Differential diagnosis (DD) is the process used by doctors to differentiate between two or
more health conditions that could be behind a person’s symptoms (Loriaux, 2017). In differential
diagnosis, doctors list all the possible health conditions that could be causing the chief complaint.
Doctors may then narrow down the selection using the patient’s medical history and ultimately
order a test to confirm their suspected diagnosis (Loriaux, 2017). This post will discuss three DD
processes, including taking a clinical history, performing a physical examination, and obtaining a
diagnostic test. It will also discuss the benefits associated with the three processes.
Taking a patient’s clinical history plays a pivotal role in helping doctors to understand
their health status and whether it is responsible for the symptoms. Additionally, a patient’s
history gives doctors all kinds of important clues about the possible cause of the symptoms and
thus improves the care outcomes (Loriaux, 2017). Also, it is a key factor in enhancing the timely
and accurate diagnosis of acute illnesses (Loriaux, 2017). Read more
Physical examination is the second process, where providers examine a patient for any
possible medical sign or symptom of a medical condition. Physical examination helps providers
assess patients’ health status, whether they are presenting symptoms or not (Ullmann et al.,
2018). It also helps to identify issues that may become medical concerns in the future. Thirdly,
physical examination in DD helps check for possible diseases and facilitates early treatment.
The third and last process is performing diagnostic tests. This is a test done to identify a
condition or the cause of the symptom. One of the benefits of diagnostic tests is that it helps to
either confirm or rule out conditions and diseases (Loriaux, 2017). Secondly, diagnostic tools
may help determine the severity, activity, or stage of a particular disease (Loriaux, 2017). Also, diagnostic tests help care providers to create effective treatment plans that enhance speedy
recovery (Loriaux, 2017).