Signs and symptoms

Question 1

Skin maceration

Answer 1

Softening and breaking down of skin resulting from prolonged exposure to moisture

Question 2

Sentinel pile

Answer 2

External lumps/skin tags associated with hemmorhoids or anal fissures

Question 3

Where and what is McBurney’s point?

Answer 3

• the point corresponds to the most common location of the base of the appendix where it is attached to the cecum
• one-third of the distance from the anterior superior iliac spine to the umbilicus

Question 4

Leucocytosis

Answer 4

Increased WCC

Question 5

Guarding

Answer 5

Tensing muscles when pressure is applied to the area of concern

Question 6

Purulent peritonitis

Answer 6

Presence of pus in the abdominal cavity

Question 7

Feculent peritonitis

Answer 7

Intestinal perforation allowing feces into abdominal cavity

Question 8

Glossitis

Answer 8

Inflammation with depapillation of the tongue, can be also sore; resulting in a smooth and erythematous surface; usually as a consequence of nutritional deficiencies

Question 9

Aphthous ulcers

Answer 9

Bening and non-contagious mouth ulcers

Question 10

Angular stomatitis

Answer 10

Inflammation of the corners of the mouth

Skin red, crusting, painful, itchy

Caused by infection, irritation and allergies

Question 11

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome

Answer 11

an autosomal dominant genetic disorder characterized by the development of benign hamartomatous polyps in the gastrointestinal tract and hyperpigmented macules on the lips and oral mucosa (melanosis)

Question 12

Virchow’s node

Answer 12

Supraclavicular lymph node on the left side - gastric cancer

Question 13

Koilonychia

Answer 13

Spoon nails, abnormally thin, flat to concave in shape - can be a sign of hypochromic anaemia especially iron deficiency anaemia

Question 14

Pyoderma gangrenosum

Answer 14

a rare, inflammatory skin disease where painful pustules or nodules become ulcers that progressively grow

Question 15

Haematemesis

Answer 15

Vomiting of fresh or altered blood

Question 16

Malllory-Weiss syndrome/tear

Answer 16

Longitudinal tear or laceration of the mucous membrane, most commonly at the point where the oesophagus and the stomach meet (gastroesophageal junction). Such a tear may result in severe bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract; risk factors include alcohol use and hiatal hernia.

Question 17

Odynophagia

Answer 17

Painful swallowing

Question 18

Dysphagia

Answer 18

Difficulty in swallowing characterised as a sensation of obstruction during the passage of liquid or solid

Question 19

Porphyria

Answer 19

a group of diseases in which substances called porphyrins build up, negatively affecting the skin or nervous system

Most types of porphyria are inherited from one or both of a person’s parents, and are due to a mutation in one of the genes that make heme.

Question 20

Myxedema

Answer 20

A collection of fluid in various tissues caused by deposition of glycosaminoglycans/mucopolysaccharides.

Aetiology - hypothyroidism and Grave’s disease

Examples: exophthalmos in Grave’s dis - collection behind the eye, pretibial myxedema, myxedematous heart disease - within the heart

Question 21

Myopathy

Answer 21

Dysfunction of muscle without involvement of the neuromuscular junction or nerve supply

Symptoms - weakness, muscle pain, cramping, tetany