Key elements in the physical examination for non-cardiac conditions in a PHE
| Selected key components in the physical examination* | |
| Pulmonary system | Comprehensive examination including assessment of chest including percussion, and auscultation |
| Haematological system | Comprehensive examination including assessment for pallor, and evidence of infections |
| Allergies | Comprehensive examination for manifestations of acute and chronic allergy |
| Infection/immunological | Comprehensive examination for lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly |
| Ear, nose, throat (ENT) | Comprehensive examination including external auditory canal, tympanic membrane, sinus tenderness, nasal septum, turbinate bones, oropharynx, tonsils, indirect laryngoscopy (if indicated), cervical and regional lymphadenopathy |
| Dermatological | Comprehensive examination of sun exposed areas, assessment of skin infections (fungal) |
| Urological | Comprehensive examination including assessment for suprapubic tenderness, abdominal examination for renal masses, genital examination (males) |
| Gastro-intestinal | Comprehensive abdominal examination for including assessment for abdominal tenderness, organomegaly and hernias |
| Neurological | Comprehensive examination including assessment of cranial nerve function, motor function, sensory function, reflexes and the extrapyramidal system |
| Endocrine/metabolic | Comprehensive examination including assessment for the complications of diabetes mellitus and the clinical signs of thyroid disease |
| Opthalmological | Comprehensive examination including assessment of visual acuity, visual fields, infective and allergic eye disease, funduscopy |
*The list of suggested physical signs is not intended to be comprehensive but is to serve as a guideline. If a positive finding is identified, further in-depth assessment with appropriate special investigations is required.