Health Aware

Gaza – what is left to say?

Dr.Irham — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 11:28:38 +0000

Today, I went to the 7th Biennial Scientific Meeting Postgraduate Medical Education Society today at Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Star, Kedah. I was lucky to be there and listen to the talk of the very one and only Dr Ang Swee Chai, an orthopaedic surgeon. I am sure that many of us have heard of [...]

Ramsay Hunt Syndrome

Dr.Irham — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 10:57:34 +0000

Ramsay Hunt Syndrome is a recrudescent infection of herpes zoster (varicella zoster) which involves the sensory and/or motor component of the facial nerve (7th cranial nerve). The incidence is about 3-12% of all cases of facial paralysis in adult. In children, the incidence is about 5%. It is the second most common cause of acquired [...]

Torus palatines – a disease of palate

Dr.Irham — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:56:24 +0000

It presents as unilobular or multilobular bony protrusion usually found in the midline of the hard palate. Most cases of tori is less than 2 cm, however it subjects to change throughout the life. Females are more common to get affected compare to males. The etiology is unknown. Some studies believe that it is due to [...]

Meniere’s disease

Dr.Irham — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 22:35:13 +0000

Meniere’s disease is an idiopathic ear disorder that will results in balancing problem. Morphologically, there is swelling of the endolymphatic fluid compartment. This condition is also known as endolymphatic hydrops. The first symptoms usually present between the ages of 30 and 60 which peak incidence at 50 years old. Males and females are equally affected Meniere’s [...]

HALITOSIS – unpleasant odor to the breath

Dr.Irham — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 05:27:47 +0000

Halitosis is a condition where there is unpleasant odor of the breath. It is also known as oral malodor, breath odor, mouth odor, foul breath or fetor oris. No matter how many names it has, the widely use term is “bad breath”. Halitosis might sound simple, but it can significantly affect one’s life mentally and physically. According to some [...]

Mnemonic for pleural effusion

Dr.Irham — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 09:13:59 +0000

Causes of exudates pleural effusion = PINTS P = Pulmonary infarction I = Infection (e.g.: pneumonia, lung abscess, pancreatitis) N = Neoplasm T = Tuberculosis / Trauma S = Systemic disease (e.g.: rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), sarcoid, systemic sclerosis) Causes of transudates pleural effusion = CHARM C = Carditis / Cardiac failure H = Hypothyroidism A = hypoAlbuminaemia R = Renal failure M [...]

Mnemonic for gynaecomastia

Dr.Irham — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:59:17 +0000

Gynaecomastia is the development of abnormally large mammary glands in men which result in the enlargement of the breast. Drugs that causes gynaecomastia = DISCO MTV D = Digoxin I = Isoniazid S = Spirinolactone C = Cimetidine O = Oestrogens M = Methyldopa, Metronidazole T = TCAD (Tricyclic antidepressant drug) V = Verapamil

Pregnancy and bacteria vaginosis

Dr.Irham — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 11:17:31 +0000

50% of patients with bacteria vaginosis are asymptomatic and rarely cause any significant complication. However, intervention should be taken during pregnancy because it may cause adverse pregnancy outcomes. During pregnancy, bacteria vaginosis has been found to be associated with: Premature rupture of membranes Preterm labour Preterm birth Chorioamnionitis Postpartum endometritis Treatment is with: Oral metronidazole 400mg twice daily for 5-7 days or Oral [...]

Criteria use to diagnose bacteria vaginosis

Dr.Irham — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 23:10:34 +0000

Amsel’s Criteria Presence of any 3 of the 4 features: Homogenous, thin, white discharge that smoothly coats the vaginal wall “Clue cells” on microscopic examination Vaginal fluid pH>4.5 Fishy odour vaginal discharge before or after addition of 10% KOH (the Amine’s sniff test) Hay/Ison Criteria Grade Description 1 Normal Lactobacillus morphotypes predominate 2 Intermediate Mixed flora with some Lactobacilli present but Garnerella or Mobiluncus morphotypes are present as well 3 Bacterial [...]

Bacterial vaginosis / anaerobic vaginosis

Dr.Irham — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 10:58:02 +0000

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common cause of vaginal discharge other than candidiasis and normal physiological vaginal secretion which is found during ovulation, sexual excitement or pregnancy. BV is not an infection per say but rather a polymicrobial clinical syndrome. It results from the replacement of the normal hydrogen peroxide-producing Lactobacillus species in the vagina [...]

