Tachypnea

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Tachypnea (or “tachypnoea”) (Greek: “rapid breathing”) is characterized by rapid breathing and is not identical with hyperventilation – tachypnea may be necessary for a sufficient gas-exchange of the body, for example after exercise, in which case it is not hyperventilation.

References

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Pathophysiology

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References

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Causes

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Causes

Common Causes

Causes by Organ System

Cardiovascular	No underlying causes
Chemical/Poisoning	No underlying causes
Dental	No underlying causes
Dermatologic	No underlying causes
Drug Side Effect	Interferon gamma
Ear Nose Throat	No underlying causes
Endocrine	No underlying causes
Environmental	No underlying causes
Gastroenterologic	No underlying causes
Genetic	No underlying causes
Hematologic	No underlying causes
Iatrogenic	No underlying causes
Infectious Disease	No underlying causes
Musculoskeletal/Orthopedic	No underlying causes
Neurologic	No underlying causes
Nutritional/Metabolic	No underlying causes
Obstetric/Gynecologic	No underlying causes
Oncologic	No underlying causes
Ophthalmologic	No underlying causes
Overdose/Toxicity	No underlying causes
Psychiatric	No underlying causes
Pulmonary	No underlying causes
Renal/Electrolyte	No underlying causes
Rheumatology/Immunology/Allergy	No underlying causes
Sexual	No underlying causes
Trauma	No underlying causes
Urologic	No underlying causes
Miscellaneous	No underlying causes

Causes in Alphabetical Order

Interferon gamma

References

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Differential Diagnosis

Organ system	Diseases	Clinical manifestations									Diagnosis					Other features
		Symptoms				Physical exam					Diagnosis
		Chest pain	Dyspnea	Fever	Palpitations	Cyanosis	Tachypnea	JVD	Peripheral edema	Auscultation	ABGs	Lab findings	Imaging	PFT	Gold standard
Pulmonary system	Pneumothorax	+	+	+	+	+	+	_	_	Decreased breath sounds			X- ray – Mediastinal shift Deep sulcus sign Hydropneumothorax CT-scan- Bullae		CT-scan	Hypoxia, Hypercapnia Hyperesonance to percussion, Vocal resonance Tactile fremitus decreased
	Pulmonary embolism	+	+	+	+	+	+
	Pneumonia	+	+	+	+	+	+	–	–	Bronchial breath sounds Crepitations Bronchophony Egophony Whispering pectoroloqy		CBC Blood culture Mantoux test Serology (mycoplasma, viruses) Sputum: Gram stain and culture	CXR- Lobar consolidation, Air bronchogram; Atypical pneumonia: Diffuse interstitial infiltrates
	Exacerbation of asthma/COPD	–	+	–	+	+	+	–	–	Decreased breath sounds Wheezing Coarse crackles	Increased PaCo2 Decreased PaO2	CBC- Increased hematocrit from chronic hypoxia Sputum evaluation, BNP( to rule out heart failure)	X- ray: Hyperinflated lungs Flattening of the diaphragm Narrow heart shadow Cardiomegaly	Increased TLC Increased RV Decreased Vital capacity Decreased DLco ( Emphysema) Normal DLco ( Chronic bronchitis)	HRCT ( High resolution computed tomography of the lung)	Productive cough Exercise intolerance Altered mental status Cor-pulmonale Hyperresonance on percussion
	Interstitial lung disease	+	+	-/+	+	+	+	-/+	–	Fine crackles Loud P2	Increased A-a gradient Decreased PaO2 Increased PaCo2		Chest X-ray- Reticular infiltrates Honey combing	FEV1 decreased FVC decreased TLC decreased RV decreased DLco decreased FEV1/FVC normal	HRCT -more accurate than chest xray Most accurate test is lung biopsy	Physical examination shows clubbing Decreased pulmonary compliance
	Intrapulmonary shunt
	Upper airway obstruction	-/+	+	–	-/+	-/+	+	-/+	–	Inspiratory stridor	Increased PaCo2 Decreased PaO2		Plain radiograph of the neck Steeple sign (Croup in pediatric population) CT MRI	Decreased vital capacity	HRCT Bronchoscopy	Hoarseness Accessory muscle use during respiration Chest retractions
	High altitude sickness	–	+	+/-	+	+/-	+	–	+	Crackles	Respiratory alkalosis	CBC EKG- Right sided heart strain	CXR- Bilateral patchy infiltrates Brain Ct scan
Cardiovascular system	Acute coronary syndrome	+	+	–	+/-	+/-	+/-	+/-	+/-	S3 Systolic murmur Rales		Cardiac enzymes EKG CBC BNP	Chest radiograph: Cardiomegaly Pulmonary edema Echo cardiography Myocardial perfusion imaging Cardiac angiography
	Heart failure
	Dysrhythmias
	Shock
Metabolic/Systemic disorders	Diabetic ketoacidosis
	Hypocalcemia
	Hypoglycemia
Endocrine system	Hyperthyroidism
Endocrine system	Pheochromocytoma
CNS	Central nervous system tumor
CNS	Anxiety/panic attacks
Others	Pregnancy
	Hepatic failure
	Sepsis

References

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Epidemiology and Demographics

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Risk Factors

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Natural history, Complications, and Prognosis

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References

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Diagnosis

Treatment

Related Chapters

Hyperventilation, deep or fast breathing
Hyperpnea
Hypoventilation, too shallow or too slow breathing
Control of respiration

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Tachypnea

Overview

Overview

References

Pathophysiology

References

Causes

Overview

Causes

Common Causes

Causes by Organ System

Causes in Alphabetical Order

References

Differential Diagnosis

References

Epidemiology and Demographics

References

Risk Factors

References

Natural history, Complications, and Prognosis

References

Diagnosis

Treatment

Related Chapters

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