Paediatrics: The presenting complaint

The presenting complaint

There are over 100 ways in which the human body can respond to illness or disease. To the clinician, the presenting complaint may be a symptom, a sign, a finding, or a laboratory abnormality. If it is not clear to you what the problem is then ask yourself or the patient/carer ‘Why has this child, and their family, sought medical attention now?’ Record the patient or parent’s description of the problem.