whys

If you’ve ever had a cut that seems to ooze “white stuff” or have noticed a white pimple on your face, then you’ve seen pus. Pus may be disgusting to look at, but it is actually a sign of your body’s ability to fight infections. Pus means your white blood cells are attacking infections present on or in your body.

Pus can be white, slightly yellow or green, and is relatively thick, approximately the same as Elmer’s Glue. It’s actually a collection of dead skin cells, white blood cells called neutrophils, and some bacteria that is still putting up a fight. It is a visible sign that you have an infection. A minor source of tiny amounts of pus, as in a pimple, merely needs to be washed and cleaned with an antiseptic. Many infections that show pus are derived from staph bacteria, which we all have in some amount on our skin.

With small pimples, it is sufficient to use hot compresses, so that the pus drains. After a daily compress treatment, you should always be sure to use an antiseptic on the pimple. Further, wash your hands after dealing with pus in pimples, because it can still contain live bacteria which can be spread to those around you, or infect other areas of your skin. It’s usually fine to ignore small pimples until they go away. Your body is battling to fight off this small infection, and often wins this battle.

Pus coming from a wound, or a pimple that gets larger and larger, especially if it is above the cheekbone and below the forehead, suggests the body may need a little extra help fighting the infection. In these cases, a wait and see approach to pus is definitely not recommended. Untreated infections that the body can’t fight can lead to staph infections in the blood, which can be extremely serious.

If you have a great deal of pus coming from a wound, and the wound feels hard, hot, or has red streaks, these are the early signs of an infection called cellulitis, and you should see a doctor right away. Normally, a simple course of antibiotics will clear up the pus and the infection and will promote wound healing. Waiting can mean delaying healing and risking your overall health.

Pus can also be a source of infection to others, especially when there is a lot of it. If you are helping others treat an infected wound, or treating your own, you definitely want to observe excellent handwashing techniques each time you touch the wound. If you’re caring for someone else and have an infected wound, you want to keep this completely covered with bandages so as not to infect others. Young children and the elderly are especially vulnerable to staph infections.

Often, our body makes pus that we never see. For example, doctors often diagnose ear infections by noting pus in the ear canal. Organs can also be filled with pus, signalling serious infections. Sometimes a person might notice a thick yellowish or whitish fluid while urinating, suggesting a bladder infection which should be checked out by a doctor.

As ironic as it may seem, however, a small amount of pus, particularly in a pimple, is a sign of good health. People who don’t produce enough neutrophils also don’t produce enough pus, and can have a terrible time fighting off infections. In people with healthy immune systems, a simple pus filled pimple suggests your body is working as it should.

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Retrolental fibroplasia, also known as retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), is a rare disease in which blood vessels grow abnormally behind the retina. In severe cases, this progresses to scar tissue which can lead to problems with the eye. Retrolental fibroplasia occurs in premature infants and has been linked to the high concentrations of oxygen used to support their underdeveloped lungs.

In a fetus, blood vessels begin to form in the eye three months after conception, and are complete by birth. Prematurity disrupts this development, often causing retinal vascular proliferation. Severe retrolental fibroplasia is marked by this rapid growth as well as by severe scarring, and at times, retinal detachment. This can lead to blindness, reduction of vision and other problems with the eye.

Which premature babies are at most risk for developing retrolental fibroplasia? The risk is proportional to how premature the baby is, meaning the earlier they are born, the higher the chance of developing the disease. Also, smaller preemies, regardless of gestational age, are at higher risk. Because retrolental fibroplasia is such a serious disease, most if not all babies born before 34 weeks of gestational age, three weeks short of full term, are screened by an ophthalmologist.

What are the symptoms of retrolental fibroplasia? Unfortunately, most signs of the disease are not noticeable to the untrained eye. The symptoms include white pupils (leukocoria), abnormal eye movement (nystagmus), severe nearsightedness (myopia) and crossed eyes (strabismus). It is imperative to recovery that this disease is diagnosed and treated early, before severe scarring has developed and the retina has detached.

Treatments of retrolental fibroplasia include cryotherapy or freezing therapy, surgery to reattach the retina, laser treatment and low vision support. Laser therapy is used more often than cryotherapy, but must be used before serious scarring and retinal detachment occur. There have been studies conducted on premature infants using oral vitamin E that showed a reduction in the incidence of retrolental fibroplasia. Most of the time, abnormal growth of the blood vessels becomes normal on its own, but approximately 10% of affected infants will continue to experience abnormal growth and progress to severe retrolental fibroplasia.

There is little that can be done to prevent retrolental fibroplasia besides avoiding premature birth. Early diagnosis and treatment are key in avoiding major damage to the eye. As neonatal intensive care units are becoming more cutting edge, doctors can more effectively monitor the level of oxygen delivered to preemies, thereby reducing the potential for the disease to develop.

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The human body has a lot of tricks up its sleeve when it comes to healing itself, including the formation of scabs over a wound. Blood is a very complex substance chemically speaking, and several of those substances play a crucial role immediately after a surface injury. Blood platelets immediately pack themselves together in the wound itself and form a plug, better known as a blood clot. This clot may prevent or reduce further blood loss, but it can’t hold on forever. As more platelets collect around the wound and white blood cells attack opportunistic germs, a new substance called fibrin starts to build a web over the wound.

It is this combination of platelets, fibrin and plasma which combine to create scabs. Scabs function as protective caps over the wound that prevent dirt, germs and other contaminants to enter the “work site.” As the blood platelets dry out, the scabs usually take on a deep, rusty brown color and develop crusty edges. Scabs generally remain firmly in place until the skin underneath has been repaired and new skin cells have appeared. If scabs are prematurely removed, the revealed skin may look red and oozing. New scabs may reform, but often the new skin develops scar tissue.

