Red Flags Flashcards by Quinn Agata

progressively declining mental function at any age

degeneration and death of brain neurons

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chronic or repeated dizziness occurring other than when standing up

cerebral neuronal hypofunction

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increasing confusion in elderly person days, weeks, or months after minor head trauma

chronic subdural hematoma

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severe dizziness immediately after standing up

severe orthostatic hypertension

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adult or child w/ inattention and/or hyperactivity severely interfering w/ daily function

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

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sudden unconsciousness followed by severe drowsiness in previously healthy adult

seizure

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sudden leg weakness and possible unconsciousness in elderly person when turning head

drop attack from vertebrobasilar artery insufficiency

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dizziness and slow heartbeat (<60 bpm) that does not increase w/ activity in elderly person

sick sinus syndrome (SSS)

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loud snoring, gasping during sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness

sleep apnea

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excessive daytime drowsiness and sudden falling asleep in daytime w/o warning

narcolepsy

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animal bite of finger w/ subsequent swelling and pain

serious infection of tendon and/or bone (osteomyelitis)

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cough w/ bloody sputum in patient w/o obvious respiratory infection

lung cancer

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painless, bloody urine in man over 50 (gross hematuria)

urinary tract cancer (usually bladder cancer)

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vaginal bleeding years after last menses

uterine cancer

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new nipple retraction and/or fixed breast lump in male or female

breast cancer

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blueness of lips (peri-oral cyanosis) and nail beds

advanced hypoxia

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sudden shortness of breath in the middle of the night, cough, bilateral ankle swelling

paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND) from congestive heart failure (CHF)

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cough w/ severe episodic shortness of breath and expiratory wheezing

moderate to severe chronic asthma

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unexplained or poorly explained trauma or failure to thrive in a toddler or young child

child abuse and/or neglect

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non-centring of reflected light in one pupil, crossed eye

strabismus

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child w/ defective language skills, self-isolating behaviour, repetitive non-useful motions

autism

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child w/ sore throat, high fever (>102F), inspiratory stridor, drooling

acute epiglottitis

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crying child holding flexed arm against body w/ hand pronated

nursemaid’s elbow (dislocation of elbow)

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new onset of constipation and unexplained weight loss in person over 40

carcinoma of colon and rectum

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acute bloody diarrhea (>6-8 loose stools/day) and fever >101.5 F

serious enteritis (gastritis if also vomiting)

chronic fatigue w/ shortness of breath and/or chest pain

significant cardiopulmonary disease

chronic fatigue w/ enlarged lymph nodes and/or abdominal mass

primary lymphatic cancer/metastatic cancer

chronic fatigue in patient w/ jaundice and/or enlarged liver

serious liver disease, liver cancer, or mets

chronic fatigue and unintended or unexplained weight loss

cancer

chronic, debilitating fatigue, weakness, muscle pain, sleep disturbance

chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)

persistence of fever 101.5 F for over two weeks

occult infection, metabolic, or autoimmune disease

fever >103.5 F plus severe sore throat

streptococcal throat infection

fever above 105 F

possible brain damage if not brought down

progressive unilateral loss of hearing and balance

acoustic neuroma (AN)

indigestion, upper abdominal pain, feeling of fullness under diaphragm following a meal

acute gallbladder inflammation (acute cholecystitis)

amenorrhea, anorexia, and athleticism in young women

female athletic triad

pain that progressively worsens over weeks or months

ongoing tissue damage

pain that steadily increases in severity over weeks to months

threat of irreversible damage

progressively worsening pain after surgery

pain red flag post-surgery

increasingly painful area that turns numb

total sensory nerve destruction

worsening of any stable chronically recurring pain

new necrosis or injury

persistently inflamed joint

permanent joint and soft tissue damage

unexplained bone fracture caused by minimal or unidentified trauma

pathological deterioration of bone

severe immediate pain, numbness, weakness, and/or loss of function after trauma

fracture or disruption of vital structure

skin changes persisting many weeks after trauma

complex regional pain syndrome (CPS)

abdominal pain and rigidity of abdominal muscles

irritation of inner lining of abdominal peritoneum from blood and/or pus

upper abdominal (mid-epigastric) pain and vomiting of blood

upper GI hemorrhage from inner lining of stomach and/or esophagus

daily heartburn for many years

chronic esophagitis

severe abdominal pain, better w/ leaning forward, nausea and vomiting

acute pancreatitis

mid-abdominal pain followed by vomiting then pain moving to right lower abdomen

acute appendicitis

sudden lessening of appendicitis symptoms, followed by worsening of pain and fever

