What are pertinent positives in a medical examination?

Pertinent positives refer to specific symptoms or findings during a medical examination that increase the likelihood of a certain diagnosis or direct the healthcare provider's attention toward a particular condition. Identifying these pertinent positives is crucial, as they help form a differential diagnosis and guide further diagnostic testing and treatment options.

For example, in a patient presenting with respiratory distress, a pertinent positive might be the presence of wheezing or a history of asthma, which would suggest a diagnosis of asthma exacerbation rather than another respiratory condition like pneumonia. These pertinent positives provide valuable clues necessary for effective patient management.

In contrast, symptoms that indicate normal functions, normal lab results, or any symptoms reported by the patient may not necessarily contribute directly to the diagnostic process. Normal findings do not raise suspicion for disease, and general symptoms reported without context might not assist in honing in on a specific diagnosis. Hence, the focus is on those particular symptoms that are relevant to the suspected diagnosis, which is why identifying pertinent positives is integral to clinical practice.