8/12/2019 Pathognomonic is a Sign or Symptom That is So
Characteristic of a Disease That It Makes the Diagnosis
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Pathognomonic is a sign or symptom that is so characteristic of
a disease that it makes the diagnosis. Pathognomonic
(pronounced patho-no-monic) comes from the Greek pathognomonikos
meaning skilled in judging diseases. As it is
very important to know how to assess characteristic
manifestations of some communicable diseases at an early stage,
here
are the pathognomonic signs and symptoms of some common
communicable diseases.
AIDS opportunistic and malignant manifestations, T4 below
200/dl. (Opportunistic infection - infection thatoccurs because of
a weakened immune system. Opportunistic infections are a particular
danger for people with
AIDS. The HIV virus itself does not cause death, but the
opportunistic infections that occur because of its effect
on the immune system can.)
Amoebiasis bloody mucoid stool.
Ascariasis vomiting, passing out of worm.
Candidiasis cheeselike discharge.
Chicken pox vesiculopopular lesions.
Cholera rice-watery stool.
Dengue/Hemorrhagic Fever Hermans sign. It appears on the upper
and lower extremities, purplish or
violaceous red with blanched areas about 1 cm or less in
size.
Diptheria pseudomembrane, a localized inflammatory process;
Grayish-white, leathery consistency. Enterobiasis nocturnal
itchiness.
Filariasis - Elephantiasis.
German Measles/Rubella Forscheimers spots, a mild enanthem of
petechial lesions.
Gonorrhea thick purulent discharge.
Herpes Zoster lesions follow peripheral nerve pathway.
Leptospirosis orange eyes.
Malaria fever and chills.
Measles/Rubeola Kopliks spots, little spots inside the mouth.
The spots look like a tiny grains of white sand,
each surrounded by a red ring. They are found especially on the
inside of the cheek (the buccal mucosa) opposite
the 1st and 2nd upper molars.
Meningitis nucchal rigidity.
Mumps swollen parotid glands.
Pertussis paroxysmal coughs ending with whoop.
Pneumonia rusty sputum.
Polio flaccid paralysis, weakness or paralysis and reduced
muscle tone without other obvious cause (e.g.,
trauma).
Rabies hydrophobia, a morbid fear of water. Because of this
name, many people think that rabies makes one
afraid of water. In fact, this is not the case (although rabies
does cause mental confusion of other kinds). The
name hydrophobia comes from the fact that animals and people
with rabies get spasms in their throat muscles
that are so painful that they cannot eat or drink, and so will
refuse water in spite of being very thirsty.
Scabies weeping itch.
Scarlet Fever raspberry tongue.
Syphilis painless chancre or ulceration.
Tetanus locked jaw or trismus.
Tuberculosis initially ASYMPTOMATIC.
Typhoid Fever 3 cardinal signs: ladderlike fever, rose spots,
spleenomegaly (enlargement of spleen beyond its
normal size).
