Approach to the Patient with Respiratory Disease

Respiratory symptoms, which are among the most common reasons why patients seek medical care, are responsible for approximately 20% of office visits to a primary care physician. In addition to a careful history, a systematic physical examination is critical for accurate diagnosis and subsequent evaluation. Among the most common respiratory complaints are cough, wheezing, dyspnea, and hemoptysis. Each can and should be approached in a systematic way. This chapter discusses the necessary history, differential diagnosis, and evaluation to determine a diagnosis and guide therapy for these very common complaints.