We are the combination of four hospitals: the General Hospital, the Children’s Hospital, the Women’s Hospital and the Traumatology, Rehabilitation and Burns Hospital. We are part of the Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus: a world-leading health park where healthcare plays a crucial role.
Below we will list the departments and units that form part of Vall d’Hebron Hospital and the main diseases that we treat. We will also make recommendations based on advice backed up by scientific evidence that has been shown to be effective in guaranteeing well-being and quality of life.
Vols saber com serà la teva estada a l’Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron? Aquí trobaràs tota la informació.
This is an inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva, the transparent membrane that covers the eyelid and the white part of the eyeball. When small blood vessels of the conjunctiva become inflamed, they become more visible, so this layer turns red. The most common cause is a viral or bacterial infection, a reaction to an allergen or an irritant. This is a very common condition in the general population.
The following three types of conjunctivitis may be found:
It can affect any person of any age.
Diagnosis of conjunctivitis is clinical, by means of good medical history and an examination by the primary care doctor and/or, on specific occasions, by the ophthalmologist.
The most common test is a biomicroscopic examination with a slit lamp. On certain occasions a sample of conjunctival exudate can be collected for a culture, especially if the suspicion is of a bacterial conjunctivitis.
For viral conjunctivitis, being a viral infection, the main treatment is waiting, as the body itself is able to combat the infection. Hydrating eye drops can be used frequently to soothe the discomfort, in addition to washing with saline solution if there is an accumulation of secretions, or even sometimes additional anti-inflammatory drops according to the clinical picture.
Bacterial conjunctivitis is usually treated with topical antibiotics, except on certain occasions that may require systemic antibiotic treatment. Hydrating eye drops can also be used to soothe the discomfort in addition to washing with saline solution if there is an accumulation of secretions.
In the case of an allergic conjunctivitis, anti-histamines can normally be used to reduce itching and inflammation, although hydrating drops and washing with cold saline solution can also be useful for soothing symptoms.
As for conjunctivitis due to irritants, hydrating eye drops and washing with saline solution are usually enough, although depending on the origin of the irritation, it can sometimes require an anti-inflammatory or other types of drops.
In the case of viral and bacterial conjunctivitis, prevention could be carried out by means of good hygiene (washing your hands, not touching your eyes if you live with an affected person, changing the pillows and not sharing towels).
In the case of allergic conjunctivitis, prevention is possible, avoiding contact with the allergen if known.
And for conjunctivitis due to irritants, prevention could be done through eye protection (protective glasses), especially in work environments where there may be a risk of contact with chemical substances or risk of foreign bodies entering the eye.
Infectious Diseases, General Hospital
The Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria is one of the most common causes of human illness. It forms part of the digestive flora and is always present in faecal matter.
By little known mechanisms it episodically causes disease in humans, either due to mutations that make it resistant to our body’s control mechanisms, or because it is present in places it should not normally be, such as the urinary tract or in the blood itself.
E. coli infections cover a range of severities, from a urinary tract infection which causes urinary discomfort, to infections from very aggressive strains such as the O157 strain: H7 causes Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (HUS).
A urinary infection caused by E. coli is the most common infection caused by the bacteria.
The low-severityE. coli infection that leads to a urinary tract infection is much more common than that which leads to HUS, which is considered a rare condition, and very uncommon in the general population.
In the case of HUS, a rare condition as previously stated, the E. coli bacteria causes bloody diarrhoea and blood clotting in the smallest veins (thrombotic microangiopathy). This leads to kidney failure and also the alteration of other organs such as the heart and brain.
HUS is a serious phenomenon, which, if is not diagnosed and treated early, can cause death.
Infection with E. coli, which primarily affects the urinary tracts, causes discomfort when urinating, pain and increased frequency of urination, and fever if the kidneys are affected.
HUS is characterised by a feeling of general unwellness, bloody diarrhea, with or without a fever.
Infection by E. coli, normally a urinary infection, affects breastfeeding infants who do not have control of their sphincters, something which facilitates the extension of the intestinal flora into the urinary tract, and also in women of childbearing age.
HUS can occur at any age, but is most common between the ages of 4 and 12, after having consumed foods contaminated with E. coli O157, normally meat or dairy products from cows that are themselves infected with E. coli O157.
E. coli is diagnosed in the Microbiology laboratory, using cultures of a suitable medium, or through detection using techniques of molecular biology.
The treatment is an antibiotic, either oral or intravenous, depending on the extent of the infection and the patient’s general condition.
The treatment for HUS caused by E. coli is always hospitalisation, with the possibility of hemodialysis being prescribed to treat renal failure.
Patients with HUS produced by E. coli very often make a full recovery, despite it being a serious disease.
