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What are stab wounds? A person with a stab wound has a deep puncture wound that damages the tissue beneath the skin. The term, stab, usually refers to a puncture with a knife or sharp weapon. What are the symptoms of stab wounds? Symptoms of a stab wound include a puncture wound, as well as pain, swelling, tenderness or numbness of the skin around the wound. A stab wound to an arm or leg may result in poor circulation to the fingers or toes. Symptoms of a severe stab wound may include pale skin, fatigue, faintness, difficulty breathing,excessive sweating, confusion, or fainting. How does the doctor treat stab wounds? Treatment for a stab wound may include wound care, laceration repair, antibiotics, tetanus vaccination, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicationsfor pain. Additional treatment for a severe stab wound may require intravenous fluids, a blood transfusion, or surgery to repair damaged tissue. What is a puncture wound? A person with a puncture wound has an opening through the skin, caused by a sharp object. The object pierces the skin and enters the tissue beneath the skin surface. Puncture wounds have a higher risk for infection than abrasions andlacerations. What are the symptoms of a puncture wound? Symptoms of a puncture wound include a laceration, with pain, swelling,numbness, redness, or bruising around the wound. Additional findings may include pus draining from the wound, or a wound foreign body. How does the doctor treat a puncture wound? Treatment for a puncture wound includes wound irrigation, wound cleansing, and exploration of the wound. Additional treatment may include removal of a wound foreign body, wound repair, antibiotics, or tetanus vaccination. A severe puncture wound may require surgery to repair damaged tissue. What is swelling? A person with swelling has enlargement of part of the body, usually due to a collection of fluid beneath the skin. Swelling may affect the entire body, or it may be localized to one area, such as a limb. Common causes of swelling includerash, congestive heart failure, allergic reactions, venous insufficiency, or amedication side effect. What are the symptoms of swelling? Symptoms that may occur with swelling include fatigue and pitting: finger pressure leaves a shallow fingerprint in the skin. Additional symptoms include rings that do not fit, and clothes or watches that are too tight. How does the doctor treat swelling? The treatment for swelling depends on the underlying cause. Treatment for swelling may include elevation of the swollen area, low salt diet, reducing the amount of liquids in the diet, weight loss, or medication. What is numbness and tingling? A person with numbness and tingling has an abnormal feeling or loss of sensation on the surface of the

skin. Chronic diseases, such as diabetes andalcoholism, may cause numbness and tingling. A variety of neurological diseases, such as stroke, spinal cord disease, herniated disk, and peripheral neuropathy may also cause numbness and tingling. What are the symptoms of numbness and tingling? Symptoms that may occur with numbness and tingling include skin rash, dry skin, cool or mottled skin, burning pain, increased sensitivity to touch,weakness, and fatigue. How does the doctor treat numbness and tingling? The treatment for numbness and tingling depends on the cause. Treatment for numbness and tingling may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, or vitamin supplements. A variety of medications are used to treat symptoms of numbness and tingling, including narcotic pain medications, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory medications, tricyclic antidepressants, and anticonvulsants. What is peripheral vascular disease? A person with peripheral vascular disease has damage to the arteries that supply the legs and feet. Symptoms occur when the arteries are unable to provide enough oxygen to meet the demand of the tissues. Peripheral vascular disease is caused by atherosclerosis. What are the symptoms of peripheral vascular disease? The initial symptoms of peripheral vascular disease include leg pain or foot painthat worsens with activity, feet that are cool to touch, numbness and tingling in the legs and feet, slow wound healing, and weak pulses in the feet. Additional symptoms of worsening peripheral vascular disease include foot swelling, leg swelling, skin ulcers and varicose veins. How does the doctor treat peripheral vascular disease? Treatment for peripheral vascular disease may include avoiding smoking, a low fat diet, a low cholesterol diet, weight loss, blood thinner medications, aspirin,thrombolytic medications, and surgery. What is pale skin? A person with pale skin or pallor often has a reduced number of red blood cellsin the bloodstream. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a molecule that carries oxygen. A decrease in the number of red blood cells can cause the skin to appear pale. Pale skin may be caused by a variety of diseases, including blood loss, low dietary iron, low folate, and vitamin B12 deficiency. What symptoms are often associated with pale skin? Symptoms that may be seen with pale skin include fatigue, generalized weakness, chronic headaches, and faintness upon standing. Later symptoms include palpitations, rapid pulse, fainting, and worsening shortness of breath with exertion. How does the doctor treat pale skin? Treatment of pale skin due to anemia may include corticosteroids,erythropoietin, vitamin supplements, iron supplements, and blood transfusion. What is weakness or fatigue? A person with weakness or fatigue constantly lacks energy, or feels weary and tired. Weakness and fatigue is a very common complaint that occurs with many illnesses, including infections, heart disease, lung disease, neurological disease, autoimmune disease, and brain disease.

