Understanding Irregular Headaches: Symptoms, Causes, and When to Seek Help
Irregular headaches (right upper, frontal, etc.) Hello Doctor, I started experiencing persistent headaches last week. During the day, the headaches occur irregularly and in different locations. However, the right upper frontal area and the right lower temple are more common. I ha...
Dr. Zhao Shaoqing Reply:
You can visit the hospital for examination and evaluation.[Read More] Understanding Irregular Headaches: Symptoms, Causes, and When to Seek Help
Can Skull Preservation Lead to Infection from Own Acne Bacteria?
Can the skull preservation be infected by its own acne bacteria? Last month, my spouse underwent a craniotomy for the excision of an arteriovenous malformation, and the skull bone was temporarily stored for over a month. During the second surgery these past few days, we inquired ...
Dr. Zhao Shaoqing Reply:
Hello: There is a possibility of infection associated with the skull, whether it is removed, replaced, or retained in any state. The original skull will be carefully evaluated by the physician to determine if it has been infected and whether it is appropriate to retrieve it. If i...[Read More] Can Skull Preservation Lead to Infection from Own Acne Bacteria?
Understanding Meningitis and Pituitary Cysts: What You Need to Know
Meningitis and pituitary cyst (tumor) Hello Doctor, I was hospitalized at Mackay Memorial Hospital for a period of time due to meningitis. I have since been discharged. During my hospitalization, I underwent an MRI, and the attending physician explained that there is a cyst (flui...
Dr. Zhang Junwei Reply:
That's right, continuous monitoring is necessary, as it may remain unchanged for several years or even over a decade, but it is important to keep tracking it![Read More] Understanding Meningitis and Pituitary Cysts: What You Need to Know
Understanding Pituitary Tumors and Post-Surgery Recovery Challenges
Regarding my father's pituitary tumor and related issues? Hello doctor, my father suddenly experienced severe headaches, high fever, and vomiting at the end of last month, which led to an emergency visit. It was discovered that he has a pituitary tumor. After a lumbar punctu...
Dr. Zhang Junwei Reply:
Although I would like to help you, your question is too complex, and without medical history and results from imaging studies such as CT scans, it is really difficult to provide an answer. I recommend scheduling an appointment with your father's attending physician to discus...[Read More] Understanding Pituitary Tumors and Post-Surgery Recovery Challenges
Essential Care Tips for Patients with Permanent Ventricular Drainage
Precautions for Ventricular Drainage Catheter in the Brain: Hello Dr. Chang, my friend had a car accident three years ago, which resulted in a brain injury that prevented the absorption of cerebrospinal fluid. During the process, they experienced meningitis and cerebral edema. Tw...
Dr. Zhang Junwei Reply:
1. No, there isn't. 2. It depends on the type of drainage tube you have installed.[Read More] Essential Care Tips for Patients with Permanent Ventricular Drainage
Understanding Discrepancies Between MRI and EMG Results in Back Pain
MRI examination shows a herniation at L5-S1 without nerve compression, but the electromyography (EMG) results indicate..? Hello Dr. Chang, In May 2014, I was hospitalized due to a persistent high fever. Despite several days of antibiotic treatment, my condition did not improve. ...
Dr. Zhang Junwei Reply:
In clinical practice, it is uncommon to find normal lumbar MRI results while electromyography indicates nerve compression. It seems that the cause of your pain is not entirely clear; why not consider trying high-frequency thermal coagulation therapy again?[Read More] Understanding Discrepancies Between MRI and EMG Results in Back Pain
Understanding Pituitary Tumors: Symptoms, Concerns, and Next Steps
About Pituitary Tumors Hello: I have gained 7 to 8 kilograms this year, which is very distressing! I don't eat particularly much; compared to my colleagues and family, I already eat the least. Despite exercising and not drinking sugary beverages, I still experience unexplain...
Dr. Zhang Junwei Reply:
It is recommended to schedule an appointment for a neurosurgery consultation for examination.[Read More] Understanding Pituitary Tumors: Symptoms, Concerns, and Next Steps
Persistent Headaches After Gastroenteritis: When to Seek Further Evaluation
Persistent headache Hello, six days ago I visited a doctor due to fever and diarrhea. The doctor said it was likely gastroenteritis, but warned that if I continued to have headaches, I should be cautious about meningitis. Two days later, I stopped having diarrhea. I then saw anot...
