points in the history

Last reviewed 01/2018

The history in these circumstances must include details of:

  • the patient's symptoms
  • what hazards the patient has been exposed to:
    • contact with infected individuals
    • travel
    • drug history including non-prescribed medication
    • alcohol
    • recent illness, surgery, trauma, medical intervention
    • animal contact - sick parrot
    • unusual food - unpasteurized milk
    • has the patient ever injected drugs
    • tattoos
    • infected/sexual contacts
  • anyone else with the same problem
  • country of origin and endemic/epidemic diseases
  • past vaccinations
  • how ill is the patient
  • previous psychiatric history