Chapter 16 Respiratory Emergencies

Question 1

*Signs and symptoms of asthma:

Answer 1

Wheezing on inspiration and expiration, bronchospasm

Dyspnea with longer expiratory phase, tachypnea, tachycardia, tripod posture, wheezing, decreased lung sounds bilaterally, and chest tightness

Question 2

Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis:

Answer 2

Flushed skin/hives, generalized edema, decreased blood pressure, laryngeal edema w/ dyspnea, and wheezing/stridor

Question 3

Signs and symptoms of bronchiolitis:

Answer 3

Dyspnea (Shortness of breath), wheezing, coughing, fever, dehydration, tachypnea, tachycardia -caused by infection

Question 4

Signs and symptoms of Bronchitis:

Answer 4

Chronic cough (w/ sputum production), wheezing, rhonci, cyanosis, tachypnea

Question 5

Signs and symptoms of Congestive heart failure:

Answer 5

Dependent edema, crackles, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea

Question 6

Signs and symptoms of common cold:

Answer 6

Cough, runny/stuffy nose, sore throat

Question 7

Signs and symptoms of COVID-19:

Answer 7

Cough, fever, dyspnea, chest pain, anosmia -caused by infection

Question 8

Signs and symptoms of Croup:

Answer 8

Fever, barking cough, stridor, mostly seen in peds - caused by infection

Question 9

*Signs and symptoms of diptheria:

Answer 9

Difficulty breathing/swallowing, sore throat, thick, gray buildup in throat or nose, fever

Question 10

*Signs and Symptoms of Emphysema:

Answer 10

Barrel chest, pursed lip breathing dyspnea on exertion, cyanosis, wheezing/decreased breath sounds, mostly seen in older patients

Question 11

Signs and symptoms of epiglottitis:

Answer 11

Dyspnea, high fever, stridor, drooling, difficulty swallowing, severe sore throat, tripod/ sniffing position, mostly in peds - caused by infection

Question 12

Signs and symptoms of influenza type A (flu):

Answer 12

Cough, fever, sore throat, fatigue -caused by infection

Question 13

Signs and symptoms Pertussis (whooping Cough)

Answer 13

Coughing spells, whooping sound, fever -caused by infection

Question 14

*Signs and symptoms of pneumonia

Answer 14

Dyspnea, fever, cough, green red or rust-colored sputum, localized wheezing or crackles, tachypnea, tachycardia, caused by infection

Question 15

*Signs and symptoms of pneumothorax:

Answer 15

Sudden pleuritic chest pain with dyspnea, unilateral decreased breath sounds, subcutaneous emphysema, tachypnea

Question 16

*Signs and symptoms of pulmonary embolus:

Answer 16

Sudden onset Dyspnea, occasionally will have sharp pleuritic chest pain, tachycardia, tachypnea, JVD, dependent edema, hemoptysis, clear beath sounds initially, syncope

Question 17

Signs and symptoms of tension peneumothorax:

Answer 17

Severe dyspnea (shortness of breath), unilaterally diminished or absent breath sounds, decreased/altered LOC, neck vein distention, tracheal deviation, hypotension, signs of shock

Question 18

Signs and symptoms of respiratory syncytial virus:

Answer 18

Cough, wheezing, fever, dehydration - caused by infection

Question 19

Signs and symptoms of tuberculosis:

Answer 19

Cough fever fatigue, productive/bloody sputum -caused by infection

Question 20

What is a short list of the causes of dyspnea?

Answer 20

Pulmonary edema, hay fever, pleural effusion, obstruction of the airway, hyperventilation syndrome, environmental/industrial exposure, CO poisoning, drug overdose

These conditions may cause fluid in the lung, infection, collapsed alveoli (atelectasis), alveoli damage, muscle spasms, mucus or weakened airway walls obstruct air passages, blood flow to lungs obstructed by clot, plural space filled w/ air or excess fluid hampering expansion,

Question 21

What are the signs of respiratory distress?

