A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps
- General physical examination – including blood pressure, pulse, body weight, height; further:
- Inspection (viewing).
- Face [facies leontina (lion-like face); madarosis (loss of eyebrows and eyelashes); loosening of the anterior incisors (Möller-Christensen phenomenon); saddle nose; alopecia (hair loss)]
- Skin [small hypopigmented spots (macules) – heal spontaneously in about 75% of cases; skin nodules (lepromas), tend to strong enlargement and ulceration (ulceration), especially on the trunk and face; disturbed sweat secretion).
- Abdomen (abdomen)
- Shape of the abdomen?
- Skin color? Skin texture?
- Efflorescences (skin changes)?
- Pulsations? Bowel movements?
- Visible vessels?
- Scars? Hernias (fractures)?
- Gait [paralysis?]
- Auscultation (listening) of the heart and lungs.
- Palpation (palpation) of the abdomen (abdomen) (pressure pain?, knocking pain?, coughing pain?, defensive tension?, hernial orifices?, kidney bearing knocking pain?)
- Inspection (viewing).
- Neurological examination [sensory deficits; autonomic innervation dysfunction].
Square brackets [ ] indicate possible pathologic (pathological) physical findings.