from the Clostridium bacteria. This infection causes toxins to form in the cells, tissues and blood vessels in the body. The bacteria releases toxins […]
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Frostbite develops once skin has been exposed to extreme temperatures for prolonged periods of time. As a result, the skin freezes along with the tissues below the skin surface. In extreme cases, the nerves, muscles and the blood vessels might also freeze as well. The skin is likely to freeze within minutes upon exposure to
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Pleural effusion is simply known as “water on the lung” in which there is significant accumulation of fluid in between the lungs and the chest cavity. Remember that there is always a minimal amount of liquid within the lungs which coats the membranes lining the exterior of the lungs as well as lubricating the chest
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Eye drooping or ptosis can develop due to age, trauma or various health disorders. The condition can affect one or both eyes, can come and go or even permanent. It might be present at birth or develop late in life. Depending on the severity, eyelid drooping can obstruct or drastically diminish vision based on how
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Coffee ground vomitus appears similar to coffee grounds. This is likely to occur due to the presence of coagulated blood in the vomit. It is important to note that the color of the vomited blood varies depending on how long the blood was present in the GI tract. If there was a delay in vomiting,
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Cluster headaches are characterized as intensely painful episodes that occur as clusters. An individual can experience series of headache attacks that are followed by periods free from headaches. The frequency of the headaches during these cycles can range from a single episode every other day to a number of headaches in a day. The pain
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Amebiasis is a parasitic infection affecting the intestines. This condition is caused by the protozoan Entamoeba histolytica. The indications of amebiasis include abdominal cramping, loose stool and stomach pain. In some cases, an individual with the infection will not experience any significant symptoms. Potential risk factors Amebiasis is quite prevalent in tropical countries with poor
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Drowning occurs once being submerged in liquid leads to suffocation or disrupts with breathing. During drowning, the body is deprived of oxygen that can impair the organs, especially the lungs and the brain. This is the main reason of unintentional death around the globe especially among children and teenagers younger than 19. Drowning is likely
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When travelling outdoors, it is vital to take into consideration extreme temperature safety. This can range from rainy days to the dry season and from extremely hot daytime hours to cold nights. The body has a normal temperature between 98.6-99.9 degrees F. The temperature is maintained without a warming or cooling device, but the outside
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Children are taught early that hand washing is a vital part of proper daily hygiene. Regular hand washing can also minimize the spread of microorganisms particularly during the flu and common cold season. Hand washing has a number of benefits to minimize the transmission of infections. Nevertheless, many who wash their hands several times a
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