A painful finger is a common presenting symptom. This may vary from an obvious local lesion to part of a generalised disease, e.g. rheumatoid arthritis. Impairment of the function of even a single finger may grossly impair the overall function…
Finger lesions form part of the wider subject of hand deformity. (See hand deformity chapter.) Lesions of the fingers are those which can result in hand function impairment. Painful finger lesions are dealt with on p. 147. Causes Congenital See…
Faecal incontinence implies loss of voluntary control of passage of faeces from the anus. Any disease process that interferes with rectal sensation or affects function of the anorectal musculature may produce incontinence. However, incontinence may still occur with normal sphincters…
Most facial ulcers are serious. Malignant facial ulcers are common in patients who work outdoors and are exposed to ultraviolet light. Lesions of the lips have been dealt with elsewhere (p. 293) and will not be included here. Causes Traumatic…
Facial swelling is a common presenting complaint. It may be generalised or localised. Many cases are due to trauma or infection, but it may be a sign of systemic disease. Causes Traumatic ● Insect bites ● Facial fractures Infective ●…
Most patients are able to distinguish between pain arising from the cranium, which is termed headache, and that of the face, which is covered here under the heading of facial pain. Causes Local Sinus ● Sinusitis ● Carcinoma Ear ●…
Erectile dysfunction is failure in the adult male to sustain an adequate erection. Erectile dysfunction leads to and can be caused by psychological problems, often with relationship breakdown. Psychological causes of impotence are common, but the most common organic disease…
Most eye disorders tend to present as ‘red eye’. It is the most common ophthalmic complaint encountered by general practitioners. Causes Eyelids ● Stye (hordeolum internum/externum) ( Fig. 17 ) ● Xanthelasma ● Blepharitis ● Meibomian cyst (chalazion) ● Entropion…
Ear disorders are common in general, with earache being a frequent complaint. It may represent ear disease or referred pain from the oral cavity or pharynx. Causes of deafness are dealt with on p. 86, with many differentials overlapping. Causes…
Dyspnoea is the subjective awareness of breathing discomfort. Causes Sudden (seconds to minutes) ● Pneumothorax ( Fig. 15 ) ● Chest trauma ● Aspiration ● Pulmonary oedema ● Pulmonary embolism ● Anaphylaxis Acute (hours to days) ● Asthma ● Respiratory…