In a SOAP note, which section is typically limited to a single complaint and includes the duration?

• A. Chief Complaint
• B. History of Present Illness
• C. Assessment
• D. Plan

Answer: (A)

Chief Complaint captures the patient's single reason for the visit, usually stated in a concise phrase and including how long it has been present. This section is designed to be a quick, focused summary of why the patient sought care, so it typically points to one main issue and includes the duration to indicate how acute or chronic the problem is. The History of Present Illness then expands on that complaint with a detailed narrative—onset, progression, quality, intensity, associated symptoms, and factors that worsen or relieve it. The other sections, such as Assessment and Plan, are about diagnoses and management rather than the presenting reason itself. So the description that fits this prompt is the Chief Complaint.