Loss of appetite can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'troubling' to 'very serious'. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.
Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose loss of appetite, we could:
Cause | Probability | Status |
---|---|---|
West Nile Virus | 97% | Confirm |
Infectious Mononucleosis | 74% | Possible |
Have you lost your appetite suddenly within the past 4 weeks?
Possible responses:
→ I lost it more than 4 weeks ago / don't know→ No, my appetite is fine → Yes, but it has now returned → Yes, 2-4 weeks ago and it has not returned → Yes, under 2 weeks ago and it has not returned |