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Diseases » Pneumonia » Causes
 

Causes of Pneumonia

Contents
  1. Pneumonia: Introduction
  2. List of Causes
  3. Causes Discussion
  4. Drugs/substances (45 causes)
  5. Hidden causes
  6. Risk factors
  7. Excerpts from book chapters
  8. Complication causes
  9. Causes of symptoms
  10. News
  11. Related cause information

List of causes of Pneumonia

Following is a list of causes or underlying conditions (see also Misdiagnosis of underlying causes of Pneumonia) that could possibly cause Pneumonia includes:

More causes: see full list of causes for Pneumonia

Causes of Pneumonia (Diseases Database):

The follow list shows some of the possible medical causes of Pneumonia that are listed by the Diseases Database:

Source: Diseases Database

Pneumonia Causes: Book Excerpts

Pneumonia as a complication of other conditions:

Other conditions that might have Pneumonia as a complication may, potentially, be an underlying cause of Pneumonia. Our database lists the following as having Pneumonia as a complication of that condition:

Pneumonia as a symptom:

Conditions listing Pneumonia as a symptom may also be potential underlying causes of Pneumonia. Our database lists the following as having Pneumonia as a symptom of that condition:

Medications or substances causing Pneumonia:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Pneumonia as a symptom. This list is incomplete and various other drugs or substances may cause your symptoms. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

See full list of 45 medications causing Pneumonia


What causes Pneumonia?

Causes: Pneumonia: Can be bacterial, viral, or fungal infections.
Streptococcus pneumoniae causes thousands of cases of meningitis and pneumonia, and 7 million cases of ear infection in the United States each year. (Source: excerpt from Antimicrobial Resistance, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)

Medical news summaries relating to Pneumonia:

The following medical news items are relevant to causes of Pneumonia:

Related information on causes of Pneumonia:

As with all medical conditions, there may be many causal factors. Further relevant information on causes of Pneumonia may be found in:

Causes of Pneumonia: Online Medical Books

16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the causes of Pneumonia.

Cough - Productive: Differential Diagnosis
(In a Page: Signs and Symptoms)

  • Postnasal drip (e.g., chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis)
    –Most common cause of chronic cough in nonsmokers
  • Acute bronchitis
    –Most commonly caused by viruses (e.g., influenza, adenovirus, rhinovirus, RSV)
    –Bacteria are much less common (e.g., Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycoplasma, Haemophilus influenzae)
  • Pneumonia
    –May be community-acquired, hospital-acquired, or due to aspiration
    –“Typical” pneumonia (e.g., S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, influenza virus) has acute or subacute onset of fever, dyspnea, fatigue, pleuritic chest pain, and productive cough
    –“Atypical” pneumonia (e.g., Mycoplasma, Legionella, Chlamydia, Pneumocystis carinii) has more gradual onset, dry cough, headache, fatigue
  • Smoker's cough
    • Lung cancer
      –90% of cases due to smoking (other risk factors include radon, asbestos, pollutants)
    • Asthma with secondary infection
    • COPD (chronic bronchitis component)
    • Congestive heart failure
      –Associated with “frothy” sputum
    • Tuberculosis

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: In a Page: Signs and Symptoms, 2004

Cough - Nonproductive: Differential Diagnosis
(In a Page: Signs and Symptoms)

  • Smoker's cough
  • Postnasal drip (e.g., chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis)
    –Most common cause of chronic cough in nonsmokers
  • GERD
    –Second most common cause of chronic cough in nonsmokers
  • Asthma/reactive airway disease
    –Classic triad of chronic cough, dyspnea, and wheezing
  • ACE inhibitor use
  • Acute bronchitis
    –Most commonly caused by viruses (e.g., influenza, adenovirus, rhinovirus, RSV)
    –Postviral bronchitis may last beyond 6 weeks
  • Pneumonia
    –“Typical” pneumonia (e.g., Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, or influenza/parainfluenza viruses) is characterized by acute or subacute onset of fever, dyspnea, fatigue, pleuritic chest pain, and cough
    –“Atypical” pneumonia (e.g., Mycoplasma, Legionella, Chlamydia) is characterized by more gradual onset, dry cough, headache, fatigue, and minimal lung signs
  • Aspirated foreign body
    –Abrupt onset of unilateral wheezing or stridor, cough, decreased breath sounds
    –Leading cause of home accidental death in children younger than 6 (boys >girls)
    • Lung cancer
      –90% of cases due to smoking (other risk factors include radon, asbestos, pollutants)
  • COPD (emphysematous variant)
  • Sarcoidosis
    • Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia
      –Most commonly occurs following viral infection or exposure
  • Congestive heart failure
  • Filarial disease
  • Aspiration

    • » READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

    Source: In a Page: Signs and Symptoms, 2004

    Cough – Acute: Differential Diagnosis
    (In A Page: Pediatric Signs and Symptoms)

    • Upper airway disease
      –URI or common cold accounts for much pediatric coughing (influenza, parainfluenza, rhinovirus)
      –Chronic sinusitis, tonsillitis, laryngitis, and croup are other common infections
      –Allergic disease
      –Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD)
    • Lower airway disease
      –Asthma is inflammatory triad of edema, mucus, and bronchospasm, characterized by reversibility with asthma drugs (the most common triggers for asthma are viral disease, irritants such as ETS, allergic disease, and gastroesophageal reflux)
      –Infectious diseases: Bronchiolitis, caused by RSV in babies, causes cough from inflammatory changes and debris; bronchitis is more common in older children and may be secondary to smoking or ETS exposure; other viral lower airway diseases include adenovirus, influenza, and parainfluenza
      –Foreign body aspiration
      –Chronic diseases (e.g., cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis) and structural abnormalities (e.g., PCD, TEF, or cleft, rings, and slings) may present with intermittent rather than chronic cough
    • Parenchymal and pleural disease
      –Infectious diseases account almost exclusively for all parenchymal and pleural causes of cough (i.e., pneumonia and empyema)
      –Usual infectious agents include bacterial disease (e.g., streptococcal, staphylococcal) and atypical pneumonias (e.g., Mycoplasma pneumoniae), TB
      –Irritation of a branch of cranial nerve ten in the external auditory canal can trigger cough

    » READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

    Source: In A Page: Pediatric Signs and Symptoms, 2007

    Cough – Chronic: Differential Diagnosis
    (In A Page: Pediatric Signs and Symptoms)

    • Lower airway disease
      –Asthma
           –Inflammatory triad of edema, mucus, and bronchospasm, characterized by reversibility with asthma drugs
      –The most common triggers for asthma are viral disease, irritants (e.g., ETS), allergic disease, and GER
      –Airway infections: Bronchiolitis, caused by RSV in babies, may cause chronic cough from persistent inflammatory change and debris; bronchitis is more common in older children and may be secondary to smoking or ETS exposure
      –Foreign body: Associated with endobronchial infection and damage
      –Cystic fibrosis: The most common life-threatening inherited illness of whites, is associated with production of chronically infected sputum
      –Bronchiectasis: Chronic infection and damage to the airway; may be secondary to another disease (e.g., TB or CF)
      –Structural abnormalities: PCD, TEF, or cleft, rings, slings
      • Upper airway disease
        –Infectious diseases: Chronic sinusitis, tonsillitis, laryngitis, including that secondary to GER (although acute disorders, the inflammation from URI may be associated with a chronic cough if frequent enough)
    • Parenchymal and pleural disease
      –Infectious disease accounts almost exclusively for all parenchymal and pleural causes of cough (e.g., pneumonia and empyema)
      • CNS causes
        –CNS causes of cough include “habit cough” (or psychogenic cough), Tourette disease associated “cough tic” or throat clearing, VCD
        –Irritation of a branch of cranial nerve ten in the external auditory canal can trigger chronic cough

    » READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

    Source: In A Page: Pediatric Signs and Symptoms, 2007

    Cough, productive: Medical causes
    (Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition))

    Actinomycosis.

