Respiratory causes
Other respiratory differentials = extrinsic allergic alveolitis, laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonitis, bronchiectasis, LRTI, pleural effusion
Cardiac causes
Other cardiac differentials = cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, acute valvular disease, pericardial effusion, pulmonary hypertension
Other causes
Other differentials = DKA, overdoses, metabolic acidosis, sepsis/systemic inflammatory response syndrome, foreign body, anaphylaxis, anaemia
Test yourself
A patient presents with breathlessness and a fever. You hear coarse crepitations in the left lower zone of their chest. What are the different types of crepitations and what may they signify?
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Which initial investigations would you request?
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What are the most common organisms to cause community acquired pneumonia?
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Which antibiotics would you use?
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The chest radiograph showed left lower zone consolidation with a pleural effusion. You suspect empyema. How would you diagnose this?
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Try some OSCE stations
- Acute assessment – shortness of breath
- Acute assessment – shortness of breath II
- Asthma exacerbation
- HAP data interpretation
- Find lots more here!
