This assignment is based on level 2 applied science,
Unit 16 Learning aim A : explore the scientific procedures used in
diagnosing illness.
This has been graded for a distinction.
Use this assignment to guide and use as reference, Thank you!
Physical procedures used to diagnose and treat illnesses start with a physical examination,
This is the first step after checking and taking the patient's medical history. A physical
examination can be based on the external appearance like any signs of rashes and swelling.
Rashes can create an approach as it is a temporary eruption or discolouration of the skin
and it is often inflamed and swollen. Rashes could come up weakly or severely, it could be a
sign of infections and a wide range of illnesses like measles and rubella and many more.
Rashes are easily recognized however they tend to look different depending on the illness.
When the doctor gives a diagnosis for rashes they may ask your medical history and when it
began. Sometimes blood tests and patch tests would be required to see the cause of the
rashes.
A physical diagnosis can also be done when there is swelling, swelling will occur when a
certain part of the body results from injury, inflammation or fluid retention. Swelling
particularly looks like an increase of size in a certain area of the body, swelling is also known
as edema. Swelling could happen in the skin, joints and tissues as well as organs in the
body. An injury would be a cause of swelling as it has inflammation and this happens when
a part of the body sustains an injury, the immune system will then put on an inflammatory
response that will help heal the body and protect it against an infection. Swelling can also be
looked at through tests other than a visual examination like X-Rays, CT-scans, Blood Tests
and ect. The treatment for swelling would vary depending on the situation of the person.
Swelling could be a sign of heart failure, chronic lung conditions and ect.
Body temperatures are very important and can be used to diagnose physically as they can
be a sign of a disease. During the course of the disease the body changes its temperature to
support the body's defence mechanism. A disease related to temperature is pathological.
When the immune system is able to detect a present virus in your body it will signal the
hypothalamus to create more body heat in order to weaken the virus and to stimulate your
immune response. Body temperature is taken by a thermometer orally in the mouth or even
rectally.
Blood pressure is the term when the strength used to your blood that pushes to the sides of
your arteries is pumped around the body, this is also measured as it helps the doctor identify
if a person is at risk for a heart disease or a stroke, The normal blood pressure is 120/80. A
person could have a low blood pressure indicating hypertension, high blood pressure is
hypertension and this is dangerous as it can increase the risk of developing serious illnesses
like a heart attack and stroke.
Biological diagnosis are taken in place when the physical approach can no longer be done.
Doctors will create a diagnosis based on the symptoms and physical examination results.
, When doctors confirm that a person has an infection they would need to know what specific
microorganism is causing the infection.
Microorganisms can be identified through laboratory tests. They would get a sample of
blood, urine or any other fluid or tissue from the body. This will then be examined under a
microscope and tested for antibodies and antigens as well as genetic material for example
the DNA or RNA of the microorganism.
The examination of microorganism doctors would use a gram stain to see whether the
bacteria is gram negative or gram positive. Microorganisms like bacteria can cause a urinary
tract infection or syphilis. They could also be the cause for tuberculosis. Some
microorganisms are developing a resistance to drugs and are no longer effective; the doctor
would then do susceptibility testing to determine what effective antimicrobial drugs are
effective.
The doctor also may call for an antibody test which is done through a sample of the person's
infected blood. Antibodies are produced by a certain type of white blood cell to encounter a
foreign substance that comes from the immune system to help us against infections. Doctors
would usually test for multiple antibodies and they will determine the amount of antibody by
diluting the sample in half until it no longer tests positive. A doctor would also carry out
antigen tests to detect the presence of a microorganism directly; these tests could be done
for people that have AIDS.
The biological procedures can be carried out by physicians, dentists, healthcare assistants
and many more.
(i put the types of diagnoses in the paragraphs, i did not form a list)
M1
The scientific principles towards the biological and physical procedures to diagnose an
illness always starts with obtaining the patient's accurate medical
history, the patient's medical history is the key to diagnoses and
the physical examination and results of any biological testing like
urine samples and x-rays will simply confirm the diagnosis made.
The medical history is developed through data collected during
the healthcare practitioners interview with the patient, this will ask
the patient to develop a clear chronological account of the
patient's medical history and to describe any prior symptoms.
The physical examination will then
take place starting with a nurse
that may get temperature, pulse
and blood pressure. The temperature will be measured with a
thermometer and the normal temperature is 37 degrees
celsius. The blood pressure will be measured using an
inflatable blood pressure cuff that will measure the systolic
pressure as well as the dialostic pressure number.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller marrou. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £6.47. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
