Symptoms In Comm Pharm Flashcards
most coughs are acute, what are some differential diagnoses for acute coughs below 3 weeks
upper resp tract infection
acute exacerbation copd or asthma
acute bronchitis
pe if pain
what period in weeks is a subacute cough and could be post viral infection
3-8
coughs over what duration suggest a repetitive cause such as smoking or due to medication
8 weeks
what 3 conditions may cause long term cough
Indigestion/ HF/ lung cancer
why does clear sputum suggest that the cause of a cough is unlikely to be infectious
not bacterial
for infection what colour sputum would you expect to see
green, yellow maybe dark brown
what colour sputum indicates cancer
dark red- blood
what can a rust colour sputum sometimes be a sign of
pneumonia
what colour sputum might be indicative of left ventricular failure
pink
what professions make px more exposured to cough triggers
builders, dust workers
why should people presenting with a cough be asked about recent travel abroad
could be malaria
when a cough that is related to asthma be worse
night or early morning
cold weather
what qs would you ask px complaining of a ‘nasty cough’
- Duration and severity
- other symptoms: fever, chest pain, difficulty breathing
- recent exposure to sick individuals or irritants
- underlying health conditions or medications taken
- Tried remedies/ treatment? If not improving after bottle of cough mixture, seek further treatment
- other/ associated pain?
Qs to ask - Chesty/dry cough
- Smoker?
- Current meds
- Ongoing symptom from recent chest infection?
- Any allergies? Related to that maybe
- Sore throat alongside may indicate viral infection. Also may have fever
- Is it better or worse with/ after food? May indicate heartburn
- Shortness of breath, wheezing? More concerning
- Time cough occurs, worse at night? Or early morning? May indicate asthma- refer for assessment and diagnosis - post nasal drip/ chronic bronchitis?
- Onset
what drug class may cause dry cough
ACEi
what alongside cough may indicate viral infection
sore throat
with cough why ask Is it better or worse with/ after food?
May indicate heartburn
name some non-pharmacological tx for cough
hydration
rest
steam inhalation
a syrup would be soothing for a cough for providing relief, what active ingredient may be useful for a chesty cough
guaifenesin
what are the two groups that cough mixtures can be broken into
expectants and suppressants
expectants are well used and tolerated and available in several different brands, how do they work
eg guaifenesin
increase airways secretions by increasing water content of secretions and decreasing viscosity of mucus
what cough suppressant may be useful for use in dry coughs
dextromethorphan
what is the usual dose of dextromethorphan qds
100-200mg
a cough should be assessed if it exceeds x weeks
3
what different aspects of medication advice should you give to patients
take per dosing instructions
side effects
storage conditions
what temperature are cough mixtures usually stored at
room temp
what should px take for pain w cough if not asthmatic
paracetamol/ ibu
list some different red flags that could be associated with coughs
fever over 3 days
unexplained weight loss
sob
swelling of face and neck
repeated chest infections
over 3 weeks
coughing up blood
if px complians of intermittent leg pain, what else would you ask
duration
on calf/ further up
any trauma/ fall
character (SOCRATES)
swelling/ warts skin changes at site
traveled revently dvt
meds
recent surgery in risk clots
bruising
antihypers new can suggest fall
allergies
what drug class increases risk of muscular pain
statin
what is the main differential that you might think of with leg pain
dvt
dvt usually affects the calfs, is it usually one leg that is affected or both
one
list some symptoms of dvt in the leg
throbbing pain
warmth
redness
swollen veins
why might a patient want to choose 2.32% voltarol 12 hrly instead of 1.16% tds
pt doesnt have to apply as often but is more expensive
what acronym would be used for the management of a sprain or sporting injury
RICE
rest ice compression elevation