     Actinomycosis begins with a cough that produces purulent sputum. A fever, weight loss, fatigue, weakness, dyspnea, night sweats, pleuritic chest pain, and hemoptysis may also occur.

    Aspiration pneumonitis.

    Aspiration pneumonitis causes coughing that produces pink, frothy and, possibly, purulent sputum. The patient also has marked dyspnea, a fever, tachypnea, tachycardia, wheezing, and cyanosis.

    Bronchiectasis.

    The chronic cough of bronchiectasis produces copious, mucopurulent sputum that has characteristic layering (top, frothy; middle, clear; bottom, dense with purulent particles). The patient has halitosis; his sputum may smell foul or sickeningly sweet. Other characteristic findings include hemoptysis, persistent coarse crackles over the affected lung area, occasional wheezing, rhonchi, exertional dyspnea, weight loss, fatigue, malaise, weakness, a recurrent fever, and late-stage finger clubbing.

    Bronchitis (chronic).

    Bronchitis causes a cough that may be nonproductive initially. Eventually, however, it produces mucoid sputum that becomes purulent. Secondary infection can also cause mucopurulent sputum, which may become blood-tinged and foul-smelling. The coughing, which may be paroxysmal during exercise, usually occurs when the patient is recumbent or rises from sleep.

    The patient also exhibits prolonged expirations, increased use of accessory muscles for breathing, barrel chest, tachypnea, cyanosis, wheezing, exertional dyspnea, scattered rhonchi, coarse crackles (which can be precipitated by coughing), and late-stage clubbing.

    Chemical pneumonitis.

    Chemical pneumonitis causes a cough with purulent sputum. It can also cause dyspnea, wheezing, orthopnea, a fever, malaise, and crackles; mucous membrane irritation of the conjunctivae, throat, and nose; laryngitis; or rhinitis. Signs and symptoms may increase for 24 to 48 hours after exposure, then resolve; if severe, however, they may recur 2 to 5 weeks later.

    Common cold.

     When the common cold causes productive coughing, the sputum is mucoid or mucopurulent. Early indications include a dry hacking cough, sneezing, a headache, malaise, fatigue, rhinorrhea (watery to tenacious, mucopurulent secretions), nasal congestion, a sore throat, myalgia, and arthralgia.

    Lung abscess (ruptured).

    The cardinal sign of a ruptured lung abscess is coughing that produces copious amounts of purulent, foul-smelling, and possibly blood-tinged sputum. A ruptured abscess can also cause diaphoresis, anorexia, clubbing, weight loss, weakness, fatigue, a fever with chills, dyspnea, a headache, malaise, pleuritic chest pain, halitosis, inspiratory crackles, and tubular or amphoric breath sounds. The patient's chest is dull on percussion on the affected side.

    Lung cancer.

    One of the earliest signs of bronchogenic carcinoma is a chronic cough that produces small amounts of purulent (or mucopurulent), blood-streaked sputum. In a patient with bronchoalveolar cancer, however, coughing produces large amounts of frothy sputum. Other signs and symptoms include dyspnea, anorexia, fatigue, weight loss, chest pain, a fever, diaphoresis, wheezing, and clubbing.

    Nocardiosis.

     Nocardiosis causes a productive cough (with purulent, thick, tenacious, and possibly blood-tinged sputum) and fever that may last several months. Other findings include night sweats, pleuritic pain, anorexia, malaise, fatigue, weight loss, and diminished or absent breath sounds. The patient's chest is dull on percussion.

    North American blastomycosis.

     North American blastomycosis is a chronic disorder that produces coughing that's dry and hacking or produces bloody or purulent sputum. Other findings include pleuritic chest pain, a fever, chills, anorexia, weight loss, malaise, fatigue, night sweats, cutaneous lesions (small, painless, nonpruritic macules or papules), and prostration.

    Plague

    (Yersinia pestis).  Plague is one of the most virulent acute bacterial infections and, if untreated, one of the most potentially lethal diseases known. Most cases are sporadic, but the potential for epidemic spread still exists. Clinical forms include bubonic (the most common), septicemic, and pneumonic plagues. The bubonic form is transmitted to a human when bitten by an infected flea. Signs and symptoms include a fever, chills, and swollen, inflamed, and tender lymph nodes near the site of the flea bite. Septicemic plague develops as a fulminant illness generally with the bubonic form. The pneumonic form may be contracted from person-to-person through direct contact via the respiratory system or through biological warfare from aerosolization and inhalation of the organism. The onset is usually sudden with chills, a fever, a headache, and myalgia. Pulmonary signs and symptoms include a productive cough, chest pain, tachypnea, dyspnea, hemoptysis, increasing respiratory distress, and cardiopulmonary insufficiency.

    Pneumonia.

     Bacterial pneumonia initially produces a dry cough that becomes productive. Associated signs and symptoms develop suddenly and include shaking chills, a high fever, myalgia, a headache, pleuritic chest pain that increases with chest movement, tachypnea, tachycardia, dyspnea, cyanosis, diaphoresis, decreased breath sounds, fine crackles, and rhonchi.

    Mycoplasma pneumonia may cause a cough that produces scant blood-flecked sputum. Typically, however, a nonproductive cough starts 2 to 3 days after the onset of malaise, a headache, a fever, and a sore throat. Paroxysmal coughing causes substernal chest pain. Patients may develop crackles, but generally don't appear seriously ill.

    Psittacosis.

     As psittacosis progresses, the characteristic hacking cough, nonproductive at first, may later produce a small amount of mucoid, blood-streaked sputum. The infection may begin abruptly, with chills, a fever, a headache, myalgia, and prostration. Other signs and symptoms include tachypnea, fine crackles, chest pain (rare), epistaxis, photophobia, abdominal distention and tenderness, nausea, vomiting, and a faint macular rash. Severe infection may produce stupor, delirium, and coma.

    Pulmonary coccidioidomycosis.

     Pulmonary coccidioidomycosis causes a nonproductive or slightly productive cough with a fever, occasional chills, pleuritic chest pain, a sore throat, a headache, backache, malaise, marked weakness, anorexia, hemoptysis, and an itchy macular rash. Rhonchi and wheezing may be heard. The disease may spread to other areas, causing arthralgia, swelling of the knees and ankles, and erythema nodosum or erythema multiforme.

    Pulmonary edema.

    When severe, pulmonary edema, which is a life-threatening disorder, causes a cough that produces frothy, bloody sputum. Early signs and symptoms include exertional dyspnea; paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, followed by orthopnea; and coughing, which may be nonproductive initially. Others include a fever, fatigue, tachycardia, tachypnea, dependent crackles, and a ventricular gallop. As the patient's respirations become increasingly rapid and labored, he develops more diffuse crackles and a productive cough, worsening tachycardia and, possibly, arrhythmias. His skin becomes cold, clammy, and cyanotic; his blood pressure falls; and his pulse becomes thready.

    Pulmonary embolism.

