Common Diseases, Conditions, and Injuries

Disease, Signs and Symptoms, Etiology, Diagnosis, Treatment

Cellulitis

Signs and Symptoms

• Skin of the affected area is swollen, red, and hot to the touch

Etiology

• Bacteria (typically Streptococcus or Staphylococcus) enters the skin through cuts or abrasions and causes infection of connective tissue with severe inflammation of the skin

Diagnosis

• Physical exam, wound culture and blood tests can confirm bacterial etiology

Treatment

• Resting the area, cutting away dead tissue if needed, antibiotics

Dermatitis

Signs and Symptoms

• Red, itchy rash that may include blisters or oily scales

Etiology

• Allergic reactions to a specific allergen leading to inflammation of a region of the skin

Diagnosis

• Physical examination

Treatment

• Moisturizers, steroid creams

Eczema

Signs and Symptoms

• Red, itchy skin, or vesicular lesions (blisters) that may crust over

Etiology

• Believed to be caused by hereditary and environmental factors leading to inflammatory skin disease

Diagnosis

• Physical examination

Treatment

• Mild, fragrance-free soap and moisturizers, steroid creams, and antihistamines

Skin cancer: basal cell

Signs and Symptoms

• Waxy bump or skin sore that does not heal within two months and continues to grow over time

Etiology

• Damage to DNA of basal cells caused by ultraviolet B (UVB) exposure from the sun and tanning beds

Diagnosis

• Physical examination and biopsy, early diagnosis is vital

Treatment

• Surgical excision, liquid nitrogen freezing or curretage

Skin cancer: melanoma

Signs and Symptoms

• A skin mole with specific characteristics: asymmetry (irregular shape), border (rough, irregular), color (nonuniform), diameter (more than ¼ inch)

Etiology

• Excessive exposure to UVB rays

Diagnosis

• Physical examination and biopsy, early diagnosis is vital

Treatment

• Surgery and radiation

Sprain

Signs and Symptoms

• Painful swelling or bruising of a joint area with decreased mobility

Etiology

• The joint being pushed outside of its normal range of motion, leading to joint and ligament damage

Diagnosis

• Physical examination with imaging

Treatment

• Rest, ice, compression, elevation

Osteoporosis

Signs and Symptoms

• Typically, there are no symptoms, severe disease can lead to increased fractures and back pain

Etiology

• Many factors including malnutrition, inadequate calcium intake/absorption, endocrine disorders, immobilization and lack of exercise, and aging can lead to bone loss, making bone weaker and more prone to fracture

Diagnosis

• Measuring bone mineral density using a DEXA scan

Treatment

• Medications can slow bone loss and reduce the risk of fracture

Osteoarthritis

Signs and Symptoms

• Pain with movement in a specific joint, stiffness in joint following periods of inactivity, lack of flexibility

Etiology

• Degeneration (breakdown) of articular cartilage and changes in the synovial membrane

Diagnosis

• History, physical examination, and imaging

Treatment

• Physical therapy, exercise, and steroid injections can help relieve symptoms

• Joint replacement may be needed if severe enough

Rheumatoid arthritis

Signs and Symptoms

• Systemic joint disorder typically starting with pain and decreased mobility in the smaller joints, such as fingers, before progressing to larger joints, such as knees and hipps

Etiology

• Autoimmune disorder leading to changes in the connective tissues of the body, especially in the joints

Diagnosis

• Physical examination, blood tests, and imaging

Treatment

• Physical therapy for mobility, medication to manage pain and inflammation

Gout

Signs and Symptoms

• Red, hot, swollen joint - most common in the big toe

Etiology

• Excessive accumulation of uric acid in a joint, forming needle-like crystals in the joint

Diagnosis

• Aspiration of the joint to obtain and identify the crystals at a microscopic level

Treatment

• Anti-inflammatory medications and dietary adjustments

Muscular dystrophy

Signs and Symptoms

• Chronic and progressive muscle weakness leading to eventual paralysis of muscle groups

Etiology

• Inherited or spontaneous mutation in one of the genes involved with protecting muscles fibers from damage

Diagnosis

• Patient history, physical exams, muscle enzyme tests, electromyography, muscle biopsy, and genetic testing

Treatment

• Physical therapy, ambulatory devices, and medications to alleviate symptoms

Myopathy

Signs and Symptoms

• Muscle weakness, cramps, stiffness, spasms, and tetany

Etiology

• Can result from many different disease processes

Diagnosis

• Based on symptoms, focus is on understanding the underlying cause

Treatment

• Treatment is dependent on the underlying cause, physical therapy, medication therapy, support bracing, surgery, and massage may all help

