Major health issues that require emergency medicine can present with different symptoms than the ones we might expect. Here, medical experts share some not-so-obvious medical emergencies including critical illness and symptoms of food allergies that shouldn’t be ignored, even if they seem normal.
#1 Thyroid nodules
The thyroid gland is a small endocrine gland found in the front of the neck. Its only function is to make thyroxine, a metabolic hormone that is essential for life. This hormone regulates metabolism, growth and development in the body. It also impacts various bodily functions including heart rate, body temperature, energy levels and weight.
According to senior oncology surgeon DR DENNIS LIM, approximately 50 percent of people aged 50 or above have them. Most thyroid nodules are benign and can be safely monitored through yearly scans.
However, a small percentage of solid nodules are malignant and need to be treated. Most cases are due to random genetic mutation. Other contributory risk factors include genetic predisposition, certain medical treatments (radiation) and environmental factors.
In the early stages, they present as an asymptomatic lump on the neck. As it progresses or spreads, the nodules may cause more distressing symptoms such as shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, pain in the neck and throat area and/or hoarseness or voice change.
Malignant thyroid nodules have characteristic ultrasonic features, which are assessed using a scoring system called TIRADS (Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System). If the thyroid scan has a high TIRADS score of 4 or 5, it should be evaluated by a specialist.
If diagnosed early, surgery is a safe option of removing the thyroid gland. According to Dr Dennis, this takes around three hours with two to three days of hospitalisation and a fortnight’s recovery. The pain is slight and usually oral medication can alleviate it. There’s also minimal impact on a patient’s lifestyle.
Above all, he says that you shouldn’t worry if your thyroid scan shows a nodule; it’s unlikely to become a critical illness. Even in cases where a malignant nodule is present, there’s a high likelihood of successful treatment.
Dennis Lim Surgery
#11-09 Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre, 3 Mount Elizabeth
6836 5167 | dennislim.com.sg
#2 Food allergies – symptoms and food intolerances
The mechanisms involved in food intolerance and allergies are different:
- Common symptoms of food intolerances like lactose and fructose intolerance include intestinal discomfort, bloating, gas, diarrhoea and migraine. Depending on the food ingested, the symptoms can appear a few hours after consumption and last for several days.
- When the immune system recognises a food creating a possible danger and subsequently produces chemicals that could cause different food allergies symptoms. These can include breathing problems, throat tightness, coughing, vomiting, abdominal pain, hives, swelling, a drop in blood pressure and even anaphylactic shock.
Digestive disorders may cause some people to limit their lifestyles. However, prolonged ingestion of a non-tolerated food may cause gut flora to alter. This can keep the body from absorbing nutrients, leading to nutritional deficiencies. Food intolerances can improve when an exclusion diet is followed for a limited period. This doesn’t apply to coeliac disease, an autoimmune condition that requires a gluten-free diet to be followed for life.
The team at Andrea’s Digestive, Colon, Liver and Gallbladder Clinic advises anyone who displays food allergy symptoms or suspecting food intolerance to get a medical evaluation and testing to avoid further health problems or developing into a critical illness.
Andrea’s Digestive, Colon, Liver and Gallbladder Clinic
#21-11/12 Royal Square at Novena, 101 Irrawaddy Road
#3 Critical illness and emergency medicine
According to the team at StarMed Specialist Centre, the more common causes of discomfort and pain that require urgent care include:
- open wounds that need stitches
- fractures and sprains
- food poisoning
- asthma
- abdominal pain
- upper respiratory infections in children and adults
- foreign bodies in ears and eyes
Unlike the A&E, which is designed to manage conditions such as strokes, heart attacks and major accidents, Urgent care centres provide urgent treatment for non-life threatening and non-time sensitive conditions. They’re open to walk-in patients and, if needed, specialists like cardiologists, neurologists and surgeons can be called upon to see a patient.
For conditions that will likely resolve within 24 hours of treatment such as food poisoning and kidney stones, admission to the centre’s 24-hour ward can be arranged. For other medical emergency conditions that require longer hospital stays such as critical illness, direct admission to private hospitals can be arranged by the clinic.
StarMed Specialist Centre
12 Farrer Park Station Road, #01-01
This article on critical illness first appeared in the August 2024 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe so you never miss a copy! To make the most of living in Singapore, read our latest City Guide here for free! We’ve also rounded up the best things to do in Singapore with friends and family, as well as tips for health and fitness.
