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Tom Liu, MD

Specialty in Internal Medicine

Dr. Liu received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and is pursuing a career in ophthalmology. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Swarthmore College with a BA in biology. He has published research in multiple ophthalmology and healthcare journals and has received awards from Research to Prevent Blindness. In his free time, he enjoys running, biking, and spending time with his friends and family.

Practice names

Ophthalmology Resident, University of Pennsylvania

Education and training

University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Swathmore College

Certifications

Resident in Internal Medicine, Reading Hospital

Articles from Tom Liu, MD

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Identifying & Treating Sex Headaches

Sex headaches are caused by sexual activity and feel like a dull ache in your head and neck that builds up as sexual excitement increases; they are mostly harmless.

Skin Conditions

Warts are small, rough, rounded growths on the top layer of the skin. They may appear alone or in clusters. Common warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and are contagious through direct contact. Warts, although benign, can easily spread to other parts of the body without treatment.

A foot or ankle sprain is a soft tissue injury. Most often, a sprain occurs when an injury pulls, stretches, or tears the ligaments that connect bone to bone.

Shoulder Arthritis

Shoulder arthritis is a painful condition that affects the shoulder joints. Shoulder arthritis generally causes symptoms such as joint pain and limited range of motion.

Diabetic Neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage caused by longstanding or poorly controlled diabetes and other conditions. Symptoms include a loss of sensation, weakness, pain, nausea, and more. Learn which symptoms can be treated.

Mental & Behavioral Health

Holiday Blues: How to Cope with Your Stress & Anxiety

This article will review the symptoms, causes, and management of holiday blues. Symptoms include depression, anxiety, irritability, feelings of worry, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and sleep, appetite, or weight changes.

Skin Conditions

Mosquito Bite Symptoms, Causes & Treatment Options

Mosquito bites are bites from flying insects that feed on blood. They are common during the summer or in warmer climates, at dawn or dusk, and near bodies of water.

Indirect Hernia

An indirect hernia is a protrusion of an organ through the "wall" located near the groin or abdomen. The bulge is painless but when strangulated, can cause symptoms.

Heart Attack in a Woman: Recognize the Silent Symptoms & Call 911

A heart attack in a woman is a life-threatening event caused by a disruption in the blood flow to the heart. Women tend to have "silent" attacks and show unusual symptoms.

Disseminated Gonococcal Infection

Disseminated gonococcal infection causes joint and tendon pain, small fluid-filled bumps on the skin, fever, and chills.

Bartholin's Cyst

A Bartholin's cyst is a fluid-filled mass that can develop near the opening of the vagina that may be painful or painless. They may cause discomfort with or without activity and do not necessarily require treatment.

Chronic Prostatitis

Chronic prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland located between the bladder and penis. It causes urinary pain symptoms and painful ejaculation.

Hypoparathyroidism

Hypoparathyroidism is a condition in which the body doesn't make enough parathyroid hormone (PTH). PTH regulates calcium and phosphorus in your bones and blood.

Immune & Autoimmune

Macrophage Activation Syndrome

This article will review the symptoms, causes, and management of macrophage activation syndrome. Symptoms include fever, a painful mass or masses in the abdomen, easy bruising or bleeding, swollen lymph nodes, a rash, headache, confusion, vision changes, seizures and/or coma as well as difficulty breathing.

Immune & Autoimmune

Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that occurs within seconds to minutes of exposure to an allergen and can result in rashes, nausea, difficulty breathing and shock.

Dislocated Kneecap

The kneecap (patella) is the bone that covers the knee joint. Abnormalities in the support structure of the knee and unusual forces can cause a dislocated kneecap.

Prepatellar Bursitis

Prepatellar bursitis is an inflammation of a fluid-filled sac (bursa) located in front of the knee that normally acts as a cushion to help reduce friction.

Septic Arthritis

Septic arthritis is a painful infection in a joint that can come from organisms (bacterial, fungal or viral) that travel through your bloodstream. The joints affected are usually the knee, hip, or shoulder.

Ovarian cancer is an abnormal growth of cells in the ovaries. Different types of ovarian cancer can present at different ages and with different symptoms.

