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Health Dictionary

Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions β€” written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

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Altitude sickness differential diagnosis

Introduction

Overview

Overview

Differential diagnosis

Differential diagnosis

Abbreviations: ABG (arterial blood gas); ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme); BMI (body mass index); CBC (complete blood count); CSF (cerebrospinal fluid); CXR (chest X-ray); ECG (electrocardiogram); FEF (forced expiratory flow rate); FEV1 (forced expiratory volume); FVC (forced vital capacity); JVD (jugular vein distention); MCV (mean corpuscular volume); Plt (platelet); RV (residual volume); SIADH (syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone); TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone); Vt (tidal volume); WBC (white blood cell);

Organ system Diseases Clinical manifestations Diagnosis Other features
Symptoms Physical exam
Loss of consciousness Agitation Weight loss Fever Chest pain Cough Cyanosis Clubbing JVD Peripheral edema Auscultation CBC ABG Imaging Spirometry Gold standard
Acute Dyspnea Respiratory system Chest and Pleura,

Lower airway

Bronchiolitis[1] – – – + +/- + – – – – Wheeze and Crackles ↑WBC Normal Bronchovascular markings ↓Vt Clinical assessment Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
COPD exacerbation[2] – + – + + + + +/- +/- +/- Wheeze, Rhonchi, and Crackles ↑WBC, ↑RBC Respiratory alkalosis Hyperexpansion ↓ FEV1/FVC Clinical assessment Acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (AECB)
Lung carcinoma[3] – – + – – + + + – – Wheeze and Crackles Normal Normal Mass lesion, hilar lymphadenopathy ↓Vt, ↑RV Bronchoscopy Paraneoplastic syndromes, such as SIADH and lambert-Eaton
Pneumonia[4] – – – + + + – – – – Wheeze, Rhonchi, and Crackles ↑WBC, neutrophilia Normal Lobar consolidation Normal Chest X-ray and CT Scan productive cough
Cardiovascular system Pulmonary edema[5] +/- + – + + + + + + + Basal crackle Normal Respiratory alkalosis Bat wing pattern, air bronchograms ↓Vt, ↑RV Cardiac Catheterization Tachypnea
Chronic Dyspnea Respiratory system Chest and Pleura,

Lower airway

Bronchiectasis[6] – – – + + + + + – – Rhonchi, Wheezing, Crackles ↑WBC, neutrophilia ↓O2, ↑CO2 Tram-track opacities ↑ FEV1/FVC High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) Chronic productive cough
Interstitial lung disease[7] – – – – + + + + – – Rhonchi, Wheezing, Crackles Normal ↓O2, ↑CO2 Peripheral pulmonary infiltrative opacification ↑ FEV1/FVC High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) Pneumoconiosis
Sarcoidosis[8] – – +/- – +/- + + – – – Crackles Normal ↓O2, ↑CO2 Hilar adenopathy ↑ FEV1/FVC High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) Hypercalcemia, high ACE
Alveolitis[9] – – – + + + – – – – Basal crackle ↑WBC, neutrophilia Normal Basal reticulonodular opacification ↑ FEV1/FVC High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) Dry cough
Cystic fibrosis[10] – – + + – +/- + + – – Rhonchi, Wheezing, Crackles Normal Metabolic alkalosis Thick-walled bronchiectasis ↓ FEF75%/FVC Sweat test Absent vas deferens
Tuberculosis[11] – – + + + + +/- – – – Rhonchi, Wheezing, Crackles ↑WBC ↓O2, ↑CO2 Patchy consolidation or poorly defined linear and nodular opacities Restrictive, obstructive, or mixed IFN-Ξ³ release assay (IGRA)

Acid-fast staining

Night sweat
Autoimmune Wegener’s granulomatosis[12] – – +/- – – + – – – – Wheezing, Crackles ↓ RBC ↓O2, ↑CO2 Cavitate nodules, ground-glass opacity ↓ FEV1/FVC Biopsy demonstrating a granulomatous vasculitis Chronic rhinosinusitis
References

