wait and see
Last reviewed 01/2018
Wait and see as a diagnostic strategy:
- in general practice, a very high proportion of undiagnosed conditions will resolve spontaneously
- reviewing the patient after a few days may clarify an unclear picture
- holding fire reduces the time given to self-limiting conditions, avoids unnecessary investigations, referrals and emergency admissions and may reduce the anxiety often induced by reacting precipitately
- if the patient is obviously ill, delay is not appropriate
- the time the patient has had symptoms before presenting may also make further delay irrelevant