Differential Diagnoses

Question 1

Fatigue

Answer 1

Fatigue is a common symptom of depression and anxiety, but also consider infections (i.e. hepatitis, mono, TB), endocrine d/o (hypothyroidism, adrenal insufficiency, DM, panhypopituitarism), HF; chronic dz of lungs, kidneys, or liver; electrolyte imbalance, moderate to severe anemia, malignancies, nutritional deficits, medications.

Question 2

Night sweats

Answer 2

Menopause (feeling hot/ sweaty = usually throughout the day), TB, malignancy.

Question 3

Weight gain

Answer 3

Edema from extravascular fluid retention is visible in conditions like HF, nephrotic syndrome, liver failure. Also, many medications associated w/ weight gain: tricyclics antidepressants (TCA), insulin & sulfonylurea; contraceptives, glucocorticoids, and progestational steroids; mirtazapine & paroxetine, gabapentin & valproate, and propranolol.

Question 4

Short stature

Answer 4

Turner’s Syndrome, childhood renal failure, achondroplastic and hypopituitary dwarfism.

Question 5

Long limbs in proportion to trunk

Answer 5

hypogonadism, Marfan’s syndrome.

Question 6

Causes of fever/ pyrexia

Answer 6

Infection, trauma (i.e. surgery or crush injuries), malignancy, blood d/o (i.e. acute hemolytic anemia), drug reactions, & immune d/o (i.e. collagen vascular dz).

Question 7

Hypothermia

Answer 7

Chief cause = exposure to cold. Others: reduced movement in paralysis, interference w/ vasoconstriction from sepsis or excess alcohol, starvation, hypothyroidism, & hypoglycemia. Older adults = especially susceptible to hypothermia & also less likely to develop fever.