Pyrophobia
Pyrophobia is an excessive fear of fire. A person suffering from pyrophobia experiences breathlessness, nausea and anxiety when he sees fire. These symptoms of pyrophobia are noticed even if there is no danger from the fire. There might be heart palpitations and trembling.
Rabies
Rabies is a dreaded infectious disease that is spread due to a bite or saliva of an infected animal. The rabies virus affects the central nervous system and progressively damages the spinal cord and brain. If untreated, rabies is fatal. Rabies can be contracted from infected wild animals such as raccoons, skunks, bats and foxes. Sometimes domesticated animals such as cats and dogs can become infected unless they are vaccinated against rabies.
Symptoms of rabies appear within a month of exposure to an infected animal. The severity of the exposure and bite determine the appearance of symptoms. The patient suffering from rabies is likely to have fever and headache. There might confusion and hallucinations. A person suffering from rabies will have excessive salivation. There might be difficulty in swallowing. Fear of water (hydrophobia) is another symptom. Paralysis and breathlessness may result.
Testing for rabies includes blood and saliva tests and examination of the brain tissue and spinal fluid. The wound site must be carefully cleaned with a virus-killing cleanser. Treatment for rabies includes a dose of human rabies immune globulin (HRIG) and five doses of rabies vaccine over a 28-day period. It is essential to be vaccinated with the rabies vaccine immediately after exposure. While the immune globulin is injected around the site of the bite, the rabies vaccine is injected into the upper arm.
Spontaneous Pneumothorax
Spontaneous pneumothorax is a condition where the lung collapses due to accumulation of air or gas in the chest. The lung caves in due to inability to fill up with air during inhalation. This can happen to thin tall men without any prior symptoms. Spontaneous pneumothorax is more pronounced among men, especially smokers. Primary spontaneous pneumothorax occurs without any history of lung disease. It is usually attributed to the rupture of a air-filled sac within the lung. Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax is noticed among persons who are suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, tuberculosis, pneumonia, asthma, cystic fibrosis or lung cancer. Primary spontaneous pneumothorax usually occurs in persons less than 40 years. On the other hand, secondary spontaneous pneumothorax is noticed among older patients. Sudden shock or low blood pressure or distended neck veins can bring on a condition of tension pneumothorax. This type of pneumothorax can also result from a serious accident or violent crime.
Breathlessness is the most prominent symptom of pneumothorax. There is dull or stabbing pain in the chest that is accentuated by coughing. A patient suffering from spontaneous pneumothorax experiences shortness of breath and abnormal breathing patter. The patient feels agitated and enlarged neck veins will be observed. A physician will conduct a thorough physical examination and listen to your heart and breath sounds if he suspects a spontaneous pneumothorax condition. A chest x-ray can confirm the collapse of the lung. The level of oxygen in the blood is measured with a pulse oximeter or an arterial blood gas analysis.
Treatment for spontaneous pneumothorax involves removal of air from the pleural space so as to allow the lungs to expand again. It may take several days for the lungs to re-expand. A cather is used for aspiration of air from the pleural cavity. A chest tube is placed between the ribs to allow the air to be evacuated from that space. Doxycyline may be passed through the chest tube to seal the space.
- Quit smoking
- Avoid scuba diving and flying in aircrafts without sufficient pressure control
- Sleep with your head at elevated position
Bibliography / Reference
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