Difference between revisions of "Differential Diagnosis"

Revision as of 09:28, 20 February 2017

A differential diagnosis (abbreviations include ddx, DDx, DD, D/Dx, or ΔΔ) is essentially a list of possible diseases or conditions that could explain a given clinical presentation.

How to Create a Differential Diagnosis

There are numerous ways to create a differential diagnosis, but we'll tell you the foolproof way. For any given patient with certain symptoms or signs, the differential diagnosis must include the following items:

1. One correct diagnosis
2. Four really incorrect diagnoses
3. Infection
4. Cancer
5. Still's disease
6. Syphilis
7. Drug seeking
8. Kuru

Example of a Differential Diagnosis

A 35 yo patient with asthma presents with wheezing, cough, and chest tightness. This patient's differential diagnosis includes:

1. Asthma exacerbation
2. Pulmonary gout, testicular torsion, glaucoma, Stephens-Johnson syndrome
3. Infection
4. Cancer
5. Still's disease
6. Syphilis
7. Drug seeking
8. Kuru

Differential Diagnosis for Hoofbeats

1. [[Gallops|Horses]
2. Batman, Spock, zebras, ponies

Mom, influenza

1. Infection
2. Cancer
3. Still's disease
4. Syphilis
5. Drug seeking
6. Kuru

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