Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

A 2-Year-Old Girl With Respiratory Distress And Altered Mental Status: A Case Report

Urgent Message: While children presenting to urgent care centers usually have minor illnesses, attentiveness to vital signs and behavior is crucial to avoid missing rare but serious diagnoses. Diabetic ketoacidosis is the most common initial presentation of type 1 diabetes mellitus in young children. Capillary blood glucose measurement is a universally available screening tool that should be used liberally in ill-appearing children with alterations in level of consciousness. Ramiro Rodriguez, MD; Samantha Reis, MSN, FNP-BC, …

Uncovering the Unexpected: A Case of Chronic Cough in an Adolescent with an Unusual Etiology

Urgent Message: Chronic cough has a distinct differential diagnosis in different age groups. A cough lasting longer than 4 weeks in children and adolescents should prompt revision of the differential diagnosis to reduce delays in diagnosing serious etiologies. Daniel Moscato, MS, PA-C; Joshua W. Russell, MD Citation: Moscato D, Russell JW. Uncovering the Unexpected: A Case of Chronic Cough in an Adolescent with an Unusual Etiology. J Urgent Care Med. 2025; 19(4)23-26. Key words: Pediatrics, …

Urgent Care Diagnosis and Management of Midshaft Ulnar (Nightstick) Fractures

Urgent Message: Fractures of the midshaft ulna, commonly referred to as “nightstick fractures,” typically occur after direct injury to a forearm outstretched above the head as a protective mechanism. Evaluation includes inquiry into the circumstances of the assault, assessment for any other areas of trauma, examination of the skin, wrist and elbow joints, and radiography of the forearm. Management of closed, nondisplaced midshaft ulnar fractures centers around splint immobilization and arrangement of appropriate follow-up. Chandrika …

Abdominal Pseudohernia and Urinary Retention Due to Spinal Nerve Root Compression From Disc Herniation: A Case Report

Urgent Message: Abdominal pseudohernia is a rare diagnosis with variable presentation. Urgent care clinicians who are familiar with the condition and its variable presentations can reduce the risk of diagnostic errors and unnecessary or inappropriate diagnostic testing. Berkeley E Prewett, BSA; Stephen V Green, MD; Andrew L Juergens II, MD; Taylor K Ratcliff, MD Citation: Prewett BE, Green SV, Juergens AL, Ratcliff TK. Abdominal Pseudohernia and Urinary Retention Due to Spinal Nerve Root Compression From …

Puffy Hand Syndrome: A Case Report

Urgent Message: Incorporating questions regarding the use of intravenous drugs may help ensure the diagnosis of puffy hand syndrome is included in the differential for patients presenting with bilateral hand swelling. Citation: Majeed I, VanDyke K. Puffy Hand Syndrome: A Case Report. J Urgent Care Med. 2024; 19 (2): 25-27 Abstract Introduction: Bilateral hand swelling is a common presentation in a variety of conditions, particularly rheumatological disorders. Urgent care (UC) providers can avoid unnecessary testing …

Recognition and Management of Achenbach Syndrome (Paroxysmal Finger Hematoma)

Urgent Message: By understanding the symptoms of paroxysmal finger hematoma, clinicians can reduce patient anxiety and decrease unnecessary testing, as the condition is generally mild and has a favorable prognosis. Citation: Sanz Martinez E, Kranichfeld WH, Ceballos Y. Achenbach Syndrome: Diagnosis of Paroxysmal Finger Hematoma. J Urgent Care Med. 2024; 19(1): 25-29 Introduction Paroxysmal finger hematoma (PFH), also known as Achenbach syndrome, is a vascular disorder of unknown etiology characterized by subcutaneous bleeding in the …

Progressive Diaphyseal Dysplasia: A Case Report

Urgent Message: Progressive diaphyseal dysplasia, also known as Camurati-Engelmann disease, is a rare genetic disease that predominantly affects the bones. Clinicians who understand the manifestations of this disorder are better equipped to ensure appropriate management of disease flares and coordinate specialist follow-up. Swetha Gogu, DO, MPH; Sudhir Gogu, DO, PhD, MBA Citation: Gogu S, Gogu S. Progressive Diaphyseal Dysplasia: A Case Report. J Urgent Care Med. 2024; 18 (11): 34-37 Abstract Introduction: Camurati-Engelmann disease (CED), …

Escalating Back Pain Leading to a Diagnosis of ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) in Urgent Care: A Case Report

Urgent Message: Acute coronary syndromes (ACS), including ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), may present with predominant back pain or other non-chest-pain symptoms. Additionally, electrocardiogram findings in cases of coronary occlusion may not always meet STEMI criteria. It is important to include myocardial ischemia and ACS in the differential for back pain presentations, especially when the pain is not reproducible. Sarah Mannon OMS-3; Lauren Schuermann OMS-3; Michael B. Weinstock, MD Citation: Mannon S, Schuermann L, Weinstock M. …

Atypical Chest X-ray Appearance in a Patient with Cough: A Case Report

Urgent Message: The azygos lobe may be apparent on a chest x-ray and is a relatively uncommon, yet benign finding, that is important to distinguish from other etiologies. The azygos lobe is an embryological remnant and is usually incidental in nature. Citation: Richmond C, Mancuso A. Atypical Chest X-ray Appearance in a Patient with Cough: A Case Report. J Urgent Care Med. 2024; 18(10):23-25 Keywords: azygos lobe, normal variant, chest x-ray Abstract Introduction: Recognition of …

Intraoral Angioedema After Olanzapine Overdose: A Case Report

Urgent Message: Patients may present to an urgent care facility with intraoral angioedema, a life-threatening emergency that requires referral to an emergency department in any case with rapid progression or concerns for airway involvement. This case report describes angioedema from olanzapine, an antipsychotic prescription drug. Chantelle Petterson, BDS, Benjamin Fu, MD, BDSc (HONS), MPhil, FRACDS (OMS) Citation: Petterson C, Fu B. Intraoral Angioedema After Olanzapine Overdose: A Case Report. J Urgent Care Med. 2024; 18(9):34-36 …

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