Institute of Internal Medicine

• Fever of unknown origin
• Persistent weakness, fatigue
• Chest pain, abdominal pain
• Weight loss
• Various skin lesions associated with internal diseases
• Edema, anasarca, lymphadenopathy
• Systemic diseases

With the emergence of narrow specialties such as cardiology, hematology, pulmonology, and others, the importance of internal medicine as a medical science has not diminished in the slightest. Imagine a situation in which a patient presents with symptoms that do not clearly fall under any particular narrow specialty — fever, enlarged lymph nodes, swollen extremities, and much more. Each narrow specialist would refer such a patient to an internist.

And what about cases when the pathological process involves multiple organs — the heart, kidneys, and liver simultaneously? Only an internist can coordinate the examination and treatment in such cases, bringing together cardiologists, hepatologists, and nephrologists in a consilium. This is one of the most intellectually demanding specialties, requiring physicians to be well-versed in all narrow fields of internal medicine, as well as in gynecology, dermatology, surgery, and even psychiatry. A vast number of patients present with numerous complaints — headaches, abdominal pain, muscle weakness, fatigue, and swollen extremities. After conducting a comprehensive examination and ruling out all organic pathology, it is precisely the internist who has the authority to make the correct decision, refer the patient to a psychiatrist, and identify an anxiety disorder or depression that may be the underlying cause of many complaints.