Comprehensive Symptom Navigator

Frostbite

Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care

Category: Environmental and Exposure-Related Conditions

Sub-category: Heat and Cold Injuries

Symptoms:
numbness; tingling; pale or waxy skin; blisters; hardened or blackened skin in severe cases; loss of sensation in the affected area

Root Cause:
Freezing of skin and underlying tissues due to prolonged exposure to cold temperatures, resulting in ice crystal formation in cells.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosis is clinical, based on visual examination of the affected area, patient history of cold exposure, and imaging (e.g., X-ray or MRI) to assess tissue damage in severe cases.

Treatment:
Rapid rewarming in warm water (98.6°F to 102.2°F or 37°C to 39°C), pain management, wound care, and sometimes surgical intervention (e.g., debridement or amputation).

Medications:
Analgesics (e.g., ibuprofen ) for pain and inflammation; thrombolytics (e.g., tissue plasminogen activator) or vasodilators (e.g., iloprost ) in severe cases to improve blood flow.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Occurs in individuals exposed to freezing temperatures, particularly those engaging in outdoor activities in cold environments.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Prolonged cold exposure, inadequate clothing, smoking, diabetes, poor circulation, and dehydration.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Mild frostbite often heals completely with proper care; severe frostbite can lead to permanent tissue damage, amputation, or disability.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Infection, gangrene, nerve damage, and loss of digits or limbs.

Diabetic Neuropathy (Peripheral)

Specialty: Diabetes and Endocrinology

Category: Diabetes Mellitus and Related Disorders

Sub-category: Diabetes-Related Complications

Symptoms:
numbness; tingling; burning pain; loss of sensation; weakness in the feet and hands

Root Cause:
Chronic high blood sugar damages peripheral and autonomic nerves by disrupting blood supply and oxidative stress mechanisms.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical examination, nerve conduction studies, electromyography (EMG), and tests for autonomic function (e.g., heart rate variability).

Treatment:
Blood sugar control, pain management, and supportive therapies for specific symptoms.

Medications:
For pain relief - pregabalin (anticonvulsant), duloxetine (SNRI), or gabapentin (anticonvulsant). For gastroparesis - metoclopramide (prokinetic agent). For autonomic symptoms - midodrine for orthostatic hypotension; bethanechol for urinary retention.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 50% of individuals with diabetes.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Long duration of diabetes, poor glycemic control, obesity, smoking, and hypertension.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Symptoms may improve with tight glycemic control, but nerve damage is often irreversible.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Foot ulcers, infections, amputations, cardiovascular complications, and reduced quality of life.

Entrapment Neuropathies (e.g., Carpal Tunnel Syndrome)

Specialty: Neurology

Category: Peripheral Nervous System Disorders

Symptoms:
tingling; numbness; pain in the affected nerve distribution; weakness in the hand or fingers (for carpal tunnel)

Root Cause:
Compression or entrapment of a nerve within anatomical structures, often due to repetitive use, trauma, or inflammation.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical history, physical exams (e.g., Tinel's sign, Phalen's maneuver), electromyography (EMG), and imaging (e.g., ultrasound or MRI).

Treatment:
Splinting, rest, physical therapy, corticosteroid injections, and, in severe cases, surgical decompression.

Medications:
Medications include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids (oral or injectable), and in some cases, anticonvulsants like gabapentin .

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Carpal tunnel syndrome affects about 3-6% of adults; other entrapment neuropathies are less common.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Repetitive wrist movements, obesity, pregnancy, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and hypothyroidism.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Often resolves with treatment; surgery is highly effective if conservative measures fail.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Permanent nerve damage, muscle atrophy, and chronic pain if untreated.

Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathy

Specialty: Oncology

Category: Sarcomas

Sub-category: Treatment-Related Complications

Symptoms:
numbness; tingling; pain in hands or feet; weakness; balance problems; sensitivity to touch; loss of reflexes

Root Cause:
Damage to peripheral nerves due to chemotherapy agents, especially those that interfere with microtubules, like taxanes or platinum compounds.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical evaluation based on symptoms, neurological exam, and sometimes electromyography (EMG) or nerve conduction studies to assess nerve function.

Treatment:
Discontinuation or dose adjustment of the offending chemotherapy agent, use of medications to manage symptoms (e.g., gabapentin, pregabalin), physical therapy for strength and balance, and occupational therapy.

