Directory of Diseases
A bursa is a soft, fluid-filled sac located in the body that acts as a cushion between muscles, bone, and skin. The olecranon bursa is located on top of the elbow. Bursa can become inflamed which is usually the result of injury or overuse. Although not serious, this condition can be painful and become chronic in nature.
An open or compound fracture is a broken bone that has been pushed through the surface of the skin. This is a very serious injury and needs to be seen immediately. You should call 911 or proceed to the nearest emergency department immediately!
Optic neuritis is an inflammation of the optic nerve, the bundle of nerve fibers in the eye that transmits visual information signals to your brain, that causes sudden loss of vision. This is often caused by an autoimmune disorder called multiple sclerosis. It most commonly occurs in women aged 20 to 40 years old. Vision usually improves on its own over weeks to months. Treatment often involves the use of steroids to quicken recovery. If one has a loss of vision, they should be evaluated by a physician immediately.
Oral thrush is a yeast infection of the mouth. It is usually caused by a yeast called candida albicans. Another name for oral thrush is oral candidiasis. If you have not had oral thrush before you may need additional testing and treatment with antifungal medicine. You should go to the ER or contact your primary Physician. In newborns, thrush usually resolves in 2 weeks and it is not dangerous. However, if your child is having pain or difficulty with feedings they must be seen immediately by going to the ER, Urgent Care Center, Pediatrician or Community Clinic.
The orbit is where the eyeball sits in the face. It is formed by multiple bones of the face. An orbital fracture occurs when one experiences trauma to the orbit resulting in a broken bone. They usually occur from trauma to the head or face such as being punched, falling onto the face, or smacking the face forcibly against a solid object. When an orbital fracture occurs, there is usually swelling and discoloration of the skin resulting in a "black eye". In severe fractures, muscles that move the eye can also become trapped between bone fragments making it difficult to move the eye in all directions. When this happens, one can have double vision. If you have experience trauma to your eye and have a big black eye, double vision, or severe tenderness, then you might have an orbital fracture. It is important to be evaluated by a physician immediately in an emergency department.
Orchitis is an infection of the testicle that causes swelling and pain in the testicles. The most common cause in adolescents and young adults is mumps, however, gonorrhea and chlamydia should be considered for those who are sexually active. Usually, only one testicle is involved. A rare complication is infertility especially when both testicles are involved.
This occurs when a foreign object gets stuck in your throat. Most people who have the sensation of something stuck in their throat have actually already swallowed the object or food. The reason one might feel this sensation is because the foreign body may scratch the throat while being passed causing one to feel residual soreness or irritation. One who feels that either food or an object stuck in their throat must have an in person evaluation in an Emergency Room.
Sometimes we can get dizziness or lightheadedness from standing up too quickly. This can be the result of a drop in blood pressure that occurs from standing or sitting up. When we stand up, gravity tries to drain the blood going to our head. The human body is just like a cylinder full of fluid. If you stand a container filled with fluid, all the liquid will go to the bottom. The same occurs if we stand up too quickly. Blood tries to go to your feet, but the body has built in reflexes to keep this from happening. The reflex that keeps blood going to the brain does not work well if we are dehydrated, take certain medications, have a weak heart, or have poor postural reflexes. When the amount of blood reaching our brain decreases, one can experience wooziness, dizziness, lightheadedness or feelings of fainting. Even though this condition is not life-threatening, anyone experiencing dizziness or lightheadedness should be evaluated in an Emergency Room as it may be due to a more serious cause.
Osgood Schlatter Disease is an injury seen in children and young adolescents that causes pain and tenderness just below the knee in the front of the lower leg (at the tibial tuberosity). It is usually the result of excessive exercise and "overuse," and most frequently happens to people who do a lot of jumping sports like basketball or volleyball. It is more common in boys and affects children 11-14 years old. This condition is not dangerous and usually is treated with rest and anti-inflammatory medications.