What are the symptoms of weakness or fatigue? Weakness or fatigue can accompany many other symptoms. Symptoms that may occur with severe weakness and fatigue include faintness, fainting,palpitations, chest pain, difficulty breathing, or confusion. How does the doctor treat weakness or fatigue? The treatment for weakness or fatigue depends on the cause. Treatment may not be necessary in adolescents and young adults. In general, treatment for weakness or fatigue includes a healthy diet, exercise, and regular sleep. What is dizziness? A person with dizziness has lightheadedness has the sensation that he or she may faint, pass out, or lose consciousness. Dizziness has many causes and is very common. Some common causes for lightheadedness include low blood pressure, dehydration, hypoglycemia, hyperventilation, and drug side effects. What are the symptoms of dizziness? Symptoms of dizziness depend on the underlying cause. Dizziness is most often described as lightheadedness or the feeling that one might pass out. Occasionally, dizziness is also used to describe a spinning sensation, calledvertigo. How does the doctor treat dizziness? Treatment for dizziness depends on the underlying cause. Treatment may include fluids and medications. What is breathing difficulty? Breathing difficulty, or shortness of breath, is the feeling that the act of breathing requires more effort than usual. Breathing difficulty is a common symptom of heart or lung disease. Breathing difficulty may occur at rest, be associated with exertion, occur only when lying flat, or cause waking in the middle of the night. A situation that triggers breathing difficulty can provide an important clue to the underlying cause. What are the symptoms of breathing difficulty? There are several important signs of severe breathing difficulty such as rapid respiratory rate, wheezing, rib retractions, nasal flaring, cyanosis, and use of accessory muscles. How does the doctor treat breathing difficulty? Treatment for breathing difficulty depends on the underlying cause. Options include oxygen, antibiotics, diuretics, and bronchodilators to reverse wheezing. What is hyperhidrosis? A person with hyperhidrosis sweats excessively. Sweating is normal when the body is exposed to a warm environment, because the evaporation of sweat from the skin surface cools the body. Hyperhidrosis refers to excessive sweating that occurs when the body is not exposed to a warm environment. In young adults, the most common cause of hyperhidrosis is emotional stress. However, hyperhidrosis may also occur with other conditions, such as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, and shock. What are the symptoms of hyperhidrosis? The most common locations where hyperhidrosis occurs include the armpits, palms, soles of the feet, face, and the trunk. How does the doctor treat hyperhidrosis?

Treatment for hyperhidrosis may include antiperspirants, anti-anxietymedication, botulism toxin injections, and surgery. What is confusion? A person with confusion has impaired mental ability and is unable to think clearly. A confused person makes inappropriate decisions, and reacts strangely to events or surroundings. Depending on the cause, confusion may occur in brief episodes, or may slowly worsen over time. What are the symptoms of confusion? Symptoms depend on the underlying cause for the confusion. Symptoms that may be associated with confusion include: anxiety, difficulty speaking, difficulty walking, hallucinations, excessive sleepiness, depression, loss of memory, and other neurological symptoms. How does the doctor treat confusion? The treatment for confusion depends on the underlying cause. Symptoms of a stab wound include: y y y y y y y Laceration Puncture wound Pain around the wound Skin swelling around the wound Skin pain around the wound Bleeding from the wound Numbness of the skin around the wound

A severe stab wound can damage blood vessels, resulting in severe bleeding. Symptoms of a severe stab wound include: Faintness Severe weakness or fatigue Poor circulation to the fingers or toes: Abnormal capillary refill test Cool extremities Pale skin Low blood pressure: Less than 60 Rapid heart rate: Over 120 beats per minute Abdominal pain Chest pain Difficulty breathing

y y y o o y y o y o y y y

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Lethargy: Excessive sleepiness Confusion Fainting

The evaluation of a stab wound begins with a medical history and physical examination. Physical findings depend on the location and severity of the stab wound. Physical findings in those with a stab wound include: y y y y Puncture wound Tenderness around the wound Swelling around the wound Numbness of the skin around the wound

Usually, tests are necessary to evaluate a stab wound. The types of tests depend on the severity and location of the stab wound. Tests that may be used to evaluate a stab wound include: y o y y y y o o y y y y Abdominal surgery: To identify injuries to the organs inside the abdomen Abdominal laparoscopy Abdominal ultrasound Angiography to exclude vascular injury Chest x-ray: May be normal Pneumothorax may be present CT scanning of the chest CT scanning of the abdomen Echocardiogram Electrocardiogram

Treatment for a severe stab wound may include: Intravenous fluids Blood pressure monitoring Cardiac monitoring Blood transfusion Surgery for a stab wound: To repair damaged tissue under the skin

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