1. Chest pain
Myocardial infarction (heart attack); pulmonary embolus (lung clot); pneumothorax (collapsed lung); aortic dissection.
2. Shortness-of-breath
Upper respiratory infection; pneumonia (bad lung infection); heart failure; COPD/asthma.
3. Abdominal pain or bleeding
Appendicitis, gastroenteritis (food poisoning), kidney stones, bowel blockage; rectal, vaginal or urinary bleeding, or vomiting blood.
4. Fractures and sprains
Fractured neck of femur; colles fracture (wrist); ankle sprain.
5. Accidents
Head injury, cut, burns, fall; road traffic accident (RTA); foreign body (food; plastic toys; small household items).
6. Back pain
‘Slipped disc’ (prolapsed intervertebral disc); spinal cord compression/cauda equina syndrome; crush fractures (spinal); disciitis (infection of a disc).
7. Infection (called ‘sepsis’ if severe) and allergies
Cellulitis (infection in skin, especially lower legs); urinary tract infection (UTI); allergies (to medication, food or anything).
8. Headaches
Tension headache; subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH); meningitis (brain surface infection); viral encephalitis (brain infection).
9. Collapse (including falls) or confusion
Epileptic fit; dementia; stroke; diabetes (blood sugar too high or low); medication (lack or excess or side-effect); alcohol/recreational drugs (lack or excess).
10. Mental health problems
Depression; anxiety; panic attack; considering suicide.
Summary
We have described 10 common A&E visits. We hope it has been helpful.
