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).
- Of the skin, mucous membranes [purpura (spontaneous, small-spotted hemorrhages of the skin, subcutaneous tissue, or mucous membranes); petechial hemorrhages (pinpoint hemorrhages of the skin), especially on the extensor sides of the legs and buttocks]
- Joints [arthritis (joint inflammation): swollen joints? often affected are knee and ankle joints]
- Palpation of the skin [palpable (palpable) petechiae (punctate bleeding of the skin or mucous membrane in the form of a capillary hemorrhage)/palpable purpura (spontaneous, small-spotted bleeding of the skin, subcutaneous tissue or mucous membrane)]
- Palpation (palpation) of the abdomen (abdomen) (tenderness?, knocking pain?, coughing pain?, defensive tension?, hernial orifices?, renal bearing knocking pain?) [due tocolicky abdominal pain.]
- Auscultation (listening) of the heart.
- Auscultation of the lungs
- Inspection (viewing).
- If necessary, neurological examination [for headaches, behavioral abnormalities].
- Health check
Square brackets [ ] indicate possible pathological (pathological) physical findings.
