Signs & Symptoms in Respiratory Medicine

Question 1

What is meant by the presenting complaint?

Answer 1

What the patient tells you is wrong with them (not the condition, just symptoms/signs)

Question 2

Which acronym is used for gathering the history of a presenting complaint?

Answer 2

SOCRATES

Question 3

What does SOCRATES stand for?

Answer 3

Site, Onset, Character, Radiation, Associations, Timing, Exacerbating/Alleviating factors, Severity

Question 4

Where does pain not come from in the chest?

Answer 4

Lung tissue itself

Question 5

Cardiac Pain usually differs from Respiratory pain because…

Answer 5

it usually radiates

Question 6

Damage to the lung tissue often causes…

Answer 6

Cough

Question 7

Damage to the pleura often causes…

Answer 7

Sharp pain

Question 8

What 4 systems may be involved in chest pain?

Answer 8

CV, Resp, GI, muscular

Question 9

What is meant by orthopnoea?

Answer 9

Breathlessness when lying down

Question 10

What is meant by stridor?

Answer 10

Horrible wheeze when breathing in

Question 11

Give 3 causes for acute breathlessness.

Answer 11

PE, Pneumothorax, pulmonary oedema

Question 12

Give 4 possible causes for subacute breathlessness.

Answer 12

Pneumonia, pulmonary oedema, pleural effusion, Asthma/COPD

Question 13

Give 3 possible causes for chronic breathlessness.

Answer 13

COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, recurrent PE

Question 14

What is meant by haemoptysis?

Answer 14

Coughing up blood

Question 15

What are the 4 main causes of haemoptysis?

Answer 15

Infection, carcinoma, PE, Bronchiectasis

Question 16

Which 6 areas should be documented during clerking?

Answer 16

Presenting complaint, history of PC, Drug History & allergies, Past medical history, social history, family history