The Respiratory History Flashcards
What is very important to find out about a cough?
The duration of the cough
A cough of recent origin, particularly if associated with fever and other symptoms of respiratory tract infection, may be due to:
Acute bronchitis
Or
Pneumonia
A chronic cough (>8 weeks duration) associated with wheezing may be due to:
Asthma
Sometimes asthma can present with cough alone however
A change in the character of a chronic cough may indicate:
The development of a new and serious underlying problem (e.g. Infection or lung cancer)
What is the single most common cause of chronic cough?
Upper airway cough syndrome
A cough associated with postnasal drip or sinus congestion or headaches may be due to:
Upper airway cough syndrome
What is peculiar about the cough of a patient with upper airway cough syndrome?
When asked to demonstrate their cough they do not cough, but clear their throat
An irritating, chronic, dry cough can result from:
Esophageal reflux and acid irritation of the lungs
Also:
- late interstitial lung disease
- or associated with the use of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor drugs
Cough that wakes a patient from sleep may be due to:
- a symptom of cardiac failure
- or reflux of acid from the esophagus into the lungs that can occur when a person lies down
A chronic cough that is productive of large volumes of purulent sputum may be due to:
Bronchiectasis
Cough related to viral croup is described as:
“Barking”
What cough would be loud and brassy?
A cough caused by tracheal compression due to a tumor
Cough associated with recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy has what sound and why?
A hollow sound because the vocal cords are unable to close completely - has been described as a bovine cough
A cough that is worse at night is suggestive of:
- asthma
- heart failure
Coughing that comes on immediately after eating or drinking may be due to:
- incoordinate swallowing
- esophageal reflux
- tracheo-esophageal fistula (rarely)
A large volume of purulent (yellow or green) sputum suggests the diagnosis of:
- bronchiectasis
- or lobar pneumonia
Foul smelling, dark colored sputum may indicate:
The presence of a lung abscess with anaerobic organisms
Pink frothy secretions from the trachea occur in:
Pulmonary edema (should not be confused with sputum)
Haemoptysis must be distinguished from:
- haematemesis
- nasopharyngeal bleeding
What does mild haemoptysis mean?
Usually <20mls blood / 24 hours
- appears as streaks of blood discoloring sputum
What does massive haemoptysis mean?
> 250mls blood / 24 hours
= a medical emergency
What are the most common causes of massive haemoptysis?
- carcinoma
- CF
- bronchiectasis
- TB
Differential Diagnosis of Cough Based on CHARACTER:
ORIGIN: Nasopharynx / larynx
CHARACTER: Throat clearing, chronic
What are the likely causes?
- postnasal drip
- acid reflux
Differential Diagnosis of Cough Based on CHARACTER:
ORIGIN: Larynx
CHARACTER: Barking, painful, acute or persistent
What are the likely causes?
- laryngitis
- pertussis
- croup
Differential Diagnosis of Cough Based on CHARACTER:
ORIGIN: Trachea
CHARACTER: Acute, painful
What are the likely causes?
Tracheitis
Differential Diagnosis of Cough Based on CHARACTER:
ORIGIN: Bronchi
CHARACTER: Intermittent, sometimes productive, worse at night
What are the likely causes?
Asthma
Differential Diagnosis of Cough Based on CHARACTER:
ORIGIN: Bronchi
CHARACTER: Worse in the morning
What are the likely causes?
COPD
Differential Diagnosis of Cough Based on CHARACTER:
ORIGIN: Bronchial
CHARACTER: with blood
What are the likely causes?
Bronchial malignancy
Differential Diagnosis of Cough Based on CHARACTER:
ORIGIN: Lung parenchyma
CHARACTER: Dry, then productive
What are the likely causes?
Pneumonia
Differential Diagnosis of Cough Based on CHARACTER:
ORIGIN: Lung parenchyma
CHARACTER: Chronic, very productive
What are the likely causes?
Bronchiectasis
Differential Diagnosis of Cough Based on CHARACTER:
ORIGIN: Lung parenchyma
CHARACTER: Productive, with blood
What are the likely causes?
TB
Differential Diagnosis of Cough Based on CHARACTER:
ORIGIN: Lung parenchyma
CHARACTER: Irritating, dry and persistent
What are the likely causes?
Interstitial lung disease
Differential Diagnosis of Cough Based on CHARACTER:
ORIGIN: Lung parenchyma
CHARACTER: Worse lying down, sometimes with frothy sputum
What are the likely causes?
Pulmonary oedema
Differential Diagnosis of Cough Based on CHARACTER:
ORIGIN: ACE inhibitors
CHARACTER: Dry, scratchy, persistent
What are the likely causes?
Medication-induced
Differential Diagnosis of Cough based on its duration: Acute Cough (<3 weeks)
- URTI
- common cold
- sinusitis - LRTI
- pneumonia, bronchitis, exacerbation of COPD
- irritation: inhalation of bronchial irritant (e.g. smoke / fumes)
Differential Diagnosis of Cough based on its duration:
Chronic cough differential and clues
- Smoking History indicates
COPD
Differential Diagnosis of Cough based on its duration:
Chronic cough differential and clues
- wheeze, relief with bronchodilators indicates
Asthma
Differential Diagnosis of Cough based on its duration:
Chronic cough differential and clues
- occurs when lying down, burning central chest pain indicates
Gastro-oesophageal reflux
Differential Diagnosis of Cough based on its duration:
Chronic cough differential and clues
- history of rhinitis, postnasal drip, sinus headache and congestion indicates
Upper airway cough syndrome
Differential Diagnosis of Cough based on its duration:
Chronic cough differential and clues
- chronic, very productive indicates
Bronchiectasis
Differential Diagnosis of Cough based on its duration:
Chronic cough differential and clues
- drug history indicates
ACE inhibitor medication
Differential Diagnosis of Cough based on its duration:
Chronic cough differential and clues
- smoking, haemoptysis indicates
Lung carcinoma
Differential Diagnosis of Cough based on its duration:
Chronic cough differential and clues
- dyspnoea, PND indicates
Cardiac failure
Differential Diagnosis of Cough based on its duration:
Chronic cough differential and clues
- variable, prolonged symptoms, usually mild indicates
Psychogenic
Differential Diagnosis of haemoptysis (typical history):
Small amounts of blood with sputum
Bronchitis
Differential Diagnosis of haemoptysis (typical history):
Frank blood, history of smoking, hoarseness
Bronchial carcinoma
Differential Diagnosis of haemoptysis (typical history):
Large amounts of sputum with blood
Bronchiectasis
Differential Diagnosis of haemoptysis (typical history):
Fever, recurrent onset of symptoms, dyspnoea
Pneumonia
Differential Diagnosis of haemoptysis (typical history):
Pleuritic chest pain, dyspnoea
Pulmonary infarction
Differential Diagnosis of haemoptysis (typical history):
Recurrent infections
CF