In the case of suspected E. coli, it is necessary to identify E. coli, generally in the blood or urine, through cultures, to confirm the diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate antibiotic.
Additionally, if infection by E. coli is confirmed, an image test such as an ultrasound is indicated in order to evaluate the state of the kidneys and urinary tracts.
If HUS is suspected, hospitalisation is always indicated to check for signs of thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA): anemia, renal failure, decreased platelet count, and broken or fragmented red blood cells.
A universally effective prevention for E. coli does not exist.
It is important to drink a lot of water in order to urinate every 2-3 hours, and above all not to hold pee in when you feel the urge to go.
Veterinary control of animals who carry E. coli O157 is fundamental for the prevention of HUS.
Monkeypox is a zoonosis, an infectious disease that has spread from animals to humans. It is transmitted by direct or indirect contact with live or dead rodents or primates. Initial symptoms are usually a period of fever, headache and myalgia, a skin rash may appear between 1 and 5 days later. On 23 July 2022, the World Health Organisation declared the outbreak of monkeypox a public health emergency.
Monkeypox virus that usually occurs in the jungle regions of Central and West Africa. All cases identified outside these areas until May 2022 were imported or linked to animals. The main form of transmission is through direct or indirect contact with live or dead rodents or primates. Secondary transmission between humans is limited.
On 17 May 2022 an alert was received regarding the recent occurrence of several cases of Monkeypox with no history of recent travel to endemic areas or contact with other known cases. This is the first time that transmission chains have been reported in Europe with no known epidemiological links to West or Central Africa.
The initial symptomatology usually includes a period with fever, headache, myalgia, weakness and lymphadenopathy. A skin rash may appear between 1 and 5 days after the first symptoms, usually starting on the face and spreading to the rest of the body, including the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. The number of lesions can vary from a few to multiple disseminated lesions. In the current outbreak and given the transmission pattern, lesions are frequently located in the genital, perianal and perioral area, with an area of hyperpigmentation around the lesions. Characteristically, the lesions evolve in a uniform and sequential manner until they become crusts that dry up and fall off.
It usually evolves as a mild illness lasting 2 to 4 weeks, but complications such as pneumonia, pharyngeal lesions that compromise the airway, sepsis, encephalitis and corneal ulcers can appear, resulting in loss of vision.
Cases have been identified mainly in the population of men who have sex with other men, and in most cases the transmission mechanism identified is very close physical contact, mainly during sexual intercourse. However, the infection can affect anyone who comes into contact with an infected person.
The main transmission mechanism is currently through close and direct physical contact with lesions on the skin or body fluids of an infected person, during sexual intercourse or other continuous and prolonged contact over time.
It can also occur through other less important mechanisms such as face-to-face contact, respiratory secretions, or indirectly by coming into contact with objects used by an infected case. Furthermore, transmission can occur from pregnant women through the placenta to the foetus, as well as through contact with infected animals.
The incubation period is 6 to 16 days, but can range from 5 to 21 days.
The diagnosis is carried out by means of a specific test to detect the virus, with a PCR test.
The treatment is mostly symptomatic. Good hygiene must be maintained in the affected areas, which must be cleaned frequently or even with topical antiseptics. In lesions with superinfection, the application of topical or systemic antibiotics can be considered, following current guidelines. In the event of severe inflammation, the administration of corticosteroids may also be considered.
Specific antiviral treatments are reserved for severe complications and must be administered under hospitalisation. The only antiviral currently authorised for treatment is Tecovirimat.
The vaccine available against monkeypox is marketed under the name Jynneos and contains a virus that has been modified so that it cannot grow in humans, produce the disease or spread. As with other vaccines, when it is administered the immune system produces antibodies, which help to protect against the monkeypox virus.
Who is the vaccine recommended for?
Currently, the Spanish Government recommends the administration to people who:
Does the vaccine work?
The vaccination schedule consists of two doses of vaccine separated by a minimum of 28 days and most people develop antibodies. For this reason, it is expected to provide a good level of protection against monkeypox
At the moment the availability of doses is severely limited, so that only one dose of the vaccine is offered to the maximum number of people. This can help to modify or reduce monkeypox symptoms. The response with a single dose of the vaccine is lower than with two doses and is not immediate: becoming effective approximately 4 weeks after receiving the vaccine.
Vaccine side effects:
Like all medication, this vaccine can cause side effects, although not everyone suffers from them. The most common include pain and itching at the injection site and headache, muscle pain, malaise and fatigue. Approximately 1 in 10 people will have chills and a fever, but they should not last more than a few days. If you experience any of the side effects mentioned above, you should rest and take the appropriate dose of paracetamol to help alleviate the symptoms.
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