Myalgia

Signs and Symptoms

• Muscle pain (broad term)

Etiology

• Several causes: traumatic injury, viral infection, overuse or overstretching of muscle group, medications and vaccines

Diagnosis

• Based on symptoms, focus is on understanding the underlying cause

Treatment

• Treatment is dependent on the underlying cause, targeted symptomatic treatment includes massage, heat or cold therapy, and medications for pain and muscle relaxants

Repetitive stress disorder (RSD)

Signs and Symptoms

• Pain, tingling, numbness, swelling, redness, loss of flexibility, and muscle weakness

Etiology

• Repetitive tasks, forceful, exertions, vibrations, mechanical compression and sustained uncomfortable positions causes by RSD

Diagnosis

• Physical examination, patient history, and imaging

Treatment

• Early treatment: anti-inflammatory medications, rest, splinting, and massage

• Severe: surgery

Shin splint

Signs and Symptoms

• Pain and swelling in the lower leg

Etiology

• Repeated stress of the tibia and connective tissues

Diagnosis

• Physical examinations and patient history

Treatment

• RICE and surgery if severe enough

Anemia

Signs and Symptoms

• Fatigue, dizziness, cold extremities, headache, irregular heartbeat

Etiology

• Blood loss, dysfunction in the creation of hemoglobin, excessive destruction of red blood cells

Diagnosis

• Blood test

Treatment

• Blood transfusion, iron or vitamin k supplementations

Atherosclerosis

Signs and Symptoms

• Chest pain, transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), peripheral artery disease, and kidney dysfunction

Etiology

• Hardening of the arteries due to fatty deposits causing narrowing of vessels potentially due to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, and other diseases

Diagnosis

• Physical exams, medical history, blood tests, doppler ultrasound, EKG, stress test, angiogram, CT or MRI

Treatment

• Healthy diet, increased exercise, medications (cholesterol meds, beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, blood thinners, diuretics, calcium channel blockers), angioplasty, stents, endarterectomy, or bypass surgery

Congestive heart failure

Signs and Symptoms

• Fatigue, peripheral edema, shortness of breath

Etiology

• The heart’s decreased ability to pump adequately due to coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, cardiomyopathy, valvular disease, or heart defects

Diagnosis

• Medical history, physical examination, blood tests, EKG, echocardiogram, and chest x-ray

Treatment

• Weight loss, controlling blood pressure, ACE inhibitors, and beta blockers

Hemophilia

Signs and Symptoms

• Excessive bleeding, frequent bruising

Etiology

• An absence of clotting factors in the blood as the result of a genetic defect

Diagnosis

• Family history, physical examination, and blood tests

Treatment

• Replacement therapy to slowly infuse clotting factors into a vein

Hypertension

Signs and Symptoms

• Higher than normal blood pressure, headaches, irregular heart rhythms, vision changes, or chest pain

Etiology

• Genetics, smoking, obesity, stress, too much salt intake

Diagnosis

• Consistently high blood pressure over 2 or 3 office visits over the course of 1-4 weeks

Treatment

• Medications, weight management, healthy diet, and stress reduction

Myocardial infarction (MI or heart attack)

Signs and Symptoms

• Acute chest pain, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, and profuse sweating

Etiology

• Cardiac muscles becomes ischemic and dies, typically, due to occlusion of the cardiac muscle because of atherosclerosis of the coronary artery

Diagnosis

• EKG and blood tests

Treatment

• Fibrinolytic agents, diagnostic angiogram, stenting, and bypass surgery if severe enough

Acute renal failure

Signs and Symptoms

• Decreased urine output, fluid retention, fatigue, shortness of breath, confusion, and nausea

Etiology

• Direct damage to the kidneys or other causes leading to a sudden change where the kidneys can no longer filter blood effectively, leading to dangerous levels of toxic waste in the body

Diagnosis

• Observation of urine output, blood tests, urinalysis, and imaging

Treatment

• Correcting the underlying causes, medications, and hemodialysis in the setting of severe disease

Chronic renal failure

Signs and Symptoms

• Early stages: no symptoms

• Late stages: high blood pressure, feeling generally ill and fatigued

Etiology

• Chronic and progressive disease in which the kidneys cannot adequately filter blood due to many potential factors including diabetes, high blood pressure, and glomerulonephritis (inflammation of glomeruli, kidney blood vessels that acts as a filter for blood)

