Guidelines issued for diagnosing minimally conscious states
New Yorkers who suffer brain injuries may fall into vegetative or minimally conscious states. For people who have prolonged periods of problems with consciousness, getting the proper diagnosis is vital for their chances of recovery. Now, guidelines have been released for the proper diagnosis of people who are in minimally conscious or vegetative states.
Facts about hand, foot and mouth disease
New York residents and others may have heard of something called hand, foot and mouth disease. It is an ailment that causes symptoms such as a rash, fever and blisters. It can also cause a person to feel tired for several days. While the symptoms generally go away after a few days, children can remain contagious for several weeks after this happens. Generally, the condition afflicts young children, but is possible for adults to get it too.
Abdominal X-rays may do more harm than good
Doctors in New York and around the country are increasingly discouraging the practice of taking X-rays when children have abdominal pain. Overall, the practice of medicine changes with the evolution of science and the collection of evidence that points to a particular treatment method. However, while it is highly uncommon for doctors in adult emergency medicine to give an X-ray to patients who arrive complaining of abdominal pain, they are commonly given to pediatric patients.
A rapid and accurate diagnosis is crucial for stroke victims
The effects of a debilitating stroke can be greatly reduced when patients in New York and around the country receive thrombosis quickly. Thrombosis, which is also known as thrombolytic therapy, breaks down blood clots to relive pressure on the brain. However, accurately identifying stroke victims can be difficult for even experienced emergency room doctors as several other conditions present similar symptoms. Doctors at the Helsinki University Hospital studied 1,015 cases involving possible stroke victims to determine whether or not the pressure to generate a speedy diagnosis was affecting their accuracy, and they discovered that only two of these patients received thrombosis unnecessarily.
New tool can help diagnose breast cancer
Although breast cancer is among the most common form of cancer among woman, it is possible to treat the cancer and survive. However, some patients in New York and elsewhere have lesions that are hard to detect, which can make it harder to treat in time. A project called MAMMA is turning to computers to help find those lesions and obtain positive outcomes for patients.
Study says penicillin misdiagnosis can lead to infection
Penicillin is a common ingredient used in medication at clinics and hospitals across New York. Unfortunately, it isn’t uncommon to see patients with a serious allergy to penicillin. Allergic reactions caused by penicillin can have major health consequences, so it’s incumbent on medical professionals to confirm or rule out a penicillin allergy before prescribing it. Now, there are additional reasons to rule out a penicillin allergy.
PMF and Gaucher: similar symptoms can cause misdiagnosis
New York has many experienced and respected doctors, but no medical professional is immune to making mistakes. A medical case from Europe that spanned over 20 years illustrates the problems that can be caused by a misdiagnosis. In this case, two diseases, Gaucher disease and myelofibrosis, were confused.
Symptoms of Merkel cell carcinoma
When a New York patient suddenly finds a new growth on their skin, they should seek immediate attention to rule out any potentially deadly cancers, such as Merkel cell carcinoma. This rare cancer first appears as a nodule on the skin that may be skin-colored or bluish-red in color. While they usually first appear on the head, neck or face, they can spread to other parts of the body quickly if they are not dealt with in a timely manner.
Doctors less likely to detect heart disease in women
The medical community in New York does a better job of diagnosing and treating heart disease in men than in women. This disparity results from gender-based differences in symptoms and variations in cardiovascular disease between the sexes.
Cardiomyopathy, disease of the heart muscle
Busy people in New York might be aware of the risks of different types of cardiovascular disease; risks can be increased in people with hectic lifestyles, smokers or people who don’t follow a healthy diet. Cardiomyopathy, disease of the heart muscle, is a lesser-known heart condition that can be dangerous, especially because people who have it sometimes don’t notice any symptoms.