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Disorders of the kidneys, bladder, and prostate

Bladder infection Bladder infection (cystitis, sometimes called urinary tract infection [UTI]) occurs more frequently in females than in males, because the shorter female urethra does not protect the bladder from bacteria as efficiently as does the male organ. A person with a bladder infection complains of discomfort (sharp pain, cramping, or burning) on urination, urge to urinate (“urgency”), frequent urination, difficulty initiating urination, lower abdominal cramping,…

Problems of ovaries and vagina

Ovarian infection The ovaries and fallopian tubes ( Figs. 141 and 142 ), which carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus, might become infected, commonly with Mycoplasma genitalium , or with the bacteria ( Neisseria gonorrhea ) that cause gonorrhea or by other infectious agents, such as Chlamydia trachomatis. This is sometimes called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Symptoms include abdominal pain in the lower quadrants…

Inhalation injuries

Inhalation injuries include thermal (heat) and chemical (smoke, noxious gas) inhalations. A third type of inhalation injury is aspiration (inhalation) of stomach contents; blood; or ocean, river, lake, or pool water into the lungs. The severity of the injury is determined by the chemical nature of the substance, temperature, volume of inhaled material, and underlying health of the victim. In a likely scenario, such as a…

Burns

Definitions ( Fig. 132 ) First-degree burn (superficial). This is a burn that involves the outermost layer of skin, the epidermis. It is often quite painful. The skin is reddened, but there is no blister formation. When a large surface area is involved, as with an extensive sunburn, the victim might become quite ill, with fever, weakness, chills, and vomiting. Second-degree burn (partial thickness). This is…

Fractures and dislocations

A bone fracture (break) can be simple (one clean break) or comminuted (multiple breaks or shattered) ( Fig. 58 ). Furthermore, it might be closed (skin intact) or open (“compound,” with the skin broken, often with the bone visible in the wound). An open fracture is highly prone to infection. A fracture might be associated with injuries to adjacent nerves and blood vessels. Open full size…

Head injury

Victims of head injury (when it involves the brain, commonly referred to as “traumatic brain injury” or TBI) can be roughly divided into two groups, according to whether they have lost consciousness or not. In addition to loss of consciousness, other risk factors for a serious brain injury include high suspicion for a skull fracture (e.g., boggy swollen area on the head, indicative of a collection…

Shock

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Chest pain

Chest pain can be a manifestation of a variety of disorders, ranging from a harmless chest cold or heartburn to an acute coronary syndrome that is a harbinger of a life-threatening heart attack. To try to attain a diagnosis, it is important to ask these questions: 1. Where is the pain? 2. What is the nature of the pain? 3. How severe is the pain? 4.…

Serious lung disorders

Asthma Asthma is a hyperresponsive disease of the airways and lungs that involves episodes of coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, and increased secretions in the bronchi. Generally, most people will know that they are prone to asthma attacks; however, a first-time episode might occur during an allergic reaction, on exertion or exposure to cold, or as a result of emotional stress. In most cases, the mechanism…

Chest injury

Broken ribs Direct force applied to the chest wall can break ribs, causing pain with deep breathing, coughing, or sneezing. An injury to the ribs can damage the underlying structures causing bruising or collapse of a lung (pneumothorax). If the right lower ribs are broken, be alert to the possibility of a bruised or cracked liver, which lies directly below; if the left lower ribs are…

Knots

Practice Before You Really Need To Use Them. Terminology The most practical way to select a knot is to first evaluate what role that knot is expected to perform. The following knots are addressed based on function: Stopper knot—a knot tied at the end of a rope to keep something from slipping off the rope (e.g., figure 8 knot) End-of-line knot—a knot used to form a…

Survival

The term survival means “to continue to live or exist” and implies the presence of adverse conditions that make this more difficult. Survival scenarios frequently accompany wilderness medical events. Cold Weather Survival Shelter Anyone who spends time in the wilderness should practice construction of emergency survival shelters. In a cold environment, a shelter becomes an extension of the microclimate of still, warm air created from body…