BY PROFESSOR CARLOS JAMES

Warning signs
of various
diseases
Objectives
1
a) Define warning signs
b)Enumerate the importance of warning signs
c)List the warning signs of various
diseases in general
d)Discuss regarding warning signs of
vision loss
e) State the warning signs of diabetes
f) List the warning signs of lung disease
Objectives
2
g)describe the warning signs of cardiovasc ular
disease.
h)enumerate the warning signs of kidney
disease
i)list the warning signs of dehydration j)discuss
regarding warning signs of cancer
k) state the warning signs of leprosy
l)list the warning signs in babies health Status
and in pregnancy
 Introduction
According to WHO statistics, India
faces the twin epidemic of continuing
and emerging infectious diseases as
well as chronic degenerative diseases.
 Importance of warning signs
• Early identification and diagnosis
of the health problems
• Early treatment
Decreases morbidity ,mortality
Morbidity: The condition of suffering from a
disease or medical condition.
Mortality:the state of being subject to death.
 Warming signs of various diseases in
general
• Unexplained weight loss ( infection ,
depression, AIDS ,cancer )
•
Unexplained changes in bowel
habits (ulcer, cancer ,infection )
• Chest pain ( heart diseases )
Cont…
• Shortness of breath (heart /lung disease)
•
Sudden unexplained
headaches (infection or brain
tumor )
• Sudden weakness or numbness
of the
face , arm or leg (stroke)
Cont…

• Fever (infection )
• Hot, red or swollen joint (arthritis )
 Scenario
Mr. Bert, aged 80 years, presented to his
general practitioner with sudden blurred
vision in his right eye 2 hours prior. He
was an insulin-dependent type 2 diabetic
with a history of hypertension and
dyslipidemia.
Identified Problem :
Sensory system: Vision loss
 Warning signs of vision loss
• Blurred vision (hypertension or diabetic)
• A dark or empty patch (macular degeneration
• Fading or yellow color (cataracts)
• Flashes of light or debris in vision (retinal
detachment)
• Tunnel vision ( glaucoma)
Scenario
Mr.X is complains of frequent urination,
hunger, and thirst, which leads to drinking
more water daily. He is very concerned
because he is often agitated, anxious, and
impatient to the point that it is affecting his
family and work life.
Endocrine system : Diabetes
Warning signs of diabetes
• A parent or sibling with diabetes
• increased thirst
• increased appetite
• frequent urination at night
• unexplained weight loss or very overweight
• elevated triglycerides
Cont..
• impaired glucose tolerance
• slow healing wounds
• Fatigue
• persistent blurred vision ,
• persistent numbness in hands or
feet
• frequent skin infection
Scenario
John, a 50-year-old man, comes to the
emergency department with worsening
dyspnoea, fever, cough and increased
purulent sputum production. He is
accompanied by his sister, who says
John has been experiencing shortness of
breath, feeling fatigued.
Respiratory System: lung diseases
Warning signs of lung disease
• Chronic cough
• shortness of breath
• chronic mucus production
• Wheezing
• coughing up blood
• chronic chest pain
Scenario
Mr James is a 68 year old man who presents to you
for the first time compl aining of increasing
shortness of brea th on exertion, headache ,
dizziness a nd chest pain.
Cardiovascular System
Warning signs of hypertension
• Sweating
• Headache
• Dizziness
• quick exhaustion
• rapid pulse or palpitation
• vision disorder.
 Warning signs stroke

F.A.S.T
F- face dropping
A- arm weakness
S- speech difficulties
T- time to call hospital
Cont..
• Numbness or weakness of the face , arm or l
eg Sudden trouble in seeing in one or
both eyes
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss
of balance or coordination
• Sudden severe headache with no known
c auses
Scenario
The patient is a 41 year-old male who has a longstanding history of hypertension and
diabetes and presents with a co mplaint of pruritis, lethargy, lower extremity edema, nausea
and emesis.
Renal system
Warning signs of kidney disease

• Nausea or vomiting
• Weakness or fatigue
• loss of appetite
• trouble sleeping
Cont..
•
difficulties in concentrating and
poor school performance,
• weight gain
• swollen feet and ankles puffiness
around eyes
• high blood pressure
Scenario;
12 year old girl came to emergency
with complaint of Vomiting, has not
eaten × 2 days, diarrhea ×3 days
Dehydration
Warning signs of dehydration
• Decreased skin elasticity or turgor
• Restlessness and irritability
• Excessive thirst
• Dry tongue,
• Absent tears, sunken eyes
• less urine output
Warning signs of cancer : Caution C:
Change in bowel or bladder habits. A: A
sore that does not heal.
U: Unusual bleeding or discharge.
T: Thickening in the breast or elsewhere
I: Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing.
O: Obvious change in a wart or mole.
N: Nagging cough or hoarseness
Scenario
Ms. Deepa had fever last week and now she is complaining of a
persistent pruritic rash throughout her body.
Leprosy
Warning signs of leprosy
• Hypo pigmented anesthetic patches
• partial or total loss of sensation
• thickened or palpable peripheral nerve
Warning sign in babies
• Low birth weight
• birth injury
• refusal of feeds
• Convulsion
Conti..

• Dyspnoea and apnoea

• Drowsiness
• Hyponatremia
• Discharge from the cord cyanosis
Warning signs in pregnancy

• vaginal bleeding
• convulsions/fits
• severe headaches with blurred vision
• fever and too weak to get out of bed
• severe abdominal pain
Cont..

• Fast or difficult breathing.

• Fever
• Abdominal pain
• Feels ill
• Swelling of fingers, face and legs
Journal
Use of Maternal Early Warning Trigger tool
reduces maternal morbidity:
Primary goal was early assessment and treatmen t of patients
suspected of clinical deterioration.
The tool addressed the 4 most common areas of maternal
morbidity: sepsis, cardiopulmonary
dysfunction, preeclampsia-hypertension, and haemorrhage
Journal
Warning Symptoms Are Associated With Su
rvival From Sudden Cardiac Arrest :
Of 839 patients with SCA and comprehensive
assessment of symptoms. 50% of them had
warning symptoms mainly chest pain and
dyspnea. Survival rate was higher in those who
asked for help.
Conclusion
Some of disease or illness have their own
unique signs. These signs are very essential for
health professionals to identify and treat
diseases to reduce the burden of mortality and
morbidity.
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