DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST
for Flu-like symptoms

Why: to determine if acute or chronic.

Why: e.g. intermittent fever of malaria, Epstein-Barr virus and ascending cholangitis; continuous fever is common with viral infections such as influenza; remittent fever where temperature returns towards normal for a variable period but is always elevated may occur with pelvic abscess, wound infection and cancer; undulant fever where bouts of fever for several days are followed by several days of normal temperature occur with brucellosis infection and lymphomas.

Why: acute mastitis often features fevers, tiredness, muscle aches and pains along with a sore red lump in the breast.

Why: overseas travelers or visitors may have special or even exotic infections.

Why: e.g. AIDS, Rheumatic fever, pneumonia, immunodeficiency, cancer.

Why: may suggest post-operative complication e.g. wound infection, aspiration pneumonia, lung collapse, urinary catheter related urinary tract infection, intra-abdominal abscess.

Why: drugs can cause fever, presumably due to hypersensitivity e.g. allopurinol, antihistamines, barbiturates, cephalosporins, cimetidine, methyl dopa, penicillins, isoniazid, phenytoin, procainamide, salicylates, sulphonamides; some drugs can suppress the immune system and increase risk of infections e.g. cancer chemotherapy agents.

Why: may help to determine risk of HIV, hepatitis, syphilis, pelvic inflammatory disease e.g. AIDS patients pose a special risk for infections including opportunistic infections.

Why: can help determine focus of infection e.g. sore throat may indicate streptococcal pharyngitis, viral upper respiratory infection, infectious mononucleosis, leukemia and subacute thyroiditis; headache may indicate meningitis or encephalitis; chest pain may suggest pulmonary infarction, heart attack, Bornholm disease, tuberculosis, pleurisy or empyema; abdominal pain may suggest pyelonephritis, cholecystitis, appendicitis, liver abscess or diverticulitis; joint pain may suggest rheumatic fever, rheumatoid arthritis or septic arthritis; ear ache may suggest middle ear infection or mastoiditis.

Why: would suggest pyelonephritis, abscess around the kidney or abscess in the prostate.

Why: may suggest pneumonia, lung abscess, bronchiectasis, tuberculosis or chronic fungal disease in the lung.

Why: may suggest osteomyelitis.

Why: e.g. vaginal, penile, anal, tooth, ear, nasal.

Why: may help determine cause of fever e.g. drug reaction, meningococcemia, viral illnesses, subacute bacterial endocarditis, secondary syphilis, pemphigus, lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, typhoid fever.

Why: e.g. The illness commences abruptly with a fever, headache, shivering and generalized muscle aching, especially aching of the limbs. These symptoms are often followed by sore throat, dry cough and runny nose.