A 45-year-old male complains of fatigue and loss of appetite. He also reports a recent onset of excessive sweating at night and unexplained weight loss. He has a history of intermittent lower back pain for which he sees a chiropractor. His vitals are within normal limits. What is your approach?
This patient presents with symptoms (fatigue, loss of appetite, night sweats, weight loss) that may indicate serious systemic conditions such as malignancy, infection (like tuberculosis), or autoimmune disorders. The intermittent lower back pain might be unrelated, especially if it can be explained by a musculoskeletal condition. Given the systemic nature of the symptoms, the first step would involve a comprehensive physical examination and laboratory studies, including a complete blood count, metabolic panel, inflammatory markers, and possibly infection screening based on risk factors. Imaging studies might also be considered based on the physical examination and laboratory results.