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Rhabdomyolysis is a condition in which damaged skeletal muscle tissue breaks down rapidly. Breakdown products of damaged muscle cells are released into the bloodstream; some of these, such as the protein myoglobin, are harmful to the kidneys and may lead to kidney failure. The severity of the symptoms, which may include muscle pains, vomiting and confusion, depends on the extent of muscle damage and whether kidney failure develops. The muscle damage may be caused by physical factors (e.g. crush injury, strenuous exercise), medications, drug abuse, and infections. Some people have a hereditary muscle condition that increases the risk of rhabdomyolysis. The diagnosis is usually made with blood tests and urinalysis (urine showing characteristic discolouration pictured). The mainstay of treatment is generous quantities of intravenous fluids, but may include dialysis or hemofiltration in more severe cases. Rhabdomyolysis and its complications are significant problems for those injured in disasters such as earthquakes and bombings. Relief efforts in areas struck by earthquakes often include medical teams with the skills and equipment to treat survivors with rhabdomyolysis. (more...)

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September 20

• 1498 – A tsunami caused by the Meiō Nankaidō earthquake washed away the building housing the statue of the Great Buddha (pictured) at Kōtoku-in in Kamakura, Japan.
• 1848 – The American Association for the Advancement of Science, publisher of the journal Science, was founded.
• 1943 – World War II: Australian troops defeated Imperial Japanese forces at the Battle of Kaiapit in New Guinea.
• 1967 – Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard publicly announced the story of Xenu in a taped lecture sent to all Scientologists.
• 1971 – Hurricane Irene departed Nicaragua to become the first known tropical cyclone to successfully cross from the Atlantic Ocean into the Pacific.

More anniversaries: September 19 – September 20 – September 21