1/22. giant cell arteritis presenting as chronic cough and prolonged fever.A 62-year-old man presented with a 3-month history of chronic non-productive cough and unexplained fever. Further questioning revealed that he had headaches and myalgia. Bilateral thickened temporal arteries were noted on physical examination. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 96 mm in 1 h. A biopsy specimen of the left temporal artery showed inflammatory changes consistent with the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis. Commencement of prednisolone resulted in rapid and dramatic resolution of his symptoms. physicians should be aware of respiratory symptoms in patients with giant cell arteritis in order to avoid delay in diagnosis and therapy of this condition.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/22. Persistent cough in an adolescent.Jessica, a 14-year-old girl with a history of asthma, went to her pediatrician's office because of a persistent cough. She had been coughing for at least 3 months with occasional cough-free periods of less than a few days. The cough was nonproductive and was not accompanied by fever, rhinorrhea, or facial or chest pain. Jessica and her mother observed that the cough increased with exercise and typically was not present during sleep. She has used two metered-dose inhalers--albuterol and cromolyn--without any change in the cough pattern. For the past 5 years, Jessica has had mild asthma responsive to albuterol. She enjoys running on the cross-country team, soccer, and dancing. She is an average student and denies any change in academic performance. She has never been hospitalized or had an emergency department visit for asthma or pneumonia. There has been no recent travel or exposure to a person with a chronic productive cough, tobacco smoke, or a live-in pet. Jessica lives with her mother and younger sister in a 10-year-old, carpeted apartment without any evidence of mold or recent renovation. In the process of taking the history, the pediatrician noticed that Jessica coughed intermittently, with two or three coughs during each episode. At times, the cough was harsh; at other times, it was a quiet cough, as if she were clearing her throat. She was cooperative, without overt anxiety or respiratory distress. After a complete physical examination with normal findings, the pediatrician interviewed Jessica and her mother alone. Jessica's parents had been divorced for the past 6 years. She lived with her mother but visited her father, and his new family with two young children, every weekend. She spoke about this arrangement comfortably and said that she loved her father and mother but didn't like the tension she experienced at her father's home. "I don't like adults arguing when kids are around." When asked why she thought the cough persisted so long, she commented in a neutral tone, "I don't know. It's never been like this before." Jessica's pediatrician prescribed an inhaled steroid with the albuterol. When the cough did not respond after 1 week, he ordered a chest radiograph (normal) and a tuberculin skin test (purified protein derivative-negative), and he added montelukast (a leukotriene inhibitor) and monitored airway resistance with a peak flow meter. The cough persisted, and the peak flow recording showed normal airway resistance. At this time, Jessica's pediatrician suspected a conversion reaction and contemplated the next best therapeutic strategy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/22. Bizarre paediatric facial burns.child abuse and neglect account for a significant number of paediatric burn injuries. It is of great importance because of the high mortality, high frequency of repeated abuse, as well as the physical, psychological and social sequelae that it causes. Burn abuse is often under-recognized and under-reported because it is difficult to define non-accidental injury. On the other hand, false accusation of burn abuse is extremely damaging to the family. Bizarre and unusual burn injuries can be caused by accident and should not automatically be assumed to be deliberate injury. Three boys of age 1-7 years with bizarre facial burns were admitted to the burns Unit at the Prince of wales Hospital between February 1995 and July 1999. One was burned by his baby-sitter with hot water steam and the other two were burned by their mothers with hot boiled eggs. The unusual causes of their burns raised the suspicion of child abuse and formal investigations were carried out by the Social Services Department. Detail assessment including a developmental history of the child and the psychosocial assessment of the family revealed that these three boys were burned because of poor medical advice and innocent cultural belief.