SYMPTOMATOLOGY - a repertory point of view

i want to learn more about symptomatology so i prepared a power point presentation on symptomatology

1. DEPARTMENT OF
REPERTORY
Guided by –Dr Darakh Sir
Presented by –DR.RUTUJAGAIKE

2. Symptom–Greek word ‘SYMPTOMA’ –‘Any
change that happens’.
They are outward reflections of internal
derangements of the vital force.
Evidence of the disease.
Knowledge of types of symptoms and their value are
essential for repertorizing a case, and it’s study must
be done properly to avoid the error in finding out a
simillimum.

3. Symptom can be defined –
As an alteration of sensation and functions.
Any manifestation of a deviation from a former state of
health, perceptible by the patient, the individual
around him or the physician.

4. Following is the classification of symptoms
for better understanding-
1.Subjective and Objective symptoms
2.Common and uncommon symptoms
3.General and Particular symptoms
4.Complete and Incomplete symptoms
5.Chief and Concomitant symptoms

5. Subjective Symptoms -
They are felt by the patient himself.
Ex –Types of sensation, pain, discomforts, vertigo,
illusions and delusions.

6. Objective Symptoms -
These are perceptible to the patient, bystanders, and
physician and are sure signsof the disease .
Ex. Color , Murmur , Odor , Hardness , Swelling ,
Redness.

7. Common Symptoms -
Present in many persons suffering from the same
disease.
They do not help in individualizing a person.
Ex –1. Breathlessness is a common symptom in a acute
exacerbation of Asthma.
2. Body ache and headache are common symptoms in
acute case of fever.

8. Uncommon Symptoms -
Also known as Characteristic Symptoms, they draw our
attention because they stand out in a group of
symptoms.
They also help in individualizing a person and
prescription has to be based upon it.
Ex-Asthma is relieved by lying down –unusual
peculiar symptom, of psorinum.

9. General Symptoms -
They are predicted by the patient himself.
Give information pertaining to the whole patient.
The patient uses the first pronoun, as ‘I am weak’, ‘I am
thirsty’, ‘I am sleepy’.
Generals can be-1. Mental Generals
2. Physical Generals

10. Mental Generals -
These includes expressions available at an emotional
and intellectual level and reflect the inner self.
Ex-1. Will and Emotions –Loathing of life and impulse
to commit suicide (Aurum).
2. Perversion of understanding –Errors in speaking
(Nat Mur, lyco), Delusions, Hallucinations, Illusions,
Delirium, Amnesia are intellectual symptoms.
3. Perversion of memory –Loss of memory, absent
mindedness.

11. Physical Generals-
Symptoms involving the whole person at a bodily level
are to be considered.
Ex –1. Appetite, thirst, desires, aversions.
2. Weather and climatic influences.
3. Ailments from
4. Perversions of the sexual sphere, menstruation.
5. General modalities –Position, periodicity,
moon phases, motion.

12. Particular Symptoms -
They belong to a particular part, organ or functions of
the body and do not represent the whole person.
Ex-1. Sensation coldness in larynx. (Cistus can, brom)
2. Dilated pupils days before an epileptic attack.
(Arg nit)

13. Complete Symptoms -
They have the elements of location, sensation and
modalities (Components of a symptom), concomitants
may or may not be present.
Help in repertorization by Boenninghausen’s
approach.
Ex-1. Involuntary passage of urine while coughing
with pain in hip.
2. Polyuria with coryza.

14. Incomplete Symptom -
They lack anyone or more of the 3 elements (location,
sensation, modalities) of a symptom.
Boenninghausen had devised a method to overcome
this deficiency in a symptom –The principle of
Grand Generalization.

15. Chief Symptoms -
They compel a patient to seek the help of the
physician.
Also known as presenting complaints.

16. Concomitant Symptoms -
They accompany or are associated with the chief
complaints.
These symptoms occur at the same time, before or
after the occurrence of the chief complaints.
They represent the individuality of the patient and
help in constructing the totality.
Ex-Involuntary passage of urine while coughing with
pain in hip.

17. PathognomicSymptoms–
Specific and characteristic symptoms of a given disease or
clinical condition. Also known as Pathognostic symptoms. Ex –
Appearance of rashes on the skin on the forth day of a fever
with dry cough and coryza –Measles.
Keynote Symptoms –
Peculiar in the case and help to find out a small group of
remedies. Stuart Close defines a keynote as a minor
generalization based upon the study of many particulars. Ex-
tension is the keynote of aconite.

18. Negative Symptoms –
They are expected to be present in a case but remain
absent. Ex –Absence of thirst in fever, Absence of pain
in inflammation.
Clinical Symptoms –
They are common in a disease condition, are found
during clinical practice.
Eliminating symptoms –
They help to eliminate some unimportant medicines to
facilitate the selection the similimum. Eliminating method,
Margret Tyler first introduced this method for easy
repertorization.

19. Paradoxical Symptoms –
They are self-contradictory and opposite in nature but
are found together. Ex-sleepy but cannot sleep, throat pain
better by swallowing solid foods.
Pathological Generals –
When a common pathological feature exists at two or
more than two locations, the feature is known as pathological
general. Ex-fever, headache, diarrhoea.

20. Grading of Symptoms -
Kent’s gradation –
First grade –proved by all or majority of provers.
Second grade –They have been confirmed and verified
occasionally and brought out by few provers.
Third grade –They are brought by very few provers,
not been confirmed by reproving but have a clinical
verification. Also known as Clinical symptoms.

21. Hanhemannian Classification –
1. General Symptoms
2. Uncommon Symptoms
Kent’s Classification –
1. Mental Generals
2. Physical Generals
3. Particulars

22. Boenninghausen’s Classification-
1. Location
2. Sensation
3. Modalities
4. Concomitants
Boger’s Classification –
1. Causation
2. Modalities
3. Concomitants
4. Pathological Generals