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Patient Presentations Related to the Respiratory System


Patient presentations span all ages and gender identities, reflecting patients from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and abilities and their reasons for presenting to osteopathic physicians in varied clinical settings.

9.1 Cough
9.2 Sore Throat
9.3 Shortness of Breath
9.4 Nasal Bleeding
9.5 Airway Obstruction
9.6 Nasal Discharge
9.7 Ear Pain/Ear Discharge
9.8 Respiratory Arrest
9.9 Respiratory Chest Pain
9.10 Respiratory Growths and Malformations
9.11 Physical Exam Findings Related to the Respiratory System
9.12 Laboratory and Diagnostic Testing Related to the Respiratory System

Clinical presentations in this category may include, but are not limited to, the following conditions or situations prompting patients to present for osteopathic medical care:

Acute respiratory disordersacute respiratory distress syndrome • airway foreign body • anaphylaxis • bronchiolitis • bronchitis • epiglottitis • hemothorax • laryngitis • mastoiditis • nasopharyngitis • otitis externa • otitis media • pharyngitis • pneumonia • pneumothorax • retropharyngeal abscess • rhinitis • sinusitis • smoke inhalation • tonsillitis • tracheitis
Chronic respiratory disordersasthma • bronchiectasis • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease • interstitial lung disease • occupational lung disease • pulmonary fibrosis • ventilator dependence
Genetic disordersα1-antitrypsin deficiency • cystic fibrosis
Infections
bacterial:anthrax • diphtheria • pertussis • tuberculosis
fungal:aspergillosis • blastomycosis • coccidioidomycosis • cryptococcosis • histoplasmosis
viral:adenovirus • coronavirus • influenza • mononucleosis • respiratory syncytial virus • rhinovirus
Neoplasms, masses, and nodules
by site:bronchi • chest wall • lungs • mediastinum • oropharynx • pleura
by type:teratoma • thymoma
Structural pulmonary disorderschylothorax • pulmonary effusion • pulmonary embolism • pulmonary fistula or web

CONSTITUTIONAL SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

  • anorexia
  • chills
  • fatigue
  • fever
  • generalized weakness
  • jaundice
  • malaise
  • night sweats
  • unintentional weight loss

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION FINDINGS AND EVALUATIONS

  • breath sounds
  • bronchophony
  • Chapman reflexes
  • chest percussion
  • chest wall expansion
  • chest wall morphology abnormalities
  • clubbing
  • crepitus
  • cyanosis
  • diaphragmatic excursion
  • dullness
  • dyspnea
  • egophony
  • epistaxis
  • fremitus
  • hoarseness
  • pallor
  • rales
  • resonance
  • rhinorrhea
  • rhonchi
  • stridor
  • subcutaneous emphysema
  • swelling
  • tactile fremitus
  • tender points
  • tenderness
  • tympany
  • viscerosomatic/
    somatovisceral reflexes
  • wheezing

LABORATORY TEST FINDINGS AND DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING

  • allergy testing
  • blood gas analysis
  • bronchoscopy
  • CT scanning
  • fluoroscopy
  • MRI
  • nuclear medicine imaging
  • PCR antigen testing (e.g., COVID-19)
  • pulmonary function testing
  • pulse oximetry
  • tuberculosis testing (purified protein derivative (PPD) skin test, interferon-gamma release assay, Mantoux test)
  • radiography
  • special stains, culture and sensitivity (e.g., sputum, blood, otic)
  • spirometry
  • sweat chloride testing
  • thoracentesis (e.g., exudate, transudate)
  • tympanometry
  • ultrasonography