Itching: Differential Diagnosis by Symptom Pattern

• •Fever pattern and inflammatory signs
• •Exposure history, travel risk, and host immunity
• •Organ-localized signs vs systemic sepsis pattern

• •Morphology and distribution of skin findings
• •Trigger/exposure timing and recurrence pattern
• •Systemic involvement (airway, hemodynamics, fever)

• •Constitutional symptoms (weight loss, night sweats, fatigue)
• •Persistent or progressive pattern without clear acute trigger
• •Abnormal blood counts and imaging findings

• •Pattern of cough, dyspnea, and pleuritic pain
• •Oxygen saturation and respiratory rate
• •Auscultation findings and imaging pattern

• •Mechanical vs inflammatory pain profile
• •Morning stiffness and functional pattern
• •Joint distribution and systemic autoimmune clues

Immediate testing when red flags are present

• •Focused examination with baseline labs if symptoms persist
• •Escalate to urgent workup when red flags appear

Group-directed workup

• •CBC with differential
• •CRP / ESR
• •Targeted cultures or PCR
• •Lactate if sepsis concern
• •Focused skin exam
• •Allergy workup when indicated
• •Infection swab/culture when needed
• •Biopsy in atypical persistent lesions