Neurological history 3

 Cardiovascular history 4 Written by Leya Bedar Diagnosis: Pericarditis (features of infection, pleuritic chest pain, improves when leaning forward, recent viral illness) Other differentials: Pulmonary embolism (shortness of breath, sudden onset, pleuritic chest pain, but less likely due to features of infection) Oesophagitis (features of infection but unlikely as no link to swallowing/eating and no…

 Gastrointestinal history 5 Written by Leya Bedar Diagnosis: Peptic ulcer disease (nature of pain, epigastric, worse after eating but delayed onset, exacerbated by spicy food, NSAID use, smoking history) Other differentials: Gastric cancer (weight loss, abdominal pain, haematemesis) Pancreatitis (abdominal pain, delayed onset after eating, weight loss) Mark scheme for history taking can be found…

 Respiratory history 3 Written by Leya Bedar Diagnosis: Pulmonary embolism (pleuritic chest pain, SOB, cough, recent surgery, signs of DVT, recent long journey) Other differentials: Acute coronary syndrome e.g. stable angina (possible due to chest pain but unlikely due to cough, pleuritic chest pain and lack of cardiovascular risk factors, past medical history and family…

Epilepsy Your brain cells send electrical signals to your body to tell you to do things, like move. Normally, the brain fires electrical signals in a controlled way.  In epilepsy, the brain fires electrical signals in a random and uncontrolled way. When a fit happens, the brain cells are a bit like people at a…

 Neurological history 4 Written by Leya Bedar Diagnosis: Meningitis (typical symptoms, infectious contacts) Differential diagnosis: Tension headache associated with a viral illness (possible due to features of infection, but less likely due to location of pain, photophobia) Migraine with aura (generalised headache with photophobia and family history, but less likely due to infectious symptoms and…

 Neurological history 7 Written by Leya Bedar Diagnosis: Trigeminal neuralgia (location of pain, neuropathic pain, episodes of intense pain, sudden onset, triggers) Other differentials: Giant cell arteritis (age, location of pain, but less likely due to neuropathic pain, clear triggers and lack of jaw claudication and visual disturbances) Migraine (intense pain, but less likely due…