Australian Family Physician audio

Professor George Braitberg talks to Dr Kathryn O’Connor about what GPs need to know the assessment and management of spider bites. He discusses problems with spider identification, the importance of toxindrome recognition and the controversy surrounding necrotizing arachnidism in Australia.

Spider bite is common, but most species cause minimal or no effects. Patients may be misinformed regarding the nature and consequences of a bite. Understanding the current literature can assist the physician in the management of spider bite patients.

Dr Danille Esler talks about what GPs need to know about the clinical and public health ramifications of Dengue. The epidemiology of Dengue fever has changed in recent years and there has been a recent outbreak of the disease in northern Queensland. GPs can find out about recent outbreaks on the websites of the World Health Organisation, Centers for Disease Control and, in the case of outbreaks in Queensland, Queensland Health. Most commonly, Dengue presents as a debilitating illness lasting 7-10 days. The GP role involves exclusion of other illnesses such as malaria, appropriate diagnostic testing, monitoring for the development of Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) and prevention of spread. Dengue is a notifiable disease; if a general practitioner suspects dengue, early notification is vital

Dr Claire Dendle talks about what GPs need to know the assessment and management of mammalian bites. In the setting of a mammalian bite, history and examination is directed at assessing whether the bite has damaged underlying structures or is at high risk of infection. Treatment of mammalian bites involves cleaning and irrigation and a decision about the use of antibiotics. Primary wound closure is usually only recommended in selected wounds where cosmesis is an issue. Patients should be provided with detailed instructions and reviewed after 24-48 hours. GPs have an important role in secondary prevention of animal bites.

Professor George Braitberg talks about what GPs need to know the assessment and management of spider bites. He discusses problems with spider identification, the importance of toxindrome recognition and the controversy surrounding necrotizing arachnidism in Australia. In addition, he describes the clinical effects and treatment of redback and funnelweb spider envenomation.

Dr Geoffrey Spurling talks to Dr Rachel Lee about what GPs need to know about screening patients for retinopathy. Geoffrey highlights that a quarter of Australians with diabetes are not appropriately screened.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is an increasingly prevalent presentation in Australian general practice, where most patients receive their preventive care and management.

Dr Anthony Fong talks to Dr Rachel Lee about how GPs can help maintain vision for patients with chronic eye disease. Anthony focuses on three common conditions – cataract, age related macular degeneration and glaucoma.

Ocular disease in its early stages may be asymptomatic and insidious. Three of the leading causes of visual loss are cataract, age related macular degeneration and glaucoma.

Abbe Anderson discusses the role and training of Medical Assistants in primary care with Jenni Parsons. Medical assistants undertake a variety of administrative, reception and clinical duties in a primary care setting.

A new medical assistant training program has been developed as an innovative solution to the workforce pressures facing general practice in Australia.

Anthony Fong discusses how GPs can help maintain vision for patients with chronic eye disease. Anthony focuses on three common conditions – cataract, age related macular degeneration and glaucoma. He details the common risk factors, presentations and management strategies for each of these important conditions along with valuable information about primary and secondary prevention strategies that the GP can use and educate patients about.

Geoffrey Spurling talks about what GPs need to know about screening patients for retinopathy. Geoffrey highlights that a quarter of Australians with diabetes are not appropriately screened. Geoffrey outlines the factors involved and describes who to screen and how often they require screening. Information about how to screen is also provided to guide GPs. Geoffrey also explains hypertensive retinopathy and points out that although regular monitoring is not recommended there is a role for the GP in management

David Williams is a neurologist and associate professor of neurology at the Alfred Hospital in melbourne, Victoria. In this podcast, he talks to Dr Kathryn O'Connor about what GPs need to know about how to assess, investigate and treat patients who present with tremor.

Tremor is the most common movement disorder in the community and is defined as a rhythmic oscillatory movement of a body part.