M.D. Iretiola Albert

A 72-year-old retired shipyard welder from a coastal village presented with unexplained weight loss and fatigue. Dr. Albert discovered he had been secretly treating chronic joint pain with homemade poultices containing heavy metals from old ship parts, leading to subacute lead and cadmium poisoning. Treatment involved chelation therapy and a multidisciplinary pain management approach, resulting in gradual recovery over six months with community health worker follow-up.

A 19-year-old university exchange student from Nigeria developed sudden high fever and confusion. Her friends reported she had been fasting for religious observations. Dr. Albert diagnosed cerebral malaria despite negative initial rapid tests, confirmed through repeated blood smears. Aggressive antimalarial treatment in ICU prevented cerebral edema, with full neurological recovery after three weeks and implementation of preventive measures for her return travel.

A 48-year-old female professional freediver presented with recurrent episodes of near-syncope after deep dives. Dr. Albert identified she had developed a patent foramen ovale that was previously asymptomatic, creating risk for paradoxical gas embolism. Collaboration with cardiology led to percutaneous closure, allowing her to return to modified diving after four months with strict depth limitations.

A 34-year-old transgender man on hormone therapy presented with severe abdominal pain. Other clinics had dismissed his symptoms as anxiety. Dr. Albert discovered mesenteric panniculitis exacerbated by hormonal fluctuations, requiring careful steroid tapering and coordination with endocrinology to adjust his testosterone regimen while managing inflammation.