Severe asthma

Article source Link, Article source Link,

Dark Ages diagnosis for Christine
CHRIS HILL 25 October 2008 06:01 When a host of London specialists failed to diagnose her mystery illness after 20 years, Christine Wicks had almost given up hope of finding a cure.
That was until a determined doctor in King's Lynn recognised her rare condition dated back to the dark days when leech-prescribing medics were still governed by myth and superstition.
Now consultant chest physician Dr Syed Tariq has become the toast of the medical world after treating the 14th century infection and saving his 65-year-old patient from possible brain damage.
The bacterial infection actinomycosis was common in the Middle Ages until the advent of antibiotics virtually wiped it out.
Dr Tariq said he had seen the rare illness only once before, but was able to set his patient on the road to recovery with the help of some detective work by microbiologists at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital's histopathology department.
His work was applauded by Prof Ian Gilmore, president of the Royal College of Physicians, who called him a credit to the NHS.
In the meantime Mrs Wicks, from Long Sutton, Lincolnshire, became such an expert on her own condition that she returned to the QEH to assist Dr Tariq in a talk he gave to medical students.
Over the course of many years I have been to hospitals around London and no-one could find out what was wrong with me, she said.
I became known as a 'heart sink' patient - the doctors and nurses said their heart sank when I appeared and they said: 'Oh no, not her again.'
Since I first came to the QEH my life has changed for the better. Dr Tariq has been absolutely amazing and I cannot praise The Queen Elizabeth Hospital enough.
Actinomycosis is a bacterial infection which spreads through the bloodstream and can cause serious damage to soft tissue and bones.
In Mrs Wicks' case, she had had a sore throat and cough for many years and was treated for suspected asthma with no sign of improvement.
Dr Tariq said: Without effective treatment this illness would spread to different parts of the body and cause even more damage to body tissue. However, it becomes even more serious if the bacteria spreads to a vital organ such as the brain, where it can cause considerable damage.
Dr Tariq has gained a reputation for spotting rare diseases. A few years ago he realised a man who was thought to have a lung tumour in fact had a nut lodged in his lung which was seen on an x-ray.
Mrs Wicks will continue with her antibiotic treatment until next year, when Dr Tariq and his team will produce a written account of the condition and treatment for a medical journal

After a three-year, $14,000 fund-raising drive netted matching funds, Clay Hill Elementary has become the latest Clay County school to get a covered play area.
The 30-by-50 canopy covering was dedicated at the school's recent celebration of its A school grade for the 2007-08 year.
Clay Hill's Parent-Faculty Association sponsored a variety of activities, from collecting pennies to holding a Valentine Ball, to raise funds for the project, said Principal Evelyn Chastain.
Matching funds came from a school district program that annually provides up to $25,000 to two schools that raise money on their own for covered play areas

Blog Archives:
Asthma control test

Cardiac asthma

Knob cabinet

Astronomy t shirts

Bathroom cabinets vanity

Moped tire

Razz moped

Yamaha scooters mopeds

Political tee shirts

Coolaroo cantilever umbrella

Disney princess shirt

Brass cabinet hinges

Cause of asthma

Cabinet hardware rustic

Maternity polo shirt

Baby asthma

Northwest asthma

Moped shop