Comprehensive Disease-State Overview Chart for Medical Students

What is the definition of nausea?

An unpleasant sensation of imminent vomiting.

What are common causes of nausea and vomiting?

GI irritation/disease, blood toxins, metabolic issues, motion sickness, and increased intracranial pressure.

What symptoms might a patient report with nausea?

Nausea, vomiting, pain, dizziness, headache, and fever.

What are the signs of dehydration?

Weight loss, dry mucous membranes, flushed skin, altered mental status, high heart rate, and low blood pressure.

What is GERD?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease characterized by heartburn, regurgitation, and chest pain.

What are the main causes of GERD?

Decreased anti-reflux barrier, increased reflux burden, and decreased esophageal clearance.

What symptoms are associated with peptic ulcer disease (PUD)?

Burning/gnawing epigastric pain, nausea, bloating, and early satiety.

What is the primary cause of peptic ulcer disease?

Helicobacter pylori infection.

What are the signs of diarrhea?

Increased frequency of loose stools, nausea, vomiting, headache, fever, and chills.

What are common causes of diarrhea?

Osmotic, secretory, and fatty causes, as well as certain medications.

What defines constipation?

Difficult or infrequent stool passage, often with straining or incomplete evacuation.

What are the symptoms of constipation?

Hard dry stools, bloating, discomfort, and straining during bowel movements.

What is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?

A functional GI disorder characterized by altered bowel habits and chronic discomfort.

What are the symptoms of IBS?

Bloating, cramping, flatulence, urgency, and clear/white mucus in stool.

What is drug-induced liver injury?

Liver injury caused by a medication, often with symptoms like fatigue, nausea, and jaundice.

What laboratory findings are associated with drug-induced liver injury?

Increased ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, and bilirubin.

What are common vital signs associated with dehydration?

Increased heart rate and respiratory rate, and decreased blood pressure.

What are the red flags for referring a patient with nausea?

Symptoms lasting more than several days, weight loss, severe dehydration, or fever over 100.4 °F.

What should be assessed in a patient with suspected dehydration?

Fluid loss graded by weight lost and clinical signs.

What is the significance of the Bristol stool scale in diarrhea?

It categorizes stool consistency to help assess the severity of diarrhea.

What are the classifications of hypertension (HTN)?

Types and stages based on blood pressure readings.

What are the common causes of dehydration?

Vomiting, diarrhea, poor intake, and excessive fluid loss.

What are the signs of acute kidney injury (AKI)?

Increased creatinine levels and decreased urine output.

What is the purpose of the reverse lookup section in the disease-state overview?

To identify common findings and the disease states they indicate.

What is the role of a pharmacist in assessing dehydration?

To evaluate fluid loss and recommend appropriate interventions.

What are the symptoms of pediatric dehydration?

Thirst, headache, fatigue, dizziness, and weakness.

What are the main symptoms of jaundice?

Yellowing of the skin and eyes, dark urine, and pale stools.

What are the common laboratory tests for assessing liver function?

Liver function tests (LFTs), including ALT, AST, and bilirubin levels.

What are common symptoms of cirrhosis?

Fatigue, nausea, poor appetite, abdominal pain.

What is the progression of chronic liver injury?

Chronic liver injury → inflammation → fibrosis → altered blood and bile flow → complications.

What laboratory findings are associated with cirrhosis?

↓ albumin, ↑ INR, ↓ platelets, ↑ bilirubin, ↑ ammonia.

What are the red flags for cirrhosis that require referral?

Altered mental status, jaundice, ascites, hematemesis, unexplained bruising/bleeding.

What is the Child-Pugh score used for?

Dosing in cirrhosis management.

What does MELD score indicate?

Transplant priority in patients with liver disease.

What are the main causes of cirrhosis?

Alcohol, viral hepatitis, NASH, autoimmune disease, heart failure, medications.

What is ascites and its main cause?

Fluid accumulation in the peritoneal cavity due to portal hypertension from cirrhosis.

What are the symptoms of ascites?

Abdominal distention, weight gain, early satiety, nausea, abdominal tightness/fullness.

What is hepatic encephalopathy?

Altered mental status from the buildup of ammonia and other neurotoxins.

What are the symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy?

Confusion, fatigue, behavior change, asterixis, tremors.

What is coagulopathy in the context of liver disease?

Blood cannot clot properly due to decreased synthesis of clotting factors and thrombocytopenia.

What are the symptoms of coagulopathy?

Easy bruising and prolonged bleeding.

What is jaundice and its main cause?

Yellowing of skin and eyes due to increased bilirubin levels.

What are the symptoms of chronic kidney disease (CKD)?

Often none initially; later symptoms include fatigue, itchy skin, cramps, nausea, shortness of breath.

What laboratory findings indicate CKD?

↓ eGFR, ↑ Scr, ↑ BUN, ↑ K⁺, ↑ phos, ↓ bicarb, albuminuria, anemia, edema.

What are the main causes of CKD?

Diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, prior acute kidney injury, nephrotoxic drugs.

What characterizes acute kidney injury (AKI)?

Rapid loss of kidney function with increased serum creatinine and/or decreased urine output.

What are the three types of AKI?