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.090867674918078keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/22. Lingual tonsillectomy for refractory paroxysmal cough.Historically, the lingual tonsils are the most neglected members of Waldeyer's ring. They are often overlooked even in a thorough head and neck exam because of their anatomic location and the ambiguous constellation of symptoms which they produce when they are diseased or enlarged. The lingual tonsils have been reported to be associated with a variety of upper aerodigestive tract symptoms including odynophagia, dysphagia, otalgia, globus, halitosis, chronic cough, and dyspnea. Many patients with lingual tonsillar pathology may undergo extensive work-up for some of these non-specific upper airway complaints by their primary physician before referral to an otolaryngologist. Consequently, the diagnosis of lingual tonsillar disease requires a high index of suspicion and a thorough physical exam including evaluation of the tongue base and hypophaynx with indirect mirror or fiberoptic exam. In order to draw attention to this frequently unrecognized entity, we present a case report of a child with chronic cough resulting from lingual tonsillar hypertrophy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.090867674918078keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/22. Rectus sheath hematoma in an elderly woman under anti-coagulant therapy.Rectal sheath hematoma has been a well-known clinical entity from the ruin of the ancient greece. It is relatively rare, however, to encounter this abdominal disorder in the clinical setting. Furthermore, the initial symptoms of rectus sheath hematoma are often similar to those of acute abdominal disorders. Therefore, the majority of the patients with rectus sheath hematoma have been treated with operative procedures because of the difficulty of a differential diagnosis from other abdominal disorders. We recently treated a 74-year female diagnosed with rectus sheath hematoma with the anticoagulants after an episode of cerebral infarction. From the findings of the physical examinations, ultrasound, and computed tomography, we could correctly diagnose, and could treat her with completely conservative methods without any invasive techniques. It is stressed that it is important to recognize this entity of rectus sheath hematoma when patients are examined, after complaining of acute abdominal pain and with evidence abdominal masses in the clinical setting.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/22. enalapril-induced cough in the emergency department.A case of enalapril-induced cough is reported. In the Emergency Department, the patient initially was misdiagnosed with bronchial asthma and, later, with early congestive heart failure, despite normal physical examination and investigations. The cough subsided within 5 days of cessation of enalapril. It is important to recognize this side effect in patients taking enalapril.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/22. A coughing child: could it be asthma?BACKGROUND: A child presenting with cough is common in general practice. Usually the cough is due to an upper respiratory tract infection, however, parents are often concerned that the cough may be asthma. OBJECTIVE: This article focusses on identifying various causes of persistent cough, especially asthma. DISCUSSION: Significant causes of an acute cough need to be considered such as inhaled foreign bodies, aspiration, infections such as pertussis and pneumonia, and asthma. Clinical history, followed by physical examination and consideration of special investigations will guide the diagnosis. cough as the sole symptom of asthma is unusual. There is usually associated wheeze and shortness of breath. A family or personal history of atopic symptoms lend weight to the possibility of asthma. In children with asthma, physical examination and even spirometry may be normal between episodes. In some cases where asthma is suspected, a trial of bronchodilation with formal assessment of response may be appropriate.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/22. Infectious disease capsules: a pox on your house.A 31-year-old, previously healthy white man presented to the emergency department with complaints of malaise, fevers, shortness of breath, a non-productive cough, and a "rash." His physical exam revealed a temperature of 100.2F, a pulse of 129 bpm, respiratory rate of 14 BPM, and blood pressure of 140/74 mm Hg. He was alert, oriented, and in no distress. His oropharynx was dry, his neck was supple, and cervical lymphadenopathy was absent. He had tachycardia, bilateral wheezes, and rhonchi with prolonged expirations. There was a diffuse vesicular eruption enveloping his entire body with involvement sparing his palms and soles (Figures 1 and 2). Laboratory values showed a hemoglobin of 16.0 g/dL and a white blood cell count of 7100 cells/pL, with 39%neutrophils, 23% bands, and 35% lymphocytes. His platelet count was mildly decreased to 86,000 x 103/pL. Chest radiograph revealed bilateral diffuse interstitial infiltrates. A diagnosis of acute varicella-zoster virus pneumonia (varicella pneumonia) was made, and