Differential Diagnosis Flashcards
Sore Throat
ID: Pharyngitis, Peritonsillar abscess, retropharyngeal abscess, infectious mononucleosis, epiglottitis, herpangina, COVID, HFMD, Diphtheria
Non ID: esophagitis (hot food/drinks), GERD
Acute cough, NOT in distress
ID: URTI, Pneumonia, COVID, Croup
Non-ID: Asthma
Acute cough, in distress
COVID
Bronchiolitis
Pneumonia
Asthma
BAIAE
Foreign body
Laryngotracheitis
Epiglottitis
Tracheitis
Subacute cough
Bronchitis
TB
Chlamydia pneumonia
Mycoplasma pneumonia
Rhinosinusitis
Colds
ID: URTI, Sinusitis
Allergy: Allergic rhinitis
Non-allergic: mechanical, structural, FB, deviated septum, adenoids, tumors, rhinitis medicamentosa, vasomotor rhinitis
Hormonal: pregnancy, hypothy neoplasms
Fever
COVID
URTI
Otitis media
Bacterial sinusitis
UTI
Bronchiolitis
Pneumonia
Viral syndromes
Dengue
Typhoid fever
Leptospirosis
Occult bacteremia
CNS infections
PFAPA syndrome
FUO
Fever with rash
COVID
Viral exanthems (measles, rubella, roseola, chickenpox, erythema infectiosum, HFMD) Meningococcemia
Dengue
Kawasaki disease
Acute rheumatic fever
Toxic shock syndrome
Scarlet fever
Headache
migraine
tension headache
acute sinusitis
brain tumor
brain abscess
pseudotumor cerebri
trauma
substance abuse/withdrawal
infections
meningitis
Seizure
Febrile seizure (BFC/CFC)
CNS infection (meningitis, abscess)
Brain tumor
Metabolic and e’ disturbance (hypogly, hypoNA, hypoCa, hyperCa, hypoMg)
Traumatic brain injury
Child abuse
Toxic ingestion (iron, isoniazid, kerosene, organophosphate)
Epilepsy
Status epilepticus
Raised ICP
Hydrocephalus
Brain tumor
CNS infection
Intracranial hemorrhage
Trauma
Eye pain and discharge / swelling
Conjunctivitis (viral, bacterial, allergic)
Orbital cellulitis
Preseptal cellulitis
Dacryoystitis
Foreign body
Trauma
Insect bite
Allergic/ angioedema
Ear pain / discharge
Otitis media
Otitis externa
Foreign body/ trauma
Referred pain: sinus, teeth, pharynx, thyroid, parotid, neck
Diarrhea
AGE (viral, bacterial, protozoan, parasitic)
Malabsorption
Toddler’s diarrhea
Pseudomembranous colitis
Irritable bowel syndrome
Inflammatory bowel disease
COVID
Bloody stools
Infectious:
1. bacterial: Shigella, Salmonella, E.coli (EIEC, EHEC, EAEC), campylobacter, Yersinia
2. parasitic: amebiasis, Giardia, Cryptosporidium)
IBD
Non-infectious:
Anal fissure (from constipation)
Bleeding peptic ulcer
Intussusception
Malrotation
Meckel’s diverticulum
Hematologic: (plt dysfunction – ITP, vWD)
Constipation
Functional constipation
Hirschsprung disease
Hypothyroidism
Spinal cord abnormalities
Lead poisoning
Pseudoobstruction
Fecal impaction
Imperforate anus
Dehydration
Botulism
Abdominal pain
GI: Appendicitis, AGE, Constipation, Intestinal obstruction, Intussusception, Malrotation with midgut volvulus, Mesenteric adenitis, Incarcerated hernia, Cholecystitis/ cholelithiasis/ choledocholithiasis, Acute pancreatitis, Peptic ulcer Gastritis
Non-GI: UTI, renal colic, pneumonia, Pelvic inflammatory disease, sexual abuse, HSP, anaphylaxis Functional abdominal pain
Rash / Dermatitis
ID: Cellulitis, Necrotizing fasciitis, Erysipelas, Impetigo, SSSS, Abscess, Scrofula, Scabies, Pediculosis, Molluscum contagiosum, tinea faciei
Non Infectious: AD, dermatitis (contact, irritant, seb), Hemangioma, SJS, TEN
Allergy
Atopic dermatitis
Urticaria
Angioedema
Anaphylaxis
Dermatitis (seborrheic dermatitis, contact, irritant)
Newborn jaundice
Physiologic jaundice: Breastfeeding/ breastmilk jaundice
ID: Sepsis, TORCH, UTI
Hematologic: ABO incompatibility, RH incompatibility, G6PD deficiency, polycythemia, spherocytosis, elliptocytosis
Trauma: cephalhematoma, ecchymoses, caput
Maternal: GDM, SGA, twin to twin
GI: biliary atresia, choledochal cyst, hepatitis, pyloric stenosis
