Pulmonary | History

Pulmonary: History
  1. Cough
  2. Sputumhemoptysis
  3. Dyspnoea
  4. Wheeze
  5. Chest pain
  6. Apneahoarsenesssinus symptoms
  7. Fevernight sweats
  8. Past medicalsurgical history
  9. Familysocialdrug history
  10. Systems
Cough
  • Duration of having cough.
  • Productive vs. non-productive.
  • Chest tightness (acute bronchitis).
  • Onset: environment (allergyasthma).
  • Character:
    • Bark-like (larynx).
    • Whoop (whooping cough).
    • Drywith post-nasal drip (pharynx).
  • Exacerbating: night (CHFasthma).
Sputumhemoptysis
  • Volume.
  • Color:
    • Yellow-green [purulent] (bronchiectasislobar pneumonia).
    • Clear [serous].
    • Grey [mucoid] (chronic bronchitis).
    • Pink froth secretion (pulmonary edema).
    • Red jelly (Klebsiella).
  • Viscosity (mucoid more viscous than purulent).
  • Foul smell (lung abscessbronchiectasis).
Dyspnoea
  • Exertional: how far can you walk?
  • Orthopnoea: sleep with pillows?
  • Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea: gasp at night?
  • Timing: worsened over the years (pulmonary fibrosis) vs. rapid onset (RTI).
Wheeze
  • Heard louder on expiration.
  • Prolonged expiration.
  • Precipitating factors.
  • Pt. could use term wheezewhen it's an inspiratory stridoretc.
Chest pain
  • SOCRATES.
  • Character: stabbing. 
  • Exacerbating: deep inspiration (pleurisyrib fracture)anxiety.
Apnea
  • Do you snore?
  • Loudness of snoring.
  • Interruption of activity next day.
Hoarseness
  • Laryngitis attacks.
  • Voice hoarseness (CAnerve palsy).
Sinus symptoms
  • Blocked sinuses sensation.
  • Number of times draining sinuses in day.
  • Post nasal drip.
Fevernight sweats
  • Fever (RTITB).
  • Timing: day or night.
  • Temperature reachedif known.
  • Sweating at night (TB).
Past medicalsurgical history
  • RTIs: pneumoniaTBbronchitis.
  • Asthma.
  • Measlespertussis during childhood.
  • Laryngitis.
  • Lung CA.
  • HIV (PCP).
  • Surgery: for TBtumor.
Family history
  • Condition in a relativewhat age.
  • Asthma.
  • Emphysemaother COPDs.
  • CF.
  • TB.
  • MIangina.
Social history
  • Smoking: ever smokedhow many per dayfor how longtype [cigarettepipechew].
  • Passive smoking in the homeworkplace.
  • Alcohol (aspiration).
  • Occupation type:
    • Farmer (farmer's lung).
    • Constructionshipyard (asbestos).
    • Minerfactory workerstonemason (toxins).
    • Animal worker (M. psitacci).
    • Air conditioners (Legionella).
  • Occupation details:
    • Tasks done at work.
    • How long of exposure.
    • Protection used.
    • Illness in fellow workers. 
  • Describe your home: stairsetc.
  • Pets at home (allergyM. psittaci).
  • Who is with you there at home.
Drug history
  • Drugs currently onincluding delivery method.
    • Steroids (TB risk).
    • ACE inhibitors (cough).
    • OCP (PE risk).
    • Beta-blockers (bronchospasm).
  • OTCsincluding antihistamines.
  • Ventilators.
  • Recreational drugs:
    • Marijuana (cigarette-like).
    • Cocaine (fibrosis).
    • IV users (pulmonary edemaabscess).
  • Allergiesespecially to inhaled substances.
  • Allergies to drugsdyes.
Systems
  • Cardiovascular: (chest paindsypnoea).
  • Alimentary: GERD (chest pain causecough worse after eating).
  • Alimentary: fistula (cough worse after eating).
  • Nervous (respiratory depression).

Pulmonary Exam »

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