Questions Your Doctor May Ask - and Why!
During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in his assesment of the symptom: Blisters.
These may include a physical examination or other medical tests.
Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing
your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information
you can share with your doctor may help them with their diagnosis.
Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:
- How long have the blister(s) been present?
Why: to determine if acute or chronic.
- Widespread or localized? If widespread may suggest atopic dermatitis, dermatitis herpetiformis, chickenpox, erythema multiforme, pemphigoid, pemphigus or drug eruption. If localized may suggest pompholyx, contact dermatitis, psoriasis, impetigo, herpes simplex
- Size of the blister(s)?
Why: if less than 1cm called a vesicle ; if more than 1cm called a bulla.
- Location of the blister(s) and where did they start?
Why: can help determine cause of blisters e.g. shingles are often on the central trunk; atopic dermatitis often on face and in flexures such as behind knee; herpes simplex usually on mouth or genitals; chicken pox usually on face, scalp and trunk.
- Are the contents of the blisters clear fluid?
Why: if not clear fluid , they are not blisters e.g. pus filled lesion is a pustule and may have different causes.
- Are the mucous membranes (lining of mouth) affected?
Why: may suggest chicken pox, herpes simplex, Erythema multiforma, Steven's-Johnson syndrome, pemphigoid, pemphigus.
- Is there a history of skin injury e.g. sunburn, direct cold exposure, direct burn to skin, friction burn to skin (e.g. foot blisters from tight shoes), chemical burn to skin
- Has there been a recent insect bite?
Why: can cause blistering rash.
- Was there any preceding systemic illness?
Why: may suggest chicken pox, hand foot and mouth disease.
- Did the blisters appear over a preceding area of skin erythema (redness)?
Why: may suggest herpes simplex or pemphigoid.
- Have you had contact with a person with a similar eruption?
Why: may suggest chicken pox, herpes simples, scabies, impetigo, shingles (rarely contagious).
- Have you been exposed to anything different lately?
Why: may suggest an allergy source for atopic eczema.
- Do you have an allergic tendency?
Why: e.g. asthma, hay fever - may suggest tendency towards atopic dermatitis.
- Past History of similar rash?
- Past medical history?
Why: Dermatitis herpetiformis is associated with Celiac disease; Erythema multiforme is associated with Herpes simplex virus, mycoplasma pneumonia, tuberculosis, streptococcus infections, lupus erythematosus, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma.
- Medications?
Why: some drugs can cause drug eruptions that include blister-like lesions e.g.sulphonamides, penicillamine, frusemide, barbiturates.
Questions your doctor may ask about related symptoms:
Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse
your condition. These may include:
- Itchy
Why: may suggest chicken pox, dermatitis herpetiformis, contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis (eczema), herpes simplex.
- Skin pain
Why: eg. In shingles the rash is preceded by several days of skin pain with hypersensitivity, In Staphylococcal scaled skin syndrome skin is tender.
- Systemic symptoms
Why: eg. fever, headache, malaise - may suggest chicken pox, shingles, hand foot and mouth disease, herpes simplex, Staphylococcal skin syndrome.
» Next page: Types of Blisters
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