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).
- Skin, mucous membranes and sclerae (white part of the eye) [due topossible sequelae: erythema nodosum (nodular erythema), localization: both extensor sides of the lower leg, on the knee and ankle joints; less frequently on the arms or buttocks].
- Abdomen (abdomen)
- Shape of the abdomen?
- Skin color? Skin texture?
- Efflorescences (skin changes)?
- Pulsations? Bowel movements?
- Visible vessels?
- Scars? Hernias (fractures)?
- Auscultation (listening) of the heart.
- Auscultation (listening) of the lungs
- Palpation (palpation) of the abdomen (abdomen) (pressure pain?, knocking pain?, coughing pain?, defensive tension?, hernial ports?, kidney bearing knocking pain?) [due toSymptom: abdominal pain (abdominal pain) – “pseudoappendicitis” in adolescents with complaints in the right lower abdomen; appendicitis (differential diagnosis)]
- Inspection (viewing).
Square brackets [ ] indicate possible pathological (pathological) physical findings.
