Diphenhydramine (DPH), a readily available first-generation H1 receptor antihistamine, can have severe consequences when taken in excessive amounts and can lead to grave outcomes such as seizures, dysrhythmias, coma, and death. Recognizing the early signs and symptoms of DPH toxicity is crucial. Fortunately, fatal adult cases of DPH overdose are rare.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: , a marine dinoflagellate, is the causative organism for "red-tide" on the east coast of Florida.This microbe produces brevetoxins, which bioaccumulate in filter feeding bivalve shellfish. In humans, inhalational exposure is common, while ingestion of contaminated shellfish is more rare.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPrehosp Disaster Med
December 2017
Rescue breathing performed too vigorously or by untrained individuals may cause gastric distension and perforation. A 26-year-old woman is presented who developed acute abdominal pain and distension after receiving rescue breathing following a heroin overdose. Massive pneumoperitoneum was seen on chest x-ray, and on subsequent laparotomy, a 4cm laceration was found in the lesser curvature of the stomach.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep
May 2017
The objective of this study was to determine whether administrative barriers to clinician ordering of nasal bone and acromioclavicular (AC) joint radiographs would result in a significant diminution in emergency department use of these films and in patient charges. This study involved a retrospective cohort or pre-post analysis of radiograph ordering by emergency care providers seeing adult patients with nasal area or shoulder injuries. Numbers of films ordered before and after enactment of a restrictive policy change were determined, as well as any charge reductions associated with diminished film use.
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