Condition Lookup

Pediatric Sepsis

Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care

Sub-category: Infections

Symptoms:
fever or hypothermia; rapid heart rate; rapid breathing; altered mental state; low urine output; cold, clammy skin; pale or mottled appearance

Root Cause:
A systemic inflammatory response to infection leading to organ dysfunction, caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or other pathogens entering the bloodstream.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical evaluation; laboratory tests such as complete blood count (CBC), blood cultures, lactate levels, and inflammatory markers (e.g., CRP, procalcitonin); imaging studies to identify the infection source.

Treatment:
Immediate resuscitation with fluids, administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics, and management of organ dysfunction with oxygen, vasopressors, and sometimes dialysis or mechanical ventilation.

Medications:
Broad-spectrum antibiotics (e.g., ceftriaxone , piperacillin-tazobactam, or vancomycin ) are first-line treatments, often combined with antifungal (e.g., fluconazole ) or antiviral agents (e.g., acyclovir ) if indicated. Vasopressors like norepinephrine or dopamine may be used to stabilize blood pressure.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
A leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children, with approximately 75,000 cases annually in the U.S. and higher rates globally in low-resource settings.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Prematurity, weak immune systems, chronic illnesses, malnutrition, recent surgery, or central venous catheters.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Early identification and treatment improve survival rates; untreated or delayed treatment can lead to septic shock and multi-organ failure.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Septic shock, multi-organ failure, long-term neurological or developmental deficits, and death.

Osteomyelitis

Specialty: Orthopedics and Rheumatology

Category: Conditions with Overlap

Sub-category: Infections

Symptoms:
bone pain; swelling; redness over the affected area; fever; chills; fatigue; warmth over the infected bone

Root Cause:
An infection in the bone caused by bacteria or fungi, usually following trauma, surgery, or bloodstream infection.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosis typically involves a combination of physical examination, blood tests (elevated white blood cell count, ESR, CRP), imaging (X-rays, MRI, or bone scans), and bone biopsy or aspiration for culture.

Treatment:
Treatment usually requires both antibiotics and surgery. Antibiotics are given intravenously initially, followed by oral antibiotics. Surgery may be needed to drain abscesses or remove infected tissue.

Medications:
Antibiotics such as intravenous vancomycin (a broad-spectrum antibiotic) or ceftriaxone (a cephalosporin) are commonly used. Pain relief medications (NSAIDs or opioids) may also be prescribed.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Estimated to occur in 2 to 10 people per 100,000 annually in the general population. It is more common in children and elderly individuals.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Diabetes, recent bone trauma or surgery, compromised immune system, intravenous drug use, and presence of prosthetic devices.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
With prompt treatment, the prognosis is good, though chronic osteomyelitis may lead to long-term bone damage and recurrence of infection.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Chronic infection, bone deformities, amputation, or spread of infection to other parts of the body such as the bloodstream (sepsis).

Tuberculosis of the Spine (Pott’s Disease)

Specialty: Orthopedics and Rheumatology

Category: Conditions with Overlap

Sub-category: Infections

Symptoms:
back pain; fever; night sweats; weight loss; fatigue; difficulty moving or bending; neurological symptoms if nerves are affected

Root Cause:
A form of tuberculosis that affects the spine, typically caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It often spreads from the lungs via the bloodstream to the vertebrae, leading to bone destruction and abscess formation.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosis involves clinical evaluation, imaging (X-rays, MRI, CT scans), positive tuberculosis skin test (TST), blood tests (e.g., TB-PCR, culture), and biopsy of the infected vertebrae.

Treatment:
Treatment includes long-term antibiotic therapy (often a combination of anti-TB drugs) and sometimes surgical intervention to stabilize the spine and drain abscesses if necessary.

Medications:
First-line anti-TB drugs include isoniazid , rifampin , pyrazinamide , and ethambutol . In some cases, corticosteroids are prescribed to reduce inflammation.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Tuberculosis of the spine is a rare complication, with Pott's disease occurring in less than 1% of all TB cases. It is more common in individuals with compromised immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Active pulmonary tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, malnutrition, weakened immune system, and living in or traveling to areas with high rates of TB.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
With appropriate and prolonged treatment, the prognosis is generally good, but delayed treatment can lead to deformities, neurological impairment, or even paraplegia.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Spinal deformities (e.g., kyphosis), neurological damage, paraplegia, chronic pain, and recurrent infections.