CAISSON DISEASE Meaning and
Definition
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Caisson disease, also known as decompression sickness or the bends, is a medical condition that occurs as a result of rapid changes in pressure. It typically affects individuals who have been exposed to significant changes in atmospheric pressure, such as divers or workers who operate in pressurized environments like caissons (watertight structures used in underwater construction).
When a person descends into a high-pressure environment, such as underwater or in a pressurized chamber, the body absorbs greater amounts of gases, mainly nitrogen, from the surrounding environment. These gases dissolve into the bloodstream and tissues. If the person ascends too quickly without allowing the gases to gradually dissipate, bubbles can form and block small blood vessels, leading to a variety of symptoms.
Symptoms of caisson disease can range from mild to severe and may include joint and muscle pain, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath, and neurological symptoms such as confusion or paralysis. In severe cases, caisson disease can lead to organ damage, stroke, or even death.
Treatment for caisson disease typically involves the administration of pure oxygen to hasten the elimination of nitrogen bubbles from the body. In more severe cases, hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be required. Prevention is crucial, and strict adherence to decompression protocols, including gradually ascending from high-pressure environments and taking appropriate breaks, is essential to avoid this condition.
Overall, caisson disease is a medical condition caused by the formation of gas bubbles in the body following rapid decompression, commonly affecting individuals exposed to high-pressure environments such as professional divers and workers in caissons.
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A symptom-complex occurring in tunnel workers and others working in places under high air pressure when they return too suddenly to the normal atmosphere; it is marked by headache, pain in the epigastrium and the extremities, vertigo, dyspnea, coughing, nausea and vomiting, and paralysis; called also the bends, diver's paralysis, tunnel disease.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for CAISSON DISEASE
- xaisson disease
- vaisson disease
- faisson disease
- daisson disease
- czisson disease
- csisson disease
- cwisson disease
- cqisson disease
- causson disease
- cajsson disease
- caksson disease
- caosson disease
- ca9sson disease
- ca8sson disease
- caiason disease
- caizson disease
- caixson disease
- caidson disease
- caieson disease
Etymology of CAISSON DISEASE
The word "caisson disease" has its etymology rooted in the French word "caisson", which means a large box or container used in construction projects. The term "caisson disease" was first used to describe a specific medical condition that affected workers involved in the construction of bridges and tunnels using caissons in the 19th century.
During construction, workers were exposed to elevated atmospheric pressure in the caissons, which caused nitrogen gas to dissolve into their blood and other tissues. When they rapidly ascended to the surface, the dissolved nitrogen formed bubbles in the blood and tissues, leading to various symptoms collectively known as "caisson disease" or "the bends".
The term "caisson disease" combines the word "caisson" to represent the construction context and "disease" to describe the adverse effects experienced by the workers.
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