Urethral Discharge Any inflammatory condition within the urethra may cause a discharge. It is important to diagnose venereal conditions so that appropriate treatment is given, not only to the patient…

Tiredness Persistent tiredness or physical fatigue with no obvious cause is a common complaint. It is normal to feel tired at times, e.g. after working long hours, unaccustomed exertion or…

Syncope Syncope is the transient loss of consciousness due to impaired cerebral blood flow. Causes Cardiovascular • Myocardial infarction • Pulmonary embolism • Cardiac outflow obstruction • Carotid sinus syndrome Vasovagal Syncope • Situational syncope…

Sweating Abnormalities Excessive sweating is often brought to the attention of the physician when it becomes socially unacceptable, the underlying cause ranging from trivial to serious. Causes Excessive Sweating • Primary…

Steatorrhoea Steatorrhoea refers to the passing of excessive amounts of fat in the faeces. The causes are listed below, according to pathogenesis. Causes Lipase Deficiency • Impaired secretion – chronic pancreatitis…

Shock Shock is an abnormality of the circulation that results in inadequate organ perfusion and tissue oxygenation. Causes Hypovolaemic • Haemorrhage • Burns • Gastrointestinal losses Cardiogenic • Myocardial infarction • Acute valvular damage • Arrhythmia…

Pyrexia of Unknown Origin Most pyrexias result from a clearly defined illness, e.g. acute pyelonephritis or acute appendicitis, or from self-limiting viral infections, e.g. common cold. Pyrexia of unknown origin…

Pruritus Pruritus is itching of the skin. There are a vast number of dermatological causes of pruritus, which are usually visible on inspection. The following are causes of generalised pruritus…

Polyuria The volume of urine produced per day varies in each individual and is affected by the amount of fluid intake, physiological requirements and insensible losses. Polyuria is arbitrarily defined…