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IN 1991 , Melbourne GP Dr Jonathan Upfal released the Australian Drug Guide to help patients better understand their prescriptions and OTC medicines .
Thirty years and eight print editions later , the guide was relaunched last month as a revised digital version on Apple ’ s App Store and Google Play .
Called the Top 300 Drug Guide , the app covers the most commonly used medicines , along with chemotherapy agents , illicit drugs , vaccines and vitamins .
Drug profiles are written in plain language , making it a handy resource for patients . They are comprehensive , detailing what the medication is used for , how it works , side effects , complications and long-term risks . Patients can also refer to a checklist covering each drug ’ s contraindications and what effect they might have on daily activities , such as driving , sports , eating and drinking .
The drug profiles also include both brand and generic names , as well as how to pronounce them , which might prove useful following the recent switch to active ingredient prescribing .
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Dr Paul Labana Emergency physician in regional NSW .
CHLOE is a five-week-old infant whose mother Jenny brings her to see the GP with a two-day history of coryzal symptoms , including rhinorrhoea and occasional cough . A COVID-19 swab performed the day before was negative . Jenny reports that Chloe was unsettled after feeding the previous night . There are no reported sick contacts , and Chloe ’ s parents are otherwise well . Chloe is the first child of the family , born at term by normal vaginal delivery . Prenatal and maternal history are unremarkable .
Chloe ’ s baby check was reported as normal and she was discharged from hospital on day two . She is solely breastfed and has otherwise been thriving until now .
Initial assessment
The GP observes that Chloe is vigorous and alert with no signs of dehydration . She is afebrile . Respiratory rate is 30 , heart rate
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110bpm and O2 saturation 95 %. There is very mild intercostal recession and occasional scattered wheeze on auscultation . Her examination is otherwise normal .
A provisional diagnosis of day two bronchiolitis is made , and following one normal observed breast feed , Jenny is sent home with clear verbal and written advice about red flag symptoms warranting urgent assessment . All being well , Jenny is advised to re-present with Chloe the next day if her symptoms have not resolved .
Follow-up
The next day , Jenny brings Chloe back in with a continued poor feeding pattern (< 50 % of normal feeds in the past 24 hours ) and dry nappies .
Jenny also describes an alarming episode just before leaving to attend the practice . For about 30 seconds , shortly after a feed , Chloe appeared to be barely breathing and became pale and floppy . Jenny put Chloe on her shoulder and patted her back and Chloe seemed to recover promptly , with a short vigorous cry , before settling back to sleep . Jenny also reports that Chloe appeared to be sweating during overnight feeds , though she wasn ’ t flushed and her aural temperature was normal .
On examination , Chloe has good colour and tone , is afebrile , but RR is now 50 ,
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HR 140bpm with features of mild dehydration and moderate respiratory distress . On auscultation , a new high-pitched systolic murmur is audible at the left sternal edge and there are new bibasal fine inspiratory crackles .
Given these examination findings , and the brief , resolved , unexplained event ( BRUE , see box 1 ), 1 Chloe ’ s GP refers her straight to her local ED for further assessment .
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