THE PAEDIATRICIAN AND THE FORGOTTEN SEMEIOTICS

Key words: Semeiotics, Paediatrics

The Author reviews what has remained of traditional semeiotics and what has been added to it by modern paediatrics. His conclusions are the following: a) in recent years the role of semeiotics has increased rather than reduced; b) the use of additional tools during the physical examination (such as otoscope; stereotest or orchydometer) and the easy consultation of paediatrics text books and internet have definitely increased the list of diagnosis which can be suspected on the clinical basis; c) the semeiotics of children deserves more and better attention.