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a form of high blood sugar affecting pregnant women with little to no symptoms. Treatments include monitoring blood sugar and maintaining a diet.

Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis

This article will review the symptoms, causes, and management of pigmented villonodular synovitis. Symptoms of this rare joint disease include joint pain, swelling, stiffness, and instability.

Mitochondrial Myopathy

Mitochondrial myopathies are a group of neuromuscular diseases caused by damage to the mitochondria. Symptoms include exercise intolerance and muscle weakness.

Cataract: Understand the Causes & What to Expect with Surgery

A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye. Symptoms include blurry vision, difficulty seeing at night, glare, difficulty discerning colors, and increased nearsightedness. The only treatment option is the surgical replacement of the old lens with a synthetic lens.

Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis

Wegener's granulomatosis, or granulomatosis with polyangiitis, is a disorder in which a dysregulated immune system causes inflammation of small blood vessels.

Immune & Autoimmune

Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Guillain-Barre syndrome is a condition in which the body's immune system damages parts of neurons. Symptoms include progressive weakness, numbness or tingling, decreased reflexes, body aches, double vision, loss of balance, and other serious symptoms.

Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip: Symptoms in Children & Treatment Options by Age

Developmental dysplasia of the hip affects infants and is when abnormal development of the hip joint causes instability and a predisposition to hip dislocation.

Viral Sore Throat: Know the Symptoms

There are many possible causes of your sore throat, including cold and flu viruses. Understand the cause of your sore throat to get the right treatment.

Hip Dislocation

This article will review the symptoms, causes, and management of hip dislocation. Symptoms include severe, sudden-onset pain in the affected leg, pain that is worse when this leg is moved, an inability to bear weight on the leg and an appearance that the leg is shorter.

A sports hernia is a painful, soft tissue injury that occurs in the groin area and occurs during sports that require sudden changes of direction or intense twisting movements.

Aortic Valve Regurgitation

Aortic valve regurgitation is when the aortic valve fails and allows blood to flow backward through it, putting pressure on the heart and decreasing forward (normal) blood flow.

Genetic Diseases

Alport Syndrome: Symptoms & Treatment

Alport syndrome is a rare condition that is caused by a mutation in one of the genes responsible for collagen production. Follow-up with a doctor can help reduce damage to various organs affected.

Biceps Tendonitis

Biceps tendonitis is painful inflammation of the tendon that connects the bicep to the bones of the shoulder, usually due to overuse. Symptoms of biceps tendonitis include a throbbing, aching pain in the shoulder that may radiate down the arm.

Sick Sinus Syndrome

Sick sinus syndrome is a condition in which the normal pacemaker of the heart is unable to keep the heart beating at a normal rate to deliver blood to the body.

Carotid Artery Dissection

Carotid artery dissection is a separation of the layers of the artery wall that supplies oxygen-bearing blood to the head and commonly causes strokes in young adults.

Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) is a condition in which the heart beats abnormally fast due to electricity incorrectly traveling between pathways in the heart.

Hypertensive Crisis

Hypertensive crisis occurs when your blood pressure becomes dangerously high (systolic BP 180/diastolic BP 120 mm Hg), to a level that can damage your organs.

Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm

A thoracic aortic aneurysm, or TAA, is a bulge in the wall of the aorta. TAA's can lead to a dissection or rupture of the aorta, leading to a life-threatening condition.

This article will review the symptoms, causes, and management of a broken hand. Symptoms include pain, tenderness and swelling over the site of the injury, an inability to move the hand or fingers, and surrounding numbness or tingling.

A breast abscess is a collection of infected fluid, or pus, within the breast that is generally painful. Other symptoms of a breast abscess include fever, chills, fatigue, and body aches. Treatment for a breast abscess involves antibiotics or a procedure to drain the fluid.

IgA Nephropathy

IgA Nephropathy, or Berger's Disease, is a chronic disease in which immunoglobulin A (IgA) deposits in the kidneys, causing kidney damage.

Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease is long-term damage to the kidneys due to underlying conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, kidney infections, or inflammatory disease. Symptoms of chronic kidney disease include swelling, low urine output, fatigue, weakness, chest pain, shortness of breath, and others.

Pectus Carinatum

Pectus carinatum is a deformity of the chest in which the front of the chest protrudes forward. It is believed to be caused by factors including abnormal growth.

Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome

The greater trochanter is the larger of two bony knobs at the top of your thigh bone. The bursa is cushioning between the bones. Overuse, trauma, or infection can lead to inflammation of the bursa—and pain. Treatment options Include self-care, corticosteroid injection, physical therapy, and surgery.

Ankylosing Spondylitis: Symptoms, Causes, & Long-Term Management

Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of arthritis of the lower back caused by inflammation. Symptoms include pain and stiffness in the back and hips and sometimes the neck and shoulders that will be worse during sleep and rest.

Bronchogenic Cyst

This article will review the symptoms, causes, and management of bronchogenic cysts. Symptoms in infants include difficulty breathing or feeding and blue skin. Other symptoms that are likely later in life include coughing and wheezing, recurrent lung infections, and trouble swallowing, among others.

Mental & Behavioral Health

Borderline Personality Disorder: Diagnosis, Causes, & Treatment

Borderline personality disorder is a disorder that features unstable moods, behaviors, and relationships, and develops from many genetic and environmental factors.

Infectious Disease

Rubeola, or measles, is a viral infection that's serious for small children but can be prevented by the vaccine. It's spreadable by air through coughing or sneezing.

Atypical Chest Pain

This article will review the symptoms, causes, and management of atypical chest pain. Atypical chest pain differs from chest pain indicative of a heart attack. Symptoms include sharp or tearing pain, shortness of breath, and back pain.

Thumb Arthritis

Thumb arthritis refers to inflammation of the thumb joints. There are a number of distinct joints in the thumb, all of which can be affected by thumb arthritis.

Relapsing Polychondritis

Relapsing polychondritis causes inflammation and deterioration of cartilage and other tissues, including the ears, nose, eyes, joints, and respiratory tract.

Mental & Behavioral Health

Dissociative Amnesia

Dissociative amnesia is a condition in which a person becomes unable to remember events from a part of their life. It affects about 1% to 3% of people.

Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis: Symptoms, Causes, & Long-Term Treatment

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis occurs when something inhaled inflames the lungs such as exposure to mold, animals, grain/flour, or synthetic materials.

Restrictive Cardiomyopathy: What It Is & How to Slow Its Progression

Restrictive cardiomyopathy is a type of heart disorder in which the walls of the heart become stiff, preventing it from filling with blood normally.

Skin Conditions

Topical Steroid Withdrawal

Topical steroid withdrawal is a skin condition that can develop when someone uses potent topical steroids frequently and for a long time.

Identifying & Treating Sex Headaches

Sex headaches are caused by sexual activity and feel like a dull ache in your head and neck that builds up as sexual excitement increases; they are mostly harmless.

Skin Conditions

Warts are small, rough, rounded growths on the top layer of the skin. They may appear alone or in clusters. Common warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and are contagious through direct contact. Warts, although benign, can easily spread to other parts of the body without treatment.

A foot or ankle sprain is a soft tissue injury. Most often, a sprain occurs when an injury pulls, stretches, or tears the ligaments that connect bone to bone.

Shoulder Arthritis

Shoulder arthritis is a painful condition that affects the shoulder joints. Shoulder arthritis generally causes symptoms such as joint pain and limited range of motion.

Diabetic Neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage caused by longstanding or poorly controlled diabetes and other conditions. Symptoms include a loss of sensation, weakness, pain, nausea, and more. Learn which symptoms can be treated.

Mental & Behavioral Health

Holiday Blues: How to Cope with Your Stress & Anxiety

This article will review the symptoms, causes, and management of holiday blues. Symptoms include depression, anxiety, irritability, feelings of worry, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and sleep, appetite, or weight changes.

Skin Conditions

Mosquito Bite Symptoms, Causes & Treatment Options

Mosquito bites are bites from flying insects that feed on blood. They are common during the summer or in warmer climates, at dawn or dusk, and near bodies of water.

