Hx
     Acute vs chronic
     Presence/description of sputum
     Associated symptoms
          Constitutional
          URI
          Postnasal drip
          Dyspnea
          Wheezing
          Chest pain
          Heartburn
          Other
     Exacerbating and aggravating factors
     Timing
     Exposures
     Smoking history
     History of lung disease
     Allergies
     Medications (esp. ACE-Is)

PE
     Vital signs
     Pulse oximetry
     Exam of nasal mucosa
     Oropharynx
     Heart
     Lungs
     Lymph nodes
     Extremities (clubbing, cyanosis, edema)

Ddx
     Asthma
     Acute bronchitis
     Chronic bronchitis
     Pneumonia
          Atypical pneumonia
          Aspiration pneumonia
     Lung cancer
     COPD exacerbation (bronchitis)
     Tuberculosis
     GERD
     Upper respiratory infection
     Postnasal drip
     Lung abscess
     Pericarditis
     Postnasal drip
     Sarcoidosis
     Acute HIV infection
     HIV/AIDS
     Metastatic cancer
     Pneumonitis
     Foreign body
     Vasculitis (e.g. Wegener's)
     Interstitial lung disease
     Pulmonary fibrosis
     Pleurodynia
     CHF
     Cardiac valvular disease
     Lymphoma

Workup
     CXR
     CBC
     Sputum Gram stain and culture
     Urine Legionella antigen
     Serum Mycoplasma PCR
     Cold agglutinin measurement
     Bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage
     Pulse oximetry or ABG
     HIV antibody

Content on this page has not been checked for accuracy. The author's credentials have not been confirmed. Always use multiple peer-reviewed scholarly sources and good clinical judgement in your decision making.

The Compendium platform was created by David Kwinter, MD, CCFP(EM).

Dr. Kwinter is a Cayman Family Doctor. He runs a Family Medicine Clinic at Cayman Medical in George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.