Final answer:
DDx stands for Differential Diagnosis, which is a process used in medicine to determine the most likely cause of a patient's symptoms by evaluating their medical history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests. It involves considering all possible causes and ruling them out one by one to reach an accurate diagnosis.
Step-by-step explanation:
DDx stands for Differential Diagnosis. It is a process used in medicine to determine the most likely cause of a patient's symptoms based on a thorough evaluation of their medical history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests.
Differential diagnosis involves considering all possible causes of the symptoms and then ruling them out one by one until the most probable diagnosis is identified. It requires the doctor to compare and contrast the signs, symptoms, and test results of different diseases to make an accurate diagnosis.
For example, if a patient presents with a fever and cough, the differential diagnosis may include common respiratory infections, such as the flu or pneumonia, as well as other conditions like asthma, bronchitis, or even lung cancer. The doctor will use their clinical expertise and medical knowledge to narrow down the possibilities and arrive at the correct diagnosis.