    Pulmonary embolism is a life-threatening disorder that causes a cough that may be nonproductive or may produce blood-tinged sputum. Usually, the first symptom of a pulmonary embolism is severe dyspnea, which may be accompanied by angina or pleuritic chest pain. The patient experiences marked anxiety, a low-grade fever, tachycardia, tachypnea, and diaphoresis. Less-common signs include massive hemoptysis, chest splinting, leg edema and, with a large embolus, cyanosis, syncope, and jugular vein distention. The patient may also have a pleural friction rub, diffuse wheezing, crackles, chest dullness on percussion, decreased breath sounds, and signs of circulatory collapse.

    Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB).

     Pulmonary TB causes a mild to severe productive cough along with some combination of hemoptysis, malaise, dyspnea, and pleuritic chest pain. Sputum may be scant and mucoid or copious and purulent. Typically, the patient experiences night sweats, easy fatigability, and weight loss. His breath sounds are amphoric. He may have chest dullness on percussion and, after coughing, increased tactile fremitus with crackles.

    Silicosis.

     A productive cough with mucopurulent sputum is the earliest sign of silicosis. The patient also has exertional dyspnea, tachypnea, weight loss, fatigue, general weakness, and recurrent respiratory infections. Auscultation reveals end-inspiratory, fine crackles at the lung bases.

    Tracheobronchitis.

    Inflammation initially causes a nonproductive cough that later — following the onset of chills, a sore throat, a slight fever, muscle and back pain, and substernal tightness — becomes productive as secretions increase. Sputum is mucoid, mucopurulent, or purulent. The patient typically has rhonchi and wheezes; he may also develop crackles. Severe tracheobronchitis may cause a fever of 101° to 102° F (38.3° to 38.9° C) and bronchospasm.

    Other causes

    Diagnostic tests.

    Bronchoscopy and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) may increase productive coughing.

    Drugs.

     Expectorants increase productive coughing. These include ammonium chloride, calcium iodide, guaifenesin, iodinated glycerol, potassium iodide, and terpin hydrate.

    Respiratory therapy.

    Intermittent positive-pressure breathing, nebulizer therapy, and incentive spirometry can help loosen secretions and cause or increase productive coughing.

    » READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

    Source: Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition), 2006

    Cough, barking: Medical causes
    (Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition))

    Aspiration of foreign body.

    Partial obstruction of the upper airway first produces sudden hoarseness, and then a barking cough and inspiratory stridor. Other effects of this life-threatening condition include gagging, tachycardia, dyspnea, decreased breath sounds, wheezing and, possibly, cyanosis.

    Epiglottiditis.

     Epiglottiditis is a life-threatening disorder that has become less common since the use of influenza vaccines. It occurs nocturnally, heralded by a barking cough and a high fever. The child is hoarse, dysphagic, dyspneic, and restless and appears extremely ill and panicky. The cough may progress to severe respiratory distress with sternal and intercostal retractions, nasal flaring, cyanosis, and tachycardia. The child will struggle to get sufficient air as epiglottic edema increases. Epiglottiditis is a true medical emergency.

    Laryngotracheobronchitis (acute).

    Also known as viral croup, laryngotracheobronchitis is most common in children between ages 9 and 18 months and usually occurs in the fall and early winter. It initially produces a low to moderate fever, a runny nose, a poor appetite, and an infrequent cough. When the infection descends into the laryngotracheal area, a barking cough, hoarseness, and inspiratory stridor occur.

    As respiratory distress progresses, substernal and intercostal retractions occur along with tachycardia and shallow, rapid respirations. Sleeping in a dry room worsens these signs. The patient becomes restless, irritable, pale, and cyanotic.

    Spasmodic croup.

     Acute spasmodic croup usually occurs during sleep with the abrupt onset of a barking cough that awakens the child. Typically, he doesn't have a fever, but may be hoarse, restless, and dyspneic. As his respiratory distress worsens, the child may exhibit sternal and intercostal retractions, nasal flaring, tachycardia, cyanosis, and an anxious, frantic appearance. The signs usually subside within a few hours, but attacks tend to recur.

    » READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

    Source: Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition), 2006

    Cough, nonproductive: Medical causes
    (Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition))

    Airway occlusion.

    Partial occlusion of the upper airway produces a sudden onset of dry, paroxysmal coughing. The patient is gagging, wheezing, and hoarse, with stridor, tachycardia, and decreased breath sounds.

    Anthrax (inhalation).

    Anthrax is an acute infectious disease that's caused by the gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Although the disease most commonly occurs in wild and domestic grazing animals, such as cattle, sheep, and goats, the spores can live in the soil for many years. The disease can occur in humans exposed to infected animals, tissue from infected animals, or biological warfare. Most natural cases occur in agricultural regions worldwide. Anthrax may occur in the cutaneous, inhalation, or GI form.

    Inhalation anthrax is caused by inhaling aerosolized spores. Initial signs and symptoms are flulike and include a fever, chills, weakness, a cough, and chest pain. The disease generally occurs in two stages, with a period of recovery after the initial signs and symptoms. The second stage develops abruptly with rapid deterioration marked by a fever, dyspnea, stridor, and hypotension generally leading to death within 24 hours. Radiologic findings include mediastinitis and symmetric mediastinal widening.

    Aortic aneurysm (thoracic).

    Aortic aneurysm causes a brassy cough with dyspnea, hoarseness, wheezing, and a substernal ache in the shoulders, lower back, or abdomen. The patient may also have facial or neck edema, jugular vein distention, dysphagia, prominent veins over his chest, stridor and, possibly, paresthesia or neuralgia.

    Asthma.

    Asthma attacks typically occur at night, starting with a nonproductive cough and mild wheezing; this progresses to severe dyspnea, audible wheezing, chest tightness, and a cough that produces thick mucus. Other signs include apprehension, rhonchi, prolonged expirations, intercostal and supraclavicular retractions on inspiration, accessory muscle use, flaring nostrils, tachypnea, tachycardia, diaphoresis, and flushing or cyanosis.

    Atelectasis.

    As lung tissue deflates, it stimulates cough receptors, causing a nonproductive cough. The patient may also have pleuritic chest pain, anxiety, dyspnea, tachypnea, and tachycardia. His skin may be cyanotic and diaphoretic, his breath sounds may be decreased, his chest may be dull on percussion, and he may exhibit inspiratory lag, substernal or intercostal retractions, decreased vocal fremitus, and tracheal deviation toward the affected side.

    Bronchitis (chronic).

    Bronchitis starts with a nonproductive, hacking cough that later becomes productive. Other findings include prolonged expiration, wheezing, dyspnea, accessory muscle use, barrel chest, cyanosis, tachypnea, crackles, and scattered rhonchi. Clubbing can occur in late stages.

    Bronchogenic carcinoma.

    The earliest indicators of bronchogenic carcinoma can be a chronic, nonproductive cough; dyspnea; and vague chest pain. The patient may also be wheezing.

    Common cold.

     The common cold generally starts with a nonproductive, hacking cough and progresses to some mix of sneezing, headaches, malaise, fatigue, rhinorrhea, myalgia, arthralgia, nasal congestion, and a sore throat.

    Esophageal achalasia.

     In esophageal achalasia, regurgitation and aspiration produce a dry cough. The patient may also have recurrent pulmonary infections and dysphagia.

    Esophageal diverticula.

     The patient with esophageal diverticula has a nocturnal nonproductive cough, regurgitation and aspiration, dyspepsia, and dysphagia. His neck may appear swollen and have a gurgling sound. He may also exhibit halitosis and weight loss.

    Esophageal occlusion.

     Esophageal occlusion is marked by immediate nonproductive coughing and gagging, with a sensation of something stuck in the throat. Other findings include neck or chest pain, dysphagia, and the inability to swallow.

    Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

    A nonproductive cough is common in patients with Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which is marked by noncardiogenic pulmonary edema. Other findings include a headache, myalgia, fever, nausea, and vomiting.

    Hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

     With hypersensitivity pneumonitis, an acute nonproductive cough, a fever, dyspnea, and malaise usually occur 5 to 6 hours after exposure to an antigen.

    Interstitial lung disease.

    A patient with interstitial lung disease has a nonproductive cough and progressive dyspnea. He may also be cyanotic and have clubbing, fine crackles, fatigue, variable chest pain, and weight loss.

    Laryngeal tumor.

     A mild, nonproductive cough is an early sign of a laryngeal tumor, in addition to minor throat discomfort and hoarseness. Later, dysphagia, dyspnea, cervical lymphadenopathy, stridor, and an earache may occur.

    Laryngitis.

     In its acute form, laryngitis causes a nonproductive cough with localized pain (especially when the patient is swallowing or speaking) as well as fever and malaise. His hoarseness can range from mild to complete loss of voice.

    Lung abscess.

    Lung abscess typically begins with a nonproductive cough, weakness, dyspnea, and pleuritic chest pain. The patient may also exhibit diaphoresis, a fever, a headache, malaise, fatigue, crackles, decreased breath sounds, anorexia, and weight loss. Later, his cough produces large amounts of purulent, foul-smelling, and possibly bloody sputum.

    Pleural effusion.

     A nonproductive cough along with dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, and decreased chest motion are characteristic of pleural effusion. Other findings include a pleural friction rub, tachycardia, tachypnea, egophony, flatness on percussion, decreased or absent breath sounds, and decreased tactile fremitus.

    Pneumonia.

    Bacterial pneumonia usually starts with a nonproductive, hacking, painful cough that rapidly becomes productive. Other findings include shaking chills, a headache, a high fever, dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, tachypnea, tachycardia, grunting respirations, nasal flaring, decreased breath sounds, fine crackles, rhonchi, and cyanosis. The patient's chest may be dull on percussion.

    With mycoplasma pneumonia, a nonproductive cough arises 2 to 3 days after the onset of malaise, a headache, and a sore throat. The cough can be paroxysmal, causing substernal chest pain. Fever commonly occurs, but the patient doesn't appear seriously ill.

    Viral pneumonia causes a nonproductive, hacking cough and the gradual onset of malaise, headache, anorexia, and a low-grade fever.

    Pneumothorax.

     Pneumothorax is a life-threatening disorder that causes a dry cough and signs of respiratory distress, such as severe dyspnea, tachycardia, tachypnea, and cyanosis. The patient experiences sudden, sharp chest pain that worsens with chest movement as well as subcutaneous crepitation, hyperresonance or tympany, decreased vocal fremitus, and decreased or absent breath sounds on the affected side.

    Pulmonary edema.

    Pulmonary edema initially causes a dry cough, exertional dyspnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, orthopnea, tachycardia, tachypnea, dependent crackles, and a ventricular gallop. If pulmonary edema is severe, the patient's respirations become more rapid and labored, with diffuse crackles and coughing that produces frothy, bloody sputum.

    Pulmonary embolism.

    A life-threatening pulmonary embolism may suddenly produce a dry cough along with dyspnea and pleuritic or anginal chest pain. Typically, however, the cough produces blood-tinged sputum. Tachycardia and a low-grade fever are also common; less common signs and symptoms include massive hemoptysis, chest splinting, leg edema and, with a large embolus, cyanosis, syncope, and jugular vein distention. The patient may also have a pleural friction rub, diffuse wheezing, dullness on percussion, and decreased breath sounds.

    Sarcoidosis.

    With sarcoidosis, a nonproductive cough is accompanied by dyspnea, substernal pain, and malaise. The patient may also develop fatigue, arthralgia, myalgia, weight loss, tachypnea, crackles, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, skin lesions, visual impairment, difficulty swallowing, and arrhythmias.

    Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

    SARS is an acute infectious disease of unknown etiology; however, a novel coronavirus has been implicated as a possible cause. Although most cases have been reported in Asia (China, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand), cases have cropped up in Europe and North America. The incubation period is 2 to 7 days; the illness generally begins with a fever (usually greater than 100.4° F [38° C]). Other symptoms include a headache; malaise; a dry, nonproductive cough; and dyspnea. The severity of the illness is highly variable, ranging from mild illness to pneumonia and, in some cases, progressing to respiratory failure and death.

    Tracheobronchitis (acute).

    Initially, tracheobronchitis produces a dry cough that later becomes productive as secretions increase. Chills, a sore throat, a slight fever, muscle and back pain, and substernal tightness generally precede the cough's onset. Rhonchi and wheezes are usually heard. Severe illness causes a fever of 101° to 102° F (38.3° to 38.9° C) and possibly bronchospasm, with severe wheezing and increased coughing.

    Tularemia.

    Also known as rabbit fever, tularemia is caused by the gram-negative, non–spore-forming bacterium Francisella tularensis. It's typically a rural disease found in wild animals, water, and moist soil. It's transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected insect or tick, handling infected animal carcasses, drinking contaminated water, or inhaling the bacteria. It's considered a possible airborne agent for biological warfare. Signs and symptoms following inhalation of the organism include the abrupt onset of a fever, chills, a headache, generalized myalgia, a nonproductive cough, dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, and empyema.

    Other causes

    Diagnostic tests.

     Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and bronchoscopy may stimulate cough receptors and trigger coughing.

    Treatments.

     Irritation of the carina during suctioning or deep endotracheal or tracheal tube placement can trigger a paroxysmal or hacking cough. Intermittent positive-pressure breathing or spirometry can also cause a nonproductive cough. Some inhalants, such as pentamidine, may stimulate coughing.

    » READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

    Source: Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition), 2006

    Pneumonia: Causes and incidence
    (Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

    Pneumonia can be classified in several ways:

    ❑ Microbiologic etiology — Pneumonia can be viral, bacterial, fungal, protozoan, mycobacterial, mycoplasmal, or rickettsial in origin. (See Types of pneumonia, pages 538 to 541.)

    ❑ Location — Bronchopneumonia involves distal airways and alveoli; lobular pneumonia, part of a lobe; and lobar pneumonia, an entire lobe.

    ❑ Type — Primary pneumonia results from inhalation or aspiration of a pathogen; it includes pneumococcal and viral pneumonia. Secondary pneumonia may follow initial lung damage from a noxious chemical or other insult (superinfection), or may result from hematogenous spread of bacteria from a distant focus.

    Predisposing factors for bacterial and viral pneumonia include chronic illness and debilitation, cancer (particularly lung cancer), abdominal and thoracic surgery, atelectasis, common colds or other viral respiratory infections, such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, chronic respiratory disease (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], asthma, bronchiectasis, and cystic fibrosis), influenza, smoking, malnutrition, alcoholism, sickle cell disease, tracheostomy, exposure to noxious gases, aspiration, and immunosuppressive therapy.

    Predisposing factors for aspiration pneumonia include old age, debilitation, artificial airway use, nasogastric (NG) tube feedings, impaired gag reflex, poor oral hygiene, and decreased level of consciousness.

    In elderly patients and patients who are debilitated, bacterial pneumonia may follow influenza or a common cold. Respiratory viruses are the most common cause of pneumonia in children ages 2 to 3. In school-age children, mycoplasma pneumonia is more common.

