1. Anemia symptoms
2. Lymphoid symptoms
3. Past medical, surgical history
4. Family, social, drug history

Anemia symptoms

• Fatigue, weakness.
• Dyspnea.
• Blood in stools, melena.
• Easy bruising, bleeding.
• Heavy menstruation. If so, See Menstrual History.

Lymphoid symptoms

• Infections.
• Swelling of lymph nodes.
• Pain in lymph nodes.
• Order of nodal enlargement.

Past medical, surgical history

• Frequent infections.
• Bleeding disorders.
• Radiotherapy.
• Recent trauma causing bleeding.
• Surgery to GI.
• Transplant surgery (immunodepression).

Family history

• Condition in a family member.
• Hemophilia, von Willebrand's.
• Sickle cell anemia.
• Thalassemia.
• Leukemia (Philadelphia chromosome).

Social history

• Smoking: ever smoked, how many per day, for how long, type [cigarette, pipe, chew].
• Alcohol (B12 deficiency).
• Origin (Mediterrannean: thalassemia).
• Diet (B12, iron deficiency).
• If AIDS suspected: sexual lifestyle. 
• Who is with you there at home.

Drug history

• Drug currently taking.
• OTC's, esp. NSAIDs (bleeding).
• Anticoagulant therapy.
• Steroids (infections s/e).
• Vitamins, supplements, esp. Iron, B12.
• Allergies.
• Drug allergies.

Hematological Exam »