General Medical Information

Buttaravoli and Stair: COMMON SIMPLE EMERGENCIES

Table of Contents

Neurologic

• Vasovagal syncope (faint, swoon)
• Hyperventilation
• Minor head trauma (”concussion”)
• Seizures (convulsions, fits)
• Hysterical coma or seizure
• Dystonic drug reaction
• Tension headache
• Migraine headache
• Polymyalgia rheumatica
• Weakness
• Vertigo (”dizzy, lightheaded”)
• Bell’s palsy (facial weakness)

Opthalmologic

• Periorbital ecchymosis (black eye)
• Conjunctivitis
• Iritis
• Conjunctival foreign body
• Corneal foreign body
• Corneal abrasion
• Periorbital and conjuncival edema
• Subconjunctival hemorrhage
• Ultraviolet keratoconjunctivitis
• Hordeolum (sty)
• Contact lens irritation, contamination, overuse
• Removal of dislocated contact lens
• Complete eye exam

Ear Nose Throat

• Cerumen impaction (ear wax blockage)
• Otitis externa (swimmer’s ear)
• Otitis media
• Perforated tympanic membrane (ear drum)
• Foreign body in ear
• Serous otitis media
• Split earlobe
• Epistaxis (nosebleed)
• Foreign body in nose
• Nose fracture
• Sinusitis
• Pharyngitis (sore throat)
• Foreign body in throat
• Mononucleosis (glandular fever)

Oral & Dental

• Temperomandibular joint pain
• Jaw dislocation
• Lacerations of the mouth
• Aphthous ulcer (canker sore)
• Oral herpes simplex (cold sore)
• Sialolithiasis (salivary duct stone)
• Gingivitis
• Oral candidiasis (thrush)
• Perleche (angular chelitis)
• Burning tongue
• Mucocele (mucous cyst)
• Uvular edema
• Avulsed tooth
• Dental trauma
• Bleeding after dental surgery
• Dental pain post extraction (dry socket)
• Dental pain - pulpitis
• Dental pain - abscess
• Dental pain - periconitis
• Oral nerve blocks
• Orthodontic complications

Pulmonary & Thoracic

• Upper respiratory infection (cold)
• Rib fracture/costocondral separation
• Costochondritis
• Tear gas exposure
• Inhalation injury

Gastrointestinal

• Singultus (hiccups)
• Esophageal food bolus obstruction (steakhouse syndrome)
• Swallowed foreign body
• Innocuous ingestions
• Poison center phone numbers
• Food poisoning - staphylococcal
• Diarrhea
• Gas pain and constipation
• Enterobiasis (threadworms, pinworms)
• Hemorrhoids (piles)
• Anal fissure
• Rectal foreign body

Urologic

• Lower urinary tract infection (cystitis)
• Upper urinary tract infection (pyelonephritis)
• Colorful urine
• Urethritis (drip)
• Gonorrhea (clap)
• Genital herpes simplex
• Epididymitis
• Prostatitis
• Urinary retention
• Phimosis and paraphimosis
• Blunt scrotal trauma

Gynecologic

• Dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps)
• Vaginal bleeding
• Vaginitis
• Vaginal foreign body
• Bartholin abscess
• Contact vulvovaginitis
• Genital warts (condylomata accuminata)
• “Morning after” contraception
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

Musculoskeletal

• Cervical strain (whiplash)
• Torticollis (wry neck)
• Collarbone (clavicle) fracture
• Acromio-clavicular (shoulder) separation
• Shoulder dislocation
• Acute lumbar strain (low back pain)
• Coccyx fracture (broken tail bone)
• Fibromyaglia (trigger points)
• Acute monarticular arthritis
• Acute gouty arthritis
• Bursitis
• Ligament sprains (including joint capsule injuries)
• Ankle sprain
• Knee sprain
• Muscle strains and tears
• Subluxation of the head of the radius (nursemaid’s elbow)
• Radial head fracture
• Radial neuropathy (Saturday night palsy)
• Cheiralgia paresthetica (handcuff neuropathy)
• Carpal tunnel sydrome
• Thumb tenosynovitis (DeQuervain’s)
• Scaphoid (carpal navicular) fracture
• Skipole or gamekeeper’s thumb
• Ganglion cysts
• Finger (PIP Joint) Dislocation
• Extensor tendon avulsion - distal phalynx (mallet finger)
• “Plantaris” tendon rupture
• Broken toe

Soft Tissue

• Simple laceration
• Superficial fingertip avulsion
• Nail root dislocation
• Finger or toenail avulsion
• Ring removal
• Nailbed laceration
• Subungual hematoma
• Subungual ecchymosis
• Foreign body beneath nail
• Paronychia
• Digital nerve block
• A simple finger tip dressing
• Bicycle spoke injury
• Needle (foreign body) in foot
• Puncture wounds
• Minor impalement injuries
• Fishhook removal
• Traumatic tattoos and abrasions
• Bites
• Tetanus prophylaxis
• Rabies prophylaxis
• Marine envenomations.

Skin

• Rhus dermatitis (poison ivy, oak, sumac)
• Sunburn
• Partial thickness burns
• Frostbite
• Hymenoptera envenomations (bee stings)
• Superficial sliver
• Pencil point puncture
• Subcutaneous foreign body
• Tick removal
• Cutaneous abscess or pustule
• Erysipelas, cellulitis and lymphangitis
• Pyogenic granuloma
• Zipper caught on penis or chin
• Contusion (bruise)
• Urticaria (hives)
• Pityriasis rosea
• Tinea (athlete’s foot, ringworm)
• Herpes zoster (shingles)
• Pediculosis (lice, crabs)
• Scabies
• Impetigo
• Diaper rash