Symptombetrachtung
Symptombetrachtung, a German term that translates literally as "symptom consideration" or "symptom observation," refers to the systematic examination and interpretation of clinical symptoms presented by a patient. The concept is central to diagnostic reasoning in medical practice, serving as a bridge between subjective patient reports and objective clinical findings. It encompasses the collection of symptom data through history taking, physical examination, and sometimes ancillary tests, followed by classification according to criteria such as severity, onset, duration, and associated features.
In contemporary medicine, Symptombetrachtung is embedded in evidence‑based guidelines and is often supported by standardized tools
Historically, the systematic study of symptoms dates back to ancient Greek medicine, where philosophers like Hippocrates