OTC clinical features

Question 1

Hay fever

Answer 1

• clear runny nose
• nasal congestion
• sneezing
• itching of the nose/throat
• watery, red, itchy eyes

Question 2

Constipation

Answer 2

• pooping less than 3x/week
• straining to pass
• painful, uncomfortable, difficult poops
• abdominal discomfort/bloating
• feeling of incomplete poops
• having to use manual manoeuvres
• presence of specks of blood due to straining

Question 3

Diarrhoea

Answer 3

• loose, watery stools
• abdominal pain
• flatulence
• nausea and vomiting
• increased volume of stools

Question 4

Athlete’s foot

Answer 4

• on one foot or both feet
• between toes
• maceration, fissures and scaling
• itchiness

Question 5

Ringworm

Answer 5

• ring-shaped, scaly plaques
• raised red edges with central clearing
• rash cracks/splits/peels
• itchiness
• on trunk, arms, legs

Question 6

Jock itch

Answer 6

• painful rash inner thighs to groin
• itchiness

Question 7

Onychomycosis (nail)

Answer 7

• thick and discoloured nail
• yellow-brown
• separated from nail bed
• brittle nail
• affects big + small toenails

Question 8

Tinea capitis (scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes)

Answer 8

• patchy alopecia
• brittle, dull, discoloured hair
• black dots
• large, pustular mass on scalp
• itchiness

Question 9

Tinea barbae (beard and neck)

Answer 9

• inflammation
• crusting
• pustules
• broken hairs

Question 10

Tinea manuum (hand)

Answer 10

• peeling, dryness, itching in palm
• ringworm appearance on the back of the hand

Question 11

Tinea incognito

Answer 11

• tinea treated innappropriately
• changed appearance
• reduced erythema and scale

Question 12

Common cold

Answer 12

• blocked nose
• sore/scratchy throat
• cough
• mild headache or body aches
• sneezing
• general malaise

Question 13

Threadworm

Answer 13

• itchy bum (perianal)
• disturbed sleep and irritability
• secondary infection from scratching

Less common
- vulvovaginitis
- loss of appetite
- abdominal pain

Question 14

Tension-type headache

Answer 14

• pressure/tightness extending around the head
• bilateral
• episodic (less than 1-12 days/month)
• chronic (more than 15 days/month)
• mild-mod intensity

lasts 30 min - 7 days

Question 15

Migraine

Answer 15

• pulsating/throbbing
• nausea and/or throbbing
• sensitive to lights/sounds
• varying frequency
• unilateral
• bilateral in children/adolescents
• mod-severe intensity
• can be with/without aura symptoms
• aura symptoms can come before/during an episode

lasts 4 - 72 hours

Question 16

Aura symptoms (migraine)

Answer 16

• visual disturbance (zigzag lines, blinds spots)
• body numbness/weakness unilaterally
• pins and needles
• speech disturbance

lasts up to an hour

Question 17

Cluster headache

Answer 17

• severe, unilateral pain
• around one eye/temple
• eye redness
• tear production
• nasal stuffiness
• drooping eyelid

lasts 15 mins - 3 hours

Question 18

Gastro-oesophageal reflux (GORD)

Answer 18

• burning sensation from chest to throat
• regurgitation
• chest pain
• sore throat/lump in throat
• hoarseness
• cough/wheezing
• sleep disturbance
• difficulty swallowing
• nausea

diagnosis
- frequent symptoms (more than 2x/week)
- impaired quality of life
- complications of GORD