Scabs should be allowed to dry completely and fall off naturally, although that is often more easily said than done. The skin beneath scabs may become very irritated or itchy during the healing process, which may cause sufferers to claw or scratch at their scabs. Some bandage companies even promote the use of specially treated adhesive products which prevent the formation of scabs. The treated bandage is believed to absorb the liquids and blood products which would have ordinarily congealed into scabs. Whether or not you choose to use bandages on a wound or else allow natural scabs to form, the key is to keep the area protected from infection and dirt.

There are a number of people who suffer from a obsessive-compulsive disorder involving the picking of scabs. Similar to compulsive self-mutilation, obsessive creation and subsequent picking of scabs can seriously harm s sufferer’s social and professional life if not addressed professionally. Compulsive picking at body scabs can also cause a number of disfiguring physical ailments, so it may help to use antiseptics containing an anesthetic such as lidocaine to reduce the temptation to pick or forcefully remove scabs.

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Wound powder is a charcoal-based medicine used to aid treatment of animal wounds. The powder, which is normally chalky-white, helps coagulate blood to stop bleeding, dry out wounds to prevent infection, and speed the healing process. Wound powder is generally used for minor cuts and scratches on horses, farm animals and small pets such as cats and dogs.

The chemical composition of wound powders varies between brands, but generally contains a combination of chemicals including charcoal, sulfur or copper sulfate, magnesium and chloramine. It is safe for use by humans, but you should avoid breathing it or getting it in your eyes. Some experts recommend wearing a surgical mask to prevent inhalation.

Many bottles of the powder are packaged so that the bottle may be squeezed or puffed, spraying the dry powder over the wound. Others may require use of a powder puff to apply the antiseptic. Some brands of wound powder contain a deodorizing agent that removes foul smells from wounds.

Wound powder is generally used as a topical antiseptic. The active ingredients, such as chloramine, are anti-microbial and may help prevent infection in a new wound, such as one caused by saddle sores. If a wound looks to already be infected or has not healed within a few days, be aware that the antiseptic powder may not be strong enough to fight the infection, and a veterinarian should be consulted.

One benefit of using wound powder, instead of a liquid or gel antiseptic is that the dry formula is easy to apply to hard-to-reach areas. Moreover, in the case of shy or easily startled animals, the powder is less likely to frighten the animal than a cold liquid. Some users prefer a gel or liquid formula, however, as animals may find the powder itchy or mildly discomfiting.

An unusual use for wound powder has become popular among cat owners. In some pure-bred white or light-colored cats, runny eyes can stain the area surrounding the eyes. This discoloration is considered undesirable in a show cat, particularly a Persian or similar long-haired breed. Some owners recommend using white colored wound powder to disguise or bleach out the stains for better show presentation. Experts warn that powder should be applied with a Q-Tip or eyelash brush, and no powder should be used near a cat’s eye that contains cortisone.

While wound powder is a popular aid to helping quickly and safely cure animal wounds, it should not be used as a substitute for proper veterinary care. In choosing a brand of powder, check with your animal’s vet to make sure that no ingredients are contra-indicated for your pet. Many brands of powder can be found at veterinary supply stores, some pet stores, and on the internet. It is fairly inexpensive, generally costing less than $10 US Dollars (USD) per bottle.

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The term “autopsy,” meaning “to see for oneself,” has been in use in reference to determining cause of death by examining a body since 1678. In any instance of a suspicious or violent death, an autopsy is performed to determine the precise cause of death, and to collect evidence which may be found in or on the body such as fibers, fingerprints, bullets, and toxins. In some cases, an autopsy is required, while in other instances, hospital personnel may ask a family if they would like an autopsy. In instances where an autopsy is optional, it can still be revealing, and may provide important information for other family members, such as evidence of a genetic illness which should be addressed.

A physician called a forensic pathologist oversees an autopsy. The autopsy starts with a thorough exterior examination of the body. X-rays are taken and the body is photographed extensively, while the presiding forensic pathologist makes notes about any distinguishing features on the body, and any visible injuries. Sometimes the cause of death is readily apparent during this examination, as might be the case with someone who was decapitated, but the internal examination of the body is also important.

After the exterior of the body has been meticulously documented, the forensic pathologist makes a y-shaped incision in the body’s chest and opens the rib cage with a Stryker saw, a specialized saw which will cut through bone, but not soft tissue. The major organs of the body such as the heart, liver, lungs, and stomach are removed for examination, and small samples are taken for lab inspection. Indicators of disease are noted, and usually the stomach is opened so that its contents can be examined. Samples of body fluids are also taken so that they can be tested for drugs, toxins, and any other unusual substances. After inspection, the organs are usually placed back into the body cavity before it is sewn up.

After the primary body cavity is examined, the forensic pathologist looks at the brain. If a neurological condition contributed to the decedent’s cause of death, it will often be revealed upon inspection. To examine the brain, the forensic pathologist uses the Stryker saw to open the top of the skull and remove the brain. Like the other bodily organs, the brain is photographed, examined, and weighed. Tissue samples may be taken for a laboratory examination before the brain is returned to the skull.

While the process of an autopsy may seem gruesome to some, autopsies can provide valuable medical clues. Especially in terminally ill patients, an autopsy can provide information for doctors about the exact cause of death which may help them treat other patients with similar conditions in the future. In murder investigations, an autopsy is a crucial piece of the puzzle, showing how exactly the victim died and what was used to kill him or her. People interested in the mechanics of death often pursue careers are forensic pathologists or forensic anthropologists so that they can learn more about this inevitable life process.

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