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Table 14.2

Focused History-Taking in Acute Neurological Disease

  • Weakness? Numbness? Pain/headache? Unsteadiness? Dizziness? Altered consciousness? Visual disturbance?
  • Cognitive/higher mental dysfunction? Speech and language disturbance?
  • Swallowing difficulty? Sphincter disturbance?
  • Chronology of different symptoms? Previous episodes? Distribution? Speed of onset? Aggravating/relieving factors? Progression (in time and space)? Fluctuating?
  • Trigger/prodromal illness?
  • Functional consequences?
  • Systemic upset? Rash? Weight loss? Appetite? Diet?
  • Drugs and medications? Missed/extra doses? Newly prescribed/taken?
  • Past history? Family history? Smoking? Alcohol? Recreational drugs?
  • Occupation? Toxin exposure? Handedness?