Non-Specific Patient Presentations Flashcards
Fatigue
normal unless persistent
psych or physical- depression, anxiety, substance abuse
Chronic Fatigue
from Epstein Barr Virus
Unintentional Weight Loss
from depression, anorexia nervosa, bulimia
disease of organ system- cancer
Low Grade Fever
<101
Moderate Fever
=102
High Grade Fever
> 103
Fever in Newborns
99
Inflammatory Cytokines released during fevers
IL-1
TNF-a
Regulate temperature
hypothalamic nuclei
Fever of Unknown Origin
at least 3 weeks
>101
failure to diagnose after 3 outpatient visits or 3 days hospitalized
Likely Causes of FUO
Infection Neoplasms Autoimmune Misc Idiopathic
Headache Alarms
Visual Loss- GCA
Disequilibrium- Claudication
Confusion/ lethargy
new onset seizure
Migraines
mostly young women (20-30)
unilateral, alternates sides
lasts 4-72 hours
aura; light and work aversion
Tension Headache
all ages and both genders
late in day
30min - 1 week
band- like distribution
Cluster Headache
wake people up
present w/ red eyes and nasal stuffiness
may cause Horner’s Syndrome
Preganglionic or postganglionic lesion in sympathetic nervous system b/t hypothalamus and eye
larger than normal pupil
Giant Cell Arteritis
age 60+
arteries are inflamed
can cause blindness
Therapy for GCA
prednisone
Brain Tumors
cause HA and interrupt sleep
nausea and visual changes that get more severe
worse in morning
likely produces other physical and neurological issues
Stroke Observation
F- face paralyzed?
A- can arms be held parallel to ground?
S- speech slurred?
T- Time to hospital ASAP