What's going on with the Silva family? Quiz

Answer: Bones

Paget's disease can affect any bone or multiple bones in the body, never affecting the entire skeleton. Although we think of bones as an inert part of the body, they are in reality living tissue, which is constantly being renewed. Bones are always in a process of renewal where the new tissue gradually replaces the old one, in an orderly and balanced way, always keeping them healthy and firm.

In the case of Paget's disease, the bones' renewal process is disrupted and can be much more accelerated than normal, leading to the creation of fragile bones subject to deformities and fractures.

The disease is often called Paget's disease of bone to distinguish it from other ailments named for James Paget, a pathologist and surgeon of the nineteenth century.

Answer: His immune system had a disproportionate reaction to an infection, causing damage to his body

Cytokine is a type of protein that helps to coordinate the body's response to an infection. When an infection occurs, cytokine immediately activates immune cells. However, sometimes the cytokine's reaction to the infection causes a disproportionate number of immune cells to act, provoking serious harm or the death of the patients. In this case, a cytokine storm has occurred.

Answer: Episode of orthostatic hypotension

Elderly people are more susceptible to feeling dizzy or lightheaded or even fainting when they stand up quickly. It is a condition in which the blood pressure drops quickly and this fact is called orthostatic hypotension or postural hypotension. These symptoms clear up quickly. When they are very frequent or persist for a long time they may be signalling more serious problems.

Answer: Morton's neuroma

Morton's neuroma is a thickening in the ball of the foot. It is a condition that causes a lot of pain, as if the person is standing on a pebble. It happens eight to ten times more in women than in men. High-heeled shoes are sometimes linked to the incidence of this neuroma. Various treatments are indicated for this neuroma: change the type of shoes, use of specially made soft pads, corticosteroid or sclerosing alcohol injections and radio frequency ablation.

When the patient does not respond to any of these treatments then foot surgery is indicated.

Answer: Smell loss

Anosmia, sometimes called smell blindness, refers to the loss of the ability to smell. It can be a temporary or permanent condition and can be caused by numerous factors. Anosmia can be dangerous, especially in conditions where the patient cannot smell gas or spoiled food. It can be an early sign of degenerative brain disease.

Answer: She has no fingerprints

Adermatoglyphia, or absence of fingerprints, is caused by genetic mutations. It is characterized by the absence of ridges on the skin on the pads of the toes and fingers as well on the soles of the feet and palms of the hands. The patterns of the ridges are the basis for each person's unique fingerprints.

As each person has their own pattern, fingerprints have been used as a way to identify individuals. Fortunately, today there are other systems for identifying people.

Answer: True

The word arthritis is used to mean any disorder that affects joints and its effects are joint pain and stiffness. There are two most common forms of arthritis: rheumatoid arthritis (which is an autoimmune disease) and osteoarthritis which is a degenerative joint disease.

Osteoarthritis usually occurs due to age and affects fingers, knees and hips. The disease results from break down of joint cartilage and underlying bone. In general, symptoms will appear over time and treatment includes exercise, reducing stress on the joint, either by using a cane or losing weight when needed, and pain medication. Joint replacement sometimes is a necessary option if there is ongoing disability despite other treatments.

Answer: True

The medical term for head lice infestation is pediculosis capitis. It is an infectious disease that spreads easily from person to person by close body contact or by sharing personal items. The louse (pl. lice) or their eggs (nits) can be seen on the hair and easily diagnosed.

Head lice are a common problem, specially for kids. The tiny parasitic insects commonly live on people's head and are feed by their blood. Their bites can make the scalp itchy. The treatment depends on the patient's age, physical condition and the degree of infestation. Many head lice medicines are available over the counter. One of the safest ways to stop infestation is to use a good lice comb.

Answer: Apply the Heimlich maneuver

Choking occurs when an object lodges in the windpipe or throat, blocking the passage of air. To solve the problem, one indicated procedure is the Heimlich maneuver which is also named abdominal thrusts. In this case, the rescuer positions himself behind the patient and exerts sudden and increasingly pressure on the bottom of the diaphragm. Currently the protocol for this type of treatment recommends that the patient first coughs, then hard back slaps are given and finally the abdominal thrust procedures begin.

It is necessary to remember that choking prevents oxygen from reaching the brain so the rescue has to be quick.

Answer: Thyroid gland

Hashimoto's disease or Hashimoto's thyroiditis is a chronic inflammation of the thyroid. For unknown reasons, the body turns against itself. It is an autoimmune disease, in which the body attacks the thyroid cells and over the time the person develops hypothyroidism.

The disease is more common in older women. With hypothyroidism, the patient needs thyroid hormone replacement treatment for the rest of his or her life.