The book covers the principles of the diagnostic process, then takes the reader step-by-step through common acute medical presentations and how to interpret symptoms in context to produce a differential diagnosis. Readers will learn to interpret clinical features, examination findings and investigation results, and will build their confidence in assessing patients and identifying red flags.

Whether used as a stand-alone resource or as a companion to Macleod’s Clinical Examination, this book will prove invaluable for medical students and junior doctors as they build on their basic clinical skills theory to practice in the real world.

• Series of clear ‘diagnostic guides’ to all the common acute medical presentations that may present to the emergency department or acute medical unit
• Diagnostic flow charts in each chapter – helps the reader to follow a clear step-by-step approach to diagnosis
• Clear, succinct and logically ordered to support learning
• Includes how to recognise red flags, eliminate life-threatening conditions and generate a logical differential diagnosis
• Takes a problem-based approach to diagnostic reasoning, reflecting both modern medical and current educational practices
• Builds on the clinical skills outlined in the companion Macleod’s Clinical Examination textbook
• Covers all the acute medical presentations required by the UKMLA syllabus
• Comes with an interactive eBook for easy anytime, anywhere access

• New chapter on the diagnostic approach to the poisoned patient
• Content restructured to reflect common acute medical presentations
• Fully updated to reflect current approaches to clinical diagnoses including diagnostic tests