Patient Presentations Related to the Respiratory System

The guide to clinical presentations in this category may include, but is not limited to, the following ways in which patients present for osteopathic medical care::

ear conditions, acute and chronic – trauma (e.g., tympanic membrane perforation), cerumen impaction, otitis externa, otitis media, eustachian tube dysfunction • nose and paranasal sinus conditions – nasal congestion, allergic rhinitis, sneezing, anterior and posterior nosebleeds, rhinorrhea, sinusitis • throat conditions, acute – infections (e.g., tonsillitis, mononucleosis), hoarseness (e.g., inflammatory, infectious, vocal abuse, traumatic dysphonia, vocal cord paralysis) • upper respiratory system disorders and conditions, acute and chronic – laryngomalacia, epiglottitis; tracheitis; neoplasms; structural anomalies (e.g., fistulas, webs, malformations) • lung/pulmonary diseases and conditions, acute and chronic – acute respiratory distress syndrome; airway foreign body; anaphylaxis; asthma; breath-holding spells; transient tachypnea of newborn; hemoptysis, hemothorax, pneumothorax, chylothorax; pulmonary embolism; pulmonary hypertension; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; bronchiectasis; sarcoidosis; interstitial lung disease; occupational lung disease; lung and pleural tumors (e.g., cancer, nodules); angioedema; pulmonary effusion (e.g., from cancer, infections, heart failure); cystic fibrosis; smoke inhalation, mediastinal masses • respiratory tract infections (e.g., upper respiratory infections, bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchiolitis, influenza, tuberculosis) • sleep disorders (e.g., apnea)

CONSTITUTIONAL SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
fatigue • fever • generalized weakness • involuntary weight loss • malaise • night sweats • pallor

PHYSICAL EXAM FINDINGS
pulmonary auscultation, percussion, and palpation (e.g., egophony, stridor, rales, rhonchus, wheeze, bronchophony, fremitus, chest wall expansion, diaphragmatic excursion)

LABORATORY TEST FINDINGS AND DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING
arterial blood gases • audiogram • CT scanning • evaluation of pleural effusions (e.g., exudate, transudate) • fluoroscopy • interpretation of pulse oximetry • magnetic resonance imaging • nuclear medicine imaging • pulmonary function testing • purified protein derivative (PPD) skin test • radiography • ultrasonography • spirometry • sputum Gram stain, culture and sensitivity • sweat chloride testing • tympanometry