Dr. Laura McArthur's Approach to Tropical Fever Diagnosis
Dr. Laura McArthur, a British general and expedition medicine practitioner, shared her approach to diagnosing and managing febrile patients in remote tropical environments at the World Extreme Medicine Conference. Her method, honed from extensive clinical experience, focuses on building an effective strategy without a full clinical picture.
McArthur's approach avoids tunnel vision in symptom-heavy presentations and helps recognize red flags in tropical environments. It emphasizes structured decision-making when diagnostics are minimal and balances clinical logic with real-world constraints. Her strategy involves a thorough clinical examination and history-taking, prioritizing dangerous differentials, and employing supportive measures. It also considers specific scenarios like pregnancy and orthopedic infections. McArthur's guide is practical and scenario-led, not a list of textbook differentials.
McArthur's method, born from her diverse clinical background and extensive experience in remote tropical regions, combines clinical expertise with pragmatism. It focuses on clinical thinking, preemptive interventions, and clear escalation paths, aiming to prevent complications and save lives where rapid diagnostics are unavailable.
