UH Resp Diseases I

• What is the medical term for a runny nose?

  Rhinorrhea
• What is the term for a nose that is obstructed?

  Blocked nose
• What is the common symptom characterized by involuntary expulsion of air from the lungs?

  Sneezing
• What is the term for a reflex action to clear the airways?

  Cough
• What is the term for mucus that is coughed up from the respiratory tract?

  Sputum
• What is the term for difficulty in breathing?

  Breathlessness
• What is the term for a high-pitched sound made while breathing, often indicating obstruction?

  Wheezing
• What symptom can indicate a serious respiratory issue and is characterized by discomfort in the chest?

  Chest Pain
• What are the clinical features of respiratory diseases?

  • Rhinorrhea
  • Blocked nose
  • Sneezing
  • Cough
  • Sputum
  • Breathlessness
  • Wheezing
  • Chest Pain
• What is the focus of history taking specific to respiratory disease?

  A respiratory history focuses the consultation on the respiratory system.
• Why is a system-specific history important during a consultation?

  To explore key factors relevant to the affected system.
• What symptoms should be determined in a respiratory history?

  Breathlessness, fever, chest pain, wheeze, cough, sputum, haemoptysis, atopy history, weight loss, past medical history, surgical history, drug history, drug allergies, family history, and social history.
• What is a key symptom to assess in respiratory history?

  Breathlessness
• What symptom may indicate an infection in respiratory history?

  Fever
• What mnemonic can be used to assess chest pain in respiratory history?

  SOCRATES
• What aspects should be focused on when assessing chest pain?

  Location, whether the pain is unilateral or bilateral, and if there is a pleuritic component.
• What should be determined about wheezing in respiratory history?

  What precipitates it, such as cold, exercise, or animals.
• How should cough be classified in respiratory history?

  As productive or non-productive.
• What characteristics of sputum should be assessed?

  Colour, quantity, consistency, and smell.
• What should be determined about haemoptysis in respiratory history?

  How often and how much?
• What symptoms are associated with atopy history?

  Itchy eyes, runny nose, and eczema symptoms.
• What does weight loss in a respiratory history suggest?

  It may suggest lung cancer.
• What past medical history should be considered in respiratory history?

  Asthma, hypertension, and diabetes.
• What surgical history is relevant to respiratory disease?

  Any previous thoracic surgery.
• What should be included in the drug history for respiratory patients?

  Inhalers.
• What is a common drug allergy that should be noted in respiratory history?

  Penicillin.
• Why is family history important in respiratory disease history?

  Some pulmonary diseases are inherited, like cystic fibrosis.
• What is vital to determine regarding the functional impact of symptoms in respiratory disease?

  Particularly breathlessness.
• What components of social history are relevant to respiratory disease?

  • Smoking history: type, amount, pack-years, including E-cigarette use
  • Occupation: exposure to organic or non-organic materials
  • Hobbies: close contact with specific animals or birds
  • Pets
  • Recent travel and long haul flights
  • Asbestos exposure
  • Vaccinations: COVID, pneumococcal, influenza
• What should be assessed in a smoking history?

  Type, amount, pack-years, and E-cigarette use.
• What occupational exposures should be considered in respiratory history?

  Exposure to organic (e.g., moulds) or non-organic (e.g., asbestos) materials.
• What should be assessed regarding hobbies in respiratory history?

  Close contact with any specific animals or birds.
• Why is recent travel relevant in respiratory history?

  It may expose the patient to respiratory infections.
• What vaccinations should be considered in respiratory history?

  COVID, pneumococcal, and influenza vaccinations.
• What should be discussed at the end of a respiratory consultation?

  The patient's ideas, concerns, and expectations.
• What is respiratory failure characterized by?

  Abnormal levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood due to inadequate gas exchange in the lungs.
• What are the two broad categories of respiratory failure?

  Type 1 respiratory failure and Type 2 respiratory failure.

  
• What characterizes Type 1 respiratory failure?

  Hypoxaemia with normocapnia.
• What is the PaO2 level indicative of Type 1 respiratory failure?

  PaO2 < 8 kPa / 60 mmHg.
• What is the PaCO2 level indicative of Type 1 respiratory failure?

  PaCO2 < 6.0 kPa / 45 mmHg.