Indirect Hernia

An indirect hernia is a protrusion of an organ through the "wall" located near the groin or abdomen. The bulge is painless but when strangulated, can cause symptoms.

Heart Attack in a Woman: Recognize the Silent Symptoms & Call 911

A heart attack in a woman is a life-threatening event caused by a disruption in the blood flow to the heart. Women tend to have "silent" attacks and show unusual symptoms.

Disseminated Gonococcal Infection

Disseminated gonococcal infection causes joint and tendon pain, small fluid-filled bumps on the skin, fever, and chills.

Bartholin's Cyst

A Bartholin's cyst is a fluid-filled mass that can develop near the opening of the vagina that may be painful or painless. They may cause discomfort with or without activity and do not necessarily require treatment.

Chronic Prostatitis

Chronic prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland located between the bladder and penis. It causes urinary pain symptoms and painful ejaculation.

Hypoparathyroidism

Hypoparathyroidism is a condition in which the body doesn't make enough parathyroid hormone (PTH). PTH regulates calcium and phosphorus in your bones and blood.

Immune & Autoimmune

Macrophage Activation Syndrome

This article will review the symptoms, causes, and management of macrophage activation syndrome. Symptoms include fever, a painful mass or masses in the abdomen, easy bruising or bleeding, swollen lymph nodes, a rash, headache, confusion, vision changes, seizures and/or coma as well as difficulty breathing.

Immune & Autoimmune

Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that occurs within seconds to minutes of exposure to an allergen and can result in rashes, nausea, difficulty breathing and shock.

Dislocated Kneecap

The kneecap (patella) is the bone that covers the knee joint. Abnormalities in the support structure of the knee and unusual forces can cause a dislocated kneecap.

Prepatellar Bursitis

Prepatellar bursitis is an inflammation of a fluid-filled sac (bursa) located in front of the knee that normally acts as a cushion to help reduce friction.

Septic Arthritis

Septic arthritis is a painful infection in a joint that can come from organisms (bacterial, fungal or viral) that travel through your bloodstream. The joints affected are usually the knee, hip, or shoulder.

Ovarian cancer is an abnormal growth of cells in the ovaries. Different types of ovarian cancer can present at different ages and with different symptoms.

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a form of high blood sugar affecting pregnant women with little to no symptoms. Treatments include monitoring blood sugar and maintaining a diet.

Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis

This article will review the symptoms, causes, and management of pigmented villonodular synovitis. Symptoms of this rare joint disease include joint pain, swelling, stiffness, and instability.

Mitochondrial Myopathy

Mitochondrial myopathies are a group of neuromuscular diseases caused by damage to the mitochondria. Symptoms include exercise intolerance and muscle weakness.

Cataract: Understand the Causes & What to Expect with Surgery

A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye. Symptoms include blurry vision, difficulty seeing at night, glare, difficulty discerning colors, and increased nearsightedness. The only treatment option is the surgical replacement of the old lens with a synthetic lens.

Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis

Wegener's granulomatosis, or granulomatosis with polyangiitis, is a disorder in which a dysregulated immune system causes inflammation of small blood vessels.

Immune & Autoimmune

Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Guillain-Barre syndrome is a condition in which the body's immune system damages parts of neurons. Symptoms include progressive weakness, numbness or tingling, decreased reflexes, body aches, double vision, loss of balance, and other serious symptoms.

Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip: Symptoms in Children & Treatment Options by Age

Developmental dysplasia of the hip affects infants and is when abnormal development of the hip joint causes instability and a predisposition to hip dislocation.

Viral Sore Throat: Know the Symptoms

There are many possible causes of your sore throat, including cold and flu viruses. Understand the cause of your sore throat to get the right treatment.

Hip Dislocation

This article will review the symptoms, causes, and management of hip dislocation. Symptoms include severe, sudden-onset pain in the affected leg, pain that is worse when this leg is moved, an inability to bear weight on the leg and an appearance that the leg is shorter.

A sports hernia is a painful, soft tissue injury that occurs in the groin area and occurs during sports that require sudden changes of direction or intense twisting movements.

