Towards Earlier Diagnosis in Primary Care

100 per cent abdominal pain absent acute appendicitis AETIOLOGY affected anaemia associated asthma ATTACK RATE babies behaviour blood bronchiectasis bronchitis carcinoma cause cervical chest X-ray cholecystitis chronic Classification CLINICAL POINTERS common COMPLICATIONS confused consecutive cough cyanosis depression develop diabetes diagnosis was rarely DIAGNOSTIC RANGE diarrhoea DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS Diseases difficult Distinguishing features DURATION dyspnoea dysuria early eczema elderly epidemic examination exudate family doctor FEATURES AND PITFALLS haemoptysis haemorrhage headache heart failure hospital investigation indicated infarction infection influenza insecurity irritation lesions liable list of similar localised lung meningitis MISLEADING FEATURES myocardial infarction N.H.S. patients nasal normal occasionally occur otitis media peptic ulcer persists pneumonia Practice experience practitioner pregnancy primary problems pulmonary pyuria rarely in doubt rash rectal Recurrences respiratory SEX INCIDENCE signs similar and distinguishing Similar features skin sometimes sudden onset suggests suspected symptoms syndrome tenderness tension tests tion tonsillitis usually virus vomiting women