Mnemonic for cataract

Dr.Irham — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 11:08:23 +0000

Causes of cataract = CATARAct C = Congenital A = Aging T = Toxic (steroids, etc) A = Abnormal metabolism (diabetes mellitus, Wilson’s disease) R = Radiation A = Accidents

Mnemonic for lung fibrosis

Dr.Irham — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 12:07:46 +0000

Causes of upper lobe lung fibrosis = SCHART S = Silicosis, Sarcoidosis C = Coal worker’s pneumonoconiosis H = Histiocytosis X A = Ankylosing spondylitis, Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) R = Radiation T = Tuberculosis Causes of lower lobe lung fibrosis = RASIO R = Rheumatoid arthritis A = Asbestosis S = Scleroderma I = Idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis O = Others-drugs (busulphan, bleomycin, nitrofurantoin)

Screening criteria for TYPE 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM)

Dr.Irham — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 22:58:56 +0000

Anybody that falls into any of these categories is at risk to get T2DM. Screening is recommended. a. Individual with symptoms suggestive of diabetes b. Asymptomatic overweight individuals (age30 years old or more) with BMI > 23kg/m2 or Waist C ircumference (WC) 80cm or more (women) / WC > 90cm or more (men) with any of the following risk factors: Dyslipidemia [...]

Mnemonic for hypoparathyroidism

Dr.Irham — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 10:28:00 +0000

Causes of hypoparathyroidism = DRIPP D = Development disorder R = Reversible hypoparathyroidism I = Idiopathic / autoimmune P = Post surgical P = Post radiation

Mnemonic for Cushing syndrome

Dr.Irham — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 11:30:14 +0000

Causes of Cushing syndrome = CANE C = Cushing disease (ACTH secreting pituitary adenoma) A = Adrenal adenoma or adrenal carcinoma N = Nodular production of ACTH or CRH by tumor E = Exogenous intake of glucocorticoids 5 cardinal features of Cushing syndrome = POSEG P = Proximal myopathy O = Osteoporosis S = Skin atrophy / purple striae E = Easy bruising G = [...]

Sleep hygiene

Dr.Irham — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 02:14:03 +0000

No matter how busy you are, make sure that you spend some time to sleep! A lot of people ignore about their sleep hygiene. Well, I have no intention to blame anyone about sleep hygiene; I don’t think I am good at that as well. Maybe that is the scarification I need to do as a [...]

Mnemonic for hypocalcaemia

Dr.Irham — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 23:22:01 +0000

Causes of hypocalcaemia = CHVOPSTEK C = Citrate H = Hypoparathyroidism H =Hypomagnesemia H = Hypoalbuminaemia V = Vitamin D disorder O = Osteoblast activity (e.g.: tumor, “hungry bones”) P = Pseudohypoparathyroidism T = Treatment with calcitonin or mithramycin E = Excess phosphate K = Kidney disease Related topic: Mnemonic for hypercalcaemia

Mnemonic for hypercalcaemia

Dr.Irham — Sun, 30 May 2010 09:34:55 +0000

Causes of hypercalcaemia = SHIFT M S = Sarcoidosis and other granulomatous disease H = Hyperthyroidism, Hyperparathyroidism I = Immobilization F = Familial hypocaloric hypercalcaemia T = Tumor M = Medication (e.g.: thiazide, vitamin D, milk, alkali) Clinical features of hypercalcaemia = Bones, stones, groans, moans Bones Bone pain Pathological Osteitis fibrosa cystic Stones Nephrocalcinosis Renal stones Groans Peptic ulceration Pancreatitis Nausea, vomiting Muscle weakness Hypotonia Moans Depression Related topics: Mnemonic for hypocalcaemia

Mnemonic for causes of parkinsonism

Dr.Irham — Sat, 29 May 2010 09:24:03 +0000

Causes of parkinsonism = IDIOPATT I = Idiopathic D = Drugs (e.g.: phenothiazine, methyldopa) I = Infection such as syphilis O = Others (e.g.: Wilson disease, Shy Dragger Syndrome) P = Post encephalitis (rare now) A = Arteriosclerosis T = Tumor such as giant frontal meniongioma T = Toxin such as carbon monoxide Other related sites: Hoehm Yahr staging for parkinsonism Mnemonic for features of parkinson

What life is

Dr.Irham — Fri, 28 May 2010 09:23:10 +0000

LIFE is a challenge… Meet it! LIFE is a gift… Accept it! LIFE is an adventure… Dare it! LIFE is a sorrow… Overcome it! LIFE is a duty… Perform it! LIFE is a game… Play it! LIFE is a tragedy… Face it! LIFE is a puzzle… Solve it! LIFE is a song… Sing it! LIFE is an opportunity… Take it! LIFE is a journey… Complete [...]