The importance of good history taking: a case report.
BACKGROUND
Early comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) with good history-taking is essential in assessing the older adult.


METHODS
Our patient, a 75-year-old Caucasian woman, was originally admitted to hospital for investigation of iron deficiency anemia. During admission, she developed pneumonia and new intermittent atrial fibrillation in association with a right-sided weakness, which was felt to be new at the time. Following this episode, she was treated for a further chest infection and, despite clinical improvement, her inflammatory markers failed to settle satisfactorily. She was transferred to her local hospital for a period of rehabilitation where further neurological findings made the diagnosis of solely stroke questionable; these findings prompted further history-taking, investigations and input from other disciplines, thereby helping to arrive at a working diagnosis of vasculitic neuropathy.


CONCLUSIONS
The case aims to highlight the importance of taking a good history and performing an early comprehensive assessment in the older adult.
Acute Medicine Registrar, Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, Bankend Road, Dumfries, DG1 4AP, UK. durga.ghosh@nhs.net.
Durga
D
Ghosh
Vale of Leven District General Hospital, Main Street, Alexandria, G83 0UA, UK. Kanthi.karunaratne@nhs.net.
Premalatha
P
Karunaratne
D000368:Aged; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000209:etiology; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods*; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis; D020293:Vasculitis, Central Nervous System / Q000175:diagnosis*