Respiratory System Detailed

Question 1

History taking

Answer 1

Respiratory symptoms:
cough, sputum production, breathlessness, chest pain, haemoptysis, wheeze.
Specify acuity of onset,
change in symptoms with location or time of the day
• Systemic symptoms:
weight loss, malaise, night sweats.

• Occupational exposure:
all previous occupations, with a specific focus on exposure to asbestos, to organic materials such as
hay, mushrooms or cotton, or to animals. Establish any relationship of symptoms to work.

Question 2

History taking 2

Answer 2

oking:
smoking history (duration of smoking and number
of cigarettes smoked per day), and also attempts made to give
up, including use of nicotine replacement substances such as
e-cigarettes.
• Recreational drug use:
especially smoked cannabis.
• Family history:
respiratory conditions such as emphysema,
bronchiectasis or cystic fibrosis.
•
Childhood history:
prematurity, childhood infections such as
whooping cough or measles.
•
Travel history:
may be relevant in assessing risk factors for
tuberculosis.

Question 3

When reading a chest X-ray 10

Answer 3

1. Look for the information of the individual. Name, Age, Date taken, view, adequate or not
2. Trachea: centrally placed or displaced to left or right
3. Mediastinum
4. Heart
5. Diaphragm
6. Pleura
7. Lung
8. Ribs
9. Soft tissue
10. Miscellaneous