---

Common OPD Diseases

🫁 1. Respiratory System

Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (URTI)

• Common cold (Viral rhinitis), pharyngitis, tonsillitis, sinusitis, laryngitis
• Most common OPD complaint globally
• Causative agents: Rhinovirus, adenovirus, influenza, Streptococcus pyogenes
• Symptoms: Runny nose, sore throat, low-grade fever, cough, malaise
• Treatment: Symptomatic — antihistamines, decongestants, NSAIDs; antibiotics only if bacterial (e.g., amoxicillin for strep throat)

Lower Respiratory Tract Infections

• Acute bronchitis: Productive cough, wheeze; mostly viral; treat symptomatically
• Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP): Fever, productive cough, chest pain; amoxicillin/azithromycin for mild outpatient cases

Asthma / COPD (Stable)

• Episodic wheeze, breathlessness, chest tightness
• Management: Inhaled bronchodilators (SABA, LABA), inhaled corticosteroids (ICS)

---

🫀 2. Cardiovascular System

Hypertension (HTN)

• #2 most common OPD disease (after DM in many studies)
• Often asymptomatic — detected on routine BP screening
• Classification: Stage 1 ≥130/80, Stage 2 ≥140/90 mmHg
• First-line drugs: ACE inhibitors / ARBs, thiazide diuretics, CCBs
• Lifestyle modification: salt restriction, exercise, weight loss

Stable Angina / IHD

• Exertional chest pain relieved by rest/nitrates
• Management: Aspirin, statins, beta-blockers, nitrates, lifestyle changes

---

🩸 3. Endocrine / Metabolic

Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2)

• Most common chronic disease in medicine OPD (11% of patients in many studies)
• Polydipsia, polyuria, polyphagia, fatigue, blurred vision
• Diagnosis: FPG ≥126 mg/dL or HbA1c ≥6.5%
• Treatment: Metformin (first-line), SGLT2 inhibitors, GLP-1 agonists, lifestyle modification

Hypothyroidism

• Fatigue, weight gain, cold intolerance, constipation, dry skin
• Diagnosis: Elevated TSH
• Treatment: Levothyroxine 1.6 mcg/kg/day (start low in elderly/cardiac patients)

Obesity

• Major OPD concern; linked to DM, HTN, CVD, OSA
• BMI ≥30 kg/m²; manage with diet, exercise, pharmacotherapy (orlistat, semaglutide)

---

🧠 4. Neurological / Psychiatric

Headache / Migraine

• One of the top 5 OPD complaints
• Tension headache: Bilateral, band-like, no nausea — treat with NSAIDs, amitriptyline prophylaxis
• Migraine: Unilateral, throbbing, +nausea/photophobia — triptans for acute; propranolol/topiramate for prevention

Depression & Anxiety

• Major depressive disorder: Persistent low mood ≥2 weeks, anhedonia, sleep/appetite changes
• Treatment: SSRIs (sertraline, escitalopram), CBT

Vertigo (BPPV)

• Brief episodes of dizziness with position change
• Treat with Epley maneuver

---

🍽️ 5. Gastrointestinal System

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

• Heartburn, regurgitation, worse lying down/after meals
• Treatment: Proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole, pantoprazole), H2 blockers, lifestyle changes

Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD)

• Epigastric pain, relieved/worsened by food; test for H. pylori
• Treatment: Triple therapy — PPI + amoxicillin + clarithromycin × 14 days

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

• Altered bowel habits, bloating, abdominal discomfort without structural pathology
• Treatment: Dietary modification, antispasmodics, low-FODMAP diet

Acute Gastroenteritis

• Vomiting, diarrhea, fever — mostly viral (rotavirus, norovirus)
• Treatment: Oral rehydration therapy (ORS), zinc in children

---

🦴 6. Musculoskeletal

Osteoarthritis (OA)

• Pain and stiffness in large joints (knee, hip) in older adults; worse with activity
• Treatment: NSAIDs, paracetamol, physiotherapy, weight loss, intra-articular corticosteroids

Low Back Pain (LBP)

• Very common OPD complaint; mostly mechanical (muscle strain)
• Treatment: NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, physiotherapy; red flags → MRI

Gout

• Sudden, severe joint pain (big toe/ankle); hyperuricemia
• Acute: Colchicine, NSAIDs, steroids; Chronic: Allopurinol

---

🧫 7. Infectious Diseases

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

• Dysuria, frequency, urgency; more common in women
• Diagnosis: Urine dipstick / culture
• Treatment: Nitrofurantoin or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (uncomplicated); ciprofloxacin for complicated

Malaria / Typhoid / Dengue (tropical/endemic regions)

• Fever with chills (malaria), stepladder fever (typhoid), fever + rash + thrombocytopenia (dengue)
• All require specific investigations (blood smear, Widal, NS1 antigen)

Skin Infections

• Tinea (fungal): topical azoles; Impetigo (bacterial): mupirocin / oral antibiotics; Scabies: permethrin

---

👁️ 8. Eye / ENT

---

🧴 9. Dermatology

---

👶 10. Pediatric OPD (Special Considerations)

---

Summary Table — Top OPD Diseases by Frequency

---

Sources: Swanson's Family Medicine Review; Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine 22e; Time of Care OPD Conditions; Disease Pattern at Medicine OPD — Tertiary Care Study