It lead to efficient use of laboratory and imaging studies.
Repetition of the examination allows correlation of sequential findings with the evolution of symptoms.
It begins with the onset of the illness.
Onset determines whether the illness is acute or chronic.
The history is sought in a nonjudgmental, sensitive, and thorough manner.
This is the Art of Medicine.
Sensitivity and respect should always be exercised during the interview of patients.
A good clinician also knows how to ask the same question in several different ways, using different terminology. For example, patients may deny having “congestive heart failure” but will answer affirmatively to being treated for “fluid in the lungs.”
As the character and sequence of the symptom are being elicited, they are interpreted for their clinical significance.
This leads to the differential diagnosis of a symptom.
For a particular symptom or sign, details of the causes and and pathophysiology of symptoms and signs are found in Making the Diagnosis and Management.
The presence of a symtpom determines the probability of the presence of a certain diseae.
It lead to efficient use of laboratory and imaging studies.
Repetition of the examination allows correlation of sequential findings with the evolution of symptoms.