Rash bruise lump spots a black eye

I've got a cold / a cough / a sore throat / a temperature / a stomach ache / chest pains / earache / a pain in my side / a rash on my chest / spots / a bruise on my leg / a black eye / a lump on my arm / indigestion / diarrhoea / painful joints / blisters / sunburn.

I feel sick / dizzy / breathless / shivery / faint / particularly bad at night.

I am depressed / constipated / tired all the time.

I've lost my appetite / voice; I can't sleep, my nose itches and my leg hurts.

What do doctors do?

They take your temperature, listen to your chest, look in your ears, examine you, take your blood pressure, ask you some questions and weigh and measure you before sending you to the hospital for further tests.

What's the diagnosis?

You've got flu / chickenpox / mumps / pneumonia / rheumatism / an ulcer / a virus / a bug something that's going round.

You've broken your wrist and sprained / dislocated your ankle. You're pregnant / a hypochondriac. He died of lung cancer / a heart attack / a brain haemorrhage / AIDS.

What would you say if the doctor asked you the following questions?

Do you have health insurance?

Have you ever had any operations?

Are you taking any medication?

Are you allergic to anything?

26. a)What does the doctor prescribe?

Take one three times a day after meals.

Take a teaspoonful last thing at night.

Rub a little on before going to bed each night.

We'll get the nurse to put a bandage on.

You'll need to have some injections before you go.

I'll ask the surgeon when he can fit you in for an operation.

You'll have to have your leg put in plaster.

I think you should have total bed rest for a week.

 

b) Discuss what the doctor would say to each of the following patients? Make use of the statements above.

1. Anne with bad sunburn.	5. Jo who's broken her leg.
2. John who's off to the Tropics.	6. Paul with flu.
3. Liz with a bad cough.	7. Sam who needs his appendix out.
4. Rose suffering from exhaustion.	8. Alf who's sprained his wrist.