Revue médicale suisse
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Revue médicale suisse · Apr 2007
Review[Role of antibiotherapy in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].
Two thirds of the exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are caused by infections of the respiratory tract. The causative microorganisms differ according to the degree of COPD severity, previous antibiotic therapy and prior bacterial infections. ⋯ Prompt therapy of COPD exacerbations has been shown to reduce the likelihood of hospitalisation and improve the quality of life. In this article, we have reviewed current recommendations regarding the use of antibiotics in the treatment of COPD exacerbations.
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Respiratory failure results from the incompetence of the respiratory system to eliminate the CO2 produced by the metabolism and to extract the O2 from the atmosphere. Manifestations of the chronic form are: dyspnea, fatigue, headaches, oedema, polyglobulia, and also anxiety, denutrition, social isolation. ⋯ Major goals of chronic treatment are: control of dyspnea and anxiety, maintenance of a regular physical activity and a sufficient alimentation. These goals can only be achieved by a network of professionals taking charge of these complex patients, with their periodic inclusion in a pulmonary rehabilitation program.
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Revue médicale suisse · Feb 2007
Review[The differential diagnosis of cognitive disorders in general practice: dementia and delirium].
Cognitive deficits are frequently encountered in primary care settings, in particular in the elderly. Screening of these deficits is recommended and aims at identifying subjects who are likely to benefit from treatment. ⋯ Laboratory tests and neuro-imaging are often necessary. This multi-dimensional assessment may require the expertise of a memory clinic to distinguish normal aging, mild cognitive impairment, and to identify the different organic and functional aetiologies of the dementia syndrome and delirium.
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Neurology is a polymorphic discipline, with several subspecialties. In 2006, as in the previous years, a huge amount of scientific work focusing on treatment has been published. ⋯ This allows to consider more and more variables when administering a specific treatment, therefore, in each subspecialty a move towards a better patient's care has been made. In this contribution, several specialists analyse and interpret new facts about their respective neurological domain.