Pathophysiology
Pathophysiology
| Disease Name | Pathophysiology | Etiology | Signs/symptoms | Diagnostic Tests | Treatment |
| Leukemia | Abnormal division and multiplication of premature blood cells that fail to carry out their functions | · Radiations
· Abnormalities in chromosomes · chemicals |
· Bleeding
· Tiredness · Fever
|
· Complete blood count
· Bone marrow examination |
· Medications, e.g. Cyclophosphamide
· Bone marrow transplant · Radiation therapy |
| Anemia | The body lacks enough red blood cells, and so inadequate oxygen is carried to the tissues to carry out metabolic functions | A decrease in red blood cells production | · Fatigue
· Shortness of breath · Weakness · Pale skin |
Complete blood count
|
· Iron and folate supplements
· Diet improvement |
| Lymphoma | Genetic changes in the body lead to abnormal growth of white blood cells | Changes in the immune system | · Cough
· Weight loss · fatigue |
· Bone marrow aspiration
· Blood tests · Imaging tests |
· Chemotherapy
· Immunotherapy · Radiation therapy |
| Multiple myeloma | Abnormal division and multiplication of plasma cells which then replace normal cell and disrupt their functions. | Changes in DNA make plasma cells cancerous | · Bone pain
· Nausea · Weight loss · fatigue |
· Complete blood count
· Blood chemistry tests |
· Chemotherapy
· Blood transfusion · Autotransplantation |
| Elephantiasis | A bite from an infected mosquito spread the roundworm larvae in the bloodstream. They then mature in the lymphatic system causing damage to the lymph nodes | Bites from mosquitoes infected with the roundworm larvae | · Swelling
· Tough skin · Fever and chills |
Physical examination and blood tests | · Diethylcarbamazine
· Ivermectin
|
| Congestive heart failure | Abnormalities in cardiac function affect the heart’s ability to pump blood to all expected areas resulting in symptoms such as increased heartbeats and weakness of the body | · Disorders of heart valves
· Recovery from myocarditis |
· Congested lungs
· Fluid retention · Rapid and irregular heartbeats · weakness |
· echocardiogram
· chest X-ray · blood tests |
· medications, e.g. ACE inhibitors
· Coronary bypass surgery |
| Hypertension | Narrowing of blood vessels leads to increased resistance to blood flow. As such, blood is forced through the vessels at a high pressure | Lifestyle triggers such as stress and diet. | · Blood pressure above normal
· Severe headache · Fatigue · Irregular heartbeat |
Measurement of the blood pressure | · Antihypertensive medications such as ACE inhibitors
· Lifestyle modifications |
| Coronary artery disease | Narrowing and occlusion of blood vessels cause a reduction in blood flow. Blood fails to reach tissues cause myocardial infarction characterized by angina | A build-up of plague in the walls of blood vessels | · Angina
· Heart attack · Shortness of breath |
Electrocardiogram
|
· Lifestyle changes like quitting smoking
· Medications such as statins |
| Angina | Myocardial ischemia resulting from inadequate blood and oxygen supply | Coronary artery diseases | · Chest pain
· Shorten of breath · sweating |
Electrocardiogram and a stress test | Nitroglycerin tablets and aspirin |
| Myocardial infarction | Insufficient blood supply to the myocardium causes the formation of regional infarcts | Imbalanced supply and demand of oxygen | · Fatigue
· Shorten of breath · Heartburn
|
Electrocardiogram
|
Fibrinolytic therapy |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | Damage to the airways and air sacs in the lungs leads to accumulation of mucus which then causes difficulty in breathing. | Smoking cigarettes | · Chest tightness
· Wheezing · Shortness of breath |
· Lung function tests
· Chest X-rays |
· Rescue inhalers
· Bronchodilators and steroids |
| Asthma | Exposure to allergens causes airway inflammation, obstruction, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. | Exposure to allergens and irritants | · Shorten of breathing
· Chest tightness · Coughing · Wheezing sound |
Lung function test | · Corticosteroids including prednisolone and
· Salbutamol
|
| Pneumonia | Bacterial, fungal, and viral infection of the lungs causes inflammation of the lung parenchyma. | Bacterial infection | · Fever
· Chest pain · Confusion · fatigue |
Chest X-ray and a complete blood count | Antibiotics such as amoxicillin |
| Tuberculosis | Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli are inhaled into the lungs. They occupy around goblet cells that secrete mucus | Inhalation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli | · chest pain
· night sweats · coughing for more than two weeks · fatigue |
The Mantoux tuberculin skin test | Antibiotics including isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol. |
| Sleep apnea | Obesity and excessive weight causes relaxation of tongue and throat muscles which lead to the obstruction of pharyngeal airways during sleep. | Excessive weight and obesity | · Loud snoring
· Restless sleep · forgetfulness |
Polysomnography | Continuous positive airway pressure |