Funtabulously Frivolous Friday Five 166
Just when you thought your brain could unwind on a Friday, you realise that it would rather be challenged with some good old fashioned medical trivia FFFF, introducing the Funtabulously Frivolous Friday Five 166
Question 1
Young’s syndrome is associated with which symptoms?
Reveal the funtabulous answer
Bronchiectasis, rhino-sinusitis and reduced fertility
Individuals with this syndrome have notably thick secretions which cause the above syndromes.
It was noted by Donald Young a urologist in 1972, there is a potential connection with mercury exposure.
Question 2
What caused George Washington’s death (1st US president)?
Reveal the funtabulous answer
Epiglottitis vs Hypovolaemic shock.
I will let you decide from the account below, even at the time there was much debate as to the diagnosis and the treatments given:
He suddenly awoke with severe difficulty breathing and almost completely unable to speak or swallow. A firm believer in bloodletting, a standard medical practice of that era which he had used to treat various ailments of slaves on his plantation, he ordered estate overseer Albin Rawlins to remove half a pint of his blood. A total of three physicians were sent for, including Washington’s personal physician Dr. James Craik along with Dr. Gustavus Brown and Dr. Elisha Dick. By the time the three physicians finished their treatments half or more of his total blood volume was removed over the course of just a few hours. Recognizing that the bloodletting and other treatments were failing, Dr. Dick proposed performing an emergency tracheotomy, a procedure that few American physicians were familiar with at the time, as a last-ditch effort to save Washington’s life, but the other two doctors disapproved. Washington died at home around 10 p.m. on Saturday, December 14, 1799, aged 67. [Reference]
Question 3
What is Mollaret meningitis?
Reveal the funtabulous answer
Recurrent or chronic meningitis secondary to the herpes virus (HSV1 or HSV2) or varicella (HHV3).
Named after a French Neurologist Pierre Mollaret who first described the condition in 1944.
The diagnosis can be very elusive with meningitic symptoms ranging from a brief 3-7 days versus 4 weeks. The PCR can be intermittently positive along with intermittent evidence of other herpes outbreaks on the body as shown below in one case study:
Question 4
In 1656, who injected opium intravenously into dogs using a quill and bladder, thereby becoming the father of modern IV therapy?
Reveal the funtabulous answer
Sir Christopher Wren of St. Paul’s Cathedral fame.
Question 5
On what part of the body do melanomas most commonly develop in African-Americans?
Reveal the funtabulous answer
The feet.
Thought to be triggered by trauma as opposed to Caucasians developing lesions in sun exposed areas. [Reference]
FFFF
Funtabulously Frivolous Friday Five
Dr Neil Long BMBS FACEM FRCEM FRCPC. Emergency Physician at Kelowna hospital, British Columbia. Loves the misery of alpine climbing and working in austere environments (namely tertiary trauma centres). Supporter of FOAMed, lifelong education and trying to find that elusive peak performance.