Acute post-infectious glomerulonephritis (GNA) is the most common of the nephritis affecting children. It is most frequent after the third year of life
A transient ischaemic attack (TIA stands for transient ischaemic attack) is characterised by a temporary interruption or reduction in the blood supply to the brain
Pneumothorax and Hemothorax are collections of abnormal material (air and blood, respectively) within the chest (thoracic) cavity, in the space normally occupied by the tissue of the lungs
Concussion is an alteration of brain function caused by trauma to the head. It can be caused by a violent or repeated blow to the head, such as in a car accident, a fall, during sporting activity, or even by shaking the person, e.g. an…
The term eyelid ptosis denotes a situation characterised by a drooping of the upper eyelid that, under normal conditions, laps at the upper edge of the cornea
Among the most common types of vertigo, there is positional vertigo, which, unlike other types, does not require the use of drugs, but of liberating manoeuvres to get rid of the sensation that the world is spinning, performed by the ENT…
Atherosclerosis (more often known in the lay world as arteriosclerosis) is a pathological condition characterised by changes in the wall of the arteries, which lose their elasticity due to the accumulation of calcium, cholesterol,…
When talking about dermatological allergies, one cannot forget to consider nickel allergy, one of the most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis
Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) is a blood test that measures the concentration of haemoglobin bound to glucose. It reflects the average glucose concentration (blood glucose) during the last three months and is useful for the diagnosis of…
SanFilippo Syndrome is also known as mucopolysaccharidosis type 3A, and consists of an alteration in the functioning of certain cells called lysosomes: these are responsible for the breakdown and disposal of various substances
SEUAM (Sanitary Emergency Urban Air Mobility), the project devised by the Società Italiana Sistema 118 to provide support to 118 Operations Centres and speed up rescue and resuscitation operations in critical situations, such as in the…
Floods in Pakistan: over a thousand people, including 348 children, have already lost their lives, more than a million homes have been severely damaged leaving millions of people displaced in grave danger and forcing some 500,000 people to…
Acute liver failure is a dangerous disease that causes liver malfunction. It may heal or require, in cases with a more severe course, a liver transplant
Forest fires in Germany: in response to the request for support received by the Emergency Response Coordination Centre in Brussels from the German authorities, the Civil Protection Department yesterday ordered the dispatch of two Canadair…
In EMS, we have seen advances and changes come about in airway management in the past several years, but oral intubation is still the best way to gain complete airway control in patients that are unable to control it themselves
Alpha-1 acid glycoprotein is a member of the class of mucoproteins and is synthesised by the liver. It is considered to be a marker for acute inflammation, whether caused by infection or other diseases
An arm sling holds the forearm in a raised or horizontal position and can support an injured upper arm, forearm and wrist. The sling is also a useful visual warning to others that someone is injured
Lasègue sign is one of the so-called 'meningeal signs', i.e. a group of signs used in neurological semeiotics to detect possible pathological processes of the meninges.
