Chapter 761 - 354: Muddy Compromise Treatment, Shameless Cryptococcus

Chapter 761: Chapter 354: Muddy Compromise Treatment, Shameless Cryptococcus

"Dr. Li suspects a cryptococcal infection?"

Director Rong’s expression changed slightly. This disease might not evoke much response from laypeople, but seasoned doctors understand that it’s extremely difficult to treat, and the prognosis is often poor.

Moreover, the condition is prone to relapse.

If Li Jingsheng hadn’t shown a series of outstanding performances before, Director Rong would have dismissed his suggestion as nonsense.

Now, no one dares to underestimate Li Jingsheng’s advice because, although he speaks sparingly, he always hits the mark when he does.

"I’m only suspecting, and it’s inconclusive. If it is indeed a cryptococcal infection, it could be the meningoencephalitis type."

Though Li Jingsheng said it’s inconclusive, he already pointed out the specific type.

Clinically, this disease is categorized into four types: meningitis type, meningoencephalitis type, granulomatous type, and cystic type.

None of them are easy to deal with.

Among them, the meningoencephalitis type is the most complicated, comparable to the granulomatous type.

"Immediately have the lab check the pathological slices. Any discovery, conduct a mycological examination at once."

Rong Xuekai instructed his assistant.

Crytococcal meningitis is not easy to detect in its early stages. The glucose and chloride levels in the cerebrospinal fluid often do not show significant changes until the mid-to-late stages.

The special glucose content will significantly decrease, sometimes dropping to zero.

The results of this child’s routine cerebrospinal fluid examination already show a significant decrease in glucose content, combined with other symptoms matching this disease in several aspects, making it very likely to be this illness.

"Dr. Li just mentioned that the child might have a cryptococcal infection, and it could be a very challenging meningoencephalitis type, which reminds us to prepare for the worst. It’s almost confirmed as acute viral encephalitis, and the child’s condition remains uncontrolled, which is extremely dangerous. Symptomatic treatment alone, I think, is far from sufficient. Should we discuss proactive intervention?"

Rong Xuekai’s gaze swept over everyone.

He had started as a barefoot doctor, bearing many similarities to Li Jingsheng, who runs a clinic.

Barefoot doctors used to treat people with limited conditions and outdated medical knowledge. Back then, a slightly difficult fever, accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea, was often classified as an epidemic disease.

What’s the implication?

The same as a plague.

To save lives, barefoot doctors used any effective means, disregarding whether it was traditional Chinese or Western medicine.

Back in those days, Chinese medicine and traditional methods were predominant.

There was no other option, as the imperialist powers blocked all technologies, not allowing us to learn.

Another characteristic back then was poverty, where many common folks didn’t dare to go to hospitals. The practice of inviting a doctor home for treatment only started to fade in recent years.

It goes to show that barefoot doctors were indeed the main medical force at that time.

They unleashed incredible potential under adverse conditions of scarce medical knowledge and inadequate drugs.

They devised ways to save lives and honed their extraordinary predictive abilities.

After a patient was admitted, they could accurately judge if the patient could be saved and which direction the situation might progress towards, in their minds.

In plain terms, it’s crisis awareness.

Li Jingsheng exhibits an extremely keen predictive ability in this regard.

Boss Zhao from the Old Street of South City should also possess quite strong abilities in this aspect.

Doctors from big hospitals, having institutional backing, tend to have a certain psychological dependence and prefer team efforts when facing difficulties. When problems arise, it’s a shared responsibility with the hospital taking care of it.

As a result, it’s challenging to cultivate this sharp risk prediction ability.

Rong Xuekai benefited from his early barefoot doctor experience, honing this ability, allowing him to thrive in the intensive care department.

At this moment, after hearing Li Jingsheng’s diagnosis, he became highly alert and started to take the initiative, striving to intervene before the child’s brain condition worsens to the point of being beyond medical help.

A major disease progresses like a landslide or tsunami in later stages, making any method appear futile.

The best approach is to intervene before a major disease progresses, preventing it from developing into a severe condition, or even spawning numerous complications.

If it reaches that stage, not even a deity could save them.

"I highly agree with Director Rong’s proposal, taking proactive measures is much better than watching helplessly as the virus continuously damages the child’s body and worsens the condition."

"Cough...Dr. Zhao, you need to be more cautious with your words. Before identifying the source of the disease, even if we want to act, we wouldn’t know where to strike. Symptomatic treatment is, indeed, an active intervention, not as you put it, standing by idly."

"Yes, yes, my statement was inadequate."

Dr. Zhao, in his mid-thirties, being part of this consultation indicates that he is held in high regard by the senior doctors.

However, speaking carelessly in front of family members is a rookie mistake.

This highlights the importance of internship and secondary training programs.

Many master’s and doctoral students practice with their mentors in hospitals, but some mentors are hesitant to let go, leading to insufficient hands-on experience.

When these graduates finally become doctors in hospitals, their high academic qualifications, reputable mentors, and not insignificant skills are overshadowed by their lack of grassroots experience.

Many Ph.D. graduates just have a few days of perfunctory hospital rounds and are directly promoted to attending position.

Hospitals, eager to attract such highly educated talents, often lower the entry requirements.