Medical Overview Flashcards
Understand characteristics of different illnesses/diseases and trauma vs medical
Common respiratory emergencies
asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis
Common cardiovascular emergencies
Heart attacks (MI) or congestive heart failure (CHF)
Common neurologic emergencies
seizure, stroke, syncope
Common GI emergencies
appendicitis, diverticulitis, pancreatitis
Common urologic emergencies
kidney stones, bladder infection
Common endocrine emergencies
diabetes mellitus
Common hematologic emergencies
sickle cell disease, clotting disorders like hemophilia
Common immunologic emergencies
anaphylactic reactions
Common toxicologic emergencies
substance abuse; food, plant, or chemical poisoning
Common behavioral emergencies
Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, depression, suicide
Common gynecologic emergencies
vaginal bleeding, STDs, pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy
What is an infectious disease
medical condition caused by growth and spread of small, harmful organisms within the body
What is a communicable disease
disease that can be spread from one person or species to another
Describe an epidemic
occurs when new cases of a disease ina human population substantially exceed the number expected based on recent experience
How is influenza spread?
Transmitted by direct contact with nasal secretions and aerosolized droplets from coughing and sneezing by infected people
What is hepatitis?
inflammation and often infection of the liver
Describe signs of hepatitis
loss of appetitie, vomiting, fever, fatigue, sore throat, cough, and muscle/joint pain. Jaundice and URQ abdominal pain may develop several weeks later
How is hep A spread?
fecal-oral, infected food or drink
How is hep B spread?
blood, sexual contact, saliva, urine, breast milk
How is hep C spread?
blood, sexual contact
How is hep D spread?
blood, sexual contact
What is meningitis and what are the signs?
inflammation of meningeal coverings of brain and spinal cord. Key signs include fever, headache, stiff neck, and altered mental status
Signs of menigococcal meningitis
flu like symptoms, high fever, photophobia, severe headache, and stiff neck. May also have red blotches on skin
Signs and route of transmission of whooping cough
airbone disease caused by bacteria mostly in children under 6. Signs include fever and a whoop sound that occurs when patient tries to inhale after a coughing attack
What is MRSA and how is it spread?
MRSA is a bacterium that causes infections. Resistant to many antibiotics. In health care settings, MRSA is transmitted from patient to patient by health care providers’ unwashed hands
Signs of MRSA
may involve localized skin abscesses and sepsis with older patients
What is MERS-CoV?
virus commonly found in camels and bats in middle east. symptoms include high fever, cough, muscle aches, vomiting, and diarrhea. In some cases, renal and respiratory failure
What is Ebola?
Virus from West Africa . Incubation is 6-12 days with symptoms showing up to 21 days after infection. Symptoms include watery diarrhea, vomiting, body aches, fever, and bleeding
What is croup + key signs
upper airway infection, typically in toddlers. Stridor and seal bark-like cough key sign
Describe epiglottitis + signs
bacterial infection causing epiglottis to swell. mostly in infants and children. Often found in tripod +droooling
What is pneumonia
A general term to describe infection of the lungs. Causes impaired O2 + CO2 exhange
What is pertussis?
airborne bacterial infection affecting kids < 6. Fever and whoop sound on inspiration after coughing fit.
What is Cushing’s triad?
Irregular respirations, decreased heart rate, and widened pulse pressure. Symptoms indicative of increased intracranial pressure.