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    Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005

    Idiopathic bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia: Causes and incidence
    (Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

    BOOP has no known cause. However, other forms of bronchiolitis obliterans and organizing pneumonia may be associated with specific diseases or situations, such as bone marrow, heart, or heart-lung transplantation; collagen vascular diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus; inflammatory diseases, such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and polyarteritis nodosa; bacterial, viral, or mycoplasmal respiratory infections; inhalation of toxic gases; and drug therapy with amiodarone, bleomycin, penicillamine, or lomustine.

    Much debate still exists about the various pathologies and classifications of bronchiolitis obliterans. Most patients with BOOP are between ages 50 and 60. Incidence is equally divided between men and women. A smoking history doesn’t seem to increase the risk of developing BOOP.

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    Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005

    Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia: Causes and incidence
    (Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

    P. carinii, the cause of PCP, usually is classified as a protozoan, although some investigators consider it more closely related to fungi. The organism exists as a saprophyte in the lungs of humans and various animals as part of the normal flora in most healthy people. It becomes an aggressive pathogen in the immunocompromised patient. Impaired cell-mediated (T-cell) immunity is thought to be more important than impaired humoral (B-cell) immunity in predisposing the patient to PCP, but the immune defects involved are poorly understood. P. carinii becomes activated in immunocompromised patients when the CD4+ T-cell count falls below 200/µl.

    P. carinii invades the lungs bilaterally and multiplies extracellularly. As the infestation grows, alveoli fill with organisms and exudate, impairing gas exchange. The alveoli hypertrophy and thicken progressively, eventually leading to extensive consolidation.

    The primary transmission route seems to be air, although the organism is already present in most people. The incubation period probably lasts for 4 to 8 weeks.

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    Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005

    Whooping cough: Causes and incidence
    (Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

    Whooping cough is usually transmitted by the direct inhalation of contaminated droplets from a patient in the acute stage; it may also be spread indirectly through soiled linen and other articles contaminated by respiratory secretions.

    Whooping cough is endemic throughout the world, usually occurring in late winter and early spring. In about 50% of cases, it strikes unimmunized children younger than age 1, because the immunization series hasn’t been completed and the child has had contact with an adult harboring the organisms.

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    Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005

    Cough, productive: Medical causes
    (Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))

    Actinomycosis

    This disorder begins with a cough that produces purulent sputum. Fever, weight loss, fatigue, weakness, dyspnea, night sweats, pleuritic chest pain, and hemoptysis may also occur.

    Aspiration pneumonitis

    This disorder causes coughing that produces pink, frothy, possibly purulent sputum. The patient also has marked dyspnea, fever, tachypnea, tachycardia, wheezing, and cyanosis.

    Asthma (acute)

    A severe asthma attack, which can be life-threatening, may produce tenacious mucoid sputum and mucus plugs. Such an attack typically starts with a dry cough and mild wheezing, then progresses to severe dyspnea, audible wheezing, chest tightness, and a productive cough. Other findings include apprehension, prolonged expiration, intercostal and supraclavicular retraction on inspiration, accessory muscle use, rhonchi, crackles, flaring nostrils, tachypnea, tachycardia, diaphoresis, and flushing or cyanosis. Attacks commonly occur at night or during sleep.

    Bronchiectasis

    The chronic cough of this disorder produces copious mucopurulent sputum that has characteristic layering (top, frothy; middle, clear; bottom, dense with purulent particles). The patient has halitosis: His sputum may smell foul or sickeningly sweet. Other characteristic findings include hemoptysis, persistent coarse crackles over the affected lung area, occasional wheezing, rhonchi, exertional dyspnea, weight loss, fatigue, malaise, weakness, recurrent fever, and late-stage finger clubbing.

    Bronchitis (chronic)

    The cough associated with chronic bronchitis may be nonproductive initially; eventually, however, it produces mucoid sputum that becomes purulent. Secondary infection can also cause mucopurulent sputum, which may become blood tinged and foul smelling. The cough, which may be paroxysmal during exercise, usually occurs when the patient is recumbent or rises from sleep.

    The patient also exhibits prolonged expiration, accessory muscle use, barrel chest, tachypnea, cyanosis, wheezing, exertional dyspnea, scattered rhonchi, coarse crackles (which can be precipitated by coughing), and late-stage clubbing.

    Chemical pneumonitis

    This disorder causes a cough with purulent sputum. It may also cause dyspnea, wheezing, orthopnea, fever, malaise, crackles, laryngitis, rhinitis, and mucous membrane irritation of the conjunctivae, throat, and nose. Signs and symptoms may increase for 24 to 48 hours after exposure, then resolve; in severe pneumonitis, however, they may recur 2 to 5 weeks later.

    Common cold

    The common cold may cause a productive cough with mucoid or mucopurulent sputum, but it usually starts with a dry, hacking cough, sore throat, sneezing, rhinorrhea, and nasal congestion. Headache, malaise, fatigue, myalgia, and arthralgia may also occur.

    Emphysema

    This disorder causes a chronic productive cough with scant mucoid, translucent, grayish white sputum that can become mucopurulent. Patients with emphysema are typically thin and have the characteristic pink or red complexion (“pink puffer” appearance). They may also exhibit increased accessory muscle use, tachypnea, grunting expirations through pursed lips, diminished breath sounds, exertional dyspnea, rhonchi, barrel chest, anorexia, and weight loss. Clubbing is a late sign.

    Legionnaires’ disease

    This disorder causes a cough that produces scant mucoid, nonpurulent and, possibly, blood-streaked sputum. Prodromal signs and symptoms typically include malaise, fatigue, weakness, anorexia, diffuse myalgia, and possibly diarrhea. Within 12 to 48 hours, the patient develops a dry cough and a sudden high fever with chills. Many patients also have pleuritic chest pain, headache, tachypnea, tachycardia, nausea, vomiting, dyspnea, crackles, mild temporary amnesia, disorientation, confusion, flushing, mild diaphoresis, and prostration.

    Lung abscess (ruptured)

    The cardinal sign of a ruptured lung abscess is a cough that produces copious amounts of purulent, foul-smelling and, possibly, blood-tinged sputum. A ruptured abscess can also cause diaphoresis, anorexia, clubbing, weight loss, weakness, fatigue, fever with chills, dyspnea, headache, malaise, pleuritic chest pain, halitosis, inspiratory crackles, and tubular or amphoric breath sounds. The patient’s chest is dull on percussion on the affected side.

    Lung cancer

    One of the earliest signs of bronchogenic carcinoma is a chronic cough that produces small amounts of purulent (or mucopurulent), blood-streaked sputum. In a patient with bronchoalveolar cancer, however, coughing produces large amounts of frothy sputum. Other signs and symptoms of lung cancer include dyspnea, anorexia, fatigue, weight loss, chest pain, fever, diaphoresis, wheezing, and clubbing.

    Nocardiosis

    This disorder causes a productive cough (with purulent, thick, tenacious, and possibly blood-tinged sputum) and fever that may last several months. Other findings include night sweats, pleuritic pain, anorexia, weight loss, malaise, fatigue, and diminished or absent breath sounds. The patient’s chest is dull on percussion.

    North American blastomycosis

    This chronic disorder may produce a dry hacking cough or a productive cough with bloody or purulent sputum. Other findings include pleuritic chest pain, fever, chills, anorexia, weight loss, malaise, fatigue, night sweats, cutaneous lesions (small, painless, nonpruritic macules or papules), and prostration.

