Taking A Clinical History: Language For Common Symptom Areas

FEVER

• Have you had a temperature?
• I think I'm running a fever
• The patient has a high (elevated) temperature 
• His temperature has come down (lowered) 
• Doctor, I am burning up
• We are here at the hospital because my son is running a temperature

He was all right when I left him, two hours ago, with no sign of a temperature

All of these are common for patients to use and can be turned into questions.

SICKNESS

• Do you feel queasy?
  • I feel queasy (nausea) 
• Do you feel sick to your stomach?
  • I 'm feeling sick to my stomach (likely to vomit)
• Do you feel like vomiting?
  • I think I'm going to vomit
• Do you feel dizzy?
  • I feel dizzy (vertigo)
• Do you feel lightheaded?
  • I am feeling lightheaded (vertigo)

Phrasal Verb

keep (sth) down - to be able to eat or drink something without vomiting:

• On the day after her operation she couldn't keep anything down.

VISION

• I can't see properly
• Everything is fuzzy (not clear)
• People who develop meningitis can get a stiff neck, blurred vision, and headaches.
• I can't see in my left/right eye
• My eye is itchy
• My eye is stinging/burning (irritation)
• What's happened to your eye?