Basic respiratory signs and symptoms Flashcards
Clear or mucoid sputum
- Excess secretion from bronchial mucous glands in, e.g. asthma and chronic bronchitis
Purulent sputum
Inflammatory exudate from respiratory tract infection
Sputum with blood
Extravasation of red cells due to cardiac failure, pulmonary infarction or ulceration of respiratory mucosa (e.g. by tumour)
Cough
Physiological reflex response to the presence of mucus, exudate, tumour or foreign material
Wheezing on inspiration
Narrowing of larynx, trachea or proximal bronchi e.g. by a tumour
Wheezing on expiration
Distal bronchial narrowing e.g. asthma
Dyspnoea
Decreased oxygen in the blood from impaired alveolar gas exchange, left heart failure or anaemia
Cyanosis
Increased non-oxygenated haemoglobin
Pleuritic pain
Irritation of the pleura due to pulmonary inflammation
Transdute (low protein) pleural effusion
Cardiac failure
Hypoalbuminaemia (e.g. cirrhosis, nephrotic syndrome)
Exudate (high protein) pleural effusion
Pleural inflammation
Tumour
Clubbing
Often accompanies carcinoma of the lung and pulmonary fibrosis, as well as, less commonly, cirrhosis and chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
Weight loss
Protein catabolic state induced by chronic inflammatory disease (e.g. tuberculosis) or tumours
Auscultation signs - Crackles
Sudden inspirational opening of small airways resisted by fluid or fibrosis.
Auscultation signs - Wheezes
Generalised or localised airway narrowing
