What are the differential diagnoses for a patient presenting with tiredness?

Medical Advisory BoardAll articles are reviewed for accuracy by our Medical Advisory Board
Educational purpose only • Exercise caution as content is pending human review
Article Review Status
Submitted
Under Review
Approved

Last updated: May 22, 2025View editorial policy

Personalize

Help us tailor your experience

Which best describes you? Your choice helps us use language that's most understandable for you.

Case 1: Headache Cluster

  • Single most likely diagnosis: Migraine or Cluster Headache
    • Justification: Headache cluster history suggests a recurrent or episodic condition, with migraine and cluster headache being common causes.
  • Other Likely diagnoses: Tension Headache, Sinusitis
    • Justification: These conditions are also common causes of headache and may present with similar symptoms.
  • Do Not Miss: Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Meningitis
    • Justification: Although less likely, these conditions are life-threatening and require prompt diagnosis and treatment.
  • Rare diagnoses: Trigeminal Neuralgia, Temporal Arteritis
    • Justification: These conditions are less common but can cause severe headache and require specific treatment.

Case 2: Baby with Rash and Pus

  • Single most likely diagnosis: Allergic Reaction to Amoxicillin
    • Justification: The baby's symptoms, including a generalized maculopapular rash and pus on the tonsils, are consistent with an allergic reaction to amoxicillin.
  • Other Likely diagnoses: Viral Pharyngitis, Bacterial Tonsillitis
    • Justification: These conditions can also cause similar symptoms, including a rash and pus on the tonsils.
  • Do Not Miss: Epiglottitis, Kawasaki Disease
    • Justification: Although less likely, these conditions are life-threatening and require prompt diagnosis and treatment.
  • Rare diagnoses: Scarlet Fever, Toxic Shock Syndrome
    • Justification: These conditions are less common but can cause severe symptoms and require specific treatment.

Case 3: Full Cardio PE

  • Single most likely diagnosis: Chronic Liver Disease
    • Justification: The patient's symptoms, including gynecomastia and a history of smoking, are consistent with chronic liver disease.
  • Other Likely diagnoses: COPD, Heart Failure
    • Justification: These conditions can also cause similar symptoms, including shortness of breath and fatigue.
  • Do Not Miss: Pulmonary Embolism, Cardiac Tamponade
    • Justification: Although less likely, these conditions are life-threatening and require prompt diagnosis and treatment.
  • Rare diagnoses: Constrictive Pericarditis, Cardiac Sarcoidosis
    • Justification: These conditions are less common but can cause severe symptoms and require specific treatment.

Case 4: Acute Otitis Media

  • Single most likely diagnosis: Bacterial Otitis Media
    • Justification: The patient's symptoms, including pus coming out of the ear and a perforated tympanic membrane, are consistent with bacterial otitis media.
  • Other Likely diagnoses: Viral Otitis Media, Otitis Externa
    • Justification: These conditions can also cause similar symptoms, including ear pain and discharge.
  • Do Not Miss: Mastoiditis, Brain Abscess
    • Justification: Although less likely, these conditions are life-threatening and require prompt diagnosis and treatment.
  • Rare diagnoses: Cholesteatoma, Otosclerosis
    • Justification: These conditions are less common but can cause severe symptoms and require specific treatment.

Case 5: GDM Follow-up

  • Single most likely diagnosis: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
    • Justification: The patient's symptoms and history are consistent with gestational diabetes mellitus.
  • Other Likely diagnoses: Type 2 Diabetes, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
    • Justification: These conditions can also cause similar symptoms, including high blood sugar and insulin resistance.
  • Do Not Miss: Preeclampsia, Fetal Growth Restriction
    • Justification: Although less likely, these conditions are life-threatening and require prompt diagnosis and treatment.
  • Rare diagnoses: Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, Cushing's Syndrome
    • Justification: These conditions are less common but can cause severe symptoms and require specific treatment.

Case 6: Fall Case

  • Single most likely diagnosis: Urinary Tract Infection
    • Justification: The patient's symptoms, including a red and tender left loin area and a positive urinalysis, are consistent with a urinary tract infection.
  • Other Likely diagnoses: Pyelonephritis, Kidney Stone
    • Justification: These conditions can also cause similar symptoms, including flank pain and hematuria.
  • Do Not Miss: Sepsis, Kidney Injury
    • Justification: Although less likely, these conditions are life-threatening and require prompt diagnosis and treatment.
  • Rare diagnoses: Renal Cell Carcinoma, Wilms Tumor
    • Justification: These conditions are less common but can cause severe symptoms and require specific treatment.

Case 7: Acute Cholecystitis

  • Single most likely diagnosis: Acute Cholecystitis
    • Justification: The patient's symptoms, including a positive Murphy's sign and unstable vital signs, are consistent with acute cholecystitis.
  • Other Likely diagnoses: Biliary Colic, Choledocholithiasis
    • Justification: These conditions can also cause similar symptoms, including abdominal pain and jaundice.
  • Do Not Miss: Sepsis, Gallbladder Perforation
    • Justification: Although less likely, these conditions are life-threatening and require prompt diagnosis and treatment.
  • Rare diagnoses: Gallbladder Cancer, Sclerosing Cholangitis
    • Justification: These conditions are less common but can cause severe symptoms and require specific treatment.

