Questions Your Doctor May Ask - and Why!
During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in his assesment of the symptom: Metallic taste.
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 you had the metallic taste in the mouth?
Why: to determine if acute or chronic.
- How would you explain the taste in the mouth?
Why: is it truly metallic or would it be more accurately described as sour, bitter or foul.
- When do you notice the taste the most?
Why: e.g. stooping, bending, laying flat - may suggest gastro-esophageal reflux as cause.
- Do any foods or fluids aggravate the metallic taste
Why: e.g. caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, fatty meals? - may indicate gastro-esophageal reflux or gastritis as cause.
- Past medical history?
Why: of sinusitis , heartburn, hiatus hernia, reflux esophagitis, liver disease.
- Do you smoke cigarettes
Why: smoking increases the risk of reflux and sinusitis.
- What medication do you take?
Why: Certain medications can aggravate reflux symptoms.
- Sexual history?
Why: To establish risk of hepatitis/jaundice.
- History of intravenous drug use?
Why: To establish risk of hepatitis/jaundice.
- Recent history of tuna, mackerel or skipjack fish consumption?
Why: may indicate scombrotoxic fish poisoning which can cause a metallic taste in the mouth. Such fish contain a high degree of histadine which is converted to histamine by bacteria if the fish is not fresh.
- Possible exposure to high lead levels?
Why: e.g. scrap metal workers, smelting workers, children ingesting old lead based paint around the home. Lead poisoning may cause a metallic taste in the mouth.
- Possible exposure to mercury vapor?
Why: e.g. occupational exposure is rare today.
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:
- Heartburn? (see heartburn)
- Waterbrash
Why: (i.e. excess secretion of saliva into the mouth occurring in some patients with peptic ulcers or esophagitis)?
- Abdominal pain (see abdominal pain)?
- Nausea or vomiting (see nausea), (see vomiting)?
- Difficulty with swallowing (see swallowing difficulty)?
- Hematemesis (see vomiting blood)?
- Black stool (see black stool)?
- Jaundice (yellow color to your skin) (see jaundice)?
- Sinusitis symptoms?
Why: may be cause of postnasal drip which can cause bad taste in mouth.
- Toothache?
Why: may suggest tooth abscess.
- Symptoms of Scombrotoxic fish poisoning?
Why: e.g. flushing, burning, itch, headaches, hives, vomiting, difficulty breathing.
- Symptoms of lead poisoning?
Why: reduced appetite, nausea, vomiting, blue line on the gums, constipation, abdominal cramps, thirst, metallic taste.
- Symptoms of mercury poisoning?
Why: e.g. weakness, chills, metallic taste, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, shortness of breath, cough, chest tightness.
» Next page: Types of Metallic taste
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