A Case of Lethargy Flashcards
What are some of the differential diagnoses for lethargy and fatigue?
Anaemia Malnutrition Poor sleep Depression Hypothyroidism Cancer Infection Chronic allergies
What differential diagnosis should always be included?
Mental health problem
What are you reminding yourself of when you include an “environmental” differential?
Never forget a patient’s context
Are tests useful in investigating tiredness?
No
What is one consideration for basing test decisions?
Pre-test probability
If gastrointestinal cancer is high on the list, what investigation needs to be done?
Gastroscopy and/or colonoscopy for histological examination
What can LFTs give an indication of?
Status of
- Nutrition
- Chronicity
Via albumin and protein levels
What are CT scans not very good for?
Looking at hollow viscera
What is the standard investigation for staging rectal cancer?
MRI
What does the PROMPT acronym stand for
P = probability diagnosis R = red flags O = often missed M = masquerades PT = patient trying to tell you something
What disease should you always test for in anaemia?
Coeliac disease
What diseases do you see pencil cells in the blood film in?
Fe deficiency anaemia
Thalassaemia
Pyruvate kinase deficiency
In what sort of patient is faecal occult blood test a screening tool?
Asymptomatic patient
What are the symptoms of chronic anaemia?
(Exertional) dyspnoea
Fatigue
Signs and symptoms of hyperdynamic circulation
What are the signs and symptoms of hyperdynamic circulation?
Bounding pulses
Palpitations
Worsening symptoms if underlying heart/lung disease
What is the classification of anaemia by pathophysiology?
Blood loss
Decreased production
Increased destruction
What are the causes of blood loss?
GI tract Urinary Menstrual loss Chronic recurrent epistaxis Hereditary arteriovenous malformation
What are the causes of decreased production?
Anaemia of chronic disease Bone marrow infiltration Endocrine - Hypothyroidism - EPO deficiency Nutritional deficiency - B12 - Folate - Fe Infectious - Acute - Chronic