Basicmedical Key

Table 9.1) Peripheral joints Pain and swelling The underlying aetiology of joint pain can often be determined by establishing the distribution and duration of joint involvement. Remember, arthralgia is the…

Table 6.1) Abdominal pain There are many causes of abdominal pain, and careful history taking will often lead to the correct diagnosis. The following should be considered. TABLE 6.1 Gastrointestinal…

Table 4.1) Chest pain The mention of chest pain by a patient tends to provoke more urgent attention than other symptoms. The surprised patient may find himself whisked into an…

Table 11.1). The patient should be allowed to describe the symptoms in his or her own words to begin with, and then the clinician needs to ask questions to clarify…

Table 10.1) Hormones control so many aspects of body function that the manifestations of endocrine disease are protean. Symptoms can include changes in body weight, appetite, bowel habit, hair distribution,…

Table 5.1) Cough and sputum Cough is a common presenting respiratory symptom. It occurs when deep inspiration is followed by explosive expiration. Flow rates of air in the trachea approach…

1 (see Questions box 15.1). Ask if pruritus is associated; localised pruritus is usually due to dermatological disease. Determine if pain or disturbed sensation has occurred; for example, inflammation and…

Table 8.1) Patients with anaemia may present with weakness, tiredness, dyspnoea, fatigue or postural dizziness. Anaemia due to iron deficiency is often the result of gastrointestinal blood loss, or sometimes…

Table 7.1) These may include a change in the appearance of the urine, abnormalities of micturition, suprapubic or flank pain or the systemic symptoms of renal failure. Some patients have…

Figure 13.1) The structure of the eye is shown in Figure 13.1. Many of these structures can be examined as outlined below. Figure 13.1 The structure of the eye Examination…