Medical+History

The **medical history** or **anamnesis** [|[1]][|[2]] (abbr. //Hx//) of a [|patient] is information gained by a [|physician] by asking specific questions, either of the patient or of other people who know the person and can give suitable information (in this case, it is sometimes called **heteroanamnesis**), with the aim of obtaining information useful in formulating a diagnosis and providing medical care to the [|patient]. The medically relevant complaints reported by the patient or others familiar with the patient are referred to as [|symptoms], in contrast with [|clinical signs] , which are ascertained by direct examination on the part of medical personnel. Most health encounters will result in some form of history being taken. Medical histories vary in their depth and focus. For example, an [|ambulance] [|paramedic] would typically limit his history to important details, such as name, history of presenting complaint, allergies, etc. In contrast, a [|psychiatric history] is frequently lengthy and in depth, as many details about the patient's life are relevant to formulating a management plan for a psychiatric illness. The information obtained in this way, together with [|clinical examination], enables the physician to form a [|diagnosis] and [|treatment] plan. If a [|diagnosis] cannot be made, a provisional diagnosis may be formulated, and other possibilities (the [|differential diagnoses] ) may be added, listed in order of likelihood by convention. The treatment plan may then include further investigations to clarify the diagnosis A practitioner typically asks questions to obtain the following information about the patient:

Identification and demographics: name, age, height, weight. > > == [ [|edit] ] Inhibiting factors  == > Factors that inhibit a proper medical history taking include physical inability of the patient to communicate with the physician, such as unconsciousness and [|communication disorders]. In such cases, it may be necessary to perform a so called //heteroanamnesis// of other people who know the person and can give suitable information, which, however, generally is more limited than a direct anamnesis. > Medical history taking may also be impaired by various factors impeding a proper [|doctor-patient relationship], such as transitions to physicians that are and unfamiliar to the patient. > History taking of issues related to [|sexual] or [|reproductive medicine] may be inhibited by a reluctance of the patient to disclose intimate or uncomfortable information. Even if such an issue is on the patient's mind, he or she often doesn't start talking about such an issue without the physician initiating the subject by a specific question about sexual or [|reproductive health]. [|[3]] Some familiarity with the doctor generally makes it easier for patients to talk about intimate issues such as sexual subjects, but for some patients, a very high degree of familiarity may make the patient reluctant to reveal such intimate issues. [|[3]] When visiting a health provider about sexual issues, having both partners of a couple present is often necessary, and is typically a good thing, but may also prevent the disclosure of certain subjects, and, according to one report, increases the stress level. [|[3]] >
 * The " [|chief complaint] (CC)" - the major health problem or concern, and its time course (e.g. chest pain for past 4 hours).
 * [|History of the present illness] (HPI) - details about the complaints, enumerated in the CC. (Also often called 'History of presenting complaint' or HPC.)
 * [|Past Medical History] (PMH) (including major illnesses, any previous surgery/operations, any current ongoing illness, e.g. diabetes).
 * [|Review of systems] (ROS) Systematic questioning about different [|organ systems]
 * [|Family diseases] - especially those relevant to the patient's chief complaint.
 * [|Childhood diseases] - this is very important in pediatrics.
 * [|Social history (medicine)] - including living arrangements, occupation, marital status, number of children, drug use (including tobacco, alcohol, other recreational drug use), recent foreign travel, and exposure to environmental pathogens through recreational activities or pets.
 * Regular and acute [|medications] (including those prescribed by doctors, and others obtained over-the-counter or [|alternative medicine] )
 * [|Allergies] - to medications, food, latex, and other environmental factorsWhatever [|system] a specific condition may seem restricted to, it may be reasonable to review all the other systems in a comprehensive history. The review of systems should include all the main systems in the body that may provide an opportunity to mention symptoms or concerns that the patient may have failed to mention in the history. Start with the review of systems as following: -Cardiovascular system(chest pain, dysponea, ankle swelling, palpitations) are the most important symptoms and you can ask for a brief description for each of the positive symptoms. -Respiratory system (cough, haemoptysis, wheezing, pain localized to the chest that maight increase with inspiration or expiration). -Gastrointestinal system (change in weight, flatulence and heart burn, dysphagia, abdominal pain, vomiting, bowel habit). -Genitourinary system (frequency in urination, pain with micturition, urine color, any urethral discharge, altered bladder control like urgency in urination or incontinance, menstruation and sexual activity). -Nervous system (Headache, loss of consciousness, diziness and vertigo, speech and related functions like reading and writing skills and memory). -Cranial nerves symptoms (Vision, diplopia, facial numbness, deafness, oropharyngial dysphagia, limb motor or sensory symptoms and loss of coordination). -Endocrine system (weight loss, polydipsia, polyuria, increased appetite and irritability). -musculoskeletal system (any bone or joint pain accompanied by joint swelling or tenderness, aggavating and reliefing factors for the pain and any positive family history for joint disease). -Skin (any skin rash,recent change in cosmetics and the use of sunscreen creams when exposed to sun).