Condition Lookup

Anaphylaxis

Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care

Symptoms:
difficulty breathing; swelling of the face or throat; hives or skin rash; rapid or weak pulse; nausea or vomiting; dizziness or fainting

Root Cause:
Severe allergic reaction caused by the release of histamine and other chemicals from immune cells, leading to widespread inflammation and tissue swelling.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosis is clinical, based on a sudden onset of symptoms after exposure to a known allergen. Confirmatory tests may include elevated serum tryptase levels or identification of the allergen through skin or blood tests after stabilization.

Treatment:
Immediate administration of intramuscular epinephrine is the primary treatment, followed by supportive measures such as oxygen, IV fluids, and antihistamines.

Medications:
Epinephrine (first-line treatment, adrenergic agonist), antihistamines like diphenhydramine (H1 antagonist) and ranitidine (H2 antagonist), corticosteroids like methylprednisolone (to reduce rebound inflammation).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Approximately 1.6–5% of the global population experiences anaphylaxis at some point in their lifetime.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
History of allergies, asthma, previous anaphylactic reactions, family history of anaphylaxis, exposure to triggers (foods, insect stings, medications).

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
With prompt treatment, most cases resolve without long-term complications. Delay in treatment can lead to fatal outcomes, including cardiac arrest or asphyxiation.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Airway obstruction, shock, cardiac arrest, prolonged hypoxia leading to brain injury, or biphasic anaphylaxis (recurrent symptoms after initial treatment).

Acute Severe Headache (e.g., Ruptured Aneurysm)

Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care

Category: Miscellaneous Emergencies

Sub-category: Pain Syndromes

Symptoms:
sudden, severe headache (thunderclap headache); nausea and vomiting; stiff neck; photophobia; altered mental status; seizures; neurological deficits (e.g., weakness, numbness)

Root Cause:
Rupture of a cerebral aneurysm leading to subarachnoid hemorrhage and increased intracranial pressure.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical evaluation, non-contrast CT scan of the head, lumbar puncture if CT is inconclusive, angiography for aneurysm localization.

Treatment:
Stabilization (airway, breathing, circulation), blood pressure management, neurosurgical intervention (e.g., clipping or coiling of the aneurysm), and critical care monitoring.

Medications:
Antihypertensive drugs (e.g., labetalol , nicardipine ) to manage blood pressure; anticonvulsants (e.g., levetiracetam ) to prevent seizures; calcium channel blockers (e.g., nimodipine ) to reduce the risk of vasospasm; pain relievers (e.g., acetaminophen ).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Approximately 1-2% of the population has an unruptured cerebral aneurysm; rupture incidence is about 6–10 per 100,000 people annually.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Hypertension, smoking, family history of aneurysms, connective tissue disorders, alcohol abuse, older age, female gender.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Variable; early treatment improves outcomes, but mortality rates remain high (up to 50%). Survivors may experience long-term neurological deficits.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Rebleeding, vasospasm, hydrocephalus, seizures, permanent neurological damage.

Acute Back Pain (e.g., Cauda Equina Syndrome)

Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care

Category: Miscellaneous Emergencies

Sub-category: Neurological Syndromes

Symptoms:
severe low back pain; saddle anesthesia; loss of bowel or bladder control; bilateral leg weakness or numbness; sciatica symptoms in both legs

Root Cause:
Compression of the cauda equina nerves, often due to a herniated disc, tumor, trauma, or infection.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical examination (checking for red flag symptoms), MRI of the lumbosacral spine, CT myelogram if MRI is unavailable.

Treatment:
Emergency surgical decompression (e.g., laminectomy, discectomy) within 24–48 hours of symptom onset to prevent permanent nerve damage.

Medications:
Pain management with NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen , naproxen ) or opioids (e.g., morphine ) for severe pain; corticosteroids (e.g., dexamethasone ) to reduce inflammation; antibiotics if caused by infection.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare, accounting for 2–6% of lumbar disc herniation cases; incidence is about 1 per 100,000 annually.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Spinal stenosis, severe lumbar disc herniation, trauma, spinal infections, tumors, previous back surgery.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good if treated promptly; delay in treatment can result in permanent bowel/bladder dysfunction and paralysis.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Permanent neurological deficits, chronic pain, bowel and bladder dysfunction, sexual dysfunction.

Airway Obstruction

Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care

Category: Miscellaneous Emergencies

Sub-category: Foreign Body Ingestion/Inhalation

Symptoms:
difficulty breathing; wheezing; choking; cyanosis (bluish skin); inability to speak; stridor (high-pitched breathing sound); unconsciousness in severe cases

Root Cause:
Blockage of the airway caused by foreign objects, swelling, trauma, or other obstructions that impede airflow to the lungs.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical evaluation based on symptoms, physical examination (e.g., visualizing the throat), imaging (e.g., X-ray, CT scan), and potentially bronchoscopy for direct visualization of the airway.

Treatment:
Immediate intervention to clear the obstruction (e.g., Heimlich maneuver, suctioning, or direct removal with instruments), oxygen therapy, and securing the airway through intubation or tracheostomy if necessary.

Medications:
Medications may include epinephrine (a bronchodilator for anaphylaxis), corticosteroids (to reduce airway swelling), and sedatives or anesthetics if endoscopy or surgery is required. Epinephrine - Adrenergic agonist for emergency relief in anaphylaxis. Corticosteroids - Anti-inflammatory drugs for swelling reduction. Bronchodilators - Beta-agonists (e.g., albuterol ) in cases of reactive airway obstruction.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Airway obstruction is a common cause of emergency visits, with thousands of cases annually, particularly in children under 3 and older adults with impaired swallowing reflexes.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Young children (tendency to place objects in their mouths), older adults (swallowing difficulties), eating while talking or laughing, and medical conditions like severe allergies or asthma.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Varies based on promptness of treatment; most cases resolve without long-term consequences if treated promptly. Delay in treatment can result in hypoxia, brain injury, or death.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Hypoxia, cardiac arrest, aspiration pneumonia, tracheal damage, and neurological damage from lack of oxygen.

Esophageal or Gastrointestinal Obstruction

Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care

Category: Miscellaneous Emergencies

Sub-category: Foreign Body Ingestion/Inhalation

Symptoms:
difficulty swallowing (dysphagia); chest pain; drooling; regurgitation; vomiting; abdominal pain; inability to pass gas or stool (in cases of complete obstruction)

Root Cause:
A blockage in the esophagus or gastrointestinal tract caused by ingested foreign objects, strictures, tumors, or impacted food.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical history, physical examination, imaging studies (X-ray, CT scan, or ultrasound), endoscopy for direct visualization. Contrast studies may be used in some cases.

Treatment:
Removal of the obstruction via endoscopy, surgery for severe cases, and supportive care such as IV fluids or pain management. If caused by food impaction, smooth muscle relaxants or enzymatic agents may be used.

Medications:
Glucagon - Smooth muscle relaxant to assist with food impaction. Proton pump inhibitors (e.g., omeprazole ) - Reduce acid and prevent mucosal damage in prolonged obstructions. Antiemetics (e.g., ondansetron ) - To control vomiting during treatment.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common among young children (due to foreign object ingestion) and adults with esophageal disorders such as strictures or motility issues.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Age (young children and elderly), neurological disorders, dental issues, alcohol intoxication, and eating too quickly.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good if treated promptly; delayed intervention can result in perforation, infection, or permanent damage to the gastrointestinal tract.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Perforation, infection (mediastinitis or peritonitis), aspiration pneumonia, esophageal stricture formation, or death in severe cases.