Diagnosis

• Blood test

Treatment

• Controlling blood pressure or hemodialysis (a machine and filter to clean the blood when kidneys fail)

Renal calculi (kidney stones)

Signs and Symptoms

• Severe episodes of back and side pain, pain with urination

• Dark or foul-smelling urine, nausea, frequent urination, fever, chills

Etiology

• Hard crystalline deposits forming in the urine due to abnormally high levels of minerals and acid salts in the body

Diagnosis

• Blood tests, urine tests, and imaging

Treatment

• Drinking water, pain relievers, and shock wave therapy in the form of lithotripsy to help break down and blush out the stones through urination

Urinary incontinence

Signs and Symptoms

• Leakage of urine

Etiology

• Loss of bladder control leading to leakage of urine, sometimes triggered by coughing, lifting, or sneezing

Diagnosis

• Urinalysis, medical history, physical exam

Treatment

• Kegel exercises to strengthen muscles that control the bladder or surgery (bladder sling)

Urinary tract infection (UTI)

Signs and Symptoms

• Persistent urge to urinate, burning with urination, strong smelling cloudy urine, pelvic or flank pain

Etiology

• Infection in the urinary system most commonly caused by E. coli

Diagnosis

• Urinalysis, urine cultures, and imaging

Treatment

• Antibiotics

Appendicitis

Signs and Symptoms

• Pain in the lower, right abdomen, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal swelling, fever

Etiology

• Inflammation in the appendix due to blockage of the opening to the appendix, leading to rapidly multiplying bacteria in the appendix

Diagnosis

• Patient history, blood and urine tests, imaging

Treatment

• Surgical removal of the appendix

Celiac disease

Signs and Symptoms

• Anemia, diarrhea, gas, bloating, weight loss, fatigue

Etiology

• Immune response triggered by gluten leading to damage of the small intestine and an inability to absorb nutrients

Diagnosis

• Physical exam, medical history, blood tests, antibody tests, and endoscopy with biopsy

Treatment

• Avoid gluten in any form

Colorectal cancer

Signs and Symptoms

• Early stages: no symptoms

• Late stages: symptoms are nonspecific but can include fatigue, irregular bowel movements, blood in feces, cramps, bloating, and weight loss

Etiology

• Cancer of the colon

• Risk factors: high-fat diet, family history, and inflammatory bowel disease

Diagnosis

• Colonoscopy or barium enema (an x-ray test that uses chalky metallic fluid called barium to create clear images of the colon and rectum)

Treatment

• Early stages: surgical removal of cancer cells

• Advanced stage: chemotherapy

Diverticulosis

Signs and Symptoms

• Asymptomatic unless inflamed

• When inflamed, it is termed diverticulitis: pain in lower left abdomen, fever, chills, nausea, vomiting

Etiology

• Pouchlike herniations through the muscular wall of the colon caused by high pressure inside the colon pressing against weak areas of the colon wall

Diagnosis

• Typically discovered through colonoscopy

Treatment

• When inflamed, antibiotics are used for treatment

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Signs and Symptoms

• Heartburn, nausea after eating, difficulty swallowing

Etiology

• Lower esophageal sphincter muscle dysfunction leading to stomach contents leaking back up the esophagus

Diagnosis

• Upper endoscopy, tests to measure amount of acid in the esophagus

Treatment

• Lifestyle/dietary changes, antacids, surgery for severe cases

Acute respiratory distress (ARDS)

Signs and Symptoms

• Shortness of breath, low blood pressure, and rapid breathing (following an injury)

Etiology

• Fluid buildup in the alveoli blocks oxygen from passing into the bloodstream following an acute injury, typically in those who are already critically ill or have had previous traumatic injuries

Diagnosis

• Arterial blood gas analysis, chest x-ray

Treatment

• Oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation, and antibiotics

Asthma

Signs and Symptoms

• Wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing

Etiology

• Airway inflammation causes lining of air passages to swell and tighten, leading to a reduction in the amount of air that can pass into and out of the lungs

Diagnosis

• Pulmonary function tests

Treatment

• Medications, both inhaled and taken orally

Bronchitis

Signs and Symptoms

• Shortness of breath, fever, chills, fatigue, coughing, and production of mucus

Etiology

• Acute: caused by viral illnesses such as colds and flu

• Chronic: smoking

Diagnosis

• Physical exams in which the lungs are listened to via stethoscope, chest x-ray, pulmonary function tests

