Essential Medical Conditions and Pharmacological Treatments
Poisoning
A poison is any substance that, when ingested, inhaled, absorbed, applied to skin, or produced within the body in relatively small amounts, injures the body by its chemical action. The branch of medicine that deals with the detection and treatment of poisons is known as toxicology.
Types and Causes
Poisoning represents the harmful effects on the human body of accidental or intentional exposure to toxic amounts of any substance. Effects may be local, systemic, or both.
- Chemicals: Household (bleach, kerosene) and Industrial (methanol, ethylene glycol, cyanide, arsenic).
- Pesticides: Organophosphates, organochlorines (e.g., DDT), and rat poison.
Symptoms and Management
Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, jaundice, difficulty breathing, palpitations, skin rashes, and scanty urine. Treatment focuses on maintaining vital signs, decontaminating the site, preventing absorption, enhancing elimination, and relieving symptoms. Emergency management includes checking ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation), ECG monitoring, and dilution of strong acids or alkalis with water or milk.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
COPD is a preventable and treatable disease characterized by persistent airflow limitation. It is the third-ranked cause of death in the United States.
Key Classifications
- Chronic Bronchitis: Chronic productive cough for three months in each of two successive years.
- Emphysema: Permanent enlargement of airspaces distal to terminal bronchioles with wall destruction.
Treatment Strategies
- Bronchodilators: Central to symptomatic management; improve lung emptying and exercise performance.
- Glucocorticoids: Used for symptomatic patients with FEV1 <50% predicted.
- Other: Pulmonary rehabilitation, nutrition, and surgery (e.g., lung volume reduction).
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the bronchial airways characterized by reversible narrowing due to bronchoconstriction and mucus production.
Types and Triggers
- Allergic (Extrinsic): IgE-mediated, common in children.
- Non-allergic (Intrinsic): Triggered by infections, stress, or exercise.
- Other: Exercise-induced, occupational, and nocturnal asthma.
Pharmacological Management
- Bronchodilators: SABA (Salbutamol), LABA (Salmeterol), Methylxanthines (Theophylline).
- Anti-inflammatories: Inhaled corticosteroids (Beclomethasone), Leukotriene antagonists (Montelukast), and Mast cell stabilizers.
Cough Management
Cough is a protective reflex. Productive cough produces mucus/sputum, while dry cough is non-productive.
Malaria
A life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium parasites transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes.
Species
- P. falciparum (50% of cases), P. vivax (40%), P. malariae (10%), and P. ovale.
Antimalarial Drug Classes
- 4-Aminoquinolines (Chloroquine), Quinoline-methanol (Mefloquine), Cinchona alkaloids (Quinine), and 8-aminoquinolines (Primaquine).
Antiviral Drug Classification
1. Anti-Herpes Virus Agents
Includes Purine Nucleosides (Acyclovir, Valacyclovir) and Pyrimidine Nucleosides.
2. Anti-Retroviral Drugs (HIV)
Includes NRTIs (Zidovudine), NNRTIs (Nevirapine), Protease Inhibitors (Ritonavir), and Integrase Inhibitors.
3. Anti-Influenza Drugs
Includes Neuraminidase Inhibitors (Oseltamivir, Zanamivir) and Adamantane derivatives (Amantadine).