Hypothermia

What is hypothermia?

Hypothermia is a medical condition that happens when your body loses temperature too quickly and falls under the temperature of 35 Degrees Celsius. This is a very dangerous situation and if you stay in hypothermia for a long time, you can possibly die, if not sustain permanent damages to your different organs. It can cause your organs like your heart, lungs, nervous system and brain to fail. 1500 people die from hypothermia in the US every year with the mortality rate from 38% to 84%. The older you are, the more vulnerable you are from hypothermia because your systems are weaker than when you're younger.

How do you get into the state of hypothermia?

You get into hypothermia when your body temperature drops below 35 Degrees Celsius, which when normal, should be 37. It is usually caused by a person spending too much time in the cold, being trapped during winter sports and no one can see them or help them or falling into cold water.

Symptoms:

- Shivering (body trying to heat you up by tightening and relaxing your muscles)

- Confusion (brain not functioning properly)

- Slurring (nervous system not working properly)

- Weak pulse (heart slowing down)

- Weak breath (lungs not functioning properly)

- Shock (blood pressure drop suddenly)

- Unconscious (your organs shut down)

Risks:

- Elderly

- Young babies

- Taking medications

- Alcohol usage

- Sick people

Diagnosis:

- Symptoms

- Blood tests

What if left untreated:

You can die from the complications.

Treatment:

- Warm drinks

- Take some rest

- Keep warm (Don't directly be blown by heat)

Preventions:

- Keep clothes dry

- Wear more clothes

- Wear face coverings

- Don't over work yourself

- Don't stay out for long

- Get back to warmth when you feel too cold

Meningitis

What is Meningitis?

Meningitis is an extremely dangerous disease which causes your meninges, or the membrane surrounding your brain and spinal cord to inflame. There are many types of meningitis, because the inflammation can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites and more. Typically if given treatment, 5-10% of people die, but if untreated, about 50% of patients die. Meningitis can even kill a person within 4 hours! Even if treated, the patient can be left with permanent damage to their brains and ears. Patients between 16-23 and younger than 1 are more likely to get meningitis.

Types of Meningitis:

1. Bacterial Meningitis - deadly, caused by bacteria, vaccines available

2. Viral Meningitis - most common, less severe than bacterial, caused by viruses, vaccines available

3. Fungal Meningitis - very rare, caused by fungi, can be caused by inhalation of spores

4. Parasitic Meningitis - rare, caused by parasites

5. PAM - rare, caused by amoeba

6. Non-infectious Meningitis - caused by non-infectious diseases (eg. cancer/drugs)

How do you contract Meningitis?

Bacterial and Viral:

    Coughing, sneezing and in rare occasions, through contact of feces. The bacteria can go into your sinus system and go into a bloodstream, which brings it to the brain.

Fungal: 

    Can be caused by breathing fungal spores in

Parasitic and PAM:

    Consumed parasitic eggs or amoeba in water

Non-infectious:

    Caused by diseases, injuries or some medications

Symptoms:

- Headaches

- Fever

- Stiff neck

- Nausea

- Sensitivity to brightness

- Seizures

- Confusion

Diagnosis needed:

- Lumbar puncture

- Eye examinations

- Ear examinations

- Blood examinations

- CT

- MRI

- EEG 

What if you don't treat it?

It can cause your brain to be damaged permanently or even cause death.

Treatment: 

- Antibiotics (B)

- Treating symptoms (P)

- Antifungal (F)

- Treated by body/anti-viral (V)

Prevention:

PLEASE GET VACCINES! The most risked from meningitis are teenagers without vaccines. But also, stay away from smoking, drinking as much as possible and get more rest.