Diagnosing Pneumonia on Chest X-Ray

Diagnosing Pneumonia on Chest X-Ray

Pneumonia, which is defined as inflammation of the lung, is a common cause of morbidity and mortality around the world. Every year between 0.5% and 1% of adults in the U.K. will develop community-acquired pneumonia. Pneumonia is characterised by exudation and...
Drugs in Pregnancy

Drugs in Pregnancy

Drugs are now used in over half of all pregnancies and the prevalence of their use is steadily increasing. Some of the most commonly prescribed drugs include analgesics, antiemetics, antimicrobials and antihistamines. In addition to this the use of social and illicit...
Interpreting Abnormal Liver Function Tests

Interpreting Abnormal Liver Function Tests

Dealing with a patient with abnormal liver function tests (LFTs) in the primary care setting is an extremely common clinical scenario. Approximately 20% of all LFTs are abnormal, of which less than 10% can be explained by existing disease. LFTs are not specific to...
The Mysterious Sweating Sickness

The Mysterious Sweating Sickness

The Middle Ages are renowned for being a turbulent and difficult period of history. War, famine and disease occurred throughout the period and one of the most devastating pandemics in history, the Black Death, occurred in the mid 14th century. The Black Death was not...
Arterial Line Placement

Arterial Line Placement

Arterial line placement is a very common procedure in critical care and emergency medicine settings. The most common indications are: Haemodynamic instability requiring continuous direct BP monitoring Titration of vasopressors (or other cardioactive drugs) Need for...
The Dancing Plague of 1518

The Dancing Plague of 1518

In the summer of 1518 in the city of Strasbourg, Alsace, a woman by the name of Frau Troffea took to the streets and started to dance. She continued to dance day and night without stopping. No one knows why she started but within a few days others started to join in....