Diagnosis — What Is It?

🔍 Stages of Making a Diagnosis:

1. Taking Medical History (Anamnesis):

   • Patient’s complaints (What hurts? How long? When did it start?)

   • Previous illnesses and surgeries

   • Family health history

   • Lifestyle (smoking, diet, exercise, stress)

2. Physical Examination:

   • Inspection (looking)

   • Palpation (feeling with hands)

   • Percussion (tapping to hear sound)

   • Auscultation (listening, usually with a stethoscope)

3. Additional Tests and Investigations:

   • Laboratory tests (blood, urine, etc.)

   • Imaging (X-ray, Ultrasound, CT, MRI)

   • Other tools (ECG, biopsy, etc.)

4. Formulating the Diagnosis:

   • Analyze all data

   • Compare possible causes (differential diagnosis)

   • Eliminate unlikely options

   • Confirm a final diagnosis

📚 Types of Diagnosis:

🏥 Example of a Diagnosis:

A patient reports chest pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue. After performing an ECG and a blood test, the doctor makes a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (heart attack).

❗ Why Is Diagnosis Important?

• Ensures correct treatment

• Prevents complications

• Reduces medical errors

• Helps patients recover faster

• Essential for communicating between healthcare professionals