How to Examine
a Sick Person
29
CHAPTER
3
To find out the needs of a sick person, first you must ask important questions and
then examine him carefully. You should look for signs and symptoms that help you tell
how ill the person is and what kind of sickness he may have.
Always examine the person where there is good light, preferably in the sunlight —
never in a dark room.
There are certain basic things to ask and to look for in anyone who is sick. These
include things the sick person feels or reports (symptoms), as well as things you
notice on examining him (signs). These signs can be especially important in babies
and persons unable to talk. In this book the word ‘signs’ is used for both symptoms
and signs.
When you examine a sick person, write down your findings and keep them
for the health worker in case he is needed (see p. 44).
QUESTIONS
Start by asking the person about her
sickness. Be sure to ask the following:
What bothers you most right now?
What makes you feel better or
worse?
How and when did your sickness
begin?
Have you had this same trouble
before, or has anyone else in
your family or neighborhood
had it?
Continue with other questions
in order to learn the details of the illness.
For example, if the sick person has a pain, ask her:
Where does it hurt? (Ask her to point to the exact place with one finger.)
Does it hurt all the time, or off and on?
What is the pain like? (sharp? dull? burning?)
Can you sleep with the pain?
If the sick person is a baby who still does not talk, look for signs of pain. Notice
his movements and how he cries. (For example, a child with an earache sometimes
rubs the side of his head or pulls at his ear.)