Tuberculosis

More from Ninja Nerd All episodes →

1. 

   S2 · E56 · 28 May 2026 · 23 min

   Hepatitis A

   Send us Fan Mail Ninja Nerds! In this episode of the Ninja Nerd Podcast, Zach and Rob walk you through a high-yield, case-based approach to Hepatitis A, focusing on pattern recognition, clean diagnostic thinking, and the key red flags you cannot miss. This is one of those topics where boards and real life overlap perfectly, and we break it down into a simple, usable framework. We start with a classic case of acute viral hepatitis after a fecal-oral exposure, walking through the typical progre...

2. 

   S2 · E54 · 23 May 2026 · 1 hr 3 min

   Infective Endocarditis

   Send us Fan Mail Ninja Nerds! In this episode of the Ninja Nerd Podcast, Zach and Rob walk you through a high-yield, case-based approach to infective endocarditis, one of the most important and frequently tested diagnoses across medicine, cardiology, infectious disease, and board exams. Using real clinical scenarios, we break down how this disease presents, how it hides, and how to think through it step by step when the clues are not so obvious. We start by building a clear clinical framework...

3. 

   S2 · E55 · 21 May 2026 · 42 min

   C. diff

   Send us Fan Mail Ninja Nerds! In this episode of the Ninja Nerd Podcast, Zach and Rob walk you through a high-yield, case-based approach to Clostridioides difficile infection, one of the most common and dangerous hospital-acquired infections you will encounter in clinical practice. Using a structured, algorithm-driven framework, we break down how to recognize true infection, avoid common diagnostic traps, and manage patients across the full spectrum from mild disease to life-threatening compl...

4. 

   S2 · E53 · 14 May 2026 · 52 min

   COVID-19

   Send us Fan Mail Ninja Nerds! In this episode of the Ninja Nerd Podcast, Zach and Rob walk you through a high-yield, case-based approach to COVID-19, built exactly the way you need it for exams and real clinical decision-making. Using three core cases, we break down how to recognize the disease, build a systematic diagnostic approach, and most importantly, match treatment to severity so you know exactly what to do in the moment. We start by building the clinical foundation with a patient pres...

5. 

   S2 · E52 · 7 May 2026 · 32 min

   Influenza

   Send us Fan Mail Ninja Nerds! In this episode of the Ninja Nerd Podcast, Zach and Rob walk you through a high-yield, case-based approach to influenza that goes far beyond “just the flu.” Using real clinical scenarios, we break down how this virus operates, who it hits hardest, and how to quickly recognize when a routine case is about to turn into something much more dangerous. We start with the foundation, understanding the viral structure and why influenza is so unpredictable. Through discus...

6. 

   S2 · E49 · 23 Apr 2026 · 43 min

   Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (URTIs)

   Send us Fan Mail Ninja Nerds! In this episode of the Ninja Nerd Podcast, Zach and Rob break down upper respiratory tract infections using a simple, case-based approach that always starts the same way: decide if the patient is unstable. We define instability as the presence of bedside red flags such as stridor, hypoxia, drooling, tripod positioning, muffled voice, trismus, severe neck swelling, or hemodynamic instability. If any are present, airway management takes priority and imaging waits. ...

7. 

   S2 · E48 · 16 Apr 2026 · 45 min

   Laryngeal Infections

   Send us Fan Mail Ninja Nerds! In this episode of the Ninja Nerd Podcast, Zach and Rob tackle laryngeal infections, a high-risk group of conditions where the key challenge is recognizing impending airway compromise rather than simply choosing an antibiotic. The episode is built around a case-based algorithm that helps listeners rapidly sort benign hoarseness from life-threatening obstruction. The discussion begins with acute laryngitis, emphasizing hoarseness after a viral upper respiratory in...

8. 

   S2 · E47 · 9 Apr 2026 · 54 min

   Deep Neck Infections

   Send us Fan Mail Ninja Nerds! In this episode of the Ninja Nerd Podcast, Zach and Rob discuss deep neck infections, one of the highest-stakes topics in ENT, where missed details can rapidly lead to airway compromise, vascular involvement, or mediastinal spread. The focus is on building a single, reliable clinical algorithm that works on exams and in real patient care. The episode opens with a practical framework that prioritizes airway assessment before diagnosis, emphasizing red flags such a...

9. 

   S2 · E46 · 2 Apr 2026 · 48 min

   Throat Infections

   Send us Fan Mail Ninja Nerds! In this episode of the Ninja Nerd Podcast, Zach and Rob deliver a high-yield, case-based breakdown of throat infections, focusing on how sore throat presentations should be approached on exams and in real clinical decision-making. Rather than memorizing organisms, the episode builds a clear mental framework to distinguish uncomplicated disease from airway-threatening and toxin-mediated conditions. The discussion begins with viral tonsillopharyngitis, highlighting...

10. 

    S2 · E44 · 26 Mar 2026 · 28 min

    Sinus Infections

    Send us Fan Mail Ninja Nerds! In this episode of the Ninja Nerd Podcast, Zach and Rob deliver a high-yield, case-based breakdown of sinus infections, focusing on how sinusitis is approached on exams and in real clinical decision-making. Rather than memorization, the episode builds a reusable mental algorithm that helps listeners determine when symptoms are viral, bacterial, complicated, or truly dangerous. The discussion begins with acute viral rhinosinusitis, using a classic early presentati...