Step II Quick CS question (viral vs bacterial)

[Central_SOULcus]

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Hello everyone,

I'm taking CS very soon and am wondering if people made a distinction for viral vs bacterial in your differential diagnoses. For instance, let's say the SP has obvious signs/Sx of acute sinusitis (fever, frontal headache, rhinorrhea (+/- purulent), tender sinuses, etc). Since fever and purulent nasal discharge can occur in either viral or bacterial, under diagnosis #1, would we just write "Acute sinusitis," or would it be more like: Diagnosis 1 - Viral sinusitis; Diagnosis 2 - Bacterial sinusitis...

Thanks!!

 

[AshNiffler]

Hello everyone,

I'm taking CS very soon and am wondering if people made a distinction for viral vs bacterial in your differential diagnoses. For instance, let's say the SP has obvious signs/Sx of acute sinusitis (fever, frontal headache, rhinorrhea (+/- purulent), tender sinuses, etc). Since fever and purulent nasal discharge can occur in either viral or bacterial, under diagnosis #1, would we just write "Acute sinusitis," or would it be more like: Diagnosis 1 - Viral sinusitis; Diagnosis 2 - Bacterial sinusitis...

Thanks!!

I would consult First Aid for CS regarding this.

 

[Central_SOULcus]

I would consult First Aid for CS regarding this.

Thanks for your reply! Unfortunately, First Aid doesn't say either way. For the example I gave, they just listed "Acute sinusitis." Normally I would go with that, but given the recent, tougher grading, I don't know if this is expected of us now...

 

[AshNiffler]

Thanks for your reply! Unfortunately, First Aid doesn't say either way. For the example I gave, they just listed "Acute sinusitis." Normally I would go with that, but given the recent, tougher grading, I don't know if this is expected of us now...

I think the recent changes in grading of CS involves raising the minimum passing for example in Step 1 from 192 to 194 and not necessarily changing the difficulty of the exam itself. I think Acute sinusitis (both bacterial and viral) would still count as 1 diagnosis