Basicmedical Key

18 Heartburn, Indigestion, and Dyspepsia Heartburn and indigestion are common presenting complaints. Because these symptoms are often vague, it is difficult for the physician to determine a precise cause, and…

16 Forgetfulness Forgetfulness and loss of memory are common complaints, particularly in elderly patients. Often their families raise the issue. Age-associated memory impairment (AAMI) is an impairment in episodic memory…

6 Chest Pain Chest pain is one of the most common complaints of adult patients. Whether the patients admit it or not, they are usually concerned that this pain is…

25 Pain in the Lower Extremity and Limping in Children The physician should approach leg pain or limp in children as in adults—that is, determine whether it originates in joints…

5 Breast Lumps Over their lifetimes, most women detect a lump in the breast. Approximately 80% of breast masses are discovered by the patient before mammography or physician examination. Most…

7 Colds, Flu, and Stuffy Nose The differential diagnosis of colds, flu, and stuffy nose might appear unimportant, because most of these conditions have no specific cures. However, because upper…

8 Constipation Constipation is common in Western society. The frequency of constipation diagnoses depends on both the patient’s and the physician’s definitions of the problem. One bowel movement each day…

2 Abdominal Pain in Children Because functional abdominal pain (previously called chronic or recurrent abdominal pain) is uncommon in children, the main emphasis of this chapter is the differential diagnosis…

4 Belching, Bloating, and Flatulence In this chapter, belching is defined as the eructation of gas through the mouth; bloating is gaseous abdominal distention; and flatulence is the passage of…