Another weekend again!
Being a child, time seems to pass slowly and you want things to speed up. I recall adding 1 or 2 yrs to my age as a kid. As an adult, you want time to slow down as it seems to be running too fast. I have seen some people reduce their age by 2 or 3 yrs because they do not want to feel too old.
Anyways, it is time for another weekend wrapup. I hope you enjoyed tasking your mind with these medical trivias. Some of the answers seemed a bit weird, I know. So, without much further ado, let us jump right into explaining these enigmas
Monday, February 24, 2025: Sudden Vision Loss in One Eye
Question: A 50-year-old man suddenly loses vision in one eye. He has no pain, but it looks like a "curtain" is coming down over his vision. What could be happening?
Options:
A) Cataract
B) Retinal detachment
C) Migraine
D) Eye infection
Correct Answer: B) Retinal detachment
Reasoning: Retinal detachment occurs when the retina (the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye) pulls away from its normal position, often causing a sudden, painless loss of vision described as a “curtain” or shadow moving across the visual field. This is a medical emergency requiring immediate attention to prevent permanent vision loss. The man’s age (50) and the specific symptom of a painless, curtain-like vision loss in one eye strongly align with this condition, often linked to aging, trauma, or underlying eye conditions like myopia.
Why the Other Options Don’t Fit:
A) Cataract: Cataracts cause gradual, painless blurry or cloudy vision in both eyes (or one eye over time), not a sudden, curtain-like loss. They don’t typically present as a moving visual obstruction.
C) Migraine: Migraines can cause visual disturbances (auras), but these are usually temporary, involve flashing lights or zigzag patterns, and are often accompanied by headache pain—not a one-sided, permanent “curtain” effect.
D) Eye infection: Infections like conjunctivitis or keratitis usually cause redness, pain, discharge, or sensitivity to light, not sudden, painless vision loss resembling a curtain.
I remember one of the most effective slaps I received as a child... it had a 2 fold effect.
- I began to hear ringing in my ears.
- I began to see some flashes of light even when I closed my eyes... just like some people who experience retinal detachment. Fortunately, the symptoms subsided after a while, but for people with retinal detachment, it may even get worse.
Tuesday, February 25, 2025: Pain After Fatty Foods
Question: A 40-year-old woman has stomach pain that worsens after eating fatty foods. She also has nausea and pain in her right upper abdomen. What is the most likely cause?
Options:
A) Gastric ulcer
B) Gallstones
C) Food poisoning
D) Acid reflux
Correct Answer: B) Gallstones
Reasoning: Gallstones are hardened deposits in the gallbladder that can block bile ducts, causing pain (biliary colic) in the right upper abdomen, especially after consuming fatty meals. Nausea is common, as the gallbladder struggles to release bile. This pattern—pain triggered by fatty foods, location in the right upper abdomen, and nausea—aligns perfectly with gallstones, a frequent issue in middle-aged women, often linked to diet or genetics.
Why the Other Options Don’t Fit:
A) Gastric ulcer: Ulcers cause burning or gnawing pain in the upper abdomen or chest, often relieved by eating (not triggered by fatty foods specifically), and aren’t typically associated with nausea after meals unless complicated by bleeding or obstruction.
C) Food poisoning: Food poisoning causes sudden nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps shortly after eating contaminated food, not specifically after fatty meals or localized to the right upper abdomen.
D) Acid reflux: Acid reflux (GERD) causes heartburn or chest pain, often after large meals or lying down, not sharp pain in the right upper abdomen triggered by fatty foods.
I remember my first thought when I found that the human body could produce stones. Prior to that, I knew stones as what you threw at animals and pests. We had a farm where we planted maize every year and there was always the problem of fending off the goats that were looking for their next meal. Chasing these goats was a very tiresome venture and we would throw stones in their general direction to fend them off. I must confess that at some point, it became too frustrating and I sometimes aimed at those goats aiming to cause them permanent bodily harm.
Imagine my confusion when I realized that the human body could produce stones.
Wednesday, February 26, 2025: Fever, Stiff Neck, and Rash
Question: A man develops fever, headache, stiff neck, and sensitivity to light. He also has a rash that doesn’t fade when pressed. What serious condition should be considered?
