Heatwaves are killing more of our patients than any other natural disaster
This summer, many parts of Australia have been experiencing hot days, hot nights and frequent and prolonged heatwaves. WA temperatures broke heat records in parts…
Tag: Environmental
Life-saving diagnosis of a rare but familiar condition
Eamon, a 51-year-old gardener, presents to his GP with an acutely painful jaw, which feels tight and difficult to open. This is causing him distress…
Climate change is a ‘threat amplifier’ wreaking havoc on women’s health
Gender, inequality and climate change are inextricably connected. We see this play out with women being more vulnerable to climate health impacts such as displacement…
‘Avoid routine sunscreen if you have dark skin’: New sun safety advice
Preventing vitamin D deficiency trumps sun protection for people with dark skin, with updated guidance stating they can skip the sunscreen when outdoors for short…
GPs left in the dark as practice deals with repeat blackouts
Dr Ajit Chaurasia is used to power blackouts at his practice in rural WA, but this time, a bushfire was approaching and a heatwave forced…
Doctors warned of melioidosis spike in wake of Cyclone Jasper
Health authorities are urging doctors to look out for the potentially deadly soil-borne disease melioidosis following a spike in infections in the wake of recent…
‘Irrefutable evidence’ shows mosquitoes spread Buruli ulcer to humans
Australian doctors claim they have solved the 80-year mystery of how Buruli ulcer spreads from possums to humans after finding “irrefutable evidence” to implicate mosquitoes…
Spot Dx — Can you finger this stinger?
Sylvie is a 20-year-old university exchange student from Europe. She is concerned she has been stung by a box jellyfish. Test your clinical know-how by…
Pick the perilous pathogen at play in this febrile patient
Ned, a 52-year-old scientist, requests a telehealth consultation. He reports that, for the past few days, he has had generalised myalgia, headaches, chills and has…
Spot Dx — How to tackle this tick?
Simon, 32, presents with a 24-hour history of an itchy red weal on the torso. Test your clinical know-how by taking the quiz below. If…
