Respiratory Disorders Charts

Infectious Rhinitis (Common Cold)

Usually viral

Nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, sneezing, cough, low-grade fever

History & physical, viral testing if needed

Rest, fluids, symptom management, analgesics, decongestants

Sinusitis (Rhinosinusitis)

Viral, bacterial, or fungal infection

Facial pain, headache, purulent nasal drainage, congestion, fever (bacterial)

Physical exam, sinus imaging if needed, nasal cultures

Fluids, analgesics, nasal saline, antibiotics if bacterial

Laryngitis

Viral infection, irritation, voice overuse

Hoarseness, loss of voice, sore throat, dry cough

History, laryngoscopy if persistent

Voice rest, hydration, humidification, treat underlying cause

Epiglottitis 🚨

Acute bacterial infection

Severe sore throat, drooling, stridor, muffled voice, tripod position, high fever

Direct visualization (performed carefully), imaging

Maintain airway, IV antibiotics, possible intubation (medical emergency)

Croup (Laryngotracheobronchitis)

Viral inflammation

Barking cough, inspiratory stridor, hoarseness, congestion

Clinical presentation

Humidified air, corticosteroids, nebulized epinephrine if severe

Influenza virus (Types A, B, C); spread by respiratory droplets

Abrupt onset of fever, chills, cough, sore throat, congestion, body aches, fatigue, malaise, weakness, dyspnea

History, physical exam, viral assays

Hydration, nutrition, rest, analgesics, antivirals when appropriate

SARS-CoV-2 virus

Fever, cough, dyspnea, fatigue, loss of taste/smell, headache, sore throat, GI symptoms; severe: hypoxemia, cyanosis, ARDS, sepsis

RT-PCR, NAAT, antigen test, chest X-ray, CT scan, lung ultrasound

Isolation, oxygen therapy, supportive care, antivirals, corticosteroids for severe disease, mechanical ventilation if needed

Bacteria, viruses, fungi, aspiration; community or hospital acquired

Fever, chills, productive or dry cough, purulent/rust-colored sputum, dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, crackles, hypoxemia, confusion (older adults)

Chest X-ray, sputum culture, CBC, pulse oximetry

Antibiotics (if bacterial), oxygen, fluids, incentive spirometry, coughing/deep breathing, antipyretics

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (airborne transmission)

Persistent cough (>3 weeks), hemoptysis, night sweats, fever, weight loss, fatigue, anorexia, chest pain

Mantoux skin test, IGRA, chest X-ray, sputum AFB smear/culture, PCR

Airborne isolation, N95 precautions, multidrug antibiotic therapy, medication adherence

Heart failure, pneumonia, malignancy, infection, trauma, inflammation

Dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, diminished breath sounds, dullness to percussion, hypoxemia

Chest X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan, thoracentesis

Treat underlying cause, thoracentesis (diagnostic & therapeutic), oxygen if needed

Spontaneous rupture, trauma, procedures

Sudden chest pain, dyspnea, absent/decreased breath sounds

Chest X-ray, assessment

Oxygen, chest tube, monitor respiratory status

Air enters pleural space but cannot escape

Severe dyspnea, tracheal deviation, JVD, hypotension, absent breath sounds

Clinical diagnosis (do not delay treatment)

Immediate needle decompression followed by chest tube

Mucus plug, compression, loss of surfactant; common after surgery

Dyspnea, hypoxemia, decreased breath sounds

Chest X-ray, physical assessment

Incentive spirometer, cough/deep breathing, early ambulation, pain control

Blood clot (most common), fat embolus, amniotic fluid embolus

Sudden dyspnea, chest pain, anxiety, tachycardia, tachypnea, hemoptysis, cyanosis

CT pulmonary angiography, D-dimer, ABGs

Oxygen, anticoagulants, thrombolytics (selected patients), embolectomy if severe

Allergens, smoke, infections, exercise, cold air, stress, GERD, genetics

Wheezing, dyspnea, chest tightness, cough, accessory muscle use; late: silent chest, hypercapnia, respiratory acidosis

Spirometry, peak flow meter, ABGs during severe attacks

Rescue bronchodilators (SABA), corticosteroids, oxygen, avoid triggers, long-term controller medications

Smoking (most common), pollution, chronic inflammation

Progressive dyspnea, chronic cough, sputum production, wheezing, prolonged expiration, hypercapnia

Spirometry, ABGs, chest X-ray

Smoking cessation, bronchodilators, inhaled steroids, pulmonary rehab, oxygen therapy (carefully), vaccinations

Chronic smoking, airway irritation

Productive cough ≥3 months for 2 consecutive years, cyanosis, frequent infections, wheezing

Spirometry, chest X-ray

Smoking cessation, bronchodilators, steroids, pulmonary rehab, oxygen if needed

Smoking, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency

Progressive dyspnea, barrel chest, accessory muscle use, weight loss, clubbing, hypercapnia

Spirometry, chest X-ray, CT scan

Smoking cessation, bronchodilators, pulmonary rehab, oxygen, breathing exercises

Smoking, secondhand smoke, radon, asbestos, occupational exposure

Persistent cough, dyspnea, hemoptysis, weight loss, chest pain, hoarseness, fatigue

Chest X-ray, bronchoscopy, biopsy, CT scan, pulmonary function tests

Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, palliative care

Sepsis, pneumonia, aspiration, trauma, burns

Severe dyspnea, tachypnea, crackles, refractory hypoxemia, confusion

ABGs, chest X-ray, pulse oximetry

Mechanical ventilation (PEEP), oxygen, treat underlying cause, supportive ICU care

ARDS, COPD exacerbation, severe asthma, pneumonia, neuromuscular disorders

Severe dyspnea, hypoxemia, hypercapnia, respiratory distress

ABGs, pulse oximetry, chest X-ray

Oxygen therapy, ventilatory support, mechanical ventilation if needed, treat underlying cause