Options:
A) Flu
B) Sinus infection
C) Migraine
D) Meningitis
Correct Answer: D) Meningitis
Reasoning: Meningitis is a severe inflammation of the covering of the brain and spinal cord, often caused by bacterial or viral infection. Symptoms like fever, headache, stiff neck (nuchal rigidity), sensitivity to light (photophobia), and a non-blanching rash (doesn’t fade when pressed, suggesting petechiae or purpura) are classic signs, especially in bacterial meningitis, which can be life-threatening. This combination demands urgent medical attention, often with antibiotics and hospitalization.
Why the Other Options Don’t Fit:
A) Flu: The flu can cause fever, headache, and body aches, but it doesn’t typically include a stiff neck, light sensitivity, or a non-blanching rash.
B) Sinus infection: Sinusitis causes facial pain, nasal congestion, and fever but not stiff neck, photophobia, or a rash—those symptoms point beyond a sinus issue.
C) Migraine: Migraines can cause headache and light sensitivity, but they don’t involve fever, stiff neck, or a rash, and they’re not typically life-threatening.
When I saw my first case of meningitis, I was really scared. I remember that this person also had sepsis-- a very severe infection that affects the whole body. This person looked like he was going to die any minute. This is one of the reasons why vaccines are very very important in childhood.
anyways, lets look at the next one.
Thursday, February 27, 2025: Heavy Bleeding in Pregnancy
Question: A pregnant woman starts bleeding heavily in her third trimester and has severe belly pain. What is the most dangerous possible cause?
Options:
A) Normal pregnancy changes
B) Placental abruption
C) Urinary tract infection
D) Miscarriage
Correct Answer: B) Placental abruption
Reasoning: Placental abruption is a serious condition where the placenta separates from the uterus before delivery, causing heavy vaginal bleeding, severe abdominal pain, and potential fetal distress. It’s life-threatening for both mother and baby, requiring immediate medical intervention (e.g., emergency C-section). The third trimester timing, heavy bleeding, and severe pain align perfectly with this diagnosis, making it the most dangerous cause listed.
Why the Other Options Don’t Fit:
A) Normal pregnancy changes: Normal pregnancy doesn’t involve heavy bleeding or severe pain in the third trimester—minor spotting can occur, but not to this extent.
C) Urinary tract infection: UTIs can cause discomfort or mild abdominal pain but not heavy bleeding or severe belly pain, especially in the third trimester.
D) Miscarriage: Miscarriage typically occurs in the first trimester, not the third, and doesn’t involve severe ongoing pain and heavy bleeding at this stage of pregnancy.
A pregnant woman in pain is not a pretty sight. It is even worse when she is in pain and bleeding heavily especially when she only has a few weeks to go before delivering her baby. Some men have fainted when faced with the scene of a bleeding pregnant wife in pain.
Last one.
Friday, February 28, 2025: Chronic Cough in a Smoker
Question: A woman with a long history of smoking has a chronic cough that produces thick mucus every morning. Over time, she becomes easily short of breath, even when doing small activities. What is the most likely condition?
Options:
A) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
B) Asthma
C) Pneumonia
D) Tuberculosis
Correct Answer: A) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Reasoning: COPD, often caused by long-term smoking, is characterized by a persistent cough with thick mucus (often worse in the morning), progressive shortness of breath, and reduced airflow due to damaged lung tissue (emphysema and chronic bronchitis). A smoking history is a major risk factor, and the chronic, worsening nature of these symptoms aligns perfectly with COPD, a common condition in smokers over time.
Why the Other Options Don’t Fit:
B) Asthma: Asthma causes wheezing, shortness of breath, and sometimes coughing, but it’s typically episodic, not chronic with thick mucus every morning, and isn’t as strongly linked to smoking history.
C) Pneumonia: Pneumonia is an acute infection with fever, cough (often productive), and shortness of breath, but it’s not chronic—it resolves with treatment, unlike the ongoing symptoms here.
D) Tuberculosis: TB can cause a chronic cough and shortness of breath, but it usually includes fever, weight loss, night sweats, and is less common in smokers without other risk factors; the thick mucus and specific pattern here point more to COPD.
As a child, peer pressure and movies made smoking look very cool. One day I decided to smoke but I could not afford to buy a cigarette, so I did the next best thing. I cut a piece of wood from the bush, hollowed out the inside, put in some paper and put some fire at the other end. It was catastrophic and I have never tried it ever since... I coughed so much that I was afraid I was going to cough out my lungs.
Final Thoughts
These medical trivias remind us how crucial it is to recognize symptoms and seek timely care. From sudden vision loss to chronic respiratory issues, each scenario underscores the importance of understanding your body and consulting professionals. Stay curious, stay healthy, and join us next week for more “Hive Medical Trivias"