Diagnosis

Examples of Diagnosis in the following topics:

• Specimen Collection

  • Laboratory diagnosis of diseases begins with the collection of a clinical specimen for examination or processing in the laboratory.
  • Laboratory diagnosis of an infectious disease begins with the collection of a clinical specimen for examination or processing in the laboratory.
  • The laboratory, with the help of well-chosen techniques and methods for rapid isolation and identification, confirms the diagnosis.
  • Another type of specimen used for disease diagnosis is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
  • Describe how laboratory diagnosis of disease begins with the collection of a clinical specimen for examination and processing

• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

  • Different tests can be used for diagnosis such as pelvic ultrasound and laboratory tests for STIs.
  • Usually, more than one test is needed for proper diagnosis.
  • Early diagnosis and treatment are critical to limit the spread of the infection to the lower part of the tract and to avoid long term consequences.

• Bacterial Vaginosis

  • For diagnosis in the clinical practice, a swab from the vaginal wall is obtained and examined with a few different tests called the Amsel criteria:
  • At least three of these tests have to be positive for conclusive diagnosis.
  • Describe the symptoms, causes and methods of diagnosis for bacterial vaginosis

• Diagnosing Microbial Diseases

  • Diagnosis of microbial diseases calls upon numerous techniques to help identify and characterize the pathogenic agent.
  • The parasite responsible for Chagas disease, Trypanosoma cruzi, requires a vector for diagnosis.
  • An additional tool utilized for microbial disease diagnosis is microscopy.
  • Biochemical tests are also used to help in microbial disease diagnosis.

• Blastomycosis

  • Once suspected, the diagnosis of blastomycosis can usually be confirmed by demonstration of the characteristic, broad-based budding organisms in sputum or tissues by KOH prep, cytology, or histology.
  • Commercially available urine antigen testing appears to be quite sensitive in suggesting the diagnosis in cases where the organism is not readily detected.

• The Diagnostic Scheme

  • Diagnosis of infectious disease sometimes involves identifying an infectious agent either directly or indirectly.
  • Diagnosis of infectious disease sometimes involves identifying an infectious agent either directly or indirectly.
  • Diagnosis of infectious disease is nearly always initiated by taking a medical history and performing a physical examination.

• Pneumocystis Pneumonia

  • The diagnosis can be confirmed by the characteristic appearance of the chest x-ray, which shows widespread pulmonary infiltrates, and an arterial oxygen level (PaO2) that is strikingly lower than would be expected from symptoms.
  • Gallium 67 scans are also use in the diagnosis.
  • The diagnosis can be definitively confirmed by histological identification of the causative organism in sputum or bronchio-alveolar lavage (lung rinse).
  • Review the symptoms associated with pneumocystis pneumonia and the methods of diagnosis

• Prostatitis

  • The diagnosis is made after culturing urine or prostate liquid.
  • Semen analysis can also be used for diagnosis it.

• Leprosy

  • Diagnosis in the U.S. is often delayed because healthcare providers are unaware of leprosy and its symptoms.
  • Early diagnosis and treatment prevents nerve involvement, the hallmark of leprosy, and the disability it causes.

• Koch's Postulates

  • Attempts to rigidly apply Koch's postulates to the diagnosis of viral diseases in the late 19th century, at a time when viruses could not be seen or isolated in culture, may have impeded the early development of the field of virology.
  • Therefore, while Koch's postulates retain historical importance and continue to inform the approach to microbiologic diagnosis, fulfillment of all four postulates is not required to demonstrate causality.