In your opinion, what three tests tells you the most about a patient’s health in general?
“A complete blood count can tell you a lot,” Neel said. “The Chem 8 would be another one. It will tell me the electrolyte status, blood sugar, and kidney function, and a urinalysis is another test that gives us a lot of information. A complete Chem Panel will tell us the function of the liver, kidneys, and the gallbladder.”
What came first…fever or congestion?
We’ve all been told that antibiotics can only treat bacterial illness, but viruses just have to run its course. But when you go in to see the doctor, communicating the signs and symptoms in the order they occurred may be more important than you think.
“When a child starts out with congestion first, and then comes out with a fever, it’s more likely to be bacterial,” Dr. Neel said. “However, if the fever is first, and then followed by congestion a few days later—that indicates a viral illness.”
Lab work will help determine viral versus bacterial illness, but knowing the order that symptoms presented themselves is also an important part of the equation, and will be helpful information.