Know what your doctor is doing (a guide to common health problems)

Hello bloggers. It is a pretty morning here. So well it is cold in here and I am suffering from tonsillitis. It's very disturbing you know, not being able to swallow or talk properly. Anyways, so I came up with the idea of writing about commonly occurring health problems, so that we all can understand what's going on in the doctor's chamber.

So lets start.

Pharyngitis

It can be caused by a number of pathogens. Viruses and group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus are the most common etiologies. Viral causes include influenza, adenovirus, herpes conplex etc. It is difficult to distinguish between strep throat and pharyngitis.

Symptoms-Tonsillar enlargement and exudate formation are non specific signs. Exudate pharyngitis associated with fever >101°F, leukocytosis, and absence of cough are clinically suggestive of a streptococcal etiology.
Viral pharyngitis is often associated with other URI symptoms.

Treatment- Doctor will treat symptoms with aspirin or acetaminophen,anesthetic spray or tablets and salt-water gargles.

In case of viruses they treat symptoms only.

In case of Beta-Hemolytic streptococci they may use PCN VK 250mg PO qid for 10 days or benzathine PCN G 1.2 million units IM in 1 dose. Erythromycin 250 mg PO qid for 10 days maybe used in PCN-allergic patiets.

In case of gonococci they use spectinomycin 2gm IM in a single dose once, or cefoxitin 2gm IM or cefotaxime 1gm IM either with probenecid 1gm PO in a single dose.

Acute sinusitis

Pneumococci and H. Influenzae are the most frequent pathogens. Anaerobes may occasionally cause sinusitis complicating dental infections.

Fever, headache, purulent nasal discharge are the usual symptoms.

Treatment is with ampicillin 500mg PO qid for 10 days, TMP/SMX 1 DS tablet for 10 days and decongestants.

External otitis

It isa superficial infection of the auditory canal marked by discomfort exacerbated by gentle pulling on the ear lobe. Pseudomonas sp. are the usual pathogens.

Doctors may treat it with combination antibiotic drops (neomycin, polymycin, hydrocortisone), 4 or 5 drops tid-qid for 7 to 10 days. If the canal is swollen, a cotton wick saturated with 50% Burrow's solution.

parasitic disease

Ascaris lumbricoides

Treated with Mebendazole 100mg for 3 days, pyrantel pamoate 11mg/kg once or piperazine citrate 75g/kg for 2 days.

scabies

Treated with 10% Crotamiton or lindane topically once.

tapeworms

Niclosamide 2 gm chewed in a single dose, praziquantel 10-20 mg/kg once or paromomycin 1gm q15min, 4 times.

In case of Echinococcus granulosus or E. multilocularis surgical excision required

Trichomas vaginalis

Treated with mebendazole 100mg for 3 days.

Malaria

Caused by Plasmodium faciparum, P. Vivax, P. Ovale, P. Malariae

Trated with chloroquine phosphate 600mg base (1gm) then 300mg base in 6 hours, then 300mg base qd for 2 days.
In some cases, Quinine dihydrochloride 600mg in 300ml NS IV over 2-4 hours, repeat in 8 hours until oral therapy can be started.

Treatment for chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum:

Quinine sulfate 650mg for 3 days plus pyrimethamine 25mg for 3 days plus sulfadiazine 500mg for 5 days or quinine sulfate 650mg for 3 days plus tetracycline 250mg for 7 days.

To prevent relapses doctors may use Primaquine phosphate 15mg base qd for 14 days or 45mg base/week for 8 weeks.

to be continued

P.S- the picture is taken from www.freepik.com