Respiratory and Drug History Taking Flashcards
1
Q
What is the structure for taking a history?
A
- presenting complaint
- history of presenting complaint
- past medical history
- medication/allergies
- family history
- social history
- systems enquiry
2
Q
What are some key respiratory questions to ask in the history of the presenting complaint?
A
- chest pain?
- dyspnoea?
- cough?
- sputum?
- haemoptysis?
- wheeze?
- systemic upset?
explore symptoms
3
Q
Causes of central chest pain?
A
- tracheitis
- angina/MI
- massive PE
4
Q
Causes of pleural chest pain?
A
- pneumonia
- lung tumour
- pneumothorax
5
Q
What are questions to ask about dyspnoea?
A
- anything that brings it on?
- is it always or when you exercise?
- lying down?
- how far can you walk/can you walk uphill?
6
Q
Things that cause dyspnoea?
A
- minutes: PE, pneumothorax
- hours/days: pneumonia, asthma
- weeks/months: anaemia, pleural effusion
- months/years: COPD, pulmonary fibrosis
7
Q
Questions to ask about coughs?
A
- how long?
- when does it occur?
- anything making it better or worse?
- is it dry? do you cough anything up?
- smoking/change in medication
8
Q
What are the red flags for coughs?
A
- haemoptysis
- breathlessness
- weight loss
- chest pain
- smoker
9
Q
Questions to ask about sputum?
A
- how often?
- how much?
- what colour? has it changed?
- any blood?
- frothy or thick?
- abnormal taste or smell?
- other symptoms
10
Q
What illness produces clear/watery/frothy/pink sputum?
A
acute pulmonary oedema
11
Q
What illness produces clear/grey/white/viscid sputum?
A
COPD/asthma
12
Q
What illness produces yellow/green/brown sputum?
A
Infection
13
Q
What illness produces rusty red sputum?
A
pneumococcal pneumonia
14
Q
Questions to ask about haemoptysis?
A
- when did you first notice blood in your sputum?
- how many times?
- how much blood?
- any other colours?
- do you have bruising or bleeding anywhere else?
- are you taking any blood thinners?
- other symptoms
15
Q
Questions to ask about wheezing?
A
- when does it occur?
- frequency
- exacerbators/relievers
- do they have an inhaler? how often do they need to use it?
- exercise tolerance
- severity
