Blisters Assessment Questionnaire

Questions Your Doctor May Ask - and Why!

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques to assess the symptom: Blisters. These will include a physical examination and possibly diagnostic tests. (Note: A physical exam is always done, diagnostic tests may or may not be performed depending on the suspected condition) Your doctor will ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to openly share any pertinent information to help your doctor make an accurate diagnosis.

It is also very important to bring an up-to-date list of all of your all medical conditions, medications including dosages, and names of numbers of any specialist you see.

Create your printable checklist by answering questions that your doctor may ask below:

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How long have the blister(s) been present?
Why: to determine if acute or chronic.
Widespread or localized? If widespread may suggest atopic dermatitis, dermatitis herpetiformis, chickenpox, erythema multiforme, pemphigoid, pemphigus or drug eruption. If localized may suggest pompholyx, contact dermatitis, psoriasis, impetigo, herpes simplex
Size of the blister(s)?
Why: if less than 1cm called a vesicle ; if more than 1cm called a bulla.
Location of the blister(s) and where did they start?
Why: can help determine cause of blisters e.g. shingles are often on the central trunk; atopic dermatitis often on face and in flexures such as behind knee; herpes simplex usually on mouth or genitals; chicken pox usually on face, scalp and trunk.
Are the contents of the blisters clear fluid?
Why: if not clear fluid , they are not blisters e.g. pus filled lesion is a pustule and may have different causes.
Are the mucous membranes (lining of mouth) affected?
Why: may suggest chicken pox, herpes simplex, Erythema multiforma, Steven's-Johnson syndrome, pemphigoid, pemphigus.
Is there a history of skin injury e.g. sunburn, direct cold exposure, direct burn to skin, friction burn to skin (e.g. foot blisters from tight shoes), chemical burn to skin
Has there been a recent insect bite?
Why: can cause blistering rash.
Was there any preceding systemic illness?
Why: may suggest chicken pox, hand foot and mouth disease.
Did the blisters appear over a preceding area of skin erythema (redness)?
Why: may suggest herpes simplex or pemphigoid.
Have you had contact with a person with a similar eruption?
Why: may suggest chicken pox, herpes simples, scabies, impetigo, shingles (rarely contagious).
Have you been exposed to anything different lately?
Why: may suggest an allergy source for atopic eczema.
Do you have an allergic tendency?
Why: e.g. asthma, hay fever - may suggest tendency towards atopic dermatitis.
Past History of similar rash?
Past medical history?
Why: Dermatitis herpetiformis is associated with Celiac disease; Erythema multiforme is associated with Herpes simplex virus, mycoplasma pneumonia, tuberculosis, streptococcus infections, lupus erythematosus, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma.
Medications?
Why: some drugs can cause drug eruptions that include blister-like lesions e.g.sulphonamides, penicillamine, frusemide, barbiturates.
Itchy
Why: may suggest chicken pox, dermatitis herpetiformis, contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis (eczema), herpes simplex.
Skin pain
Why: eg. In shingles the rash is preceded by several days of skin pain with hypersensitivity, In Staphylococcal scaled skin syndrome skin is tender.
Systemic symptoms
Why: eg. fever, headache, malaise - may suggest chicken pox, shingles, hand foot and mouth disease, herpes simplex, Staphylococcal skin syndrome.

Conditions listing medical symptoms: Blisters:

The following list of conditions have 'Blisters' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

Select from the following alphabetical view of conditions which include a symptom of Blisters or choose View All.

View All A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y Z

Conditions listing medical complications: Blisters:

The following list of medical conditions have 'Blisters' or similar listed as a medical complication in our database.

» Next page: Types of Blisters

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