Prerenal, intrarenal, and postrenal.

What are the symptoms of prerenal AKI?

Thirst, dizziness, low urine output.

What causes prerenal AKI?

Decreased blood flow to the kidney due to hypovolemia, heart failure, or medications.

What are the symptoms of intrarenal AKI?

Low urine output, swelling, possible blood or protein in urine.

What causes intrarenal AKI?

Damage to kidney structures, often from nephrotoxic drugs or prolonged prerenal AKI.

What are the symptoms of postrenal AKI?

Distended bladder, little or no urine output, flank or lower-abdominal pain.

What causes postrenal AKI?

Obstruction of urine flow due to kidney stones, BPH, or tumors.

What is hyponatremia?

Decreased serum sodium levels, often leading to neurologic symptoms.

What are the symptoms of hyponatremia?

Headache, confusion, nausea, seizures if severe.

What is hypovolemia?

A condition of decreased blood volume, often due to GI losses or dehydration.

What are the signs of hypovolemia?

Low blood pressure, increased heart rate, poor skin turgor, dry mouth.

What is hypernatremia?

A condition characterized by increased serum sodium concentration, often due to sodium gain or water loss.

What are common causes of hypernatremia?

Water loss from dehydration, diarrhea, diabetes insipidus, or inability to sense thirst.

What symptoms are associated with hypernatremia?

Thirst, confusion, weakness, muscle cramps, and fatigue.

What is hypokalemia?

A condition characterized by decreased serum potassium concentration.

What are common causes of hypokalemia?

Diuretics, vomiting, diarrhea, and conditions like heart failure and cirrhosis.

What symptoms are associated with hypokalemia?

Weakness, muscle cramps, fatigue, and arrhythmias.

What is hyperkalemia?

A condition characterized by increased serum potassium concentration.

What are common causes of hyperkalemia?

Kidney dysfunction, acidosis, cell damage, and certain medications like ACE inhibitors.

What symptoms are associated with hyperkalemia?

Palpitations, 'odd heartbeats,' and weakness.

What is metabolic acidosis?

A condition where blood pH is less than 7.36 and bicarbonate levels are below 22 mEq/L.

What are common causes of metabolic acidosis?

Diarrhea, kidney dysfunction, and diabetic ketoacidosis.

What symptoms are associated with metabolic acidosis?

Fatigue, nausea, and fast, deep breathing.

What is metabolic alkalosis?

A condition where blood pH is greater than 7.44 and bicarbonate levels are above 26 mEq/L.

What are common causes of metabolic alkalosis?

Vomiting, diuretics, and excessive bicarbonate intake.

What symptoms are associated with metabolic alkalosis?

Cramps, weakness, and increased bicarbonate levels.

What does an elevated BUN indicate?

It can indicate kidney failure, dehydration, or a high-protein diet.

What does a decreased BUN indicate?

It can indicate malnutrition or liver disease.

What is the significance of serum creatinine levels?

Increased serum creatinine indicates kidney dysfunction and is used to estimate eGFR.

What is hyperglycemia?

A condition characterized by increased blood glucose levels.

What are common causes of hyperglycemia?

Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, dietary indiscretion, and acute illness.

What symptoms are associated with hyperglycemia?

Polyuria, polydipsia, and fatigue.

What is hypoglycemia?

A condition characterized by decreased blood glucose levels.

What are common causes of hypoglycemia?

Insulin overdose, malnutrition, and alcohol consumption.

What symptoms are associated with hypoglycemia?

Shakiness, sweating, hunger, and confusion.

What is hypercalcemia?

A condition characterized by increased serum calcium levels.

What are common causes of hypercalcemia?

Thiazide diuretics, cancer, and hyperparathyroidism.

What symptoms are associated with hypercalcemia?

Nausea, vomiting, and general malaise.

What is hypocalcemia?

A condition characterized by decreased serum calcium levels.

What are common causes of hypocalcemia?

Vitamin D deficiency, chronic kidney disease, and hypoparathyroidism.

What symptoms are associated with hypocalcemia?

Tingling, muscle cramps, and tetany.

What is hypoalbuminemia?

A condition characterized by decreased serum albumin levels.

What are common causes of hypoalbuminemia?

Cirrhosis, malnutrition, and chronic illness.

What symptoms are associated with hypoalbuminemia?

Swelling due to low oncotic pressure.

What does elevated liver enzymes indicate?

It may indicate liver disease, such as hepatitis or cirrhosis.

What are platelets critical for?

Hemostasis

What is thrombocytopenia?

A condition characterized by decreased platelets (

What are common symptoms of thrombocytopenia?

Easy bruising and bleeding that won't stop

What can cause thrombocytopenia?

Drugs (heparin, linezolid), autoimmune disorders, aplastic anemia, radiation, infection, cirrhosis

What is hypertension (HTN)?

A condition where blood pressure is persistently too high

What are the AHA classifications for blood pressure?

Normal:

What is the goal blood pressure for patients with hypertension?

Less than 130/80

What are primary causes of hypertension?

Age, family history, obesity, smoking, alcohol, stress, inactivity

What is a hypertensive emergency?

Severe BP elevation with acute target-organ damage