MOHAP Doctor Exam key terms

A life-threatening state in which oxygen delivery to tissues is inadequate for their metabolic needs, causing low blood pressure, fast heart rate, cool or mottled skin, and confusion. It is classified as hypovolemic, cardiogenic, distributive, or obstructive.

A dysregulated body-wide immune response to infection that injures the body's own tissues, shown by fever or low temperature, fast breathing, fast heart rate, and altered mental state. It becomes septic shock when blood pressure falls despite fluids.

A severe, rapid allergic reaction affecting the whole body, with airway swelling, wheeze, low blood pressure, and skin rash or flushing. Intramuscular adrenaline is the first and most important treatment.

A complication of diabetes in which insulin lack causes high blood sugar, acidic ketone build-up, dehydration, and deep rapid breathing. It is treated with fluids, insulin infusion, and careful potassium replacement.

A sudden fall in kidney filtering function over hours to days, shown by rising creatinine or falling urine output. Common causes are dehydration, sepsis, and drugs that reduce kidney blood flow.

Abnormally high blood glucose, typically above the normal fasting range, causing thirst, frequent urination, and fatigue. Persistent levels damage small blood vessels and nerves over time.

Blood glucose low enough to cause symptoms such as sweating, tremor, hunger, confusion, or seizure. It is treated immediately with oral glucose if the patient can swallow, otherwise intravenous glucose.

A common irregular heart rhythm in which the upper chambers quiver instead of contracting in an organised way, giving an irregularly irregular pulse. It raises the risk of stroke, so anticoagulation is often needed.

Therapeutic reduction of the blood's clotting ability using drugs such as heparin or warfarin to prevent or treat clots. Patients on it need monitoring for bleeding and drug interactions.

A clot that lodges in the lung arteries, usually travelling from leg veins, causing sudden breathlessness, chest pain, and low oxygen. It can be fatal and is treated with anticoagulation.

Sudden loss of brain function caused by a blocked or burst blood vessel in the brain, producing weakness, speech difficulty, or facial droop. Rapid imaging and time-critical treatment reduce permanent damage.

A set of manoeuvres and devices used to keep the passage from mouth to lungs open and protected, including positioning, suction, airway adjuncts, and intubation. It is the first priority in any collapsed patient.

A patient's voluntary agreement to a procedure after receiving understandable information about its purpose, risks, benefits, and alternatives. It must be obtained without pressure from a person with capacity.

Inflammation of the appendix causing pain that starts near the navel and moves to the lower right abdomen, with fever and tenderness. Untreated it can burst, so surgical removal is the usual treatment.

Inflammation of the thin lining of the abdominal cavity, often from a perforated organ or infection, causing severe widespread abdominal pain and rigidity. It is a surgical emergency needing antibiotics and often operation.

A blood clot forming in a deep leg vein, causing calf pain, swelling, warmth, and redness. The main danger is that part of the clot breaks off and travels to the lungs.

Separation of the edges of a surgical wound after closure, sometimes with discharge or bowel visible in severe cases. Risk factors include infection, poor nutrition, obesity, and raised abdominal pressure from coughing.

Infection developing in a wound created by an operation, shown by spreading redness, warmth, pus, pain, and fever. Prevention relies on sterile technique, skin preparation, and appropriate antibiotic timing.

Blockage of the intestine that stops contents passing through, causing colicky abdominal pain, vomiting, bloating, and inability to pass stool or gas. It may need surgery if strangulation is suspected.

Rapid replacement of body water and salts through a vein to restore circulation in dehydration, bleeding, or shock. Response is judged by pulse, blood pressure, urine output, and mental state.

A pregnancy disorder appearing after 20 weeks with new high blood pressure plus protein in the urine or organ damage. It threatens mother and baby and can progress to seizures, so delivery may be needed.

Seizures occurring in a woman with preeclampsia, without another cause. It is an obstetric emergency treated with magnesium sulphate and urgent control of blood pressure.

Heavy bleeding from the genital tract after childbirth, commonly defined as more than 500 mL after vaginal birth or 1000 mL after caesarean. Uterine atony is the most frequent cause and needs urgent action.

Diabetes first recognised during pregnancy, caused by pregnancy hormones reducing insulin action. It raises risks of large babies and birth complications and is managed with diet, monitoring, and sometimes insulin.

Bleeding from the vagina after 24 weeks of pregnancy and before birth, often from a low-lying placenta or a separated placenta. It endangers mother and fetus and requires urgent assessment.

Premature separation of a normally placed placenta from the womb wall before birth, causing painful bleeding, a hard tender abdomen, and fetal distress. Severe cases need urgent delivery.

Observation of the unborn baby's heart rate and wellbeing during pregnancy and labour, using listening devices or electronic tracing. Abnormal patterns prompt action to protect the baby from lack of oxygen.

Yellow discolouration of a newborn's skin and eyes caused by raised bilirubin, appearing in the first days to weeks of life. Very high levels can damage the brain, so levels are measured and treated with light therapy.

A serious blood infection in a baby during the first month of life, presenting with poor feeding, lethargy, temperature instability, and breathing difficulty. Prompt antibiotics are essential because signs are subtle.

Feeding a baby directly from the breast, giving ideal nutrition, immune protection, and bonding. Correct latch and frequent feeding prevent poor weight gain and breast problems in the mother.

Loss of body water and salts in a child, usually from vomiting or diarrhoea, shown by dry mouth, reduced urine, sunken eyes, and lethargy. Oral rehydration solution is first-line unless severe.

A viral infection of the small airways, common in infants under one year, causing cough, wheeze, fast breathing, and feeding difficulty. Most cases need supportive care only.

A seizure in a child aged six months to five years triggered by fever, without infection of the brain. Most are brief and harmless, but the child is assessed to exclude serious causes.

The relationship between fluid taken in and fluid lost through urine, stool, sweat, and breathing. Recording it helps detect dehydration or overload and guides intravenous therapy.

A standard graph plotting a child's weight, length, or head size against age to show whether growth is normal. Falling across centile lines signals poor feeding or underlying disease.