General Medicine

20 learning units • 100 chapter sections • 200 explained questions. Assess the patient, choose investigations and build a monitored management plan across adult medical specialties.

Original RAHBAR study material for the Year 4 learning pathway. Clinical cases support supervised undergraduate learning. Treatment choices, doses and procedures must follow current local protocols and the responsible clinical team. References & further reading ↓

MODULE 18 / 20

Sepsis & Undifferentiated Fever

Recognise organ dysfunction, assess exposure-specific causes and combine prompt treatment with source control and reassessment.

Answer all 10 questions, then submit to see your score and explanations. This is a self-study exercise; results are not saved.

Question 01. Which finding is concerning for organ dysfunction in infection? A. Fever alone with normal functionB. A remote healed woundC. New confusion and oliguriaD. Stable longstanding mild cough alone

Question 02. Can sepsis occur without fever? A. NoB. Only after all antibiotics are stoppedC. Only in people without comorbidityD. Yes

Question 03. What is important when giving fluids in suspected septic shock? A. Give repeated unlimited fluid without reviewB. Reassess perfusion and signs of overloadC. Ignore kidney and cardiac diseaseD. Judge response only by thirst

Question 04. Why might an infected obstructed urinary tract need more than antibiotics? A. Antibiotics always remove obstructionB. Obstruction excludes infectionC. Drainage can never helpD. Urgent source control may be necessary

Question 05. What does an elevated lactate mean? A. It confirms the infecting organismB. It proves every patient needs the same fluid volumeC. It excludes other causes of illnessD. It is concerning but not specific for sepsis

Question 06. What should guide testing for malaria in fever? A. Fever pattern aloneB. Exposure and travel context with the clinical presentationC. Blood group aloneD. The absence of a cough alone

Question 07. Which dengue feature is a warning sign? A. Persistent vomiting or severe abdominal painB. Mild isolated itching after recovery aloneC. A normal appetite aloneD. A stable old scar

Question 08. Which drugs should be avoided for fever in suspected dengue because of bleeding risk? A. Aspirin and NSAIDsB. Appropriately selected non-NSAID fever careC. Oral rehydration when safeD. Clinician-directed monitoring

Question 09. What should ongoing antimicrobial review include? A. Cultures, source, response and opportunities to narrow therapyB. Automatic continuation regardless of diagnosisC. Only the original prescription dateD. Ignoring adverse effects

Question 10. What should persistent shock after initial care prompt? A. Urgent critical-care escalationB. Unmonitored discharge after fever fallsC. Waiting for every culture before reviewD. Repeated fluid without evaluating response

0 / 10 answered

References & Further Reading

Read the relevant guideline sections alongside these original clinical teaching cases. Local pathways, available services and individual patient factors determine care.

Reference review: 27 September 2026. Consult current local protocols for prescribing, procedures and escalation.