Written by Leya Bedar
Giant cell arteritis (age, location of pain, jaw claudication, intense throbbing, visual disturbance)
Other differentials:
Trigeminal neuralgia (location of pain, worsens with certain actions but less likely due to visual disturbance)
Migraine (intense throbbing pain, visual changes could be aura, but less likely due to location of pain, jaw claudication)
Mark scheme for history taking can be found below
Cardiovascular history 1 Written by Olivia Nwosu Diagnosis: Left-sided heart failure (due to orthopnoea, PND (paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea), cough on exertion, cardiovascular risk factors) Other differentials: COPD (due to cough and smoking history) Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (due to cough) Mark scheme for history taking can be found below
Anxiety Anxiety is a feeling of worry or fear. It is common reaction to life events like taking an important exam or giving a speech to a crowd. But some people find it hard to control. When the feeling of anxiety is more constant and affects your daily life. This is when it starts to…
Respiratory history 2 Written by Leya Bedar Diagnosis: Asthma (episodic cough, SOB, wheeze, atopy, family history of atopy, recently got a pet – common trigger) Other differentials: Bronchiectasis (cough producing mucus, less likely due to atopic features and no identifiable risk factors) Interstitial lung disease (possible due to non-productive cough and link to triggers but…
Mental health history 1 Written by Leya Bedar Diagnosis: Anxiety (insomnia, racing thoughts, change in appetite, stress) Other differentials: Hyperthyroidism (possible due to racing thoughts but less likely as lack of systemic features) Depression (possible due to sleep disturbance and change in mood, but less likely due to lack of helplessness, typical depression features, and…
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…
Gastrointestinal history 6 Written by Moriom Begum Diagnosis: Haemorrhoids (fresh blood, pruritus, recent constipation, lumps) Other differentials: Anal fissure (fresh blood, recent constipation but lumps indicate haemorrhoids) Anal cancer (unlikely due to acute history and age but may be considered if not responding to treatment) Mark scheme for history taking can be found below …