Kartagener syndrome is a special type of primary ciliary dyskinesia in which the 'situs inversus with dextrocardia' is also present, with the heart with a right apex and the liver on the left, i.e. in an inverted position compared to normal
Ascites is the collection of fluid in the abdominal cavity. Under normal conditions, the presence of fluid in small amounts (less than 30 ml) does not create problems, but the accumulation of larger amounts is an indicator of different…
Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD): what is it? The fear of not being able to cope with events and relationships in our lives generates what we commonly call anxiety
What is swimmer's otitis? Swimming is good for you, but beware, if you are a chlorine habitué, your ear may be affected by a curiously named ailment: swimmer's ear
Cor pulmo-what? Cor Pulmonale is defined as an alteration in the structure and function of the right ventricle of the heart. It is caused by a primary disorder of the patient's respiratory system
Problematic Internet Use or Internet Addiction Disorder are two ways in which we define behavioural addictions, i.e. not related to a substance but to a habit, i.e. the use of the Web
A modern suction device, also known as an aspirator, is a professional medical device that is mainly used to remove respiratory secretions from the mouth and respiratory tract of a person, such as saliva, sputum, and is also ideal for…
One of the most common sexually transmitted diseases is chlamydia, an infection of the urogenital apparatus on which it is important to keep an eye on, which affects the female gender to a greater extent and, in particular, young women…
The Food and Drug Administration on August 16 approved the first online visual acuity test made by the telehealth company Visibly. This clearance will allow adults ages 22 to 40 to evaluate their vision from the convenience of their homes
Congenital pulmonary valve stenosis', or 'congenital pulmonary stenosis', is a congenital (i.e. already present at birth) heart disease characterised by an obstruction of the blood outflow tract from the right ventricle to the pulmonary…
Human metapneumovirus (human metapneumovirus) infections are transmitted through droplets of respiratory secretions released into the air by infected individuals or through contact with surfaces or materials contaminated by the microbe
China, the Covid nightmare is back: the industrial cities affected by the new coronavirus measures are Chengdu, Dalian, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Shijiazhuang
You’ve probably heard of OCD or obsessive compulsive disorder. But have you heard of OCPD? OCPD, or obsessive compulsive personality disorder, shares some similarities to OCD, but there are also many differences between the two. Let’s…
The importance of oxygen cylinders in patient management: what to do if a person is unable to independently load clean air from the environment into the lungs?
Scimitar syndrome (congenital pulmonary venolobar syndrome or congenital pulmonary venolobar syndrome or Halasz syndrome) is a congenital cardiopulmonary defect, i.e. already present at birth, in which the right inferior pulmonary vein…
An 'integrated test', or integrated prenatal screening, in medicine refers to a set of three tests that are carried out on the pregnant woman to assess the risk of the foetus having certain diseases, such as Down syndrome
Non-ossifying fibroma is the most common bone tumour in children, usually causing no symptoms and requiring no treatment. It is benign and heals spontaneously
Uric acid is the end product of the metabolism of purines, vital components of nucleic acids and coenzymes that can be synthesised in the body or taken in through food
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a major health problem: predisposing factors contributing to the disease include smoking, environmental pollutants, industrial exposure and other lung infectious processes
In medicine, the term 'ectopia' means the placement of an organ of the body in the wrong place. Ectopia cordis' or 'ectopia of the heart' or 'cardiac ectopia' in medicine refers to a group of rare anatomical abnormalities that have in…
Ambu bag: medical equipment, is actively used for artificial ventilation of the lungs. This device is equipped with all operating and intensive care units, as well as ambulances
The Schanz orthopaedic collar is an orthosis that stabilises the cervical spine. It is mainly used after injuries or accidents to prevent more serious degenerative damage to the cervical regions and spinal cord and to reduce pain resulting…
About spinal immobilitation: the spine board has long been the subject of sometimes heated dialogues, and these have led to greater awareness of the medical device, but also of its correct use. A similar discussion applies to cervical…
Huntington's chorea, an overview: extrapyramidal syndromes are neurological disorders involving structures of the central nervous system involved in the control of motor functions
The death of a patient is an event that the ambulance crew must take into account, and when it occurs they must determine procedures for cleaning, bioremediation and sterilisation of the sanitary compartment and medical equipment used
Parinaud's syndrome (pronounced 'Parinò syndrome') is a neurological disorder caused by a lesion in the roof of the midbrain, resulting in the inability to move the eyes up and down
Lactose is a sugar found mainly in milk and dairy products. The small intestine, the organ where one of the basic steps of food digestion and nutrient absorption takes place, is capable of producing an enzyme called lactase
The monoclonal antibody Nimotuzumab has demonstrated, during several years of clinical trials, its efficacy in the treatment of patients with cancer, and more recently in the use for the therapy of severe forms of COVID-19
The "Argyll Robertson sign" (or "Argyll Robertson pupil"; in English "Argyll Robertson pupils" or "AR pupils") in medicine and semeiotics refers to a clinical sign that consists of the abolition of miosis (pupil constriction) upon light…
Requirements for rescuers in Russia: the determination of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia (EMERCOM) was recently registered with the Ministry of Justice
Uganda breaks down geographic barriers with technology: on the Ssese Islands on Lake Victoria, HIV drugs arrive thanks to drones and the experiment is about to be exported to other continents
USA, Amazon will close its corporate telemedicine service Amazon Care on 31 December 2022. According to Neil Lindsey, head of Amazon Health Services, the project's business model did not work because the service itself was not comprehensive…
Let's talk about Lima syndrome: You may have heard the term “Stockholm syndrome” before. It’s when an individual develops a positive connection with their captor or abuser
The term 'Adie syndrome' (also called 'Holmes-Adie syndrome' or 'Adie's pupil' or 'Adie's tonic pupil' or 'Holmes-Adie pupil') in medicine refers to a neurological disorder characterised by an abnormality of the pupil that is dynamic in…
Cold agglutinins are autoantibodies and are produced by the immune system. The presence of cold agglutinins causes red blood cells to aggregate upon exposure to cold temperatures.
Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn' or simply 'Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension' (hence the acronym 'PPH' or 'Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn' hence the acronym 'PPHN') is a neonatal respiratory disorder…
The ambulance world in Russia is preparing for a small but significant revolution: the Ministry of Health has in fact developed a new procedure for the provision of emergency medical care
Bradycardia is defined as a heart rate < 60 bpm.bThis is a functional definition--based on function--because usually a patient isn't symptomatic until < 50 bpm
Ataxia is a medical term for a disorder characterised by the progressive loss of muscular coordination that makes it difficult to perform certain voluntary movements and, in severe cases, can even undermine the patient's autonomy, which may…
Oxygen supply is necessary in some emergency rescue operations (for example, those injured in an accident), as well as during inpatient and home care for sick people suffering from low saturation (percentage of oxyhemoglobin in the blood)
Kernig's sign is one of the so-called 'meningeal signs', i.e. a group of signs used in neurological semeiotics to detect possible pathological processes in the meninges
Corneal abrasion: Everyone has probably experienced an annoying and often painful foreign body sensation in the eye after rubbing too hard or after a contusion against an object, or even after wearing contact lenses for too many hours
Pupillary reflex to light (also called photomotor reflex) is a nerve reflex that modulates the diameter of the pupil in response to the intensity of light reaching the retina
Psychotic disorders are a group of serious illnesses that affect the mind. They make it hard for someone to think clearly, make good judgments, respond emotionally, communicate effectively, understand reality, and behave appropriately
Arthrogryposis (or 'multiple congenital arthrogryposis' hence the acronym 'AMC'; in English 'arthrogryposis multiplex congenit' or 'arthrogryposis') in medicine refers to a clinical condition characterised by joint stiffness present at…
Vapourised hydrogen peroxide (VHP) is a low-temperature, vacuum steam process traditionally used for the sterilisation of reusable medical devices in patient care facilities, including ambulances and operating centres
Croup: Laryngo-tracheobronchitis is an overly complex medical term that simply means "a respiratory infection" which in young children is commonly called "Croup"
Affecting around 20% of pregnant women in LMIC, mental health issues like depression and anxiety are common during pregnancy and the first year after birth, with consequences for both mothers and their infants
The 'Wasserman's sign', also called 'inverted or reversed Lasègue's sign', is a manoeuvre used in semeiotics to check for irritation of the nerve roots of the lumbar plexus (in particular the crural nerve and femoral nerve)
The next step of the COVID-19 booster rollout will involve a “bivalent” vaccine that targets the ever-evolving Omicron variant. The vaccine isn’t here yet, but will likely be available in the fall
About Blind Insertion Airway Devices (BIAD's): with the importance of maintaining the airway and the sheer number of patients who experience airway compromise, several companies have created devices to ease the process of obtaining a…
Vertigo, exercises to calm it down: a very frequent symptom in those suffering from neck problems, vertigo can appear following traumatic events, even years after an accident, or cyclically according to changes in the weather