Presentations to EC

Gastroenteritis (viral or bacterial infection causing diarrhoea, vomiting, and dehydration)

Appendicitis (inflammation of the appendix, often requiring surgery)

Intestinal obstruction (blockage of the bowel causing severe abdominal pain and vomiting)

Peritonitis (infection/inflammation of the abdominal lining, often from perforated organs)

Gastrointestinal bleeding (painless bleeding from the digestive tract, may require urgent endoscopy or surgery)

Abdominal trauma (injuries to the stomach or intestines from blunt or penetrating trauma)

Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas causing severe abdominal pain and vomiting)

Assault-related injuries (including stab wounds and blunt force trauma)

Motor vehicle accident injuries (including car occupants and pedestrians)

Gunshot wounds

Falls (including from height and ground level)

Sharp force injuries (e.g., knife wounds)

Blunt trauma (from objects or physical altercations)

Polytrauma (multiple injuries from high-impact events, often involving head, chest, and limb injuries)

Acute asthma exacerbations

Acute lower respiratory tract infections (including pneumonia and bronchitis)

Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections (especially in children)

Croup and upper airway emergencies (e.g., epiglottitis, foreign body obstruction)

Pneumothorax (including tension pneumothorax)

Acute urinary retention (most common urological emergency, often due to benign prostatic hyperplasia)

Urogenital trauma (including urethral injury, external genitalia trauma such as penis, scrotum, and testes)

Fournier’s gangrene (necrotizing fasciitis of the genital and perineal region)

Febrile low back pain (often indicating obstructive pyelonephritis)

Bladder injury (trauma-related)

Urethral strictures causing obstruction

Hematuria (blood in urine, potentially from tumors or trauma)

Epistaxis (nosebleeds): This is one of the most frequently encountered ENT emergencies .

Foreign bodies in the ear, nose, or throat: These are particularly common in children aged 0-10 years .

Earache and ear discharge: These can be due to conditions like impacted wax, otitis externa, otomycosis, or acute otitis media .

Sinusitis: Inflammation of the sinuses, often caused by viral infections, and common during winter in South Africa .

Tonsillitis and sore throat: Infections of the tonsils, which are more prevalent in winter due to increased indoor exposure to germs .

Stridor/Airway obstruction: Can be life-threatening and may require immediate intervention .

Trauma: Including facial bone fractures and neck injuries, which can have high fatality rates .

Organophosphate poisoning (common pesticide exposure)

Bleach (sodium hypochlorite) poisoning

Prescription drug overdoses (including paracetamol, anticonvulsants, sedatives)

Food poisoning

Carbon monoxide poisoning

Hydrocarbon poisoning (e.g., kerosene ingestion)

Alcohol intoxication

Hypertensive emergencies – severe high blood pressure causing organ damage

Acute heart failure – sudden worsening of heart function leading to breathlessness and fluid overload

Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) – including unstable angina and myocardial infarction (heart attack)

Stroke – ischemic or hemorrhagic cerebrovascular events requiring urgent care

Aortic dissection – a life-threatening tear in the aorta wall

Pulmonary embolism – blockage of lung arteries by blood clots

Cardiac arrest – sudden cessation of heart function requiring immediate resuscitation

Diabetic emergencies (including diabetic ketoacidosis, severe hypoglycaemia, hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state)

Hypercalcaemia of malignancy (common metabolic complication in cancer patients)

Tumour lysis syndrome (metabolic disturbance following cancer treatment)

Hyponatremia (often related to syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion)

Inherited metabolic disorders (such as glutaric aciduria type 1, urea cycle defects, mitochondrial cytopathies)

Lactic acidosis (can occur in sepsis, malignancy, or mitochondrial dysfunction)

Hyperuricaemia (elevated uric acid, often associated with tumour lysis or renal impairment)

Bacterial pneumonia – a leading cause of respiratory illness in HIV-positive patients

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) – common opportunistic infection with high prevalence

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) – an opportunistic fungal pneumonia in advanced HIV

Cryptococcal meningitis – a serious fungal infection of the brain and meninges

Bacterial meningitis – increased risk due to immunosuppression

Acute gastroenteritis – frequent cause of dehydration and admission

Sepsis and severe immunosuppression-related infections – often with high mortality and prolonged hospital stay