Always describe the beginning of your complaints (or those of your child, if the child is the patient); state just how they began as well as the changes that may have taken place since. 

What were the sensations or difficulties you felt when the problem first began? 

Did they come on quickly or gradually? 

What was happening in your life just prior to the onset of the problem? 

How has the problem changed over time?

Mention all previous illnesses.

 A complete history of your health is important, even of such things as skin diseases, children’s diseases and their after-effects; tell of fevers, colds, flu, sores, ulcers, etc; also, injuries, if any. 

Tell their location and what treatment was used. Tell, if you can, all treatments that have been used.

Describe all mental or “nervous” feelings and conditions, such as likes and dislikes, desires, fears, timidity, hurried feeling, lack of interest, persistent thoughts, discouragements, discontent, over- conscientiousness whether critical, irritable, easily confused, aversion to business or work, absentmindedness, changeable mood, difficulty of concentration, dullness of mind, whether easily startled or starting from sleep or when falling asleep, or from noise or being touched; whether annoyed by noise or talk of others or by children; whether easily affected by bad news; whether better or worse from mental exertion, or when occupied; whether sensitive to offense or contradiction.

Describe the state of mind as to the future or to threatening troubles; attitude of mind as to associates and relatives, and the effects of same, and whether better alone or with company. Tell the peculiarities of memory; whether desire to be silent or to talk much. Tell of any emotional shocks, frights, disappointment, etc. of the present or past; how affected by a room full of people. Which of these have appeared or gotten worse since the onset of your illness?

Tell what is craved or disliked, such as salt, sweets, fats, sour, spicy things, eggs, etc. Also, thirst for much, little or nothing, and what drink is preferred. 

Describe all pain; what kind, what it feels like and whether constant, changeable, or periodical; also, in what direction it may go or extend, if any; whether it comes slowly or suddenly and how it leaves. 

Do the symptoms remain the same or do they change character or shift from one place to another? 

Write the time of day, night, month or season that you are better or worse, whether better before or after eating, sleeping, moving, resting, when occupied, when thinking of your complaint, etc. 

Write what things or conditions make you worse and whatever relieves the pain or sickness. This is important. Just how are you affected by different kinds of weather, by cold, heat, dryness, storm coming, thunderstorms, frost, cloudiness, seashore, low or high altitudes, etc.?