A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps:
- General physical examination – including blood pressure, pulse, body temperature, body weight, body height; furthermore:
- Inspection (viewing) [nose: watery secretions (runny nose, runny nose); swelling of nasal mucosa; eyes: redness, watery eyes, swelling of conjunctiva]
- Skin and mucous membranes
- Throat
- Eyes
- Examination of the lungs
- Auscultation (listening) of the lungs
- Percussion (tapping) of the lungs
- Inspection (viewing) [nose: watery secretions (runny nose, runny nose); swelling of nasal mucosa; eyes: redness, watery eyes, swelling of conjunctiva]
- If necessary, ENT medical examination – including anterior and posterior rhinoscopy (reflection of the nasal cavity from the nostril and nasopharynx, respectively); this usually shows:
- Mucosal swelling
- Clear to whitish thin fluid secretion
- Health check
Square brackets [ ] indicate possible pathological (pathological) physical findings.