HOW TO QUESTION A SICK PERSON

Start by asking the person about her sickness. Be sure to ask the following:

1. What bothers you most right now?

2. What makes you feel better or worse?

3. How and when did your sickness begin?

4. Have you have this same trouble before, or has anyone else in your family or neighborhood had it?

Continue with other questions in order to learn the details of the illness. For example, if the person has a pain ask her:

1. Where does it hurt? (Ask her to point to the exact place with one finger).

2. Does it hurt all the time, or off and on?

3. What is the pain like? (sharp? dull? burning?)

4. Can you sleep with the pain?

If the sick person is a baby who still does not talk, look for signs of pain. Notice his movements and how he cries. (For example, a child with an earache sometimes rub the side of his head or pulls at his ear).How to question a sick person

HOW TO EXAMINE A SICK PERSON

To find out the needs of a sick person, first you must ask important questions and then examine him carefylly.

You should look for signs and symptoms that help you tell how ill the person is and what kind of sickness he may have.

Always examine the person where there is good light, preferably in the sunlight, never in a dark room.

There are certain basic things to ask and to look for in anyone who is sick. These includes things the sick person feels or reports (symptoms), as well as things you notice on examining the sick person (signs).

These signs can be especially important in babies and persons unable to talk.

When you examine a sick person, write down your findings and keep them for the health worker in case he is needed.How to examine a sick person

SEEK MEDICAL HELP

1. Please note that, all the illnesses dealt with so far can be dangerous.

2. There are many other diseases (especially in tropical countries) that may cause similar signs and fevers.

3. These illnesses are not always easy to tell apart.

4. Most are serious or dangerous.

5. When possible, seek medical help.Seek medical help

CHILDBIRTH FEVER

1. Begins a day or more after giving birth.

2. Starts with a slight fever, which often rises later.

3. Foul smelling vaginal discharge.

4. Pain and sometimes bleeding.Childbirth fever

BRUCELLOSIS (UNDULANT FEVER, MALTA FEVER)

1. Begins slowly with tiredness, headache and pains in the bones.

2. Fever and sweating most common at night.

3. Fever disappears for a few days only to come back again.

4. Brucellosis (undulant fever, malta fever)This may go on for months or years.

RHEUMATIC FEVER

1. Most common in children and teenagers

2. Pain in joints.

3. High fever.

4. Often comes after a sore throat.

5. Maybe pain in the chest with shortness of breath.

6. Uncontrolled movements of arms and legs.Rheumatic fever

PNEUMONIA

1. Fast shallow breathing.

 2. Temperature rises quickly

3. Cough with green, yellow or bloody mucus.

 4. May be pain in chest.

 Pneumonia5. Person very ill.Pneumonia