ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on each of the components that physicians touch on as they obtain a history and perform a physical examination. In some circumstances, the history and physical examination findings are so characteristic as to allow the diagnosis to be made at the bedside. Clues to the diagnosis of a fungal infection can be found by taking a thorough history. The symptoms and signs of fungal infection are protean. Less immediately obvious, an in-depth social history that includes birthplace, travel, animal exposure, occupation, leisure activities, and drug, cigarette, and alcohol use, provides valuable clues for the diagnosis of fungal infections. A patient whose chief complaint is sudden development of a swollen painful eye with reduced vision will have fungal infection as the leading diagnosis, but only after the history of poorly controlled diabetes mellitus is obtained. Skin lesions are quite helpful in the diagnosis of both yeast and mold infections.
