Once you notice any of these signs and symptoms, your doctor will start searching for the origin of the infection. He or she will follow the usual steps in the diagnostic procedure, first asking you about your medical history, which may provide some clues about where the infection comes from. Shaking chills and fever are clues that sepsis may be present, which will prompt your doctor to order blood cultures. A cough might indicate pneumonia, which can be confirmed by a chest x-ray. Soreness and pains will lead the search to specific areas of your body.
The physical exam can confirm the leads given by the symptoms and may lead to the discovery of abnormalities you may not be aware of. Your abdomen will be examined for signs of enlargement or tenderness in organs that may be involved with infection. Your skin will be checked for signs of redness or tenderness. Even if there are no symptoms, pneumonia might be detected simply by listening to your chest. A careful neurologic exam will be done and sophisticated tests can be ordered if the exam reveals any abnormalities.
Once the history and physical exam are completed, your blood, sputum and urine will be analyzed. Stools, spinal fluid and skin lesions might be tested too. Depending on the results of the complete blood count and serum chemistry panel, you may undergo other diagnostic studies—x-rays, CT or MRI scans or nuclear medicine studies such as gallium or indium scans.
All the information from the history, exams, tests and studies will be used to plan the most appropriate therapy.
