ABSTRACT
Emergency medicine is a relatively new speciality across the globe and its work may differ significantly within and between countries. Undertaking electives in low- to middle-income countries (LMICs) presents unique and variable challenges with respect to resources available and competencies of local medical practitioners in this field. Being cognizant of the determinants of health assists understanding at a meta level of the inequalities that surround access and provision of care. Knowing how death and disease differ in low-income countries and the most common causes of emergency room (ER) visits is helpful to any student considering a health elective in a LMIC. It is important to recognize that Emergency medicine entails a spectrum of clinical presentations. There are common presenting problems that are seen everywhere- headaches, back pain, and so on. Common things are common across the globe. However, the important part is to recognize common presenting problems that have a unique differential diagnosis.