Answer 21

Agitation, anxiety, restlessness, stridor, wheezing, accessory muscle use, intercostal retractions, neck muscle use (sternomastoid), tachypnea, mild tachycardia, nasal flaring, seesaw breathing, head bobbing.

Question 22

What are the signs of respiratory failure?

Answer 22

Lethargy, difficult to rouse, tachypnea with periods of bradypnea or agonal respirations, inadequate chest rise/poor excursion, inadequate respiratory rate or effort, bradycardia, diminished muscle tone.

Question 23

Wheezes: what’s their physiological cause, what do they sound like, what diseases cause them, and what are other signs and symptoms of those diseases?

Answer 23

Cause: constriction and/or inflammation of the bronchus (swelling or other narrowing of lower airways)
Sound: Generally on exhalation, high-pitched almost musical or whistling sound
Diseases and their signs/symptoms: Asthma, COPD, Pulmonary Edema, and Pneumonia: all also presenting tachypnea
Their notable symptoms are Asthma- chest tightness.
COPD- cough, change/increase in sputum production, and barrel chest, pursed lip breathing
CHF/pulmonary edema- sacral edema, dependent edema, Dyspnea, Pneumonia-fever, pleuritic chest pain, unilateral decreased breath sounds,
Dyspnea w/ longer expiratory phase & bilaterally decreased lung sounds: Asthma & COPD
Tachycardia: Asthma, PE, Pneumonia
Tripod: Asthma, COPD, PE
Hypotension: PE, Pneumonia
Rales: PE, Pneumonia
Ronchi: COPD & Pneumonia

Question 24

Rhonchi: what’s their physiological cause, what do they sound like, what diseases cause them, and what are other signs and symptoms of those diseases?

Answer 24

Cause: Secretions or mucus in the larger airway (bronchi or bronchioles)
Sound: Low-pitched rattling sounds
Diseases and their signs/symptoms: COPD-Cough, change or increase in sputum production, dyspnea w/ prolonged expiratory phase, tripod, diffuse wheezing, bilaterally decreased breath sounds, barrel chest, pursed lip breathing, Pneumonia-fever, unilaterally decreased breath sounds, focal wheezing, rales, normo/hypotensive, tachycardia, pleuritic chest pain, Bronchitis-clear or white sputum
Tachypnea: COPD, Pneumonia

Question 25

Crackles: what’s their physiological cause, what do they sound like, what diseases cause them, and what are other signs and symptoms of those diseases?

Answer 25

Cause: Fluid in the alveoli
Sound: Typically on inspiration crackling or bubbling. High-pitched: Fine Crackles Low-Pitched: Course Crackles
Diseases and their S/S:
CHF/PE and Pneumonia: both have wheezing and tachypnea, hypotension (Pneumonia may be normotensive), and tachycardia CFH/Pulmonary edema: Dependent edema, sacral edema, dyspnea, tripod, pink frothy sputum, Pneumonia: Fever, decreased breath sounds on one side of the chest, pleuritic chest pain

Question 26

Stridor: what’s their physiological cause, what do they sound like, what diseases cause them, and what are other signs and symptoms of those diseases?

Answer 26

Cause: Swelling or other narrowing in the upper airway
Sound: High-pitched, heard on inspiration
Diseases and their S/S: Croup-fever, barking cough, Epiglottitis: Fever sore throat drooling

Question 27

Decreased or absent breath sounds: What diseases cause them, and what are other signs and symptoms of those diseases?

Answer 27

Diseases and their S/S: Asthma: nonproductive cough, dyspnea. COPD: Productive cough Pneumonia: Fever and pleuritic pain Hemothorax: Shock, respiratory distress, Pneumothorax: Dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, Atelectasis: fever, decreased oxygen saturation

Question 28

What do gurgling sounds indicate?

Answer 28

Fluid in the upper airway

Question 29

What do snoring sounds indicate?

Answer 29

Partial obstruction of the upper airway by tongue.