Hypokalemia is defined as a decrease in serum potassium concentration 3.5 mmol/L (severe: 2.5 mmol/L), hyperkalemia as an increase 5.0 mmol/L (severe: 6 mmol/L)
Acidosis means net acid accumulation with a decrease of pH 7.35. In contrast, alkalosis occurs with net accumulation of base (or net loss of acid) with an increase of pH 7.40...
In patients presenting with diarrhea it is important to distinguish “true diarrhea” from “false diarrhea"...
True cyanosis refers to a bluish discoloration of the skin or mucous membranes and results from hypoxemia due to an increased amount of deoxygenated hemoglobin...
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...