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
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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…
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…
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
Respiratory history 5 Written by Leya Bedar Diagnosis: Lung cancer (haemoptysis, cough, constitutional symptoms, family history of lung cancer, smoking history) Other differentials: Tuberculosis (ethnic, haemoptysis, constitutional symptoms but lack of travel history, infectious contacts, night sweats, make less likely) COPD (cough, SOB and smoking history but less likely due to haemoptysis and constitutional symptoms)…
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…
