Clinical Flashcards
What type of illnesses are caused by infection?
Acute febrile
What are the two most important objectives of taking a history for infection?
- Find source of infection
- Screen for serious infection
What are the systemic features of serious infection? (8)
- Altered mental state (confusion)
- Mottled skin
- Non blanching rash
- Breathlessness
- Feeling faint/collapse
- Feverish/rigors
- Not passing urine
- “Impending doom” feeling
Why is not passing urine often a systemic symptom of infection?
Infection associated with renal failure
Why does infection cause mottled skin?
Lack of perfusion
What symptoms can localise an infection to the respiratory system? (4)
- Cough
- Breathlessness
- Wheeze
- Sore throat
What symptoms can localise an infection to the GI system? (4)
- Diarrhoea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain/cramps
- Distention/bloating
What symptoms can localise an infection to the urinary system? (4)
- Burning/pain on urination
- Polyuria
- Lower abdominal/back pain
- Change in urine appearance
What symptoms can localise an infection to the neuro system? (4)
- Headache
- Altered mental state/confusion
- Drowsiness
- Neck stiffness
What is a common neuro infection?
Meningitus
Why does meningitus cause a stiff neck?
Inflammation of dura/meninges means when neck movement stretches these=painful
With what tool can a urine infection be diagnosed?
Dip stick
With what tools can a neuro infection be diagnosed? (2)
- CT head
- Lumbar puncture
With what tool can a respiratory infection be diagnosed?
Seputum sample
With what tool can a GI infection be diagnosed?
Stool sample
