Resp

Question 1

What symptoms should you enquire about?

Answer 1

• breathlessness
• cough
• sputum
• haemoptysis
• pain

Question 2

What should you ask about breathlessness?

Answer 2

• is this normal (acute/chronic/acute on chronic)
• onset, timing of day, duration
• exacerbating factors: allergies, exertion, cold air
• associated symptoms
• severity: at rest, exertion, ADLs

Question 3

What should you ask about cough?

Answer 3

• onset, timing, duration
• productive or unproductive

Question 4

What should you ask about sputum?

Answer 4

• colour
• consistency
• blood
• quantity
• odour

Question 5

What should you ask about haemoptysis?

Answer 5

• origin
• chest pain
• quantity
• colour
• consistency
• recent trauma/DVT
• weight loss, fever, night sweats
• bleeding/bruising elsewhere?

Question 6

What should you ask about the PMH to complete a resp history?

Answer 6

• previous resp problems: pneumonia, TB, measles. asthma
• dental (aspiration), abdo, ortho, pelvic surgery (can cause DVT)

Question 7

What cardiac diseases are related to respiratory issues?

Answer 7

• angina, orthopnoea, PND
• can lead to pulmonary oedema

Question 8

What is relevant in a resp drug history?

Answer 8

• inhalers
• steroids
• antibiotics
• ACE inhibitors (cause cough)
• amiodarone (pulmonary fibrosis)
• β blockers (worsen airway obstruction)
• NSAIDs
• oxygen therapy

Question 9

What is relevant in a resp family history?

Answer 9

• infections may be transmitted
• asthma - genetic predisposition

Question 10

What is wheeze indicative of?

Answer 10

• asthma
• COPD
• bronchiectasis

Question 11

What is stridor?

Answer 11

• high pitched sound
• turbulent airflow
• acutely can be caused by foreign body inhalation