“The Left Lower Quadrant Strikes Again”
The presence of small pouches in the colon wall
What is diverticulosis?
The gold standard imaging modality for diverticulitis
What is a CT scan of the abdomen?
CT can detect diverticulitis with >95% sensitivity
The most important screening question in suspected travel-related illness
What is recent travel history?
One missed travel question = missed diagnosis waiting to happen
A diagnosis that must be considered in any febrile traveler returning from endemic regions
What is malaria?
Malaria can become severe within 24–48 hours
A concerning feature in a patient with diarrhea that warrants further evaluation
What is bloody stool?
Bloody diarrhea always upgrades your differential
Inflammation or infection of diverticula
What is diverticulitis?
First-line management for mild uncomplicated diverticulitis
What is supportive care with a clear liquid diet?
Guidelines shifted in the last decade—antibiotics are no longer routine for mild cases
The four primary syndromic categories of travel-related illness
What are febrile, gastrointestinal, respiratory, and dermatologic syndromes?
Most travel illnesses fit into one of these within minutes of history-taking
The diagnostic test required to confirm malaria
What is a thick and thin malaria smear?
Severe diarrheal illnesses that must be considered in returning travelers
What are cholera or dysentery?
Cholera can cause massive fluid loss within hours
The most common location for diverticula
What is the sigmoid colon?
A class of medications associated with increased risk of perforation
What are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)?
NSAID use increases risk of GI perforation and bleeding, especially in older adults
The most common cause of traveler’s diarrhea
What is bacterial infection?
Up to 50% of travelers to high-risk areas develop diarrhea
A reason malaria cannot be excluded despite prophylaxis use
What is incomplete effectiveness of chemoprophylaxis?
Patients often assume prophylaxis = immunity (it doesn’t)
The reason stool ova and parasite testing should be initiated in urgent care
What is to prevent delays in diagnosis due to multi-sample requirements?
Requires 3 separate samples—not a one-and-done test
A major dietary risk factor for diverticular disease
What is a low-fiber diet?
Clinical findings that warrant emergency department referral
What are fever, severe abdominal pain, or peritoneal signs?
Guarding + rebound = don’t second guess—send out
A diagnostic error that occurs when clinicians stop considering alternatives too early
What is premature diagnostic closure?
One of the top cognitive errors in urgent care
A national resource available for clinician consultation on malaria
What is the CDC Malaria Hotline?
Yes, you can literally call an expert for help—use it
Organ systems, other than gastrointestinal, commonly affected in travel-related illness
What are dermatologic and respiratory systems?
Rash + fever after travel = major diagnostic clue
Symptoms of abdominal pain and bloating without inflammation
What is symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease (SUDD)?
A population at increased risk for complications of diverticular disease
Who are elderly patients?
Diverticular disease prevalence reaches ~80% by age 85
The most important factor influencing exposure risk during travel
What is geographic location of travel?
“Where did you go?” can be more valuable than labs
A characteristic of certain malaria species that allows recurrence after initial infection
What is relapse due to dormant liver stages?
Some malaria species can hide in the liver for years
A noninfectious condition that may be exacerbated by travel-related stress
What is neuropsychiatric illness?
Jet lag + stress + illness = real impact on mental health