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:
- One correct diagnosis
- Four really incorrect diagnoses
- Infection
- Cancer
- Still's disease
- Syphilis
- Drug seeking
- 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:
- Asthma exacerbation
- Pulmonary gout
- Testicular torsion
- Glaucoma
- Viral gastroenteritis
- Infection
- Cancer
- Syphilis
- Drug seeking
- Kuru
It's just that simple!
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