The Medical journal of Australia
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Meningococcal septicaemia has high mortality, especially when the diagnosis is delayed or missed. Early recognition is not always straightforward, as classic clinical features may be absent or overlooked at initial presentation. Septicaemia without focal infection accounts for 15%-20% of cases of meningococcal disease and is the most worrisome manifestation in terms of diagnosis and outcome; in contrast, meningococcal meningitis is usually straightforward to diagnose, with a relatively good prognosis. ⋯ In addition to specific clues, clinicians should look at the whole pattern of the illness. Timely clinical review is essential if there is doubt about the diagnosis. In any acutely febrile patient, it is prudent to ask "Why is this patient seeking help now?", then "Could this patient have meningococcaemia?".
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To evaluate a Framingham risk function for coronary heart disease in an elderly Australian cohort and to derive a risk function for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in elderly Australians. ⋯ We have derived a simple CVD risk function specifically for elderly Australians that employs risk factors readily accessible to all medical practitioners.
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Comment Letter Case Reports
Fatal envenomation by jellyfish causing Irukandji syndrome.
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Comment Letter Case Reports
Fatal envenomation by jellyfish causing Irukandji syndrome.