Approach to dyspnoea
URTI
- Diseases above the thoracic inlet characterized by inspiratory stridor, hoarseness, and suprasternal retractions
- Differential diagnosis of stridor
- Croup
- Bacterial tracheitis (rare)
- Epiglottitis (very rare)
- Foreign body aspiration
- Subglotic stenosis: congenital or iatrogenic
- Laryngomalacia/tracheomalacia: collapse of epiglottis cartilage on inspiration
LRTI
- Obstruction of airways below thoracic inlet, produces more expiratory sounds
- Classic symptom: wheezing
- Differential Diagnosis of Wheezing
- Asthma: recurrent wheezing episodes, identifiable triggers
- Bronchiolitis: first episode of wheezingR
- Recurrent aspiration: often neurological impairment
- Pneumonia: fever, cough, malaise
- Foreign body: acute wheezing and coughing
- Cystic fibrosis: prolonged wheezing, unresponsive to therapy
- Bronchopulmonary dysplasia: often develops after prolonged ventilation in the newborn
- Congestive heart failure
- Mediastinal mass
- Bronchiolitis obliterans
- Tracheobronchial anomalies