Friday, June 13, 2008

Diffential Diagnosis Anyone?!

A 16 year old female patient presents with recurrent episodes of fever. She also complains about headaches and malaise. She mentioned that few days back she had a rash outbreak starting from the lower limbs spreading to her body and upper limbs.

After completing a complete blood count, her leukocyte level dropped a little below normal, and her platelet count was low.

Day 2, her platelet count dropped a little more further. And on Day 5 her whole body presents with maculopapular rash.

Differential diagnosis??

It's dengue.

My sister has dengue.

But she is fully recovered already. Thanks god. There were endless nights Not-Being-Able-To-Study because every half an hour my mom burst into my room asking things like "rash means what? good or bad?"

It sucks being a not-yet-a-doctor, but your parents assume you know every medical condition under the sun.

Now now if only my sister had dengue (touch wood) before my Haemato GIT exams I would have aced that paper, because right now I am super pro at dengue!!

*winks*

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