Ascariasis

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A healthcare provider can diagnose the infection using a stool sample once the worms have reached your intestines. They’ll check for eggs or worms inside your poop. Ascariasis is harder to diagnose when the infection hasn’t spread beyond your lungs yet. If your provider suspects an infection, they may order a chest X-ray to check for changes that may indicate the larvae …

Asbestosis

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Your healthcare provider will examine you and ask about your medical history. Remember to tell them about your exposure to any harmful substances like asbestos. Your healthcare provider may also order tests to complete the diagnosis. These might include: A chest X-ray. A computed tomography (CT) scan. Lung function tests like spirometry. Bronchoscopy.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

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To make a rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis, your healthcare provider may refer you to a doctor who specializes in arthritis (rheumatologist). Rheumatologists diagnose people with RA based on a combination of several factors. They’ll do a physical exam and ask you about your medical history and symptoms. Your rheumatologist will also order blood tests and imaging tests. The blood tests look …

Reactive Arthritis

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If you’ve recently developed symptoms of arthritis, your healthcare provider will want to see them and hear about them. Certain combinations of symptoms will suggest reactive arthritis. They’ll particularly want to know if you’ve recently recovered from an infection that might have triggered Reiter’s syndrome. You might have a variety of tests to help make the diagnosis, including: X-rays. Computed …

Psoriatic Arthritis

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A healthcare provider will diagnose psoriatic arthritis with a physical exam and some tests. Your provider will ask you about your symptoms and look at your skin and joints. You might need to visit a rheumatologist, a provider who specializes in treating musculoskeletal conditions, autoimmune disorders and inflammatory conditions. A dermatologist — a provider who specializes in taking care of your skin — …

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

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Because there are no tests for JIA, the doctor will try to rule out other causes of arthritis and other diseases as the cause of the symptoms. To diagnose JIA, the doctor will take a complete medical history that includes a description of symptoms and perform a physical examination. The doctor will also examine the joints for signs of arthritis. …

Septic Arthritis

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After a physical exam of your joint, if your healthcare provider suspects you have septic arthritis, they will most likely withdraw synovial fluid (the fluid that lubricates your joint) from your affected joint with a needle. This is called aspiration. They will then do a laboratory test to look at the synovial fluid. Having bacteria in the synovial fluid of …

Gout

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A healthcare provider will diagnose gout with a physical exam. They’ll ask you about your symptoms and examine your affected joints. Tell your provider when you first noticed symptoms like pain and swelling in your joint and how often the symptoms come and go. What tests will be done to diagnose gout? Your healthcare provider might use a few imaging …

Osteoarthritis

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A healthcare provider will diagnose osteoarthritis with a physical exam and imaging tests. They’ll look at your joints and ask you when you first noticed any symptoms. Tell them if any activities make your symptoms worse, or if they come and go. What tests are done to diagnose osteoarthritis? Your healthcare provider might use X-rays to take pictures of your joints. They …

Thumb Arthritis

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A healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms and if you have any prior injuries to the area. They’ll ask about your pain patterns and what aggravates your condition. Your provider will also perform a physical examination, carefully examining your thumb and hand. They may hold your joint firmly while moving your thumb. They may suspect thumb arthritis if: This motion …