Written by Leya Bedar
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 acute onset)
Mark scheme for history taking can be found below
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…
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…
Respiratory history 6 Written by Leya Bedar Diagnosis: Community acquired pneumonia (recent infectious contact, green/yellow sputum, fever, dyspnoea, tachycardia, chills and sweating) Other differentials: Acute bronchitis (similar in presentation but sweating and fever more associated with pneumonia, no wheeze or chest tightness) Influenza (less likely due to chills, productive cough, tachycardia, sweating, and no improvement…
Neurological history 1 Written by Leya Bedar Diagnosis: Tension headache (band-like distribution of pain, tight and constricting, link to stress, responds to painkillers, stress) Differential diagnosis: Migraine (generalised pain, stress, responds to painkillers but less likely due to nature of pain and lack of aura, photophobia, or clear triggers) Dehydration (dull headache but unlikely due…
Gastrointestinal history 8 Written by Leya Bedar Diagnosis: Inflammatory bowel disease (diarrhoea, location of pain, fatigue, weight loss, blood in stools, extra-gastrointestinal manifestations) Other differentials: Chronic pancreatitis (possible due to weight loss, fatigue, abdominal pain but less likely due to location of pain, no other suggestive symptoms) Coeliac disease (possible due to abdominal pain and…
Musculoskeletal history 5 Written by Leya Bedar Diagnosis: Psoriatic arthritis (stiffness, dactylitis, nail lesions, history of psoriasis) Differential diagnosis: Rheumatoid arthritis (morning stiffness, swelling, joint pain, age) Osteoarthritis (could be early osteoarthritis – could be Heberdens nodes at DIPs, stiffness, swelling, joint pain) Mark scheme for history taking can be found below