Aortic Valve Regurgitation

Aortic valve regurgitation is when the aortic valve fails and allows blood to flow backward through it, putting pressure on the heart and decreasing forward (normal) blood flow.

Genetic Diseases

Alport Syndrome: Symptoms & Treatment

Alport syndrome is a rare condition that is caused by a mutation in one of the genes responsible for collagen production. Follow-up with a doctor can help reduce damage to various organs affected.

Biceps Tendonitis

Biceps tendonitis is painful inflammation of the tendon that connects the bicep to the bones of the shoulder, usually due to overuse. Symptoms of biceps tendonitis include a throbbing, aching pain in the shoulder that may radiate down the arm.

Sick Sinus Syndrome

Sick sinus syndrome is a condition in which the normal pacemaker of the heart is unable to keep the heart beating at a normal rate to deliver blood to the body.

Carotid Artery Dissection

Carotid artery dissection is a separation of the layers of the artery wall that supplies oxygen-bearing blood to the head and commonly causes strokes in young adults.

Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) is a condition in which the heart beats abnormally fast due to electricity incorrectly traveling between pathways in the heart.

Hypertensive Crisis

Hypertensive crisis occurs when your blood pressure becomes dangerously high (systolic BP 180/diastolic BP 120 mm Hg), to a level that can damage your organs.

Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm

A thoracic aortic aneurysm, or TAA, is a bulge in the wall of the aorta. TAA's can lead to a dissection or rupture of the aorta, leading to a life-threatening condition.

This article will review the symptoms, causes, and management of a broken hand. Symptoms include pain, tenderness and swelling over the site of the injury, an inability to move the hand or fingers, and surrounding numbness or tingling.

A breast abscess is a collection of infected fluid, or pus, within the breast that is generally painful. Other symptoms of a breast abscess include fever, chills, fatigue, and body aches. Treatment for a breast abscess involves antibiotics or a procedure to drain the fluid.

IgA Nephropathy

IgA Nephropathy, or Berger's Disease, is a chronic disease in which immunoglobulin A (IgA) deposits in the kidneys, causing kidney damage.

Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease is long-term damage to the kidneys due to underlying conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, kidney infections, or inflammatory disease. Symptoms of chronic kidney disease include swelling, low urine output, fatigue, weakness, chest pain, shortness of breath, and others.

Pectus Carinatum

Pectus carinatum is a deformity of the chest in which the front of the chest protrudes forward. It is believed to be caused by factors including abnormal growth.

Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome

The greater trochanter is the larger of two bony knobs at the top of your thigh bone. The bursa is cushioning between the bones. Overuse, trauma, or infection can lead to inflammation of the bursa—and pain. Treatment options Include self-care, corticosteroid injection, physical therapy, and surgery.

Ankylosing Spondylitis: Symptoms, Causes, & Long-Term Management

Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of arthritis of the lower back caused by inflammation. Symptoms include pain and stiffness in the back and hips and sometimes the neck and shoulders that will be worse during sleep and rest.

Bronchogenic Cyst

This article will review the symptoms, causes, and management of bronchogenic cysts. Symptoms in infants include difficulty breathing or feeding and blue skin. Other symptoms that are likely later in life include coughing and wheezing, recurrent lung infections, and trouble swallowing, among others.

Mental & Behavioral Health

Borderline Personality Disorder: Diagnosis, Causes, & Treatment

Borderline personality disorder is a disorder that features unstable moods, behaviors, and relationships, and develops from many genetic and environmental factors.

Infectious Disease

Rubeola, or measles, is a viral infection that's serious for small children but can be prevented by the vaccine. It's spreadable by air through coughing or sneezing.

Atypical Chest Pain

This article will review the symptoms, causes, and management of atypical chest pain. Atypical chest pain differs from chest pain indicative of a heart attack. Symptoms include sharp or tearing pain, shortness of breath, and back pain.

Thumb Arthritis

Thumb arthritis refers to inflammation of the thumb joints. There are a number of distinct joints in the thumb, all of which can be affected by thumb arthritis.