"honeymoon" from decreased pressure in appendix, then peritonitis

mid to lower abdominal colicky pain, vomiting, constipation, abdominal distention

bowel obstruction

low back pain w/ progressive leg numbness, tingling, and weakness

compression neuropathy from pressure on lumbar nerve roots (radiculopathy)

back pain w/ insidious onset and progressive, unintentional weight loss

cancer of spine

back pain, progressive bilateral leg weakness and erectile dysfunction in man >40 years old

cauda equina syndrome

severe, localized midline back pain w/ spinal process tenderness to percussion

vertebral compression fracture w/ possible underlying osteoporosis or tumor

chest pressure coming on reliably w/ physical exertion

angina pectoris

sharp chest pain and shortness of breath w/ unilateral or bilateral asymmetric ankle swelling

pulmonary embolus (PE)

sudden, spontaneous, sharp unilateral chest pain, and shortness of breath

pneumothorax

earache, ear drainage, fever, severe tenderness of mastoid process

acute mastoiditis

persistent elbow pain and stiffness after fall on an outstretched hand

fracture of radial head of elbow

elbow swelling and pain w/ diminished radial pulse and/or hand numbness after a fall

supracondylar fracture of the humerus

facial pain over sinuses, fever, purulent drainage from nose continuously for >3 months or recurrently for >6 months

chronic bacterial sinusitis

bunion deformity of great toe displacing adjacent toes

serious hallux valgus deformity with subluxation of adjacent joints

headache, eye pain, blurry or haloed vision, nausea, vomiting

acute closed-angle glaucoma

sudden, cataclysmic headache in a middle-aged hypertensive patient

nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (NTSAH)

traumatic, progressive, intermittent hip pain on movement and decreased hip range of motion

avascular necrosis of the hip

hip, knee, groin pain w/ limp in obese adolescent with or without trauma, with decreased hip range of motion on exam

slipped capital femoral epiphysis

knee trauma with pain and immediate and severe swelling of the knee

internal derangement of the knee

posterior calf pain reliably occurring after walking a specific distance

intermittent claudication from peripheral artery disease

late teen to early adult w/ focal, persistent shin pain after increasing running distance

stress fracture of tibia

neck pain w/ tingling, numbness, or pain radiating down one arm

cervical nerve root radiculopathy

neck pain and progressive sensory changes and weakness in both arms and legs

spinal cord injury

shoulder pain and progressive inability to abduct the arm due to shoulder stiffness

adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder (frozen shoulder)

severe sore throat, high fever, drooling, and difficulty swallowing in an adult

peritonsillar abcess

pain on urination (dysuria) w/ high fever, chills, frequent urination, pain in back and malaise

kidney infection (acute pyelonephritis)

chronic tenderness in anatomic snuffbox; pain of wrist after fall on an outstretched hand

occult fracture of the scaphoid (navicular) bone of the wrist

sudden, severe anxiety, smothering sensation, chest pain w/ complete recovery

panic disorder

non-drug induced auditory hallucination, delusions, tangential thinking

schizophrenia

patient who feels pessimistic, hopeless, and helpless

major depression

depression followed by an episode of hyper-excitation or euphoria

manic phase of bipolar disorder

personality change, social withdrawal, unstable relationships, evasiveness, and decreased academic performance in an adolescent or adult

drug abuse (partial loss of control over drug use) or addiction (loss of control over drug use)

resting heart rate >100 bpm, hypervigilance, warm skin

hyperthyroidism

irregularly irregular pulse w/ rate >100 bpm

atrial fibrillation w/ uncontrolled ventricular response

15 minute episode of unilateral tingling/numbness that resolves completely

transient ischemic attack (TIA)

slow onset of patchy numbness and weakness of >1 body areas

multiple sclerosis (MS)

growth or change in dark skin lesion

malignant melanoma

unilateral, painless lymph node swelling in the neck, arm, or groin

lymphoma

painless and hard are w/in the testicle of a young adult male

testicular cancer

one-sided ankle/distal calf swelling or asymmetric bilateral swelling (>3 cm difference)

blood clot in deep vein of the calf (deep vein thrombosis)

bilateral, pitting ankle swelling w/ shortness of breath

congestive heart failure

swelling of one arm w/ shoulder and/or armpit (axillary) pain

subclavian vein deep venous thrombosis

swelling and itching of lips following insect sting or food, herb, supplement, or drug ingestion

impending anaphylactic reaction

sudden, painless loss of vision in one eye

detached retina

transient, painless "curtain" coming down over vision of one eye then lifting

amaurosis fugax (AF)

double vision following blunt trauma to one that subsequently appears lower than the other eye

blowout fracture of the eye orbit w/ entrapment of inferior rectus muscle in the fracture

blurry vision, frequent urination, increased hunger and fatigue in an adult

adult onset diabetes mellitus (type II)

mild weight gain (5-10 pounds) w/ lethargy, dry hair, and cold extremities

hypothyroidism, overt (clinical)

weight loss and/or failure to maintain adequate body weight due to body image concerns

anorexia nervosa