For many skin rashes, multiple diagnoses may be possible. Often these diagnoses do not pose long-term complications, and topical steroids will be the treatment for both...
Loss of consciousness may be transient (syncope) or ongoing (coma). Many patients are admitted to hospital with "collapse".
When considering the differential diagnosis of edema, localization gives the first indication. Generalized edema leads one to suspect a disorder that affects the whole body...
Approximately 95% of all patient with hypertension have "essential" or "primary" hypertension and have no underlying disease...
Fever of unknown origin (FUO) is a persistent and unexplained fever that lasts more than 3 weeks...
Work-up for abdominal pain begins with resuscitation and exclusion of critical diagnoses. Then, through a detailed history and physical, consider all the causes of abdominal pain...
A stroke is a focal neurologic deficit due to a vascular lesion that lasts for more than 24 hours. About 80% are due to infarction secondary to thrombosis or embolism, and 20% are due to intracerebral hemorrhage...
Thyrotoxicosis results from an excess of circulating free T4 and free T3. Hyperthyroidism indicates thyroid gland overactivity, resulting in thyrotoxicosis...
Hypothyroidism results from deficiency of thyroxine (T4) or tri-iodothyronine (T3). Common presenting symptoms include tiredness, lethargy, weight gain, cold intolerance...
Cushing's syndrome is the result of chronic exposure to excess glucocorticoid. This is most commonly iatrogenic secondary to glucocorticoid administration. Addison's disease is primary adrenocortical failure...