the patient was started on IV acyclovir (10 mg/kg every 8 hours). Upon further questioning, the patient stated that his daughter had been diagnosed with "chickenpox" 7 days ago. The patient had numerous exposures to chickenpox in the past but had never developed clinical expressions of varicella. He was not at risk for hiv infection, not having multiple sexual partners, IV drug abuse, or blood transfusions. During the 1 day of in-hospitalization, his fever abated and the pulmonary signs diminished.Following discharge, IV acyclovir was replaced by valacyclovir to complete a 7-day course of therapy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.090867674918078keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/22. Cases from the Osler Medical Service at Johns Hopkins University. diagnosis: P. carinii pneumonia and primary pulmonary sporotrichosis.PRESENTING FEATURES: A 53-year-old man who had human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) presented to the Johns Hopkins Hospital with a 3-month history of increasing dysphagia, cough, dyspnea, chest pain, and an episode of syncope. His past medical history was notable for oral and presumptive esophageal candidiasis that was treated with fluconazole 6 months prior to presentation. Three months prior to presentation, he discontinued his medications, and his symptoms of dysphagia recurred. During that time he developed intermittent fevers and chills, progressively worsening dyspnea on exertion, and a cough productive of white sputum. He also reported a 40-lb weight loss over the past 3 months. On the day prior to presentation, he had chest pain and shortness of breath followed by weakness, dizziness, and a brief syncopal episode. He denied orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, lower extremity edema, jaundice, hemoptysis, hematemesis, melena, hematochezia, or diarrhea. There was no history of alcohol use, and he stopped smoking tobacco approximately 1 month previously. He smoked cocaine but denied injection drug use. The patient had never been on antiretroviral therapy and had never had his CD4 count or viral load measured. On physical examination, the patient was a thin, cachectic man who appeared older than his stated age. His vital signs were notable for blood pressure of 102/69 mm Hg, resting tachycardia of 102 beats per minute, resting oxygen saturation of 92% on room air, normal resting respiratory rate, and a temperature of 38.1 degrees C. His oropharynx was clear, with no signs of thrush or mucosal ulcers. His pulmonary examination was notable for diminished breath sounds in the lower lung fields bilaterally. Cardiac, abdominal, and neurologic examinations were normal. His skin was intact, with no visible petechiae, rashes, nodules, or ulcers. Laboratory studies showed a total white blood cell count of 3.2 x 10(3)/microL, with a total lymphocyte count of 330/microL, hematocrit of 30.2%, a serum sodium level of 129 mEq/L, and a serum lactate dehydrogenase level of 219 IU/L. The patient had an absolute CD4 count of 8 cells/mm3 and a hiv viral load of 86,457 copies/mL. His arterial blood gas on room air had a pH of 7.51, a PCO2 of 33 mm Hg, and a PO2 of 55 mm Hg. Electrocardiogram and serial serum cardiac enzymes were normal. A chest radiograph showed bilateral upper lobe patchy infiltrates with left upper lobe consolidation. Computed tomographic (CT) scan of the chest with contrast showed bilateral ground glass infiltrates with focal consolidation (Figure 1) and no evidence of pulmonary embolism. Induced sputum was negative for pneumocystis carinii, fungi, or acid-fast bacilli. A bronchoalveolar lavage was performed. What is the diagnosis?- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/22. Chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by aspergillus complicated with pulmonary aspergilloma.A 57-year-old man consulted our hospital with a history of the gradual onset of dyspnea and a productive cough. Chest computed tomographic (CT) scans showed a nodular shadow in a cavity lesion, and reticulonodular, cystic, and ground-grass opacities in the bilateral lung fields with honeycombing. He was diagnosed as having pulmonary aspergilloma and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). As an outpatient, he suffered from dyspnea upon physical exertion with exacerbation of the high-resolution CT (HRCT) opacities. An inhalation provocation test for aspergillosis fumigatus was positive and chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (CHP) caused by aspergillus was finally diagnosed. Insidious CHP is sometimes misdiagnosed as IPF. The diagnosis of insidious CHP should be made on the basis of a detailed history, specific HRCT findings, and lymphocyte-dominant bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cell findings.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.090867674918078keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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