Diabetic Foot Infection

Foot infection is a major reason for hospitalization among patients with diabetes and also an important causal factor for lower limb amputation. There are various presentations of diabetic foot infections as well as several ways to classify these entities.


Preventation of Diabetic foot Infection

Diabetic foot infection is prevente by frequent chiropody review, good foot hygiene, diabetics socks and shoes, and avoiding injury.

a. Foot-care education combined with increased surveillance can reduce the incidence of serious foot lesions.

b. Footwear. Special footwears are recommended for patients with a prior ulcer or with foot deformities. One review added neuropathy as an indication for special footwear. The comparison of custom shoes versus well-chosen and well-fitted athletic shoes is not clear. A meta-analysis by the Cochrane Collaboration concluded that "there is very limited evidence of the effectiveness of therapeutic shoes" . The date of the literature search for this review is not clear. Clinical Evidence reviewed the topic and concluded "Individuals with significant foot deformities should be considered for referral and assessment for customised shoes that can accommodate the altered foot anatomy. In the absence of significant deformities, high quality well fitting non-prescription footwear seems to be a reasonable option" . National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has reviewed the topic and concluded that for patients at "high risk of foot ulcers (neuropathy or absent pulses plus deformity or skin changes or previous ulcer" that "specialist footwear and insoles" should be provided.


Treatment of Diabetic Foot Infections

Diabetic foot infections should be managed with a multidisciplinary team approach utilizing appropriate consultations. Hospitalization of patients with limb-threatening infections is mandatory. All diabetic foot infections must be monitored closely. Equally important for the best possible outcome are patient compliance and education, especially in outcome management.

You can visit internal medicine residency teaching for more details on diagnosis, symptoms and treatment of patient for the students and nurses.

Cardiology Teaching

Cardiology is medical speciality dealing with disorders of the heart and blood vessels. The course module of cardiology teaching includes diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology. This internal medicine curriculum package has been designed for students & nurses who know nothing at all about Cardiology. Physicians specializing in this field of medicine are called cardiologists. Cardiologists should not be confused with cardiac surgeons, cardiothoracic and cardiovascular, who are surgeons who perform cardiac surgery - operative procedures on the heart and great vessels.

Acute Asthma Management

There have been many victims of acute asthma attack and the result of these attacks can be frightening. It is a chronic disease. Many People suffers from Asthma around the world. Due to inflamed and narrow airways respiratory impairment occurs. There is bronchial constriction and mucus may also cause further discomfort. The body is unable to refresh the air sacs in the lungs which may cause distress. The patients undergo from shortness of respite and may also have wheezing. A person is said to undergo from an acute asthma attack when the symptoms flare up necessitating medical intervention most of the time.

Symptoms Of Acute Asthma Attack

• rapid breathing
• physical exhaustion
• difficulty in talking
• wheezing (which is quiet)
• coughing
• marked recession
• paradoxical pulse where the pulse is strong during expiration and weak during inhalation
• constriction and pain in the chest
• turning blue due to lack of oxygen
• lack of consciousness
• numbness in limbs
• sweating of the palms
• feet may turn icy
• peak respiratory flow is less than 50% of the mean value

These patients can avoid acute asthma attack by paying attention to the signs and symptoms that indicate that their condition is not improving. Many people have made the mistake of neglecting to get medical aid as the wheezing and the gulping appears to have got better. If this occurs with lips turning blue and lack of consciousness, the condition is very serious demanding immediate medical intervention in order to avoid death.

People suffering from asthma may prevent acute attacks by making sure they take the necessary medication to prevent the situation from aggravating. They can make use of a peak flow meter to monitor their condition. It is required that they get their baseline measurement by inhaling and then exhaling into the meter when they are feeling fit. If their peak flow measurement is 50%-80% lesser than their baseline peak flow measurement, it may indicate they are at risk of an acute asthma attack if they do not take immediate action. If the peak flow reading is lesser than 50% of their normal reading it is time they sought medical intervention as a severe attack can become life threatening in some cases.

It will help if patients carry a card or wear a medical alert bracelet that can be useful if medical intervention is needed. The patients need to have worked out a plan on what has to be done during an attack. The patients may also keep a card with the name of their physician, his number as well as the number of an ambulance, and the relative or friend who has to be contacted. If the inhaled reliever is not working, it is time you sought immediate medical help. Make it a point to inform them that you have an acute asthma attack and are not responding to treatment. Till help arrives continue to use the reliever taking 6-8 puffs every 5-6 minutes. Make sure to use a spacer as it will be of great help. The best way to manage asthma and to prevent an acute asthma attack is to monitor the symptoms, take medication promptly and ensure that the condition does not get aggravated.

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