    Plague

    Caused by Yersinia pestis, plague is one of the most virulent and, if untreated, most lethal bacterial infections known. Most cases are sporadic, but the potential for epidemic spread still exists. Clinical forms include bubonic (the most common), septicemic, and pneumonic plagues. The bubonic form is transmitted to man from the bite of infected fleas. Signs and symptoms include fever, chills, and swollen, inflamed, and tender lymph nodes near the site of the fleabite. Septicemic plague may develop as a complication of untreated bubonic or pneumonic plague and occurs when plague bacteria enter the bloodstream and multiply. The pneumonic form can be contracted by inhaling respiratory droplets from an infected person or inhaling the organism that has been dispersed in the air through biological warfare. The onset is usually sudden with chills, fever, headache, and myalgia. Pulmonary signs and symptoms include a productive cough, chest pain, tachypnea, dyspnea, hemoptysis, increasing respiratory distress, and cardiopulmonary insufficiency.

    Pneumonia

    Bacterial pneumonia initially produces a dry cough that becomes productive. Associated signs and symptoms develop suddenly and include shaking chills, high fever, myalgia, headache, pleuritic chest pain that increases with chest movement, tachypnea, tachycardia, dyspnea, cyanosis, diaphoresis, decreased breath sounds, fine crackles, and rhonchi.

    Mycoplasmal pneumonia may cause a cough that produces scant blood-flecked sputum. In most cases, however, a nonproductive cough starts 2 to 3 days after the onset of malaise, headache, fever, and sore throat. Paroxysmal coughing causes substernal chest pain. Patients may develop crackles but generally don’t appear seriously ill.

    Psittacosis

    As this disorder progresses, the characteristic hacking cough, nonproductive at first, may later produce a small amount of mucoid, blood-streaked sputum. The infection may begin abruptly with chills, fever, headache, myalgia, and prostration. Other signs and symptoms include tachypnea, fine crackles, chest pain (rare), epistaxis, photophobia, abdominal distention and tenderness, nausea, vomiting, and a faint macular rash. Severe psittacosis may produce stupor, delirium, and coma.

    Pulmonary coccidioidomycosis

    This disorder causes a nonproductive or slightly productive cough with fever, occasional chills, pleuritic chest pain, sore throat, headache, backache, malaise, marked weakness, anorexia, hemoptysis, and an itchy macular rash. Rhonchi and wheezing may be heard. The disease may spread to other areas, causing arthralgia, swelling of the knees and ankles, and erythema nodosum or erythema multiforme.

    Pulmonary edema

    When severe, this life-threatening disorder causes a cough that produces frothy, blood-tinged sputum. Early signs and symptoms include exertional dyspnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea followed by orthopnea, and a cough that may be nonproductive initially. Fever, fatigue, tachycardia, tachypnea, dependent crackles, and ventricular gallop may also occur. As the patient’s respirations become increasingly rapid and labored, he develops more diffuse crackles and the productive cough, worsening tachycardia, and possibly arrhythmias. His skin becomes cold, clammy, and cyanotic; his blood pressure falls; and his pulse becomes thready.

    Pulmonary embolism

    This life-threatening disorder causes a cough that may be nonproductive or may produce blood-tinged sputum. Usually, the first symptom of a pulmonary embolism is severe dyspnea, which may be accompanied by angina or pleuritic chest pain. The patient experiences marked anxiety, a low-grade fever, tachycardia, tachypnea, and diaphoresis. Less common signs include massive hemoptysis, chest splinting, leg edema and, in a large embolus, cyanosis, syncope, and distended jugular veins. The patient may also have a pleural friction rub, diffuse wheezing, crackles, chest dullness on percussion, decreased breath sounds, and signs of circulatory collapse.

    Pulmonary tuberculosis

    This disorder causes a mild to severe productive cough along with some combination of hemoptysis, malaise, dyspnea, and pleuritic chest pain. Sputum may be scant and mucoid or copious and purulent. Typically, the patient experiences night sweats, easy fatigability, and weight loss. His breath sounds are amphoric. He may exhibit chest dullness on percussion and, after coughing, increased tactile fremitus with crackles.

    Silicosis

    A productive cough with mucopurulent sputum is the earliest sign of this disorder. The patient also has exertional dyspnea, tachypnea, weight loss, fatigue, general weakness, and recurrent respiratory infections. Auscultation reveals end-inspiratory, fine crackles at the lung bases.

    Tracheobronchitis

    Inflammation initially causes a nonproductive cough followed by chills, sore throat, slight fever, muscle and back pain, and substernal tightness. As secretions increase, the cough produces mucoid, mucopurulent, or purulent sputum. The patient typically has rhonchi and wheezing; he may also develop crackles. Severe tracheobronchitis may cause a fever of 101° to 102° F (38.3° to 38.9° C) and bronchospasm.

    Other causes

    Diagnostic tests

    Bronchoscopy and pulmonary function tests may increase productive coughing.

    Drugs

    Expectorants, such as ammonium chloride, guaifenesin, potassium iodide, and terpin hydrate, increase productive coughing.

    Respiratory therapy

    Intermittent positive-pressure breathing, nebulizer therapy, and incentive spirometry can help loosen secretions and cause or increase productive coughing.

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    Source: Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition), 2006

    Cough, barking: Medical causes
    (Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))

    Aspiration of foreign body

    Partial obstruction of the upper airway first produces sudden hoarseness, then a barking cough and inspiratory stridor. Other effects of this life-threatening condition include gagging, tachycardia, dyspnea, decreased breath sounds, wheezing, and possibly cyanosis.

    Epiglottiditis

    This life-threatening disorder has become less common since the use of influenza vaccines. It occurs nocturnally, heralded by a barking cough and a high fever. The child is hoarse, dysphagic, dyspneic, and restless and appears extremely ill and panicky. The cough may progress to severe respiratory distress with sternal and intercostal retractions, nasal flaring, cyanosis, and tachycardia. The child will struggle to get sufficient air as epiglottic edema increases. Epiglottiditis is a true medical emergency.

    Laryngotracheobronchitis (acute)

    Also known as viral croup, this infection is most common in children between ages 9 and 18 months and usually occurs in the fall and early winter. It initially produces low to moderate fever, runny nose, poor appetite, and infrequent cough. When the infection descends into the laryngotracheal area, a barking cough, hoarseness, and inspiratory stridor occur.

    As respiratory distress progresses, substernal and intercostal retractions occur along with tachycardia and shallow, rapid respirations. Sleeping in a dry room worsens these signs. The patient becomes restless, irritable, pale, and cyanotic.

    Spasmodic croup

    Acute spasmodic croup usually occurs during sleep with the abrupt onset of a barking cough that awakens the child. Typically, he doesn’t have a fever but may be hoarse, restless, and dyspneic. As his respiratory distress worsens, the child may exhibit sternal and intercostal retractions, nasal flaring, tachycardia, cyanosis, and an anxious, frantic appearance. The signs usually subside within a few hours, but attacks tend to recur.

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    Source: Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition), 2006

    Cough, nonproductive: Medical causes
    (Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))

    Airway occlusion

    Partial occlusion of the upper airway produces a sudden onset of dry, paroxysmal coughing. The patient exhibits gagging, wheezing, hoarseness, stridor, tachycardia, and decreased breath sounds.

    Anthrax (inhalation)

    This acute infectious disease is caused by the gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Although the disease most commonly occurs in wild and domestic grazing animals, such as cattle, sheep, and goats, the spores can live in the soil for many years. The disease can occur in humans exposed to infected animals, tissue from infected animals, or biological agents. Most natural cases occur in agricultural regions worldwide. Anthrax may occur in cutaneous, inhalation, or GI forms.

