Medical References Exercise
Select one of the presenting problems listed on page 3, then one of the diseases under that presenting problem
on the list of Top Ten Differential Diagnoses in Primary Care. Using only those library medical resources covered in the
lesson, look up answers to the following questions for that condition, citing where you found the answer. Complete this
form. To gain practice using these resources, after watching the demonstrations on Blackboard, please use each of the following at
least once to complete this assignment: PEPID, Epocrates, Dynamed, DxPlain, Diagnosaurus and 5 Minute Clinical Consults (5MCC).
Student:
Chief Concern Chosen:
Disease Chosen:
Demographics (look under Incidence and Prevalence or Epidemiology of this Dx to pick age and
gender)
Is there a common age group of patients with this condition? If so, what is it?
Is there a common Gender for patients with this condition? If so, what is it?
History of Present Illness (HPI) (DynaMed has a History section. Look under Diagnosis-Signs and
Symptoms in other resources)
What symptoms might this patient exhibit when presenting with this problem?
Physical Exam Findings:
Which physical exams should you perform to diagnose this condition?
What physical findings would you likely see during those exams on a patient with this
condition?
Differential Diagnoses:
List at least 4 other possible diseases that these finding might suggest?
Diagnosis:
What laboratory tests (if any) might you order to confirm this diagnosis?
What imaging tests (if any) might you order to confirm this diagnosis?
Are these any diagnostic procedures that confirm this diagnosis, (ie endoscopy, biopsy…) and
if so, please list.
Treatment:
What medication(s) (if recommended) might you prescribe for this condition?
What adverse reactions are common with the medication that you are prescribing?
How much does this medication cost? (specify a drug, dose, #, and then cost)
Resource Used
What surgery (if recommended) might you perform for this condition?
What other treatments (if recommended) might you recommend for this condition? (diet,
exercise, physical therapy, etc.)
Pick one of the big words or abbreviations you used above and give a definition of that
term in a medical dictionary.
Using DxPlain, you have a patient with the following symptoms:
Case - A 25 year old female presents to you complaining of off and on blurry vision in right
eye (vision, loss, one eye) and eye pain, tingling on right side of face (paresthesia), Leg
cramping (usually calf muscle at night), fatigue and constipation (chronic). She has been
experiencing these symptoms for several weeks. Examination and questioning reveals that
she has had some double vision, and her eyes are moving involuntarily back and forth
(nystagmus).
What are the top three common problems and the top 3 rare problems that could be causing
her symptoms and findings?
Common Problems:
Rare Problems:
DxPlain
Top Ten Differential Diagnoses in Primary Care
COUGH
FATIGUE
LOW BACK PAIN
FEVER
DYSPNEA (SOB)
Acute Bronchitis
Fatigue NYD
Mechanical Low Back Pain
URI
Asthma
URI
Viral Illness
Sciatica
Other Viral Disease
Acute Bronchitis
Cough NYD
Depression
Muscle Strain
Acute Bronchitis
COPD
Acute Laryngitis/Tracheitis
Anemia
Degenerative Disk Dx
Acute OM
CHF
Asthma
Anxiety/Stress
Osteoporosis
Influenza
Dyspnea NYD
Sinusitis
Sinusitis
Rheumatoid Arth.
Fever NYD
Anxiety
Pneumonia
CHF
UTI
Pneumonia
URI
Influenza
Medication Side Effect
Nephrolithiasis
Sinusitis
Pneumonia
COPD
Influenza
Prostate CA
GI Infection
Acute Laryngitis/Tracheitis
Other Viral Disease
Diabetes Mellitus
Other
UTI
Ischemic Heart Disease
CHF
Mononucleosis
Strep Throat
Lung Malignancy
Allergic Rhinitis
COPD
COPD Exacerbation
Pulmonary Embolism
Medication Side Effect
Ischemic Heart Disease
Mononucleosis
Other
Lung Malignancy
GI Malignancy
Meningitis
Pertussis
Lymphoma/Leukemia
Appendicitis
Other
Other
Iatrogenic
GI Malignancy
Lymphoma/Leukemia
Lung Malignancy
Other
GENERAL ABD PAIN
HEADACHE
VERTIGO/DIZZINESS
CHEST PAIN
EDEMA
Abdominal Pain NYD
Headache NYD
Vertigo NYD
Ischemic Heart Disease
Edema NYD
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Sinusitis
Anxiety
Chest Pain NYD
CHF
GI Infection
Tension Headache
Postural Hypotension
Anxiety
Venous Insufficiency
Constipation
Migraine
HTN
CHF
Thrombophlebitis
Diverticular Disease
Cervical Disease
Fatigue
Atrial Fibrillation
HTN
UTI
URI
Medication Side Effect
HTN
Medication Side Effect
Other Viral Infection
Other Viral Disease
Cervical Disease
GERD
Ischemic Heart Disease
GI Malignancy
Concussion
Iron Deficiency Anemia
Pneumonia
PVD
Biliary Colic
Influenza
CVA
Acute Bronchitis
Infection
Appendicitis
GI Malignancy
TIA
COPD
Atrial Fibrillation
Duodenal Ulcer
CNS Malignancy
URI
Pulmonary Embolism
Arthritis
Other Malignancies
CVA
Concussion
Other
Renal Disease
Other
Meningitis
Atrial Fibrillation
GI Malignancy
Other
Sinusitis
Pregnancy
Tension Headache
Cirrhosis
Other
Other
In approximate order of likelihood from highest to lowest. Likelihood of disease is dependent on the age of the patient and other risk factors. Items in red
are potentially emergencies.
Ponka, D., et al. Top Ten Differential Diagnoses in Primary Care. [Web Resource] U of Ottawa. 2006. Accessed at
http://www.familymedicine.uottawa.ca/Documents/TopTenDDIPC/Top10_Differential_Diagnosis_In_Primary_Care.pdf