Send us a text This episode provides a high-yield, evidence-based review of the assessment and management of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) secondary to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), a condition managed by Australian GPs on over 200,000 occasions annually. Core Concepts and Initial Assessment: - Terminology - Voiding Vs Storage Sx - Assessing severity with I-PSS - Assessment Pharmacological Management: Mechanisms and Trials: ...

Send us a text In this episode of the AJGP Article Series, we dive into the 'Focus' article from September 2017, "Male infertility – The other side of the equation. With a male factor contributing to infertility in approximately 50% of couples, the GP's role is critical. This episode breaks down the key components of the general practitioner's evaluation of male infertility, including: A systematic approach to patient history and physical examination.Key investigations, including endocr...

Description: As a GP, you are central to one of the most complex and high-stakes decisions in primary care: assessing a patient's fitness to drive. This episode is a practical toolkit for navigating the official Austroads and National Transport Commission (NTC) guidelines, moving beyond clinical diagnosis to sophisticated, real-world risk calculation. We explore your role within the "legal triangle of accountability" and break down the critical differences between 'protected discretion' in st...

Is your child struggling with nightmares, night terrors, or bedtime battles? In this episode of Synapse, we break down common childhood sleep problems, from infancy to adolescence. Learn the key differences between nightmares and night terrors, uncover the hidden causes of sleep disturbances like anxiety and screen time, and discover evidence-based strategies to help your child settle independently. We'll cover practical techniques like "controlled comforting" and discuss when it's time to se...

Ever witnessed a child get so upset they hold their breath until they turn blue or go pale? In this episode, we break down breath-holding spells, a common but frightening occurrence in children aged six months to six years. Learn what triggers these involuntary episodes, the difference between blue (cyanotic) and pale (pallid) spells, and what physical signs to watch for. We'll provide clear, practical guidance for parents and carers on how to keep your child safe during a spell. Based on inf...

Podcast: The Dust That Disables: Uncovering Q Fever in Australia Is it a relentless flu you just can't shake, complete with drenching sweats, severe headaches, and extreme fatigue? What if the cause wasn't a common virus, but invisible bacteria carried on the wind from nearby livestock or wildlife? You could be dealing with Q fever, Australia's most significant zoonotic disease. Caused by the highly resilient bacterium Coxiella burnetii, this illness poses a serious risk to farmers, abattoi...

Podcast: Parrot Fever Unmasked- From Pet Birds to Pneumonia, A Guide to Psittacosis Is it a severe headache and fever that feels like a nasty flu? A persistent dry cough that progresses to pneumonia? What if the source wasn't another person, but your beloved pet bird, or even dust kicked up while mowing the lawn? You could be dealing with psittacosis. Also known as ornithosis or "parrot fever," this zoonotic disease is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia psittaci and is transmitted from birds t...

Podcast: Whooping Cough Uncovered: A GP's Guide to the Cough, the Risks, and the Vaccine Is it a cough that lingers for weeks, a cold that escalates into uncontrollable coughing fits, or the sound of a worrying gasp for air in a young child? You might be dealing with pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough.1 Caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, this highly contagious respiratory infection affects people of all ages but poses the greatest threat to infants under six months old, wh...

In this episode of Synapse, we tackle one of the most common presentations in Australian primary care: the headache. We provide a clear guide to cut through the complexity, starting with how to take a representative history and spot crucial red flags with the SNOOP4 mnemonic. We then demystify the approach to neuroimaging and provide clinical pearls for managing common primary headaches like migraine and TTH , as well as can't-miss secondary causes like Giant Cell Arteritis. Support the show

Podcast: Unlocking TMJ: Pain, Popping, and Pathways to Relief Is it a dull ache in your face, a painful click in your jaw, a tension headache you can't shake, or a persistent earache? You might be dealing with temporomandibular dysfunction, or TMD. Affecting millions of people, especially women in their 20s and 30s, this complex condition is one of the most common causes of non-dental facial pain. In this episode, we separate fact from fiction and provide a clear guide to understanding your j...