    Inhalation anthrax is caused by inhalation of aerosolized spores. Initial signs and symptoms are flulike and include fever, chills, weakness, cough, and chest pain. The disease generally occurs in two stages with a period of recovery after the initial signs and symptoms. The second stage develops abruptly and causes rapid deterioration marked by fever, dyspnea, stridor, and hypotension; death generally results within 24 hours. Radiologic findings include mediastinitis and symmetrical mediastinal widening.

    Aortic aneurysm (thoracic)

    This disorder causes a brassy cough with dyspnea, hoarseness, wheezing, and a substernal ache in the shoulders, lower back, or abdomen. The patient may also have facial or neck edema, jugular vein distention, dysphagia, prominent veins over his chest, stridor, and possibly paresthesia or neuralgia.

    Asthma

    Asthma attacks commonly occur at night, starting with a nonproductive cough and mild wheezing and progressing to severe dyspnea, audible wheezing, chest tightness, and a cough that produces thick mucus. Other signs include apprehension, rhonchi, prolonged expirations, intercostal and supraclavicular retractions on inspiration, accessory muscle use, flaring nostrils, tachypnea, tachycardia, diaphoresis, and flushing or cyanosis.

    Atelectasis

    As lung tissue deflates in atelectasis, it stimulates cough receptors, causing a nonproductive cough. The patient may also have pleuritic chest pain, anxiety, dyspnea, tachypnea, tachycardia, decreased breath sounds, cyanotic skin, and diaphoresis. His chest may be dull on percussion, and he may exhibit inspiratory lag, substernal or intercostal retractions, decreased vocal fremitus, and tracheal deviation toward the affected side.

    Avian influenza

    These potentially life-threatening viruses are spread to humans through infected poultry and surfaces contaminated with infected bird excretions. Infected individuals may initially have symptoms of conventional influenza, including a nonproductive cough, fever, sore throat, and muscle aches. The most virulent avian virus, influenza A (H5N1), may lead to severe and life-threatening complications, such as acute respiratory distress and pneumonia. To date this strain of the virus has not surfaced in the United States; however, a recent outbreak in Asian and European countries has caused worldwide concern that the virus may spread through both infected humans and birds. Treatment with two of the four FDA-approved antiviral medications has proven effective with some virus strains, and an experimental vaccine is currently under investigation.

    Bronchitis (chronic)

    This disorder starts with a nonproductive, hacking cough that later becomes productive. Other findings include prolonged expiration, wheezing, dyspnea, accessory muscle use, barrel chest, cyanosis, tachypnea, crackles, and scattered rhonchi. Clubbing can occur in late stages.

    Bronchogenic carcinoma

    The earliest indicators of this disease can be a chronic nonproductive cough, dyspnea, and vague chest pain. The patient may also be wheezing.

    Common cold

    Most colds start with a nonproductive, hacking cough and progress to some mix of sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, sore throat, headache, malaise, fatigue, myalgia, and arthralgia.

    Esophageal achalasia

    In this disorder, regurgitation and aspiration produce a dry cough and, possibly, recurrent pulmonary infections and dysphagia.

    Esophageal diverticula

    The patient with this disorder has a nocturnal nonproductive cough, regurgitation and aspiration, dyspepsia, and dysphagia. His neck may appear swollen and have a gurgling sound. He may also exhibit halitosis and weight loss.

    Esophageal occlusion

    This disorder is marked by sudden nonproductive coughing and gagging with a sensation of something stuck in the throat. Other findings include neck or chest pain and dysphagia.

    Esophagitis with reflux

    This disorder commonly causes a nonproductive nocturnal cough due to regurgitation and aspiration. The patient may also experience chest pain that mimics angina pectoris, heartburn that worsens if he lies down after eating, increased salivation, dysphagia, hematemesis, and melena. Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome A nonproductive cough is common in patients with this disorder, which is marked by noncardiogenic pulmonary edema. Other findings include headache, myalgia, fever, nausea, and vomiting.

    Hodgkin’s disease

    This disease may cause a crowing nonproductive cough. However, the earliest sign is usually painless swelling of one of the cervical lymph nodes or, occasionally, of the axillary, mediastinal, or inguinal lymph nodes. Another early sign is pruritus. Other findings depend on the degree and location of systemic involvement and include dyspnea, dysphagia, hepatosplenomegaly, edema, jaundice, nerve pain, and hyperpigmentation.

    Hypersensitivity pneumonitis

    In this disorder, an acute nonproductive cough, fever, dyspnea, and malaise usually occur 5 to 6 hours after exposure to an antigen.

    Interstitial lung disease

    A patient with this disorder has a nonproductive cough and progressive dyspnea. He may also be cyanotic and have clubbing, fine crackles, fatigue, variable chest pain, and weight loss.

    Laryngeal tumor

    A mild nonproductive cough, minor throat discomfort, and hoarseness are early signs of this disorder. Later, dysphagia, dyspnea, cervical lymphadenopathy, stridor, and earache may occur.

    Laryngitis

    Acute laryngitis causes a nonproductive cough with localized pain (especially when the patient swallows or speaks) as well as fever and malaise. His hoarseness can range from mild to complete loss of voice.

    Legionnaires’ disease

    After a prodrome of malaise, headache and, possibly, diarrhea, anorexia, diffuse myalgia, and general weakness, legionnaires’disease causes a nonproductive cough that later produces mucoid, nonpurulent and, possibly, blood-tinged sputum.

    Lung abscess

    This disorder typically begins with a nonproductive cough, weakness, dyspnea, and pleuritic chest pain. The patient may also exhibit diaphoresis, fever, headache, malaise, fatigue, crackles, decreased breath sounds, anorexia, and weight loss. Later, his cough produces large amounts of purulent, foul-smelling and, possibly, blood-tinged sputum.

    Mediastinal tumor

    A large mediastinal tumor produces a nonproductive cough, dyspnea, and retrosternal pain. The patient may also develop stertorous respirations with suprasternal retraction on inspiration, hoarseness, dysphagia, tracheal shift or tug, jugular vein distention, and facial or neck edema.

    Pericardial effusion

    The most common signs and symptoms of this disorder are dysphagia, fever, pleuritic chest pain, and pericardial friction rub. A severe nonproductive cough occurs rarely.

    Pleural effusion

    A nonproductive cough, dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, and decreased chest motion are characteristic of pleural effusion. Other findings include pleural friction rub, tachycardia, tachypnea, egophony, flatness on percussion, decreased or absent breath sounds, and decreased tactile fremitus.

    Pneumonia

    Bacterial pneumonia usually starts with a nonproductive, hacking, painful cough that rapidly becomes productive. Other findings include shaking chills, headache, high fever, dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, tachypnea, tachycardia, grunting respirations, nasal flaring, decreased breath sounds, fine crackles, rhonchi, and cyanosis. The patient’s chest may be dull on percussion.

    In mycoplasmal pneumonia, a nonproductive cough develops 2 to 3 days after the onset of malaise, headache, and sore throat. The cough may be paroxysmal, causing substernal chest pain. The patient commonly has a fever but doesn’t appear seriously ill.

    Viral pneumonia causes a nonproductive, hacking cough and the gradual onset of malaise, headache, anorexia, and low-grade fever.

    Pneumothorax

    This life-threatening disorder causes a dry cough and signs of respiratory distress, such as severe dyspnea, tachycardia, tachypnea, and cyanosis. The patient experiences sudden, sharp chest pain that worsens with chest movement as well as subcutaneous crepitation, hyperresonance or tympany, decreased vocal fremitus, and decreased or absent breath sounds on the affected side.

