Sudden Unconsciousness - No Head Scans Available
You know when a medical emergency has arrived when the noise of several heavy, clumsy feet grow louder and louder towards you. So it was, as I sat in my consulting room three days ago, when this young man was rushed in semi-conscious. The accompanying elder sister calmly narrated how they had both eaten lunch at home before setting out on their journey to a popular open market quite close to the hospital where I work - when he began complaining of feeling ill; later leaning over on a stall just before passing-out on the ground. He was "drowsy" but rousable when I called out his name. I pondered what the diagnosis could be as the nurse gave the steroid (Hydrocortisone 200mg) shot through the i.v. line secured - no recent fever or complaints of ill-health whatsoever nor was there any history of Seizure Disorders. Then the fact came forward that he fell backward and hit his head while shooting basket ball hoops at home - but that was four days ago and he then didn't appear h...