House Episode 1

Conditions

Churg-Strauss Syndrome

Causes: Churg-Strauss syndrome, a form of vasculitis, is characterized by inflammation of blood vessels in the lungs, skin, nerves, and abdomen in patients with a history of asthma or allergy. The exact cause is unknown, but it involves an abnormal over-activation of the immune system of an asthmatic person. It is reputed to be caused by certain asthma medications, but these reports are not clear.

Symptoms: Some symptoms are fever, weight loss, fatigue, sinus or nasal passage inflammation, cough, shortness of breath, chest pains, skin lumps, diarrhea, numbness, weakness, and seizures.

Contact dermatitis

Causes: There are two types of contact dermatitis: irritant and allergic. Irritant contact dermatitis is caused by a substance that damages the skin’s protective layer. Harsh soaps, chemical solvents, and cosmetics often cause this. Allergic contact dermatitis is caused by an allergen that triggers and immune reaction on the skin. Common allergens include rubber, metals, and cosmetics.

Symptoms: Some symptoms include: a red rash after exposure, blistered skin, hives, and an itchy and burning sensation on the skin.

Cellulitis

Causes: Cellulitis is caused by bacteria (strep or staph) that develop in a cut, sore, or insect bite.

Symptoms: Begins as a small area of tenderness, swelling and redness of the skin. As this area enlarges, and fever, swollen lymph nodes, and chills occur.

Treatments

Diphenhydramine

Diphenhydramine is a medicine used to relieve red, irritated, itchy, watery eyes; sneezing; and runny nose caused by fever, allergies, or a cold. It is also used to relieve cough. It comes as a rapidly disintegrating tablet, and comes both alone and in combination with pain relievers.

Hyperbaric oxygen chamber

This is an intermittent treatment of the entire body with 100% oxygen at greater than atmospheric pressures. It greatly increases oxygen concentration in all body tissues, stimulates the growth of new blood vessels to locations with reduced circulations, causes a rebound arterial dilation, stimulates an adaptive increase in superoxide dismutase, and aids the treatment of infection by enhancing white blood cell action and potentiating germ-killing antibiotics.