HISTORY TAKING IN NEUROLOGY

HISTORY TAKING IN NEUROLOGYHistory taking is a diagnostic instrumentIndicating the site and the nature of the lesionDoctor-patient relationship built on trustThe secret of good history- taking is to be a good listener

Principles of History taking in Neurology

Patient identityAge, gender, status, ras, ethnic

History of present illnessHistory of past illnessFamily historySocial, Habits

HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESSPatients descriptions of the complaintTemporal course of the symptomssuddenly, gradually, or after a specific inducing eventacute, subacute, chronicCharacterization of the symptomsconstant, increasing, decreasing, fluctuatingameliorating/aggravating factorsmedication

Accompanying symptomsPast medical historyPast illnessCurrent medicationFamily HistorySocial History/Life HabitsAlcohol and tobaccoToxic environmental

Mnemonic for the differential diagnosis of neurologic disorders:

VvascularIinfectiousTtraumaticAautoimmuneMmetabolic/ toxicIiatrogenic/ hereditary, idiopathicNneoplasticDdegenerative