Dr. Ding Xianwei Reply:
It is recommended that you visit the neurology outpatient clinic for a detailed diagnosis and treatment.[Read More] Persistent Headaches After Gastroenteritis: When to Seek Further Evaluation
Understanding Symptoms of Stroke and Meningitis: A Family's Urgent Concern
Suspected stroke or meningitis? My wife's sister visited a hospital in Taoyuan on December 21 due to a fever of 38.3 degrees Celsius, which later led to pneumonia and hospitalization. On December 27, she suddenly became weak and limp in her hospital bed. The attending physic...
Dr. Zhang Yuanyi Reply:
Dear Mr. Zhou: Your question is difficult to address online; it is advisable to discuss it with the patient's attending physician for a more appropriate response. Wishing you safety and health. Sincerely, Dr. Zhang Yuanyi, Attending Physician, Department of Neurosurgery, Tao...[Read More] Understanding Symptoms of Stroke and Meningitis: A Family's Urgent Concern
Post-Surgery Care and Medications for Right Frontal Lobe Injury
What medications or precautions should be considered for damage to the right frontal lobe? Hello Doctor, my father (67 years old) sustained a contusion on the contralateral frontal lobe due to a car accident one week ago. After four days of observation, the doctor decided to perf...
Dr. Ding Xianwei Reply:
Your father's head injury is currently in a critical phase, so it is not possible to assess the prognosis at this time. I would like to highlight two important points to pay attention to: First, your father's condition is still unstable, and he should still be in the in...[Read More] Post-Surgery Care and Medications for Right Frontal Lobe Injury
Overcoming Hand Paralysis from Enterovirus: Treatment Options for Children
Hand paralysis caused by enterovirus? Hello, Doctor. My son is currently 4 years old. When he was 9 months old, he contracted Enterovirus 71, which caused him to be unconscious for two to three days and led to spinal meningitis. He experienced paralysis in his left hand and left ...
Dr. Xiao Furen Reply:
It is unfortunate to see another victim of enterovirus. However, given the current situation, there are likely very few who can confidently say they can cure it. If there are indeed issues with the cervical spinal cord, the only option may be to attempt using intercostal nerves. ...[Read More] Overcoming Hand Paralysis from Enterovirus: Treatment Options for Children
Can Modern Medicine Cure Severe Head Injuries from Car Accidents?
Head trauma from a car accident? Four years ago, I was in a severe car accident that resulted in a skull fracture. After healing, my skull did not align properly, and now I experience intense headaches with changes in weather, along with clear fluid leaking from my nose. At that ...
Dr. Chen Changmu Reply:
Kevin's condition is classified as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea, which is causing his severe headaches. The most significant complication is the risk of bacterial invasion through the defect, leading to meningitis, which can be life-threatening. There are several tre...[Read More] Can Modern Medicine Cure Severe Head Injuries from Car Accidents?
Understanding Headaches: Where Does the Pain Really Come From?
Regarding headaches? We all know that the brain itself does not have pain receptors, so how does a headache occur, and where does the pain originate?
Dr. Qiu Yushu Reply:
There are many causes of headaches, such as increased intracranial pressure, irritation of the meninges (meningitis, subarachnoid hemorrhage), tension-type headaches caused by muscle tightness in the head and neck, peripheral neuropathies (occipital neuralgia, postauricular neura...[Read More] Understanding Headaches: Where Does the Pain Really Come From?
Improving Cerebral Blood Flow in Pediatric Septic Shock Patients
Septic shock due to bacterial infection? A one-year-old child, diagnosed with pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, was treated with first-line antibiotics at a local hospital but showed no improvement. Within just 45 minutes of transfer, the child developed septic shock ...
Dr. Ding Xianwei Reply:
Infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae has a very high mortality rate. Based on the symptoms you described, the patient has not yet recovered from septic shock, and there are obvious signs of encephalitis and meningitis. The EEG indicates severe brain injury. Since this falls un...[Read More] Improving Cerebral Blood Flow in Pediatric Septic Shock Patients
Managing Post-Surgery Complications in Meningitis Patients
Meningitis surgery I was born two months premature and developed meningitis due to the administration of a combination vaccine. I underwent two surgeries at Cheng Kung University Hospital and currently have an external ventricular drain (EVD) connected to my abdominal cavity. The...
Dr. Ding Xianwei Reply:
Regarding ventricular drainage surgery, it is generally required for lifelong use, as there is currently no more definitive method to prove that a patient no longer needs it, unless the drainage catheter has been obstructed for a long time and the patient exhibits no neurological...[Read More] Managing Post-Surgery Complications in Meningitis Patients