Medications:
Gabapentin (an anticonvulsant used to treat nerve pain), Pregabalin (similar to gabapentin , used to treat neuropathic pain), Duloxetine (a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor for neuropathic pain), and Lidocaine patches (used topically for localized pain). These medications are classified as pain relievers, anticonvulsants, and antidepressants.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
This affects up to 40-70% of patients receiving certain chemotherapy drugs, particularly those used in the treatment of breast cancer, lymphoma, and sarcomas.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
High cumulative dose of chemotherapy agents like paclitaxel, cisplatin, or vincristine, pre-existing neuropathy, and age.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Neuropathy may improve or resolve after chemotherapy completion, but in some cases, it can be permanent or progressive.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Persistent pain, loss of function, risk of falls, and reduced quality of life.

Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning

Specialty: Toxicology

Category: Biological and Natural Toxins

Sub-category: Foodborne and Natural Toxins

Symptoms:
numbness; tingling; dizziness; weakness; paralysis; respiratory distress; difficulty swallowing; nausea; vomiting

Root Cause:
Toxins (saxitoxins) produced by certain marine algae accumulate in shellfish (e.g., clams, mussels, oysters), leading to poisoning after consumption.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosis is based on clinical presentation and history of shellfish consumption from affected areas. Laboratory tests can detect saxitoxins in shellfish, blood, or urine.

Treatment:
There is no specific antidote. Treatment is supportive, including respiratory support (e.g., mechanical ventilation) in severe cases. Activated charcoal may be used if ingestion is recent.

Medications:
No specific medications are used, but supportive care involves fluids, respiratory support, and sometimes atropine for bradycardia. Antihistamines and antiemetics may be used for mild cases.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Occurs primarily in coastal regions where shellfish harvesting occurs. Prevalence can vary depending on local algal blooms.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Consumption of shellfish during bloom seasons when high levels of toxins are present.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
The prognosis depends on the severity of symptoms. Most individuals recover within hours to days if treated promptly.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
In severe cases, respiratory failure, paralysis, or death can occur due to respiratory muscle paralysis.

Anesthetic toxicity (e.g., lidocaine, bupivacaine)

Specialty: Toxicology

Category: Adverse Effects of Therapeutics and Medical Agents

Sub-category: Iatrogenic Conditions

Symptoms:
numbness; tingling; seizures; dizziness; difficulty breathing; arrhythmias; cardiovascular collapse; confusion

Root Cause:
Overdose or unintended systemic absorption of local anesthetics leading to central nervous system and cardiovascular toxicity.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosis is based on clinical presentation and history of recent local anesthetic administration; blood levels of the anesthetic can confirm toxicity.

Treatment:
Immediate discontinuation of the anesthetic, intravenous lipid emulsion therapy, supportive care (oxygen, airway management, and monitoring), and anticonvulsants for seizures (e.g., benzodiazepines).

Medications:
Medications include intravenous lipid emulsion therapy (as a treatment to counteract toxicity), anticonvulsants like lorazepam or diazepam (sedatives and anticonvulsants), and vasopressors (such as epinephrine) if required for managing cardiovascular symptoms.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare, but incidence is higher in patients with high doses or when multiple injections are administered, especially in high-risk procedures.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
High doses of local anesthetics, accidental intravenous injection, renal or hepatic insufficiency, prolonged duration of anesthesia, and use of multiple anesthetics simultaneously.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Typically reversible with appropriate treatment; mortality is rare but possible with delayed or inadequate intervention.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Seizures, cardiovascular collapse, neurological deficits, arrhythmias, and in extreme cases, death.

HIV-Associated Distal Painful Sensorimotor Polyneuropathy

Specialty: Infectious Diseases

Category: HIV and Nutrition

Symptoms:
pain and burning sensations in the feet and hands; numbness; tingling; loss of reflexes; muscle weakness

Root Cause:
Damage to peripheral nerves caused by direct HIV infection, immune-mediated mechanisms, or antiretroviral therapy (e.g., dideoxynucleoside analogs).

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical examination, history of HIV infection, nerve conduction studies, electromyography (EMG), and exclusion of other causes of neuropathy.

Treatment:
Pain management, discontinuation of offending antiretroviral drugs if applicable, physical therapy, and addressing nutritional deficiencies.

Medications:
Medications include anticonvulsants such as gabapentin or pregabalin , antidepressants like amitriptyline or duloxetine , and topical agents like capsaicin cream. Pain relief may also involve opioids in severe cases.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 30%-60% of people living with HIV, particularly in advanced stages of the disease.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Advanced HIV infection, use of neurotoxic antiretroviral drugs, poor nutritional status, diabetes, and alcohol use.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Symptoms may persist despite treatment, but early intervention can reduce severity and improve quality of life. Progression depends on HIV management and associated comorbidities.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Chronic pain, decreased mobility, falls, and diminished quality of life.