Bronchitis physical examination
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Seyedmahdi Pahlavani, M.D. [2]
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Bronchitis Main page |
Overview
A physical examination will often reveal decreased intensity of breath sounds, wheeze (rhonchi) and prolonged expiration. Most doctors rely on the presence of a persistent dry or wet cough as evidence of bronchitis.
Physical Examination
- Common physical examination findings of acute bronchitis are non specific and includes[1][2]:
- 1. Fever 2. Prolonged expiration 3. Wheezing due to bronchospasm and reduced FEV1 has been shown in up to %40 of patients 4. Rhonchi 5. Rales
- Common physical examination findings of chronic bronchitis can be cyanosis, tachypnea, use of accessory respiratory muscles, paradoxical indrawing of lower intercostal spaces is evident (known as the Hoover sign), elevated jugular venous pulse and peripheral edema. In pulmonary examination barrel chest(emphysema), wheezing, hyperresonance, crackles and rhonchi may be found. Blue bloaters, are plethoric(red face/cheeks due to a polycythemia secondary to chronic hypoxia) and cyanotic(due to decreased hemoglobin saturation) seen in advanced stages of disease[3].
References
- ↑ Albert RH (2010). "Diagnosis and treatment of acute bronchitis". Am Fam Physician. 82 (11): 1345–50. PMID 21121518.
- ↑ Wenzel RP, Fowler AA (2006). "Clinical practice. Acute bronchitis". N. Engl. J. Med. 355 (20): 2125–30. doi:10.1056/NEJMcp061493. PMID 17108344.
- ↑ Badgett RG, Tanaka DJ, Hunt DK, Jelley MJ, Feinberg LE, Steiner JF, Petty TL (1993). "Can moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease be diagnosed by historical and physical findings alone?". Am. J. Med. 94 (2): 188–96. PMID 8430714.