Differentiating (disease name) from other diseases page

# Introduction to the Differentiating (Disease Name) From Other Diseases Page
- This chapter covers the process that is traditionally known as "differential diagnosis".
- The page name should be "Differentiating (disease name) from other diseases", with only the first letter of the title capitalized.
- Goal: To provide information on a systematic method of differentiating a given disease from other diseases that may present similarly.
- For an example of a microchapter on differentiating disease, click here.
- Search the disease database () to assure the content for this page is complete.
- As with all microchapter pages linking to the main page, at the top of the edit box put {{CMG}}, your name template, and the microchapter navigation template you created at the beginning.
- Remember to create links within Wikidoc by placing ] around key words which you want to link to other pages. Make sure you make your links as specific as possible. For example if a sentence contained the phrase anterior spinal artery syndrome, the link should be to anterior spinal artery syndrome not anterior or artery or syndrome.  For more information on how to create links click here.
- Remember to follow the same format and capitalization of letters  as outlined in the template below.
- You should include the name of the disease in the first sentence of every subsection.

# Overview
- The overview section should include the disease name in the first sentence.
- The goal is to summarize the page several sentences, usually stating the categories that the disease is classified by.
- This section can be the same as the differentiating disease section in the overview page.

## Template
- First Sentence:
- Examples:

# Preferred Template Statements
-  must be differentiated from other diseases that cause , , and , such as , , and .
-  must be differentiated from , , and .
IF the disease has multiple subtypes and the subtypes do not have the same differential diagnoses:
- As  manifests in a variety of clinical forms, differentiation must be established in accordance with the particular subtype.  must be differentiated from other diseases that cause , such as  and . In contrast,  must be differentiated from other diseases that cause , such as  and .

# Differentiating (Disease name) from other Diseases
- In this section you will outline the conditions or diseases that may often be confused with the disease you are describing.
- You can list the diseases, include major clinical features of each differential diagnosis including major symptoms, physical exam findings, and provide a brief description of how each disease is different from the one you are describing, as seen here.
- You can differentiate physical examination characteristics from those of similar diseases.
- You can also provide guidance on the distinguishing characteristics of the physical exam findings, the laboratory findings, and other diagnostic modalities.
- A table may be helpful.  It should be preceded by the following sentence:
The table below summarizes the findings that differentiate ______ dz from other conditions that may cause ____ (major symptoms) and _____  (major signs):
- If you want to have some abbreviations, you should describe them before starting the table. You can find an example here.
- The use of the following symbols may be helpful within a table:
 and  ,to signify elevations and reductions in quantitative findings.
- , ++, or +++ to signify varying levels of quantitative findings, - if there is a null value, and Nl if the desired value is within normal limits.
-  and  ,to signify elevations and reductions in quantitative findings.
- + , ++, or +++ to signify varying levels of quantitative findings, - if there is a null value, and Nl if the desired value is within normal limits.
- The following table may be used as a general template for differentiating diseases from one another:
- This table must include the cardinal manifestations of differential diagnosis and the list of diseases must be prioritize based on mortality rate and  prevalences of the diseases. For example, if you want to write a differential diagnosis table for heat stroke, sepsis, malignant hyperthermia, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, and serotonin syndrome first, you need to mention the cardinal manifestations for these conditions as, hyperthermia and altered mental status. Second, prioritize your list based on disease mortality or prevalence then, create the table. You can find the example here.

## Examples:
The following tables may be used as examples of different table styles for differentiating disease:

### Example 1
The table below summarizes the different findings between Pericarditis and Myocardial infarction:

### Example 2
The table below summarizes the findings that differentiate Shigellosis from other conditions that cause fever and hemorrhage:

### Example 3
Stroke, must be differentiated from other diseases that may cause, altered mental status, motor and or somatosensory deficits. The table below, summarizes the differential diagnosis for stroke: