In the space of 10 minutes, how do you confidently assess your patient’s condition and make an accurate diagnosis?

This concise guide provides a systematic way of collecting the essential clinical information swiftly and effectively.

The individual disease sections are uniformly structured to provide:

· Key features of the history, including questions relevant to patients and important for making a diagnosis

· The ‘value’ of present or absent symptoms for diagnosis and prognosis

· What should be examined and why

· A summary of ‘red flags’ – issues that must be assessed

· Important differential diagnoses and their clinical features

· Useful tips, tricks and hints for effective patient assessment

Every health professional, who has to assess patients under time constraints, as well as advanced medical students preparing for final exams, will find this new, easily accessible and comprehensive guide invaluable

“Being responsible for dealing with most of the health problems of most of the population most of the time is quite a challenge… Both students and doctors, and not just those at the start of their careers, will benefit from reading this beautifully structured book which will help them get the very best out of clearly focused consultations. Combined with the vital attributes of listening and caring, using the knowledge and support this book provides will help us all become more effective doctors.” - Professor David Haslam, CBE, FRCP, FFPH, FRCGP, Past President of the Royal College of General Practitioners, London, UK

1. Ear, Nose and Throat

* Neck lumps
* Ear pain and discharge
* Hearing problems and tinnitus
* Dizziness and Vertigo

2. Gastroenterology

* Abdominal pain
* Rectal bleeding/melaena
* Haematemesis
* Abnormal liver function
* Change in bowel habit
* Nausea and vomiting
* Dyspepsia and reflux
* Jaundice
* Abdominal swelling

3. Undifferentiated Symptoms

Adrenal disorders
Weight loss
Weight gain
* Tired all the time
* Adrenal disorders
* Social assessment/function

4. Geriatrics

* Altered consciousness
* Falls
* Tremor
* Dementia/memory loss

5. Infectious diseases

* Travel related illness
* Fever of unknown origin
* HIV infection and AIDS
* Chronic liver infections
* Rheumatic fever

6. Mental Health

* Acute psychosis
* Deliberate self harm/harm to others
* Depression
* Anxiety / Panic attacks
* Eating disorders
* Alcoholism / Substance abuse

7. Musculoskeletal

* Ankle injuries
* Head injury
* Knee injur
* Neck injury
* Bone pain and swelling
* Generalised joint pain or stiffness
* Chronic knee pain
* Low back pain
* Muscle pain
* Hip /upper Leg pain
* Shoulder pain
* Neck pain
* Ankle and foot pain

8. Neurology

* Cranial nerve lesions
* Paraesthesia
* Headache
* Limb weakness

9. Palliative care

* Terminal illness
* Chronic pain
* Urology and renal
* Acute loin pain
* Haematuria
* Lower urinary tract symptoms
* Urinary incontinence
* Testicular symptoms
* Erectile dysfunction

10. Cardiology and Vascular

* Chest pain
* Shock
* Stroke/TIA
* Syncope
* Palpitations and arrhythmias
* Cardiovascular risk assessment
* High blood pressure
* Leg pain and swelling

11. Dermatology

* Blistering conditions
* Urticaria and angioedema
* Excessive sweating
* Hair problems
* Rashes
* Itching
* Pigmented lesions
* Ulcers

12. Emergency medicine

* Anaphylaxis
* The acutely ill patient
* Shock
* Fits
* Suspected meningococcal disease
* Animal and snake bites
* Heat injuries - exhaustion and stroke/Frostbite
* Altitude sickness
* Near drowning
* Accidents and multiple trauma
* Burns

13. Endocrine/Metabolic

* Hyperglycaemia
* Obesity
* Hyperthyroidism
* Hypothyroidism

14. Genito-urinary medicine

* Sexually transmitted infection
* Sexual problems

15. Women's Health

* Menstrual disorders
* Abdominal pain in pregnancy
* Bleeding in pregnancy
* Breast disorders
* Onset of labour
* Postpartum haemorrhage
* Symptoms of pre-eclampsia
* Diabetes in pregnancy
* Polycystic ovary syndrome
* Pelvic pain
* Vaginal discharge
* Dyspareunia
* Menopausal symptoms
* Contraception
* Infertility
* Breast conditions
* Postnatal depression
* Loss of libido

16. Haematology and Immunology

* Bleeding disorders
* Allergic symptoms
* Anaemia
* Lymphadenopathy

17. Ophthalmology

* Loss of vision
* Eye pain
* Acute red eye
* Eye trauma/foreign body

18. Respiratory medicine

* Haemoptysis
* Cough
* Shortness of breath

19. Paediatrics

* Cyanosis
* Shortness of breath
* The sick infant or child
* Childhood injury
* Persistent crying
* Failure to thrive
* Painful hip
* Neonatal jaundice
* Nocturnal enuresis
* Limping
* Feeding problems
* Change in bowel habit
* Abdominal pain
* Headache
* Vomiting
* Wheeze/cough
* Fever and febrile convulsions
* Behavioural problems
* Recurrent pains
* Sleep problems
* Urinary tract infection
* Index

Knut Schroeder MD MSc DCH DRCOG DGM MRCGP MRCP PhD CertMedEd is a GP Principal and Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer in General Practice at the University of Bristol. He holds a Certificate in Medical Education and developed undergraduate and postgraduate courses on clinical diagnosis and evidence based medicine. While a full-time Consultant Senior Lecturer, he was responsible for developing and running the general practice part of the final examination for medical students at the University of Bristol for three years. Knut has written a book for GP registrars (Top Tips for GPs, Radcliffe Medical Press, 2000) and co-wrote a number of book chapters, including two chapters for the Oxford Textbook of Primary Medical Care (on haemoptysis and high blood pressure). He had papers published in international peer-reviewed journals including the BMJ, Family Practice, and Archives of Internal Medicine, as well as articles in the GP press. His main clinical and teaching interest is clinical assessment and diagnosis. He is about to qualify as a GP Trainer and continues to teach medical students in years one to four. Knut was Deputy Co-ordinating Editor for the Cochrane Heart Group for four years and has experience in writing and assessing systematic reviews of clinical literature. For a brief CV and list of relevant publications please see http://www.bristol.ac.uk/primaryhealthcare/staff/knuts.htm

Gill Jenkins BM DRCOG DFFP BA
A part-time GP in Bristol, Gill is an experienced medical writer and broadcaster, writing for medical newspapers such as GP, Doctor; journals including The British Journal of Cardiology, Cardiology International, Update and Practice Nurse; consumer media including Woman's Own, Your Family and non-medical magazines such as Flyer and Helicopter Life, and reporting for BBC Radio, BBC News24, Sky News etc. Her particular interests and medical experience lie in rheumatology, family planning, travel and aviation medicine and diabetes.