Relapsing Polychondritis

Relapsing polychondritis causes inflammation and deterioration of cartilage and other tissues, including the ears, nose, eyes, joints, and respiratory tract.

Mental & Behavioral Health

Dissociative Amnesia

Dissociative amnesia is a condition in which a person becomes unable to remember events from a part of their life. It affects about 1% to 3% of people.

Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis: Symptoms, Causes, & Long-Term Treatment

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis occurs when something inhaled inflames the lungs such as exposure to mold, animals, grain/flour, or synthetic materials.

Restrictive Cardiomyopathy: What It Is & How to Slow Its Progression

Restrictive cardiomyopathy is a type of heart disorder in which the walls of the heart become stiff, preventing it from filling with blood normally.

Skin Conditions

Topical Steroid Withdrawal

Topical steroid withdrawal is a skin condition that can develop when someone uses potent topical steroids frequently and for a long time.

Identifying & Treating Sex Headaches

Sex headaches are caused by sexual activity and feel like a dull ache in your head and neck that builds up as sexual excitement increases; they are mostly harmless.

Skin Conditions

Warts are small, rough, rounded growths on the top layer of the skin. They may appear alone or in clusters. Common warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and are contagious through direct contact. Warts, although benign, can easily spread to other parts of the body without treatment.

A foot or ankle sprain is a soft tissue injury. Most often, a sprain occurs when an injury pulls, stretches, or tears the ligaments that connect bone to bone.

Shoulder Arthritis

Shoulder arthritis is a painful condition that affects the shoulder joints. Shoulder arthritis generally causes symptoms such as joint pain and limited range of motion.

Diabetic Neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage caused by longstanding or poorly controlled diabetes and other conditions. Symptoms include a loss of sensation, weakness, pain, nausea, and more. Learn which symptoms can be treated.

Mental & Behavioral Health

Holiday Blues: How to Cope with Your Stress & Anxiety

This article will review the symptoms, causes, and management of holiday blues. Symptoms include depression, anxiety, irritability, feelings of worry, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and sleep, appetite, or weight changes.

Skin Conditions

Mosquito Bite Symptoms, Causes & Treatment Options

Mosquito bites are bites from flying insects that feed on blood. They are common during the summer or in warmer climates, at dawn or dusk, and near bodies of water.

Indirect Hernia

An indirect hernia is a protrusion of an organ through the "wall" located near the groin or abdomen. The bulge is painless but when strangulated, can cause symptoms.

Heart Attack in a Woman: Recognize the Silent Symptoms & Call 911

A heart attack in a woman is a life-threatening event caused by a disruption in the blood flow to the heart. Women tend to have "silent" attacks and show unusual symptoms.

Disseminated Gonococcal Infection

Disseminated gonococcal infection causes joint and tendon pain, small fluid-filled bumps on the skin, fever, and chills.

Bartholin's Cyst

A Bartholin's cyst is a fluid-filled mass that can develop near the opening of the vagina that may be painful or painless. They may cause discomfort with or without activity and do not necessarily require treatment.

Chronic Prostatitis

Chronic prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland located between the bladder and penis. It causes urinary pain symptoms and painful ejaculation.

Hypoparathyroidism

Hypoparathyroidism is a condition in which the body doesn't make enough parathyroid hormone (PTH). PTH regulates calcium and phosphorus in your bones and blood.

Immune & Autoimmune

Macrophage Activation Syndrome

This article will review the symptoms, causes, and management of macrophage activation syndrome. Symptoms include fever, a painful mass or masses in the abdomen, easy bruising or bleeding, swollen lymph nodes, a rash, headache, confusion, vision changes, seizures and/or coma as well as difficulty breathing.

Immune & Autoimmune

Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that occurs within seconds to minutes of exposure to an allergen and can result in rashes, nausea, difficulty breathing and shock.

Dislocated Kneecap

The kneecap (patella) is the bone that covers the knee joint. Abnormalities in the support structure of the knee and unusual forces can cause a dislocated kneecap.

Prepatellar Bursitis

Prepatellar bursitis is an inflammation of a fluid-filled sac (bursa) located in front of the knee that normally acts as a cushion to help reduce friction.

