Diagnosing Blood Disorders: Overview

After taking medical history,occupational or other exposure history, asking for symptoms of a person doctors then go for a physical examination. Medical History Certain factors in a person's medical history indicate that the person is at risk. Some examples include the following: ● A blood disorder in a member of the person's family ● Another disorder (such as kidney or liver disease or diabetes) that can cause a blood disorder ● A person's ethnicity or race ● Use of a drug that may cause bleeding ● Exposures to a chemical that could cause bleeding or damage the bone marrow Physical Examination During the physical examination, doctors look for specific physical findings that can be related to a blood disorder. ● They examine the skin and mucous membranes , looking for paleness, abnormal blood vessels, bruises, small red or purple spots, or red rashes. ● They feel the neck, underarm, and groin areas for enlargement of lymph nodes. ● They examine the joints to see if they are tender or swollen. ● They examine the abdomen, feeling for enlargement of the spleen or liver. ● They do a rectal examination to check the stool for blood.