Topic: History of the Present Illness (for a patient with pain)
Target Audience: ER clinicians
Format: Mainly yes/no questions, a few with short answers
Video Version
First, I’ll walk you through a general HPI in video form.
(FYI, this video is also available as a podcast. Details below.)
Written Version
If you prefer, here’s the written version of an HPI in Spanish.
Note: Parentheses mean the word(s) can be left out, and the phrase should still make sense.
English | Spanish |
Where exactly (does it hurt)? | Dónde (le duele) exactamente? |
Point with one finger. | Señale con un dedo. |
How many days/ | Cuántos días/ |
Hours/ | Horas/ |
Minutes? | Minutos? |
(Is it) worse now? | (Está) peor ahora? |
Better now? | Mejor ahora? |
Still the same? | Sigue igual? |
Is it sharp? | Es agudo? |
Pressure-like? | Como presión? |
Burning? | Ardor? |
Just pain? | Solo dolor? |
Is it severe? | Es fuerte? |
Mild? | Leve? |
Moderate? | Moderado? |
Is it all the time? | Es todo el tiempo? |
Does it come and go? | Va y viene? |
How many minutes does it last (each time)? | Cuántos minutos dura (cada vez)? |
(Do you feel) worse when you… | (Se siente) peor cuando… |
Walk? | Camina? |
Eat? | Come? |
Cough? | Tose? |
(Do you feel) better when you… | (Se siente) mejor cuando… |
Rest? | Descansa? |
Take medicine? | Toma medicina? |
Have you felt pain like this before? | Ha sentido un dolor como este antes? |
Does the pain radiate (to other places)? | Se le mueve el dolor (a otros lugares)? |
(Point to) where. | (Señale) donde. |
Wrapping Up
Thanks for checking out my general HPI dialogue.
For additional medical Spanish dialogues, check out my podcast! Details below. 🙂