Septic Arthritis

Septic arthritis is a painful infection in a joint that can come from organisms (bacterial, fungal or viral) that travel through your bloodstream. The joints affected are usually the knee, hip, or shoulder.

Ovarian cancer is an abnormal growth of cells in the ovaries. Different types of ovarian cancer can present at different ages and with different symptoms.

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a form of high blood sugar affecting pregnant women with little to no symptoms. Treatments include monitoring blood sugar and maintaining a diet.

Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis

This article will review the symptoms, causes, and management of pigmented villonodular synovitis. Symptoms of this rare joint disease include joint pain, swelling, stiffness, and instability.

Mitochondrial Myopathy

Mitochondrial myopathies are a group of neuromuscular diseases caused by damage to the mitochondria. Symptoms include exercise intolerance and muscle weakness.

Cataract: Understand the Causes & What to Expect with Surgery

A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye. Symptoms include blurry vision, difficulty seeing at night, glare, difficulty discerning colors, and increased nearsightedness. The only treatment option is the surgical replacement of the old lens with a synthetic lens.

Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis

Wegener's granulomatosis, or granulomatosis with polyangiitis, is a disorder in which a dysregulated immune system causes inflammation of small blood vessels.

Immune & Autoimmune

Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Guillain-Barre syndrome is a condition in which the body's immune system damages parts of neurons. Symptoms include progressive weakness, numbness or tingling, decreased reflexes, body aches, double vision, loss of balance, and other serious symptoms.

Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip: Symptoms in Children & Treatment Options by Age

Developmental dysplasia of the hip affects infants and is when abnormal development of the hip joint causes instability and a predisposition to hip dislocation.

Viral Sore Throat: Know the Symptoms

There are many possible causes of your sore throat, including cold and flu viruses. Understand the cause of your sore throat to get the right treatment.

Hip Dislocation

This article will review the symptoms, causes, and management of hip dislocation. Symptoms include severe, sudden-onset pain in the affected leg, pain that is worse when this leg is moved, an inability to bear weight on the leg and an appearance that the leg is shorter.

A sports hernia is a painful, soft tissue injury that occurs in the groin area and occurs during sports that require sudden changes of direction or intense twisting movements.

Aortic Valve Regurgitation

Aortic valve regurgitation is when the aortic valve fails and allows blood to flow backward through it, putting pressure on the heart and decreasing forward (normal) blood flow.

Genetic Diseases

Alport Syndrome: Symptoms & Treatment

Alport syndrome is a rare condition that is caused by a mutation in one of the genes responsible for collagen production. Follow-up with a doctor can help reduce damage to various organs affected.

Biceps Tendonitis

Biceps tendonitis is painful inflammation of the tendon that connects the bicep to the bones of the shoulder, usually due to overuse. Symptoms of biceps tendonitis include a throbbing, aching pain in the shoulder that may radiate down the arm.

Sick Sinus Syndrome

Sick sinus syndrome is a condition in which the normal pacemaker of the heart is unable to keep the heart beating at a normal rate to deliver blood to the body.

Carotid Artery Dissection

Carotid artery dissection is a separation of the layers of the artery wall that supplies oxygen-bearing blood to the head and commonly causes strokes in young adults.

Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) is a condition in which the heart beats abnormally fast due to electricity incorrectly traveling between pathways in the heart.

Hypertensive Crisis

Hypertensive crisis occurs when your blood pressure becomes dangerously high (systolic BP 180/diastolic BP 120 mm Hg), to a level that can damage your organs.

Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm

A thoracic aortic aneurysm, or TAA, is a bulge in the wall of the aorta. TAA's can lead to a dissection or rupture of the aorta, leading to a life-threatening condition.

This article will review the symptoms, causes, and management of a broken hand. Symptoms include pain, tenderness and swelling over the site of the injury, an inability to move the hand or fingers, and surrounding numbness or tingling.

A breast abscess is a collection of infected fluid, or pus, within the breast that is generally painful. Other symptoms of a breast abscess include fever, chills, fatigue, and body aches. Treatment for a breast abscess involves antibiotics or a procedure to drain the fluid.

IgA Nephropathy

IgA Nephropathy, or Berger's Disease, is a chronic disease in which immunoglobulin A (IgA) deposits in the kidneys, causing kidney damage.

Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease is long-term damage to the kidneys due to underlying conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, kidney infections, or inflammatory disease. Symptoms of chronic kidney disease include swelling, low urine output, fatigue, weakness, chest pain, shortness of breath, and others.

Pectus Carinatum

Pectus carinatum is a deformity of the chest in which the front of the chest protrudes forward. It is believed to be caused by factors including abnormal growth.

Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome

The greater trochanter is the larger of two bony knobs at the top of your thigh bone. The bursa is cushioning between the bones. Overuse, trauma, or infection can lead to inflammation of the bursa—and pain. Treatment options Include self-care, corticosteroid injection, physical therapy, and surgery.

Ankylosing Spondylitis: Symptoms, Causes, & Long-Term Management

Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of arthritis of the lower back caused by inflammation. Symptoms include pain and stiffness in the back and hips and sometimes the neck and shoulders that will be worse during sleep and rest.

Bronchogenic Cyst

This article will review the symptoms, causes, and management of bronchogenic cysts. Symptoms in infants include difficulty breathing or feeding and blue skin. Other symptoms that are likely later in life include coughing and wheezing, recurrent lung infections, and trouble swallowing, among others.

Mental & Behavioral Health

Borderline Personality Disorder: Diagnosis, Causes, & Treatment

Borderline personality disorder is a disorder that features unstable moods, behaviors, and relationships, and develops from many genetic and environmental factors.

Infectious Disease

Rubeola, or measles, is a viral infection that's serious for small children but can be prevented by the vaccine. It's spreadable by air through coughing or sneezing.

Atypical Chest Pain

This article will review the symptoms, causes, and management of atypical chest pain. Atypical chest pain differs from chest pain indicative of a heart attack. Symptoms include sharp or tearing pain, shortness of breath, and back pain.

Thumb Arthritis

Thumb arthritis refers to inflammation of the thumb joints. There are a number of distinct joints in the thumb, all of which can be affected by thumb arthritis.

Relapsing Polychondritis

Relapsing polychondritis causes inflammation and deterioration of cartilage and other tissues, including the ears, nose, eyes, joints, and respiratory tract.

Mental & Behavioral Health

Dissociative Amnesia

Dissociative amnesia is a condition in which a person becomes unable to remember events from a part of their life. It affects about 1% to 3% of people.

Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis: Symptoms, Causes, & Long-Term Treatment

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis occurs when something inhaled inflames the lungs such as exposure to mold, animals, grain/flour, or synthetic materials.

Restrictive Cardiomyopathy: What It Is & How to Slow Its Progression

Restrictive cardiomyopathy is a type of heart disorder in which the walls of the heart become stiff, preventing it from filling with blood normally.

Skin Conditions

Topical Steroid Withdrawal

Topical steroid withdrawal is a skin condition that can develop when someone uses potent topical steroids frequently and for a long time.

Publication Highlights

Tianyu Liu, Gui-shuang Ying, Wei Pan, Eli Smith, Agnieshka Baumritter, Graham E. Quinn. Asymmetry of Retinopathy of Prematurity Border in the Telemedicine Approaches to Evaluating Acute-Phase Retinopathy of Prematurity Study, Ophthalmology Retina, Volume 3, Issue 3, 2019, Pages 278-284, ISSN 2468-6530, DOI: 10.1016/j.oret.2018.10.003.

Liu T, Volpp KG, Asch DA, et al. The association of financial incentives for low density lipoprotein cholesterol reduction with patient activation and motivation. Prev Med Rep. 2019;14:100841. Published 2019 Mar 9. doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2019.100841

Liu, T, Wan, J, McKenna, RA, Jackson, OA, Treat, JR. Allergic contact dermatitis caused by Dermabond in a paediatric patient undergoing skin surgery. Contact Dermatitis. 2019; 80: 61– 62. DOI: 10.1111/cod.13125f