DELIRIUM TREMENS

Occurring in 5% of acute alcohol withdrawal cases, Delirium Tremens (The DTs) is a highly lethal reaction that the body can have when alcohol is removed from the system. 35% of untreated Delirium Tremens cases are fatal. 5% of treated cases still end in death. Long term and heavy alcohol consumption, especially in tandem with benzodiazapine addiction, increases the likelihood that a person will succumb to the DTs upon withdrawal from one or both substances.

Excessive consumption of alcohol causes changes in the brain's GABA receptors which cause the body to produce more norepinephrine, dopamine, epinephrine, and serotonin - all of which further the drinker's tolerance to alcohol. When the regular dosage of ethyl alcohol is removed the GABA receptors are still unable to process the normal levels of GABA that the brain produces and therefore the GABA chemical cannot regulate the already elevated adrenergic chemicals. This causes what is refered to as an adrenergic storm.

During this adrenergic storm the patient will experience symptoms such as hypertension, hyperthermia, hyperreflexia, diaphoresis, heart attack, cardiac arrhythmia, stroke, anxiety, panic attacks, paranoia, and agitation. The adrenaline system is so out of control that it can very easily kill the patient. The DTs are treated with large doses of benzodiazapines, such as ativan, to continue to block GABA reuptake so that the patient can be slowly weened off. Valium is also used to calm the adrenergic chemicals in the body.

The Delerium Tremens are a well documented and long-standing plague worldwide. Various colloquial terms have been used through the years to describe the DTs including "the horrors", "the fear", "the abdabs" or "the rats."

Since this sick is relatively lethal if untreated and causes some pretty crazy psychological symptoms, I rate it a
5 on my "lethality scale" (1-10)
and a 5 on my "disturbing scale" (1-10)

CAPGRAS DELUSION

Associated with Schizophrenia, brain damage, and dementia, the Capgras Delusion is characterized by a patient being convinced that a loved one has been imprisoned and that an impostor has taken his or her place. Capgras Delusion is characterized as a delusional misidentification syndrome, though some researchers believe that the Capgras Delusion should not be considered a syndrome, but rather a symptom related to underlying causes.

The Capgras Delusion is named after Joseph Capgras, a French psychiatrist who first described the ailment in 1923 in a paper coauthored by Reboul-Lachaux.

It is believed that the Capgras Delusion is caused by a breakdown in the part of the brain responsible for creating the appropriate emotional resonse to visual stimuli. When a person suffering from this disorder sees the face of a loved one, they can recognize the person, but do not feel the appropriate emotional response leading them to believe that something is not right and that the person is not really the person they know and love.

In the case of schizophrenia, which makes up the majority of Capgras cases, the delusion can be treated with antipsychotic medication.

Since this sick is not terminal, but can lead to immense emotional pain and even violence, I rate it a
1 on my "lethality scale" (1-10)
and a 5 on my "disturbing scale" (1-10)

PROSTATITIS

Once thought to be a sexually transmitted disease, prostatitis is the term used to describe swelling of the prostate which can be caused by bacteria or can occur spontaneously with no direct infectious cause. Prostatitis is the diagnosis for 25% of urology complaints in young and middle-aged men. Only 5-10% of prostatitis cases are caused by bacteria. Those cases can be treated with antibiotics.

Chronic, non-bacteria prostatitis is the most common form of the ailment, accounting for 90% of prostatitis cases. The condition is marked by urinary and genital pain for at least three of the past six months. Patients have no bacteria in their urine, but may have other signs of inflammation. The pain from prostatitis occurs because the swollen prostate puts pressure on the urethra and other surrounding tissues.

The symptoms of prostatitis include:

• Frequent urge to urinate
• difficulty urinating
• blood in the urine
• fever
• painful ejactulation
• pelvic pain

Treatments for prostatitis include:

• warm sitz baths
• anti inflamatory medication
• antibiotics
• muscle relaxants
• prostate massage
• surgery

Risk factors that increase the likelihood of prostatitis include:

• particpation in anal sex
• abnormal urinary tract
• recent catheterization
• bladder infection
• enlarged prostate

There is no link between prostatitis and prostate cancer. Prostatitis is not contagious.

Since this sick is not deadly and has no disturbing manifestations aside from a heck of a lot of discomfort, I rate it a
1 on my "lethality scale" (1-10)
and a 1 on my "disturbing scale" (1-10)

DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS (DVT)

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is the medical name for any blood clot that forms in the deep veins. Typically, DVT occurs in the legs, but can also occur in the arms. In any case of DVT, there is a 3% chance that the patient will die. So, any indication of DVT must be thorougly tested and DVT patients should be hospitalized until the condition has stabilized. The greatest danger from DVT is that part of the blood clot will break free and travel to the lungs causing a pulmonary embolism.

350,000 to 600,000 American's suffer from DVT each year and at least 100,000 annual deaths can be attributed to DVT and related complications.

Sometimes a DVT will have no symptoms, but commonly the affected extremity becomes swollen, red and hot. If a doctor suspects DVT, he or she will run a test called a d-dimer which checks for enzymes produced when the body is attempting to break down a blood clot. They will also do an ultrasound of the veins. When a DVT is diagnosed the patient is given anticoagulants to break down the blood clot. In severe cases the patient may be fitted with an inferior veina cava filter. These devices strain the blood preventing clotting. Today they can be placed using catheters. Placement used to require surgery.

The following factors, called Virchow's Triad, are known to affect clot formation: rate of blood flow, the consistency (thickness) of the blood, and qualities of the vessel wall.

Patients who have just had surgery or that are bed ridden or who have had to remain stationary for long periods of time are most likely to develop DVT.

Since this sick affects so many people and can be quite lethal, but has few outwardly disturbing manifestations I rate it a

5 on my "lethality scale" (1-10)
and a 2 on my "disturbing scale" (1-10)