Metabolic: galactosemia, hypothyroidism
Newborn jaundice, prolonged
Choledochal cyst
Biliary atresia
TORCH
Hepatitis
IEM
Delayed meconium
Meconium ileus/ plug syndrome
Hirschsprung disease
Imperforate anus
Ileus
Preterm/ LBW
Electrolyte abnormalities (hypoK, hypoNa, hyperCa, hyperMg) Maternal drugs (MgSO4, opiates, antidepressants)
NB drugs (theophylline, opiates, narcotics) hypothyroidism
Newborn: abdominal distention
NEC
Intussusception
Sepsis
GI obstruction
Diastasis recti
Meconium ileus Hirschsprung disease Hypothyroidism
Small left bowel syndrome
Newborn: respiratory distress
Pulmo: RDS, TTN, MAS, air leak syndrome, PPHN, CCAM
CV: CHD
GI: congenital diaphragmatic hernia, TEF
ID: neonatal pneumonia, sepsis
Metabolic: IEM, hypoglycemia, hypoCa
Newborn: dysmorphology
TORCH
Trisomies (21, 13, 18)
Newborn: Apnea
CNS: asphyxia, CNS infection, inc ICP, seizure
Pulmo: airway obstruction, lung disease, RDS, pneumonia
CV: CHF, PDA, CHD, heart block
GI: NEC, GERD, feeding intolerance
Hema: anemia, polycythemia
Others: sepsis, metab e’ abn, drugs MgSO4
Newborn: Anuria / oliguria
Dehydration
Obstruction
Renal Failure
Maternal: ACEI, NSAIDs, GDM
Newborn: Cyanosis
Pulmo: pneumonia, RDS, MAS, CDH, CCAM, PPHN
CV: CCHD (TGA, tricuspid atresia, truncus arteriosus, TOF, TAPVR)
ID: sepsis
Metab: Hypoglycemia
Neuro: HIE
Others: Esophageal atresia, Choanal atresia, Methemoglobinemia
Newborn: fever
Overswaddled
Inanition fever
ID: Sepsis, UTI, meningitis
Weight gain
Obesity
Cushing disease
Prader-Willi syndrome
Hypothalamic obesity
Hypothyroidism
Short stature
Constitutional short stature
Familial short stature
Growth hormone deficiency
Failure to thrive
Malnutrition
systemic chronic disease
Hypothyroidism
Turner syndrome
Ambiguous genitalia
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
Microphallus
True hermaphroditism
Virilization
Sepsis IEM
Delayed puberty
Noonan syndrome
Klinefelter syndrome
Turner syndrome
Weight loss
DM
Hyperthyroidism
PTB
Malnutrition
Fad diet
Polyuria
DM
Central DI
Nephrogenic DI
Cerebral salt wasting
Increased oral intake/ iatrogenic E’ abn (hyperCa) Organophosphate poisoning
Hypotonia, malformations
Trisomies (21, 13, 18)
Turner syndrome
Fragile X
Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy
Anemia
Hema: IDA, Thalassemia, G6PD deficiency, blood loss, Physiologic anemia of infancy, Anemia of chronic disease
Others: Lead poisoning, growth spurt Nutri: vegan, milk protein allergy, inc cow’s milk intake, faddism, dieting
ID: parasitism
GI: celiac ds, IBD
Bleeding
Hema/onco: ITP, Hemophilia, vWD disease, Vit. K deficiency, aplastic anemia, ALL
ID: DFS, sepsis, DIC
Others: abuse, liver disease, vascular abnormalities
Abdominal mass
Lymphoma
Neuroblastoma
Wilm’s tumor
Hepatoblastoma
GCT’s/teratoma
rhabdomyosarcoma
Ascites
Pregnancy
Limping child
Trauma: MVA, Abuse
ID: Osteomyelitis, Septic arthritis, Synovitis
MSK: DDH, LCP
Rheuma: JRA, HSP, RF
CA: leukemia, neuroblastoma, ewing sarcoma
Musculoskeletal pain, gait disturbance
Developmental dysplasia of the hip
Skeletal dysplasia
Fractures
Torticollis
Legg-Calve Perthes disease
Osgood-Schlatter disease
Pott’s disease
Polio
Edema
Renal: Nephritic, Nephrotic syndrome
Cardiac: CHF
Liver failure
GI: Nutritional (Kwashiorkor), protein losing enteropathy
Allergic: angioedema
Endo: myxedema (hypothy) Rheuma: SLE, HSP
Dysuria
Urolithiasis
UTI
Sexual abuse
Foreign body
STD
vulvovaginitis
Trauma
Hematuria
Renal: PSGN, IgA nephropathy, HUS, urolithiasis, UTI, TB
Trauma, abuse
Rheuma: SLE, HSP nephritis
Hema: G6PD, blood dyscrasia
Others: hemoglobinuria, myoglobinuria, drugs (ibu, iron, metronidazole, rifampicin), food (beets, blackberries, food color)
Scrotal / Inguinal mass
Undescended testis/ retractile testis
Inguinal Hernia
