Signs/Symptoms of Respiratory Disease Flashcards
What are the key symptoms of respiratory disease?
Breathlessness Chest pain Cough Sputum production Haemoptysis Wheeze
What are key questions for assessing dyspnoea?
Onset Duration When it occurs Is it worsening triggers Severity + impact
What can cause an instant onset of dyspnoea?
PE
Acute asthma
Pneumothorax
What can cause dyspnoea lasting minutes-days?
Pneumonia
IECOPD
Pleural effusion
What can cause dyspnoea lasting weeks-months?
Pleural effusion
Lung cancer
What can cause dyspnoea lasting months-years?
COPD
Asthma
Lung fibrosis
How is pleuritic chest pain described?
Sharp
Localised
Worse on breathing
What is the cough reflex?
Stimulus Larynx/trachea/bronchi Afferent = vagal nerves Central control Efferent = motor nerves Cough
What can trigger a cough?
Irritation of airway
- inflammation
- FB
- microorganisms
- smoke
What is a cough?
Forced expiratory effort against an initially closed glottis
Builds up pressure then glottis open suddenly = air expelled at velocity
What causes clear sputum?
Chronic bronchitis
COPD
What causes yellow/green sputum?
Infection
What causes large amounts of sputum?
Bronchiectasis
What is haemoptysis?
Blood in sputum
What is a wheeze?
Abnormal breath sounds indicating narrowing within the airway causing turbulent airway
