Differential Diagnosis in Primary Care

Formulating a diagnosis purely on the basis of clinical judgement can be fraught with difficulty and danger, yet this is the challenge faced every day by Primary Care physicians, who rarely have access to the diagnostic tools available to hospital-based colleagues. Differential Diagnosis in Primary Care has been specifically written with the needs of the Primary Care physician in mind. It examines the potential causes of common presentations and aims to help the physician differentiate between diseases, using history and examination alone. Diseases are listed in descending order of prevalence, with the commonest causes first, while high-risk conditions are highlighted to ensure they are not overlooked. Its unique tabulated format ensures key information is easily accessible, and the user-friendly format ensures the book can be used during consultations, home visits, and on ward rounds. Whether used by the undergraduate, postgraduate trainee or the experienced Primary Care physician, Differential Diagnosis in Primary Care is an invaluable tool designed to improve the reader's ability to diagnose on the basis of clinical judgement alone.

Acknowledgements vi Preface vii List of Abbreviations and Symbols viii Chapter 1: Head and Neck 1 Chapter 2: Ophthalmology 7 Chapter 3: Ear, Nose and Throat 14 Chapter 4: Thorax 24 Chapter 5: Abdomen 37 Chapter 6: Urinary Tract 58 Chapter 7: Women’s Health 65 Chapter 8: Men’s Health 81 Chapter 9: Musculoskeletal 90 Chapter 10: Skin, Hair and Nails 109 Chapter 11: Mental Health 137 Chapter 12: Miscellaneous 144 Index 167