House Case

September 10, 2013:

The main focus of today's class was the house case. If all house cases follow our first one, then a house case is when we are assigned someone with many symptoms, and we are supposed to try to figure out what he has.

House Case #1:
High School Senior
18 Years Old
Runs Cross Country
Symptoms:

  Vomiting
  Severe Headache
  Exhaustion
  Confusion

Additional Helpful Information:

  He is not on medications

  The symptoms began after practice

  The practice was in 104 degree weather

  Drank 3 gallons of water during practice

Based on this information, my class and I made a list of possibilities.

1. Heat Exhaustion
2. Heat Stroke
3. Type 2 Diabetes
4. Dehydration
5. Over Hydration

We were then given a list of test results to further our search.
MRI and CAT scan-negative
CRC-normal and white blood cell numbers are normal
    Blood Glucose level-normal
    Serum/Blood Na levels 125 meq/L
    Serum Osmolality - decreased
Urinalysis - Specific Gravity decreased <100mOsm/kg and Urine Na decreased to 15 meq/L
Blood Pressure slightly elevated

After ruling out most of our prior possibilities, a few classmates and I have decided that his situation is most likely over-hydration.

This was my first house case, and I actually kind of enjoyed it. It was pretty interesting trying to figure out what was wrong with this guy with such few information.

I'll be back. Next time on House: