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The Doctors share disturbing images from medical cases and answer the questions, what is it, what happened, and could it happen to you! The first is a hand with a large black bump underneath the skin, which was found to move along with the heartbeat.
Watch: What Is Myasthenia Gravis?
Orthopedic surgeon expert Dr. Levi Harrison explains it is a type of thrombosis, specifically an aneurysm. This patient had strep throat which turned into sepsis and then turned into bacterial endocarditis. This was seeded in the hand causing the formation of an aneurysm.
The strep bacteria was actually lodged in the heart valve and then traveled elsewhere through the blood causing this aneurysm. The patient was very sick, had lost 26 pounds, but fortunately, the patient survived.
The next picture is of an arm with a firm encrusted ulcer on it. This started as a reddish bump and gradually kept expanding and it is called leishmaniasis, which is a parasitic infection. This man had been in the Dominican Republic and was bit by a sandfly which then transferred the parasite into his skin.
Sandflies are small, about a third of the size of a mosquito, so the infected person may not even know they are bitten. It’s very common in tropical climates. It can occur in two forms; cutaneous, in the skin, like the man’s in the photo was. Or, it can be visceral, which is more dangerous and can affect internal organs, enlarge the spleen, and make you feel feverish. It can be treated with anti-parasitic medication and is more common than you might think! There are a million reported cases worldwide per year.
Watch: What is Cogan's Syndrome and Could It Happen to You?
The last photo is of feet with blisters all over them and it is a case of hand, foot, and mouth disease. Typically, this is seen in children, but this photo is of a 36-year-old man’s feet. It is caused by a virus and asides from the characteristic blisters on the palms, soles, and mouth, you may have a fever and feel lousy. This is self-limited so you need fluids and rest but be aware, it is highly contagious.
Family physician expert Dr. Debora Gilboa adds it’s usually found in children under the age of 5 and a sign is if your child is having less oral intake and not wanting to eat.
In general, if you see something that develops on your body, think about where you’ve been, what you’ve done, and if anything is different in your life. You can be your own medical detective (but of course, seek a doctor’s care as needed.).
