(EMT) Respiratory Diagnoses and Correlated Symptoms

Asthma

Symptoms: Wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, coughing (especially at night)

Signs: Prolonged expiratory phase, accessory muscle use, anxiety, tachypnea

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Symptoms: Chronic cough, sputum production, progressive dyspnea

Signs: Barrel chest, diminished breath sounds, cyanosis, tripod positioning

Emphysema

Symptoms: Progressive dyspnea, minimal cough

Signs: Pursed-lip breathing, pink complexion ("pink puffers"), wheezing

Chronic Bronchitis

Symptoms: Chronic productive cough

Signs: Cyanosis ("blue bloaters"), wheezes, rhonchi

Pneumonia

Symptoms: Fever, cough (with green/yellow sputum), chest pain, fatigue

Signs: Crackles/rales, decreased breath sounds over affected areas, tachypnea

Pulmonary Edema

Symptoms: Dyspnea (especially at night), orthopnea (difficulty breathing lying flat), frothy pink sputum

Signs: Crackles (rales), wheezing, cyanosis, anxiety

Pulmonary Embolism

Symptoms: Sudden sharp chest pain, sudden onset of dyspnea, cough, hemoptysis (coughing blood)

Signs: Tachycardia, tachypnea, hypoxia, anxiety

Spontaneous Pneumothorax

Symptoms: Sudden unilateral chest pain, shortness of breath

Signs: Decreased/absent breath sounds on affected side, hyperresonance, subcutaneous emphysema

Tension Pneumothorax

Symptoms: Severe respiratory distress, chest pain

Signs: Tracheal deviation (late), hypotension, JVD, absent breath sounds on one side

Pleural Effusion

Symptoms: Dyspnea, chest pain

Signs: Decreased breath sounds, dullness to percussion, decreased chest wall movement

Epiglottitis

Symptoms: Sore throat, fever, difficulty swallowing

Signs: Drooling, tripod position, stridor, muffled voice

Croup

Symptoms: Barking cough, nasal congestion, fever

Signs: Stridor, hoarseness, worse at night

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

Symptoms: Cold-like symptoms in mild cases, wheezing and respiratory distress in infants

Signs: Tachypnea, cyanosis, poor feeding in infants

Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

Symptoms: Severe coughing fits followed by "whoop," post-tussive vomiting

Signs: Cyanosis, respiratory distress, exhaustion

Hyperventilation Syndrome

Symptoms: Anxiety, dizziness, tingling in hands/feet, chest tightness

Signs: Rapid, deep breathing; normal to high oxygen saturation

Respiratory Failure

Symptoms: Severe dyspnea, altered mental status, fatigue

Signs: Cyanosis, shallow or irregular respirations, bradypnea or apnea, hypoxia