Main description:

John Murtagh's General Practice is widely recognised as the gold standard reference for general practice and primary health care. Now in its sixth edition, the comprehensive text has been fully revised and updated to reflect current practice.

John Murtagh's General Practice Companion Handbook sixth edition, refines the content from the main book. Presented in a searchable A-Z order, this accompanying book is an accessible, trusted and portable source of information for medical students and experienced professionals.

The essential reference for your practice.

About the authors

John Murtagh is Emeritus Professor in General Practice at Monash University; Professorial Fellow of General Practice at the University of Melbourne; Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Notre Dame; and Guest Professor at Peking University Health Science Centre, Beijing.

Jill Rosenblatt is a general practitioner and Adjunct Senior Lecturer in the School of Primary Health Care at Monash University. She has a wealth of rural and urban experience.

Contents:

Contents

ABC of general practice 1

A diagnostic perspective 1

Abdominal pain 5

Acne 19

Acute allergic reactions 21

Addison disease 22

Adolescent health 22

Alcohol problems 24

Alopecia areata (patchy hair loss) 26

Amnesia (loss of memory) 27

Anaemia 27

Angina pectoris 30

Anorectal disorders 31

Anorectal bleeding: diagnostic strategy model 33

Anticoagulants 35

Anxiety disorders 35

Aphthous ulcers (canker sores) 38

Arm and hand pain 39

Asthma 47

Back pain 54

Bad news (breaking bad news)-guidelines 62

Balanitis (balanoposthitis) 63

Bed sores (pressure injury) 64

Belching (aerophagia) 65

Bell (facial nerve) palsy 65

Benzodiazepine problems 65

Bites and stings 66

Bladder cancer 70

Bladder dysfunction (in women during night) 71

Blepharitis 71

Body odour 71

Boils (recurrent) 72

Breast lumps 72

Breast pain (mastalgia) 76

Breath-holding attacks 78

Bronchiolitis 79

Bronchitis 79

Bruising and bleeding 80

Bruxism (teeth grinding) 83

Burning feet syndrome 83

Burns 83

Calf pain 85

Cancer 85

Cannabis (marijuana) 87

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) 88

`Cellulite' 89

Cellulitis 89

Central nervous system infections (incl. meningitis,

encephalitis, abcess) 89

Cervical cancer and the Pap test 93

Chest pain 95

Chilblains 100

Children: normal developmental milestones 101

Children: developmental disorders 101

Child abuse 107

Childhood: common infectious diseases 110

Children: special observations 113

Children's behaviour disorders 115

Children: surgical problems 119

Children: neonatal leg and foot abnormalities 123

Children: special senses 125

Optimal times for surgery/intervention in early children's

disorders 126

Child
ren's emergencies 127

Children's skin and hair disorders 131

Chloasma 134

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 134

Cold sores 137

Common cold (acute coryza) 137

Communication and consulting skills (or how to prevent litigation) 138

Concussion 140

Conjunctivitis 140

Constipation 143

Contact dermatitis 146

Contraception 147

Cough 150

Counselling skills 156

Court appearance 157

`Cracked' skin 157

Cramps (nocturnal cramps in legs) 158

Cranial nerves 159

Croup 159

Dandruff 161

Deafness and hearing loss 161

Depression 164

Dermatitis/eczema 168

Diabetes mellitus 171

Diarrhoea 177

Difficult, demanding and angry patients 184

Diplopia 184

Disturbed patients 185

Diverticular disease 190

Dizziness/vertigo 191

Domestic (intimate partner) violence 195

Drugs-illicit substance abuse 197

Dry eyes 197

Dry hair 197

Dry mouth 199

Dry skin 199

Dyslipidaemia 200

Dysmenorrhoea (primary) 202

Dyspareunia 202

Dyspepsia (indigestion) 203