26 Pain in the Upper Extremity Shoulder After backache, upper extremity pain is the next most common type of musculoskeletal pain. It usually occurs in the joints (shoulder, elbow, and…

24 Pain in the Lower Extremity in Adults To diagnose pain in the lower extremity accurately, the physician must determine whether the pain is articular (hip, knee, or ankle) or…

17 Headache Primary headaches, such as migraine, tension, and cluster (a form of trigeminal, autonomic, and cephalgia) headaches, are usually recurrent or chronic. Secondary headaches include those secondary to stroke,…

1 Abdominal Pain in Adults Abdominal pain is the most common complaint seen in emergency departments in the United States and one of the 10 most common complaints in family…

3 Backache Low back pain causes countless visits to physicians, including 5% of all visits to family physicians. Two percent of the population consults a physician each year because of…

20 Menstrual Irregularities Abnormal Bleeding Menstrual irregularity is especially common in the perimenarchal and perimenopausal years. Bleeding from the vagina is considered abnormal when it occurs at an unexpected time…

14 Fatigue Fatigue has been defined as a feeling of overwhelming, sustained exhaustion with a decreased capacity for physical and mental work not relieved by rest. Fatigue is the seventh…

36 Weight Gain and Weight Loss Weight Gain The most common cause of weight gain is increased caloric intake, regardless of what the patient states. Though percentage of body fat…

29 Skin Problems Skin problems are one of the most common reasons why patients seek medical attention. The 10 most common skin problems leading patients to consult dermatologists are acne,…

33 Vaginal Discharge and Itching Vaginal discharge, which may be accompanied by vulvar itching or burning, is one of the most common problems seen in the physician’s office. These symptoms…