Written by Leya Bedar
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 no self-harm or suicidal thoughts)
Mark scheme for history taking can be found below
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…
Musculoskeletal history 4 Written by Leya Bedar Diagnosis: Septic arthritis (local and systemic inflammatory features, recent knee surgery) Differential diagnosis: Haematoma post-operation (recent knee surgery but does not explain local and systemic inflammatory features) Problem with prosthesis placement (same as above) Mark scheme for history taking can be found below
Gastrointestinal history 3 Written by Leya Bedar Diagnosis: Irritable bowel syndrome (flatulence, generalised abdominal pain, fluctuating between diarrhoea and constipation, link to anxiety) Other differentials: Inflammatory bowel disease – Crohn’s disease/ Ulcerative colitis (possible due to change in bowel habit but less likely due to lack of extra-gastrointestinal manifestations and no blood or mucus in…
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…
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…
