Mystery Illnesses

Another productive day at Conseulo. While the construction crew went with Pastor Julio to buy supplies, the medical team headed back to Conseulo where about 120 patients awaited us for the day. This day was different from the day before as we saw sicker patients and patients who were poorer or from further away. There was the young man with severe mucositis (inflammation of the mouth and tongue) that prevented him from eating or drinking. What caused his mucositis was unclear to me but I treated him with oral prednisone and pepto bismol. There was an 80-year old man (uncommon in these parts) who had weird-looking skin lesions on his extremities and belly that had stopped responding to steroids or other topical treatments. I gave him sulfur cream for lack of better options. Then there was this 20-year old who was brought in by his mother because he had difficulty urinating. He had the classic spastic scissor gait indicating an upper motor neuron problem, but his past history was unclear. His mum said that he was normal 2 years ago until he was hit on the head and developed fever. I suspect either traumatic brain injury or encephalitis causing his current symptoms. He probable had a neurogenic bladder as well causing his urinary difficulties. Could not do much for him except advise his mother to being him to the hospital if his problem got worse in case he needed a bladder catheterization. It was certainly busier for us today even with fewer patients! Let's see what tomorrow brings.