14 Assessment and management of neurological problems (1)

Abstract

The community practitioner may be asked to see patients with a wide range of neurological symptoms that can be difficult to diagnose with certainty in the community. A structured history and examination is vital in formulating a differential diagnosis and in deciding which patients should be referred for urgent investigation and treatment. In general symptoms of acute onset require immediate referral whereas those of subacute (over days to weeks) or chronic onset may be more appropriately investigated in an outpatient setting if the patient is otherwise well.