The anamnesis: it is the fundamental basis for the diagnosis of the health problems of our patients. 50 to 75% of diagnoses are made by questioning.
- Correctly describe the main reason for the inquiry or complaint
- Define all symptoms of current illness
- Obtain the best semiography (description of them), the conditions of appearance of the symptoms and the mode of onset
- Order them chronologically, the total duration of the clinical picture, the evolution of the symptoms over time, the treatment they have received, the current status of the symptoms at the time we treat them.
The physical examination: complements the interrogation, the physical signs are objective and are verifiable "marks" of the disease and represent solid and indisputable facts. Their significance is greater when they confirm a functional or structural change already suggested by the anamnesis.
Association of symptoms and signs: doctors try to group the symptoms and signs to carry out the diagnostic exercise, for this we build certain associations: triads, tetrads, and above all, syndromes.