This episode offers a concise clinical review of Overactive Bladder (OAB) syndrome for practitioners. We cover the essential steps in diagnosis, from taking a focused history and ruling out red flags to the importance of urinalysis and post-void residual measurement. The core of the discussion is the stepwise management framework: First-line: A review of foundational conservative therapies, including lifestyle advice and structured bladder training.Second-line: A comparison of pharmacotherapy...

Is it a ringing, a buzzing, a hissing, or a hum? Tinnitus is one of the most common symptoms people experience, but it's widely misunderstood. More than just an annoyance, persistent tinnitus can significantly affect mood, sleep, and overall quality of life. In this episode, we cut through the noise to bring you a clear, evidence-based guide to tinnitus. We explore what's really happening in your auditory system when you perceive a sound that isn't there. Join us as we discuss: The crucial di...

GPA ref 45: Q fever This episode focuses on the key features, diagnosis and management of Q fever, a rural disease that can have significant urban consequences1. We summarise the AJGP article "Q fever: A rural disease with potential urban consequences," providing a practical guide for GPs. This information is taken directly from the Australian Journal of General Practice, Vol. 47, No. 3, March 20182. Article Link: https://www.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2018/march/q-fever-a-rural-disease

GPA ref 10: The diabetic foot ulcer This episode provides a practical guide to the assessment, management, and prevention of diabetic foot ulcers in the general practice setting11. We summarise the AJGP article "The diabetic foot ulcer". This information is taken directly from the Australian Journal of General Practice, Vol. 49, No. 5, May 202012. Article Link: https://www.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2020/may/diabetic-foot-ulcer

Article Summary: Hyperglycaemia in Type 2 Diabetes This episode explores the assessment and management of various hyperglycaemic presentations in patients with type 2 diabetes9. We summarise the AJGP article "Hyperglycaemic presentations in type 2 diabetes," providing a practical guide for GPs. This information is taken directly from the Australian Journal of General Practice, Vol. 48, No. 5, May 201910. Article Link: https://www.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2019/may/hyperglycaemic-presentations Support...

GPA ref 48: Patient-delivered partner therapy This episode explores the options for patient-delivered partner therapy for the management of sexual partners of patients diagnosed with chlamydia7. We summarise the AJGP article "Patient-delivered partner therapy - options for management of sexual partners of a patient diagnosed with chlamydia". This information is taken directly from the Australian Journal of General Practice, Vol. 51, No. 6, June 20228. Article Link: https://www.racgp.org.au/aj...

GPA ref 46: Queensland tick typhus This episode discusses the presentation and management of Queensland tick typhus (Rickettsia australis)3. We summarise the AJGP article "Queensland tick typhus (Rickettsia australis) in a man after hiking in rural Queensland," providing a practical guide for GPs. This information is taken directly from the Australian Journal of General Practice, Vol. 47, No. 6, June 20184. Article Link: https://www.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2018/june/queensland-tick-typhus

GPA ref 47: Rash in a returned traveller This episode focuses on the differential diagnosis and management of a rash in a patient who has recently returned from travel to Bali5. We summarise the AJGP article "Rash in a returned traveller from Bali," providing a clinical approach for GPs. This information is taken directly from the Australian Journal of General Practice, Vol. 48, No. 6, June 20186. Article Link: https://www.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2018/june/rash-returned-traveller

GPA ref 11: Androgen deficiency in older men This episode focuses on the evidence-based approach to diagnosing and managing androgen deficiency in older men13. We summarise the AJGP article "Androgen deficiency in older men," providing a practical guide for GPs. This information is taken directly from the Australian Journal of General Practice, Vol. 48, No. 7, July 201914. Article Link: https://www.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2019/july/androgen-deficiency-older-men

GPA ref 60: Clinical features of viral exanthema Episode Description: This episode provides a clinical guide to identifying common viral exanthemas in general practice. We summarise the AJGP article "Clinical features of viral exanthema," discussing the characteristic presentations of various viral rashes to aid in diagnosis. This summary is based directly on the information from the Australian Journal of General Practice, Vol. 50, No. 4, April 2021. Article Link: https://www1.racgp.org.au/aj...