Treatment

• Acute: typically resolves without intervention

• Chronic: respiratory therapy

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Signs and Symptoms

• Chest tightness, productive cough, wheezing, shortness of breath with activity

Etiology

• Disease in which airflow into and out of the lungs is blocked, usually due to a combination of bronchitis and emphysema

Diagnosis

• Patient history, pulmonary function tests, chest x-ray, and CT scan

Treatment

• Smoking cessation, medication, and oxygen therapy

Rhinitis

Signs and Symptoms

• Sneezing, coughing, runny nose, watering eyes, pressure in ears

Etiology

• Irritation and inflammation of the mucous membrane in the nose, along with excessive production of mucus

• Allergic rhinitis is triggered by allergens in the air

Diagnosis

• Physical exam, allergists can help determine cause of allergic rhinitis

Treatment

• Antihistamines and corticosteroids

Alzheimer’s disease

Signs and Symptoms

• Memory loss, impaired judgement or language, inability to perform daily activities, inability to reason, paranoia, and agitation

Etiology

• Most common form of progressive dementia caused by progressive destruction on brain cells

Diagnosis

• No definitive diagnostic testing available, diagnosis relies on medical history, physical exams, cognitive testing, brain scans, and lab tests

Treatment

• No available treatment to cure the disease, focus of care is on symptom management while ensuring the patient is comfortable, safe, and otherwise physically healthy

Cerebral concussion

Signs and Symptoms

• Distorted vision, headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to light or noise, inability to concentrate

Etiology

• Caused by traumatic injury to the brain

Diagnosis

• Physical and neurological exam

Treatment

• Observation and rest for seven to ten days

Sciatica

Signs and Symptoms

• Pain radiating from lumbar spine to the buttocks and down the back of the leg, pain can be a dull ache or sharp and burning sensation

Etiology

• Occurs from compression of the sciatic nerve, typically due to a herniated disc, bone spur, or tumor

Diagnosis

• Medical testing of muscle strength and reflexes, imaging

Treatment

• Muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, corticosteroids

Cerebrovascular accident (CVA aka stroke)

Signs and Symptoms

• Symptoms vary depending on the area of the brain impacted, but general symptoms are associated with the acronym FAST: facial muscle weakness, arm droop, speech abnormalities, time (occurs suddenly, treatment options limited by how quickly care can be initiated)

Etiology

• Caused by a decrease in blood supply to the brain or rupture of a blood vessel in the brain

Diagnosis

• Neurologic examination, CT or MRI scan, Doppler ultrasound, or arteriography

Treatment

• Immediate treatment involves restoring blood to the brain or reducing pressure on the brain (depending on the cause), long-term treatment focuses on rehabilitation for quality of life

Shingles

Signs and Symptoms

• Blisters and pain on the skin in a bandlike pattern that follows the path of the affected nerves

Etiology

• Caused by the varicella zoster virus (also causes chicken pox!), the virus can lie dormant for years following an infection of chicken pox, then reappear as shingles

Diagnosis

• History, location of pain, and pattern for rash

Treatment

• Antiviral medications increase rate of healing, pain relievers for symptom management

Cushing syndrome

Signs and Symptoms

• Excessive fat deposits in the subscapular area and face

Etiology

• Most often caused by overuse of oral corticosteroids medications, can also be caused by hypersecretion of glucocorticoids from the adrenal cortex

Diagnosis

• Indication of high blood pressure, loss of muscle mass, glucose intolerance, and weight gain

Treatment

• Medications to lower the levels of glucocorticoids

Type 1 diabetes mellitus

Signs and Symptoms

• Excessive thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision, poorly healing wounds, numbness in hands and feet

Etiology

• Chronic condition caused by lack of insulin production

• This is a genetic autoimmune condition that often develops in childhood and is known as juvenile diabetes

Diagnosis

• Blood tests to evaluate glucose metabolism

Treatment

• Monitoring blood sugar levels, insulin therapy, eating a healthy diet, and managing weight

Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Signs and Symptoms

• Excessive thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision, poorly healing wounds, numbness in hands and feet

Etiology

• Chronic condition caused by insulin resistance, due to a mix of genetics, obesity, and lifestyle choices