Case 8: Ectopic Pregnancy

  • Single most likely diagnosis: Ectopic Pregnancy
    • Justification: The patient's symptoms, including tenderness at the fallopian tube, are consistent with an ectopic pregnancy.
  • Other Likely diagnoses: Ovarian Cyst, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
    • Justification: These conditions can also cause similar symptoms, including pelvic pain and vaginal bleeding.
  • Do Not Miss: Ruptured Ectopic Pregnancy, Ovarian Torsion
    • Justification: Although less likely, these conditions are life-threatening and require prompt diagnosis and treatment.
  • Rare diagnoses: Molar Pregnancy, Gestational Trophoblastic Disease
    • Justification: These conditions are less common but can cause severe symptoms and require specific treatment.

Case 9: OCD

  • Single most likely diagnosis: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
    • Justification: The patient's symptoms, including excessive time spent on assignments and sent by the university counselor, are consistent with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
  • Other Likely diagnoses: Anxiety Disorder, Depression
    • Justification: These conditions can also cause similar symptoms, including excessive worry and rumination.
  • Do Not Miss: Psychotic Disorder, Bipolar Disorder
    • Justification: Although less likely, these conditions are severe and require prompt diagnosis and treatment.
  • Rare diagnoses: Tourette's Syndrome, Trichotillomania
    • Justification: These conditions are less common but can cause severe symptoms and require specific treatment.

Case 10: Pseudodementia

  • Single most likely diagnosis: Depression
    • Justification: The patient's symptoms, including forgetfulness and irritability, are consistent with depression.
  • Other Likely diagnoses: Anxiety Disorder, Dementia
    • Justification: These conditions can also cause similar symptoms, including memory impairment and mood changes.
  • Do Not Miss: Neurodegenerative Disease, Delirium
    • Justification: Although less likely, these conditions are severe and require prompt diagnosis and treatment.
  • Rare diagnoses: Frontotemporal Dementia, Huntington's Disease
    • Justification: These conditions are less common but can cause severe symptoms and require specific treatment.

Case 11: HTN Medication

  • Single most likely diagnosis: Uncontrolled Hypertension
    • Justification: The patient's symptoms, including high blood pressure and non-adherence to medication, are consistent with uncontrolled hypertension.
  • Other Likely diagnoses: Cardiovascular Disease, Kidney Disease
    • Justification: These conditions can also cause similar symptoms, including high blood pressure and cardiovascular risk factors.
  • Do Not Miss: Hypertensive Emergency, Cardiac Arrest
    • Justification: Although less likely, these conditions are life-threatening and require prompt diagnosis and treatment.
  • Rare diagnoses: Pheochromocytoma, Cushing's Syndrome
    • Justification: These conditions are less common but can cause severe symptoms and require specific treatment.

Case 12: Baby Drooling and Crying

  • Single most likely diagnosis: Esophageal Foreign Body
    • Justification: The patient's symptoms, including drooling and crying, are consistent with an esophageal foreign body.
  • Other Likely diagnoses: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, Esophagitis
    • Justification: These conditions can also cause similar symptoms, including vomiting and abdominal pain.
  • Do Not Miss: Esophageal Perforation, Mediastinitis
    • Justification: Although less likely, these conditions are life-threatening and require prompt diagnosis and treatment.
  • Rare diagnoses: Esophageal Atresia, Tracheoesophageal Fistula
    • Justification: These conditions are less common but can cause severe symptoms and require specific treatment.

Case 13: Rectal Bleeding

  • Single most likely diagnosis: Anal Fissure
    • Justification: The patient's symptoms, including rectal bleeding and no fissures on digital rectal examination, are consistent with an anal fissure.
  • Other Likely diagnoses: Hemorrhoids, Diverticulitis
    • Justification: These conditions can also cause similar symptoms, including rectal bleeding and abdominal pain.
  • Do Not Miss: Colon Cancer, Inflammatory Bowel Disease
    • Justification: Although less likely, these conditions are severe and require prompt diagnosis and treatment.
  • Rare diagnoses: Angiodysplasia, Rectal Varices
    • Justification: These conditions are less common but can cause severe symptoms and require specific treatment.

Case 14: RA Patient

  • Single most likely diagnosis: Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • Justification: The patient's symptoms and history are consistent with rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Other Likely diagnoses: Osteoarthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis
    • Justification: These conditions can also cause similar symptoms, including joint pain and swelling.
  • Do Not Miss: Septic Arthritis, Crystal Arthropathy
    • Justification: Although less likely, these conditions are severe and require prompt diagnosis and treatment.
  • Rare diagnoses: Lupus, Sjögren's Syndrome
    • Justification: These conditions are less common but can cause severe symptoms and require specific treatment.

Case 15: Tiredness Cluster

  • Single most likely diagnosis: Anemia
    • Justification: The patient's symptoms, including tiredness, are consistent with anemia.
  • Other Likely diagnoses: Hypothyroidism, Adrenal Insufficiency
    • Justification: These conditions can also cause similar symptoms, including fatigue and weakness.
  • Do Not Miss: Sleep Apnea, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
    • Justification: Although less likely, these conditions are severe and require prompt diagnosis and treatment.
  • Rare diagnoses: Addison's Disease, Cushing's Syndrome
    • Justification: These conditions are less common but can cause severe symptoms and require specific treatment.

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

Have a follow-up question?

Our Medical A.I. is used by practicing medical doctors at top research institutions around the world. Ask any follow up question and get world-class guideline-backed answers instantly.