References

  1. ↑ Holbro A, Lehmann T, Girsberger S, Stern M, Gambazzi F, Lardinois D, Heim D, Passweg JR, Tichelli A, Bubendorf L, Savic S, Hostettler K, Grendelmeier P, Halter JP, Tamm M (2013). “Lung histology predicts outcome of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation”. Biol. Blood Marrow Transplant. 19 (6): 973–80. doi:10.1016/j.bbmt.2013.03.017. PMIDΒ 23562737.
  2. ↑ Qureshi H, Sharafkhaneh A, Hanania NA (2014). “Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations: latest evidence and clinical implications”. Ther Adv Chronic Dis. 5 (5): 212–27. doi:10.1177/2040622314532862. PMCΒ 4131503. PMIDΒ 25177479.
  3. ↑ Dela Cruz CS, Tanoue LT, Matthay RA (2011). “Lung cancer: epidemiology, etiology, and prevention”. Clin Chest Med. 32 (4): 605–44. doi:10.1016/j.ccm.2011.09.001. PMCΒ 3864624. PMIDΒ 22054876.
  4. ↑ Simonetti AF, Viasus D, Garcia-Vidal C, CarratalΓ  J (2014). “Management of community-acquired pneumonia in older adults”. Ther Adv Infect Dis. 2 (1): 3–16. doi:10.1177/2049936113518041. PMCΒ 4072047. PMIDΒ 25165554.
  5. ↑ Martindale, Jennifer L.; Noble, Vicki E.; Liteplo, Andrew (2013). “Diagnosing pulmonary edema”. European Journal of Emergency Medicine. 20 (5): 356–360. doi:10.1097/MEJ.0b013e32835c2b88. ISSNΒ 0969-9546.
  6. ↑ Cantin, Luce; Bankier, Alexander A.; Eisenberg, Ronald L. (2009). “Bronchiectasis”. American Journal of Roentgenology. 193 (3): W158–W171. doi:10.2214/AJR.09.3053. ISSNΒ 0361-803X.
  7. ↑ Baughman RP, Shipley RT, Loudon RG, Lower EE (1991). “Crackles in interstitial lung disease. Comparison of sarcoidosis and fibrosing alveolitis”. Chest. 100 (1): 96–101. PMIDΒ 2060395.
  8. ↑ Moher D, Cole CW, Hill GB (November 1992). “Epidemiology of abdominal aortic aneurysm: the effect of differing definitions”. Eur J Vasc Surg. 6 (6): 647–50. PMIDΒ 1451823.
  9. ↑ Khanna D, Clements PJ, Furst DE, Chon Y, Elashoff R, Roth MD, Sterz MG, Chung J, FitzGerald JD, Seibold JR, Varga J, Theodore A, Wigley FM, Silver RM, Steen VD, Mayes MD, Connolly MK, Fessler BJ, Rothfield NF, Mubarak K, Molitor J, Tashkin DP (February 2005). “Correlation of the degree of dyspnea with health-related quality of life, functional abilities, and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide in patients with systemic sclerosis and active alveolitis: results from the Scleroderma Lung Study”. Arthritis Rheum. 52 (2): 592–600. doi:10.1002/art.20787. PMIDΒ 15692967.
  10. ↑ Ziegler, Bruna; Rovedder, Paula Maria Eidt; Dalcin, Paulo de Tarso Roth; Menna-Barreto, SΓ©rgio Saldanha (2009). “PadrΓ΅es ventilatΓ³rios na espirometria em pacientes adolescentes e adultos com fibrose cΓ­stica”. Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia. 35 (9): 854–859. doi:10.1590/S1806-37132009000900006. ISSNΒ 1806-3713.
  11. ↑ Campbell IA, Bah-Sow O (2006). “Pulmonary tuberculosis: diagnosis and treatment”. BMJ. 332 (7551): 1194–7. doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7551.1194. PMCΒ 1463969. PMIDΒ 16709993.
  12. ↑ Cardenas-Garcia J, Farmakiotis D, Baldovino BP, Kim P (2012). “Wegener’s granulomatosis in a middle-aged woman presenting with dyspnea, rash, hemoptysis and recurrent eye complaints: a case report”. J Med Case Rep. 6: 335. doi:10.1186/1752-1947-6-335. PMCΒ 3492078. PMIDΒ 23034218.

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Farima Kahe M.D. [2]