Orbital Cellulitis

Orbital cellulitis is a condition that targets and age or sex that is characterized by swelling of the eyelid with redness and pain. This can be a result of numerous sources such as microbial infections, bacteria from sinus infection, stye, bug bites, or injury to the eye. Some of the main symptoms include an elevated fever around 102F or more, painful swelling of eyelid, decreased vision, shiny red or purple eyelids, bulging eyes, and difficult and painful eye movements.

Some of the tests that may be use to diagnosis orbital cellulitis include a complete blood count check, blood cultures, spinal tap (extreme cases), sinus x-ray, CT or MRI of sinuses & orbits, and a throat culture. Treatment is mainly just admitting the patient to the hospital and administering antibiotics in an IV. Surgery may be needed for more serious cases to be able to drain it. The best treatment is quick treatment. Some complications may be hearing loss, optic nerve damage, loss of vision, and cavernous sinus thrombosis. Prevention may be achieved in children by giving the HiB vaccine and for everyone to detect sinus and other infections early on.

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Prolactinoma

Prolactinoma is the most common tumor of the pituitary gland. Luckily, it is a benign tumor. The pituitary gland releases the hormone prolactin, which is associated with milk production during pregnancy and breast feeding and sexual desire. The tumor causes an over production of this hormone. As the size of the tumor increases, so does the amount of prolactin. Some symptoms of this condition in women may be: loss of menstration, abnormal milk production (w/out pregnancy or breast feeding), decreased sex drive, headaches and change in vission. In men, some symptoms may include: production of milk, decreased sex drive, enlargement of breast tissues (gynecomastica), headache, and visual changes. For diagnosis, a doctor may first request blood tests to check the prolactin levels. Then, if prolactinoma is still an option a MRI would be the next or best step to visualize the tumor. A CT is also an option. The primary treatment for this condition is drugs such as bromocriptine, pergolide, and cabergoline to help reduce and balance out the levels of prolactin. If this has no affect on the tumor, or the patient does not get better, then surgery may be neccessary. Prolactinomas are more common in women than men and in people under the age of 40.

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Bell's Palsy

How frightening would it be to wake up with no control of one side of your face? Bell's palsy can be weakness or paralysis of muscles that control a side of face. It may be a result of swelling of the facial nerve which would exert pressure on the nerve. This onset can be within a day or two or just a matter of hours. A person's face who is suffering from Bell's may appear droopy. Some other signs include facial stiffness, pain behind infront or inside of ear, sounds louder in that affected ear, headache, or loss of taster front of tongue. Bell's palsy can occur at any age but is most common in pregnant women, diabetics, or people with weaker immune systems. Babies can also be born with it. However, stroke, infections and tumors may also mimic the signs of Bell's palsy. A doctor may suggest an Electromyography (EMG) which measurses electrical activity in a muscle or and MRI or CT of the head.

In most cases, those that are considered mild, Bell's palsy dissapears withing a month. With more severe cases, the nerves may be permantly damaged. Most of the time, a patient will heal fine without any treatment. As of now, there is no treatment that is certain to eliminate it but may help. Some treatments may include anti-inflammatory medication, antiviral medication, or facial massage. It is very important to protect the affected side's eye with Bell's palsy. Using an eye patch and artificial tears will help protect the cornea of the eye. Although no one would want to have Bell's palsy, in most cases the it does clear up within a few weeks to a few months.

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