• Typically begins in adulthood

Diagnosis

• Blood tests to evaluate glucose metabolism

Treatment

• Monitoring blood sugar levels, eating a healthy diet, and managing weight, medications to lower blood sugar (such as a metformin), insulin will be prescribed if the disease is uncontrolled or progresses

Hyperthyroidism

Signs and Symptoms

• Sudden weight loss, rapid heartbeat, increased appetite, anxiety, tremor, sweating, frequent bowel movements, enlarged thyroid gland

Etiology

• Overproduction of the thyroid hormone by the thyroid gland

Diagnosis

• Physical examination, blood tests, radioactive iodine uptake test, and thyroid scans

Treatment

• Antithyroid meds, oral radioactive iodine

Hypothyroidsm

Signs and Symptoms

• Increasing tiredness, dry skin, constipation, and weight gain

Etiology

• Underproduction of the thyroid hormone by the thyroid gland

Diagnosis

• Blood test measuring thyroid stimulating hormone and thyroxine

Treatment

• Using synthetic thyroid hormone levothyroxine

Graves’ disease

Signs and Symptoms

• Significant enlargement of the thyroid gland, increased heartbeat, muscle weakness, disturbed sleep, tremor, weight loss, anxiety, irritability, and bulging of the eyes

Etiology

• Caused by malfunction in the body’s immune system that disrupts normal thyroid regulation, resulting in hyperthyroidism

Diagnosis

• Typically diagnosed by symptoms, thyroid hormone tests

Treatment

• Radioactive iodine therapy, antithyroid medications, beta blockers, and surgery

Candidiasis (yeast infection)

Signs and Symptoms

• Vaginal itching, burning with urination, white vaginal discharge

Etiology

• Overgrowth of the fungal microorganism Candida albicans

Diagnosis

• Testing of vaginal discharge

Treatment

• OTC or prescription meds

Ectopic pregnancy

Signs and Symptoms

• Abdominal or pelvic pain with light bleeding, severe pain and bleeding are symptoms of emergent condition

Etiology

• Zygote implantation in an area other than the uterine wall, most commonly in the fallopian tubes

Diagnosis

• Physical exam, blood tests, ultrasound

Treatment

• Termination of the pregnancy as it is not viable and can rupture the fallopian tube if allowed to develop far enough, requires surgery

Endometriosis

Signs and Symptoms

• Pelvic pain with menstruation, pain with intercourse, pain with bowel movements and urination, infertility

Etiology

• Occurs when pieces of endometrial tissue grow outside of the uterine lining, typically on the ovaries, intestines, or pelvic wall

Diagnosis

• Pelvic exams, ultrasound, and laparoscopy

Treatment

• Pain meds, hormone therapy, or laparoscopic surgery

Genital herpes

Signs and Symptoms

• Pain, itching, and sores in the genital area or flu-like symptoms upon initial infection

Etiology

• Caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) spread through sexual contact

Diagnosis

• Visual exams of sores, testing of sample from the sores

Treatment

• Incurable, medications can prevent or shorten outbreaks

Inguinal hernia

Signs and Symptoms

• Bulging in the groin area accompanied by an aching sensation, pain with lifting, coughing, or movement, weakness, or pressure in the groin

Etiology

• A portion of the intestines protrudes through a weak point of the abdominal wall

Diagnosis

• Physical exam

Treatment

• If no symptoms, treatment is not indication

• Surgery to repair hernia if symptoms present

Cryptorchidism

Signs and Symptoms

• Undescended testicles, when they fail to drop into the normal place of the scrotum

Etiology

• Some cases are unknown, others may be due to structural abnormalities, or there may be a mechanical problem

Diagnosis

• Felt when conducting physical exam

Treatment

• Only treatment choice is surgery and recommended after six months of age

Testicular torsion

Signs and Symptoms

• When tissues surrounding the testicle are not well attached, causing the testes to twist around the spermatic chord, cutting off blood flow to the testicle causing severe pain

Etiology

• Some cases are unknown, some patients are born with no tissue holding the testes to the scrotum

Diagnosis

• Found when conducting a physical exam

Treatment

• The spermatic cord needs to be untwisted to restore blood supply, patients needs to see a urologist, and surgery is necessary to correct

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)

Signs and Symptoms

• Enlargement of the prostate, common later in life, can cause uncomfortable urinary symptoms, urinary tract infections, or kidney problems

Etiology

• Causes are unknown but believed to be linked to hormonal changes

Diagnosis

• Digital rectal examination, urine test, or prostate specific antigen test

Treatment

• Transurethral resection of the prostate