Hydrocoele, varicocele
Hematoma/ tumor
HSP
Scrotal pain
Testicular torsion Epididymitis
UTI
Trauma
Sexual abuse
Incarcerated hernia
Idiopathic scrotal edema (dermatitis, insect bite)
Mumps orchitis
Cellulitis
HPS vasculitis
Vaginal discharge
Vulvovaginitis
Candida
Bacterial vaginosis
Trichomonas
Physiologic discharge
Vaginal bleeding
Blood dyscrasias
Hemangioma
neoplasms
Precocious puberty
UTI
vulvovaginitis
Abuse
Trauma
FB
Murmur
ACHD: ASD, VSD, PDA
CCHD: TOF, TGA
Acquired HD: RHD, infective endocarditis
Hema: anemia
Arrhythmia
Sinus tachycardia, SVT, VT
Sinus bradycardia
Heart block
Heart failure
CHF
CHD: VSD, PDA, OCD
Acquired heart disease: myocarditis, pericarditis, cardiomyopathy, AR carditis/ RHD
Metabolic: hypoxia, acidosis, hypogly, hypoCa
Hyperthyroidism
Severe anemia
Acute HTN (PSGN)
Chest pain
Msk: muscle strain, costochondritis, contusion
CV: pericarditis, arrhythmia, MVP, CAD, ischemia, aortic dissection
Pulmo: pleural effusion, pneumothorax, pneumonia, BA, FB, tumor
GI: GERD, esophagitis, gastritis
Psych: Anxiety/ stress, hyperventilation, panic disorder
Others: HZV, drugs (cocaine), breast- related, idiopathic
Hypertension
CV: essential hypertension, CoA, PDA
Renal: AGN, nephritic syndrome
Endo: pheochromocytoma, Cushing disease, hyperthyroidism
Neuro: inc ICP, dysautonomia, neuroblastoma
Drugs: CS, amphetamines, cocaine
Metabolic: hyperNa, obesity, metabolic syndrome
Shock
Shock: hypovolemic, cardiogenic, distributive, septic, obstructive
Poisoning
Addison disease
Joint pains / arthritis / arthralgia
ID: reactive arthritis, postinfectious, viral/ bacterial myositis, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, synovitis
Rheuma: SLE, JRA, JDM, scleroderma, ankylosing spondylitis, arthritis of IBD
Vasculitis: HSP, Takayasu arteritis, PAN
Onco: Leukemia, Ewing sarcoma, osteosarcoma, lymphoma
Cardio: ARF, KD, IE Growing pains
Weakness
Neuro: MG, GBS, cerebral palsy
ID: polio, tetanus, botulism, Pott’s disease
Electrolyte abnormalities: hypo/hyperK, hyperCa
Organophosphate poisoning
Developmental Delay
Autism
ADHD
Cerebral palsy
Intellectual disability
Learning disability
Dysphagia
ID: acute viral stomatitis
Structural: oral trauma, nasal obstruction, vascular rings, mediastinal tumors
GI: achalasia, TEF, strictures, esophageal web, GERD
Neuro: vertebral anomalies
Regurgitation
GERD
GER
Overfeeding
Anorexia
CA
Inflammatory disease
ID (TB, infections)
Drugs
Unpalatable diets
Depression
Vomiting
GI: AGE, GERD, overfeeding, GI obstruction, pyloric stenosis, PUD, esophagitis
Infections: UTI
Metabolic: IEM, DKA
Medications/ poisoning
Neuro: inc ICP (TBI, abuse), labyrinthitis, migraine
Endo: adrenal insufficiency, DKA
GI Hemorrhage
Erosive damage
Bacterial enteritis
Milk protein allergy
Intussusception
Anal fissure
Peptic ulcer/ gastritis
Swallowed blood from epistaxis
CXR: Pleural effusion
TB effusion
Consolidation
Atelectasis
Pulmonary mass/ abscess
Heart failure
CXR: Bowel gas in hemithorax
CDH
CCAM
Eventration
Pulmonary Sequestration
Vesiculobulbous rash
SSSS
TEN
SJS
Erythema multiforme
Varicella
Bullous impetigo
Dermatitis herpetiformes
Growth Failure
ID: sepsis, TB, TORCH
IEM: congenital Hypothyroidism, CAH, galactosemia
GI: GERD, pyloric stenosis, atresia, Malnutrition
CV: CHD
Nephro: RTA
Endo: Prader-Willi, Cushing disease, GH deficiency
Genetic: Down, Noonan, Turner
Respiratory distress
Neuro: Inc ICP
HEENT: URTI, sinusitis, FB
Respi: pneumonia, BA, FB aspiration, croup, epiglottitis, abscess, pleural eff, TB
CV: CHD, CHF, arrhythmia, pericardial eff GI: perforation, obstruction, AGE, hepatic encephalopathy
Renal: CKD, nephrotic syn
Metab: IEM, DKA
Trauma: pneumothorax
ID: sepsis, shock
Fussy infant
GERD
Infant colic
Infant dyschezia
