Standardised patient case descriptions
Case description | Presentation | Preferred management | |
Asthma | A 25-year-old man or 24-year-old women has had breathing episodes over the last year with increasing severity. | The patient enters the clinic saying that he or she had an especially difficult time with breathing the prior night. | Should be treated with an inhaler or bronchodilator such as salbutamol, cetirizine or prednisolone. |
Child diarrhoea | A 1.5-year-old child has developed watery diarrhoea. | The 28-year-old mother enters the clinic alone saying she is on her way home from work and her child is at home suffering from diarrhoea. | Should be given or advised to take oral rehydration salts. |
Tuberculosis suspect | A 35-year-old man/30-year-old woman has had a productive cough and fever for 2–3 weeks. | The patient enters the clinic and says that he/she has been coughing for a while. | Should be asked to undergo a sputum test. |
Unstable angina | A 40-year-old man has experienced a crushing pain in his chest in the morning as well as several times previously. | The patient enters the clinic saying he had pain in his chest in the morning. | Should be referred to a higher level facility, ordered an ECG or given aspirin. |