Peptic Ulcer Disease
Introduction The term ‘peptic ulcer’ refers to ulcer found in the lower oesophagus, stomach and duodenum. Rarely, they can occur in the jejunum and ileum (usually after surgery). They are…
A polycystic ovary as shown on USS
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
Introduction Polycystic ovarian syndrome - PCOS (aka Hyperandrogen Chronic Anovulation) is a very common cause of amenorrhoea and oligomenorrhoea. It is important as it is associated with systemic features, including acne, decreased…
Example of widespread psoriasis on a patient's back
Psoriasis
Introduction Psoriasis is a a common chronic inflammatory skin condition, characterised by raised, red, itchy, scaly plaques on the skin. With treatment, it often follows a relapsing and remitting course,…
Erythem marginatum. Image from Dermnet. Used in accordance with Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 (New Zealand) license.
Rheumatic Fever
Introduction Rheumatic fever was a common infectious disease until around the middle of the 20th century, and was a major cause of childhood mortality and rheumatic (structural) heart disease. In…
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Introduction RA is a type of inflammatory arthritis. Other examples include seronegative spondyarthritides, reactive arthritis, lyme arthritis, crystal arthritis and postviral arthritis. Features of inflammatory arthritis Pain and stiffness worse…
Rosacea
Introduction Rosacea is a common facial rash, of unknown aetiology. It is typically chronic and persistent. It causes sterile inflammatory papules, pustule and nodes and it may sometimes be mistaken…
Scabies mite - sarcotopes scabei
Scabies
Introduction Scabies (aka “The Itch”) is a common parasitic skin disorder caused by the arachnid (mite) sarcotopes scabei. It is a very common disorder, and its morbidity is probably underrated. It…
SLE – Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Introduction SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) is an autoimmune connective tissue disease, similar to systemic sclerosis, RA, and mixed connective tissue disease. Often, symptoms of these diseases overlap. In cases where…
Stable Angina (Angina Pectoris)
Introduction Stable angina (aka Angina Pectoris) is a common presentation of Coronary Heart disease - CHD(aka Ischaemic Heart disease - IHD) Stable angina, (aka ‘Angina pectoris’, and colloquially "Angina") is a syndrome…
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Introduction This is also known as sudden unexplained infant death (SUID) - aka Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). It is defined as: “The sudden and unexpected death of a child under…