Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — 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.
Hamman-Rich syndrome physical examination
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Patients with acute interstitial pneumonitis usually appear ill. Physical examination shows tachypnea, tachycardia, crackles, wheezing and signs of hypoxemia.
Physical Examination
Physical Examination
- Physical examination of patients with acute interstitial pneumonitis will show tachypnea, tachycardia, cyanosis, crackles, and wheezes on auscultation.
Appearance of the Patient
- Patients with acute interstitial pneumonitis usually appear ill.
Vital Signs
- Fever
- Tachycardia
- Tachypnea
Skin
- Cyanosis because of hypoxemia.
HEENT
- Flared nares
Neck
- Neck examination of patients with acute interstitial pneumonitis is usually normal.
Heart
- Tachycardia
- Examine heart for findings of congestive heart failure to exclude the diagnosis.
Lungs
- Diffuse crackles upon auscultation of the lungs bilaterally[1]
- Wheezing may be present
- Prolonged expiration
- Persistent scattered rhonchi
Extremities
- Clubbing is not usually present in acute interstitial pneumonitis. Presence of clubbing indicates exacerbation of preexisting fibrotic lung disease.
- Cyanosis due to hypoxemia
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Chandrakala Yannam, MD [2]