Middle-ear effusion, persistent Health Dictionary

The passage of ?uid through the walls of a blood vessel into a tissue or body cavity. It commonly occurs as a result of in?ammation or damage to the blood vessel. A pleural e?usion may occur in heart failure (as a result of increased blood pressure in the veins forcing out ?uid) or as a result of in?ammation in the lung tissue (PNEUMONIA). E?usions may also develop in damaged joints.... effusion

That portion of the EAR lying between the TYMPANIC MEMBRANE and the INNER EAR. It contains the ossicles, the three small bones that transmit sound.... middle ear

Long-term unconsciousness caused by damage to areas of the brain that control higher mental functions. The eyes may open and close, and there may be random movements of the limbs, but there is no response to stimuli such as pain. Basic functions such as breathing and heartbeat are not affected. There is no treatment to reverse the situation, but, with good nursing care, survival for months or years is possible.... persistent vegetative state

Diarrhoea that begins acutely but lasts more than 21 days. The usual enteropathogens are Shigella spp., Salmonella spp., Campylobacter jejuni, Yersinia enterocolitica, Capillaria philippinensis, Cryptosporidium. Giardia can also be a cause.... persistent chronic diarrhoea

PVS may occur in patients with severe brain damage from HYPOXIA or injury. Patients do not display any awareness of their surroundings, and are unable to communicate. Sleep alternates with apparent wakefulness, when some re?exes (see REFLEX ACTION) may be present: for example, patients’ eyes may re?exly follow or respond to sound, their limbs can re?exly withdraw from pain, and their hands can re?exly grope or grasp. Patients can breathe spontaneously, and retain normal heart and kidney function, although they are doubly incontinent (see INCONTINENCE).

For a diagnosis of PVS to be made, the state should have continued for more than a prede?ned period, usually one month. Half of patients die within 2–6 months, but some can survive for longer with arti?cial feeding. To assess a person’s level of consciousness, a numerical marking system rated according to various functions – eye opening, motor and verbal responses – has been established called the GLASGOW COMA SCALE.

The ETHICS of keeping patients alive with arti?cial support are controversial. In the UK, a legal ruling is usually needed for arti?cial support to be withdrawn after a diagnosis of PVS has been made. The chances of regaining consciousness after one year are slim and, even if patients do recover, they are usually left with severe neurological disability.

PVS must be distinguished from conditions which appear similar. These include the ‘LOCKED-IN SYNDROME’ which is the result of damage to the brain stem (see BRAIN). Patients with this syndrome are conscious but unable to speak or move except for certain eye movements and blinking. The psychiatric state of CATATONIA is another condition in which the patient retains consciousness and will usually recover.... persistent vegetative state (pvs)

The accumulation of fluid in a joint space, causing swelling, limitation of movement, and usually pain and tenderness. A joint is enclosed by a capsule lined with a membrane called the synovium. The synovium normally secretes small amounts of fluid to lubricate the joint, but if it is damaged or inflamed (for example, by arthritis) it produces excessive fluid.

Pain and inflammation may be relieved by analgesic drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and injections of corticosteroid drugs.

Swelling usually reduces with rest, firm bandaging, icepacks, and keeping the affected joint raised.

In some cases, the fluid is drawn out with a needle and syringe.... effusion, joint

See otitis media.... middle-ear infection

An accumulation of fluid between the layers of the pleura, making breathing difficult. Pleural effusion may be caused by pneumonia, tuberculosis, heart failure, cancer, pulmonary embolism, or mesothelioma.

Diagnosis is confirmed by chest X-ray.

Some fluid may be removed with a needle and syringe and examined to find the cause.

A biopsy of the pleura may also be needed.

The underlying cause is treated and fluid may be drained off to relieve breathing problems.... pleural effusion

spontaneous involuntary rhythmical contraction of the stapedius and/or tensor tympani muscles in the middle ear that can give rise to a form of *pulsatile tinnitus.... middle ear myoclonus

involuntary contraction of the stapedius and/or tensor tympani muscles in the middle ear in response to various stimuli. The stapedius contracts in response to sound (see stapedial reflex). The tensor tympani is thought to contract during chewing. The sound-evoked middle ear reflex can be detected using a *tympanometer.... middle ear reflex

(MERS) a viral respiratory infection that was first identified in 2012. Humans seem to be infected most easily by contact with dromedary camels (hence the informal name camel flu), although human-to-human infection also occurs. Symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Although the syndrome is often mild, death occurs in about a third of diagnosed cases. Most reported cases have been in the Arabian Peninsula, although there was a major outbreak in South Korea in 2015. At present there is no vaccine or treatment.... middle east respiratory syndrome

(atypical facial pain, chronic idiopathic facial pain) a chronic pain in the face that has no known cause and does not fit the classic presentation of other cranial neuralgias. It may be stress-related, and in some cases appears to be associated with defective metabolism of *tyramine. Treatment may involve the use of antidepressants.... persistent idiopathic facial pain