The Case of the Gardener with Abdominal Pain

A 74 year-old Portuguese speaking man with history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, depression, non-insulin-dependent diabetes, presented to the emergency department with one week of left flank pain. The pain was gradual in onset and cramping in quality. The pain was constant and worse since beginning last week, approaching 10/10 in severity. It was located over the left flank and radiated toward the left abdomen and groin. The patient stated his symptoms began while cooking dinner. He had been working in his home vineyard and vegetable garden all day…

Infectious DiseaseSamuel GoldmanDecember 11, 2020infectious disease, babesia, lyme, anaplasmosis, cpcComment

Intra-erythrocytic, Ring Formed Parasites: A Diagnosis of Malaria or Babesiosis?

A 19 year-old female with no significant past medical history presented with subjective fevers, generalized upper abdominal discomfort, and headache for the past month. She described her subjective fevers as intermittent, but had never taken her temperature with a thermometer. The patient also noted that she recently moved to the area from Guinea Bissau.

Global EM, Infectious DiseaseMeagan BarryDecember 4, 2020malaria, babesia, babesiosis, infectious diseaseComment

Pediatric Diarrhea: History is the Primary Diagnostic Tool

A 5 year-old healthy male presented to the emergency department with his father with a chief complaint of fever, diarrhea, and vomiting. Fever was his first symptom. It started one week prior to presentation and was persistent over the course of the week. His highest temperature was 103.7 °F. Fevers occurred daily despite treatment with antipyretics. After his fever developed, he started having 4-5 daily episodes of watery diarrhea. Dad noted blood in the diarrhea only once. He complained of generalized abdominal pain when having bowel movements…

Infectious Disease, PediatricsGuest UserOctober 12, 2020Diarrhea, Pediatrics, SalmonellaComment

Herpes Encephalitis

A 70 year-old male, with a past medical history of hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease, chronic lymphocytic leukemia on Ibrutinib, and coronary artery disease, presented with right hand weakness since waking that morning. He reported that he felt the strength of his grip was not at baseline, and his wife also noted that, while eating breakfast, the patient dropped his bagel, a dish towel, and his utensils. His last known well was 10:00 PM the night before, although he also endorsed two weeks of persistent right hand numbness and burning paresthesias in his right hand. He denied headache, fever/chills, chest/back/abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting, urinary symptoms, or diarrhea, as well as any visual symptoms, speech changes, or gait problems…

Community EM, Infectious Disease, NeurologyKelly WongSeptember 21, 2020herpes, herpes simplex virus, encephalopathy, seizure, Infectious DiseaseComment

Tales from LBJ Tropical Medical Center: A Child with Fever and Chest Pain

16-year-old male presented to the LBJ Tropical Medical Center with a complaint of fever, chest pain, body achesmyalgias and sore throat for three days. The patient also endorses diffuse joint pain, particularly in his hands, knees, elbows and shoulder and reports pleuritic chest pain intermittently that has been worsening over past three days. Patient He denies any new rashes. Denies any , bleeding gums or easy bruising. Mother has been giving aspirin every four hours at home without any noticeable relief…

Infectious Disease, Global EMMichael WilkJuly 21, 2020tropical, medicine, acute rheumatic fever, rheumatic heart diseaseComment

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