    Psittacosis

    In this disorder, an initially dry, hacking cough later produces small amounts of blood-streaked, mucoid sputum. Psittacosis may begin abruptly with chills, fever, headache, myalgia, and prostration. The patient may also have tachypnea, fine crackles, epistaxis and, rarely, chest pain.

    Pulmonary edema

    This disorder initially causes a dry cough, exertional dyspnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, orthopnea, tachycardia, tachypnea, dependent crackles, and ventricular gallop. If pulmonary edema is severe, the patient’s respirations become more rapid and labored, with diffuse crackles and a cough that produces frothy, blood-streaked sputum.

    Pulmonary embolism

    A life-threatening pulmonary embolism may suddenly produce a dry cough, dyspnea, and pleuritic or anginal chest pain. In most cases, though, the cough produces blood-tinged sputum. Tachycardia and low-grade fever are also common; less common signs and symptoms include massive hemoptysis, chest splinting, leg edema and, with a large embolus, cyanosis, syncope, and distended jugular veins. The patient may also have a pleural friction rub, diffuse wheezing, dullness on percussion, and decreased breath sounds.

    Sarcoidosis

    In this disorder, a nonproductive cough is accompanied by dyspnea, substernal pain, and malaise. The patient may also develop fatigue, arthralgia, myalgia, weight loss, tachypnea, crackles, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, skin lesions, vision impairment, difficulty swallowing, and arrhythmias.

    Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

    SARS is an acute infectious disease of unknown etiology; however, a novel coronavirus has been implicated as a possible cause. Although most cases have been reported in Asia (China, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand), cases have cropped up in Europe and North America. The incubation period is 2 to 7 days, and the illness generally begins with a fever (usually greater than 100.4° F [38° C]). Other symptoms include headache, malaise, a nonproductive cough, and dyspnea. The severity of the illness is highly variable, ranging from mild illness to pneumonia and, in some cases, progressing to respiratory failure and death.

    Sinusitis (chronic)

    This disorder can cause a chronic nonproductive cough due to postnasal drip. The patient’s nasal mucosa may appear inflamed, and he may have nasal congestion and profuse drainage. Usually, his breath smells musty.

    Tracheobronchitis (acute)

    Initially, this disorder produces a dry cough that later becomes productive as secretions increase. Chills, sore throat, slight fever, muscle and back pain, and substernal tightness generally precede the cough’s onset. Rhonchi and wheezing are usually heard. Severe illness causes a fever of 101° to 102° F (38.3° to 38.9° C) and possibly bronchospasm, severe wheezing, and increased coughing.

    Tularemia

    Also known as “rabbit fever,” this infectious disease is caused by the gram-negative, non–spore-forming bacterium Francisella tularensis. This organism is found in wild animals, water, and moist soil, typically in rural areas. It’s transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected insect or tick, the handling of infected animal carcasses, the drinking of contaminated water, or the inhalation of the bacterium. It’s considered a possible airborne agent for biological warfare. Signs and symptoms following inhalation of the organism include the abrupt onset of fever, chills, headache, generalized myalgia, a nonproductive cough, dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, and empyema.

    Other causes

    Diagnostic tests

    Pulmonary function tests and bronchoscopy may stimulate cough receptors and trigger coughing.

    Drugs

    Certain drugs, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, may also cause a nonproductive cough.

    Treatments

    Irritation of the carina during suctioning or deep endotracheal or tracheal tube placement can trigger a paroxysmal or hacking cough. Intermittent positive-pressure breathing or spirometry can also cause a nonproductive cough. Some inhalants, such as pentamidine, may stimulate coughing.

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    Source: Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition), 2006

    Pneumonia Variants: Differential Overview
    (Field Guide to Bedside Diagnosis)

    ❑ Streptococcus pneumoniae

    ❑ Mycoplasma pneumoniae

    ❑ Haemophilus influenzae

    ❑ Chlamydia pneumoniae

    ❑ Influenza virus

    ❑ Staphylococcus aureus

    ❑ Mycobacterium tuberculosis

    ❑ Legionella pneumophila

    ❑ Klebsiella pneumoniae

    ❑ Pneumocystis carinii

    ❑ Chlamydia psittaci

    ❑ Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

    ❑ Hantavirus

    » READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

    Source: Field Guide to Bedside Diagnosis, 2007

    Acute Cough: Differential Overview
    (Field Guide to Bedside Diagnosis)

    ❑ Viral upper respiratory infection

    ❑ Asthma

    ❑ Sinusitis

    ❑ Mycoplasma bronchitis

    ❑ Pneumonia

    ❑ Gastroesophageal reflux

    ❑ Congestive heart failure

    ❑ ACE inhibitor

    ❑ Aspiration

    ❑ Cough in HIV

    ❑ Thermal

    ❑ Fume inhalation

    ❑ Pertussis

    ❑ Lung abscess

    » READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

    Source: Field Guide to Bedside Diagnosis, 2007

    Chronic Cough: Differential Overview
    (Field Guide to Bedside Diagnosis)

    ❑ Upper respiratory infection

    ❑ Allergy

    ❑ Asthma

    ❑ Chronic bronchitis

    ❑ Chronic sinusitis

    ❑ Gastroesophageal reflux

    ❑ ACE inhibitor

    ❑ Pollutants

    ❑ Psychogenic

    ❑ Foreign body

    ❑ Congestive heart failure

    ❑ Lung cancer

    ❑ Tuberculosis

    ❑ Mediastinal mass

    ❑ Bronchiectasis

    ❑ Pulmonary fibrosis

    ❑ Cystic fibrosis

    ❑ Aspergillosis

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    Source: Field Guide to Bedside Diagnosis, 2007

    Pneumonia: Causes
    (Handbook of Diseases)

    Pneumonia can be classified in several ways:

    ❑ Microbiologic etiology — Pneumonia can be viral, bacterial, fungal, protozoal, mycobacterial, mycoplasmal, or rickettsial in origin.

    ❑ Location — Bronchopneumonia involves distal airways and alveoli; lobular pneumonia, part of a lobe; and lobar pneumonia, an entire lobe.

    ❑ Type — Primary pneumonia results from inhalation or aspiration of a pathogen; it includes pneumococcal and viral pneumonia. Secondary pneumonia may follow initial lung damage from a noxious chemical or other insult (superinfection), or may result from hematogenous spread of bacteria from a distant focus. (See Types of pneumonia, pages 650 to 653.)

    Predisposing factors

    Predisposing factors for bacterial and viral pneumonia include chronic illness and debilitation, cancer (particularly lung cancer), abdominal and thoracic surgery, atelectasis, common colds or other viral respiratory tract infections, chronic respiratory disease (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], asthma, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis), influenza, smoking, malnutrition, alcoholism, sickle cell disease, tracheostomy, exposure to noxious gases, aspiration, and immunosuppressant therapy.

    Predisposing factors for aspiration pneumonia include old age, debilitation, nasogastric (NG) tube feedings, impaired gag reflex, poor oral hygiene, and decreased level of consciousness.

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    Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003

    Bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia, idiopathic: Causes
    (Handbook of Diseases)

    BOOP has no known cause. However, other forms of bronchiolitis obliterans and organizing pneumonia may be associated with specific diseases or situations, such as bone marrow, heart, or heart-lung transplantation; collagen vascular diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus; inflammatory diseases, such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or polyarteritis nodosa; bacterial, viral, or mycoplasmal respiratory tract infections; inhalation of toxic gases; or drug therapy with amiodarone, bleomycin, penicillamine, or lomustine.

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    Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003

    Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia: Causes
    (Handbook of Diseases)

    P. carinii, the cause of PCP, usually is classified as a protozoan, although some investigators consider it more closely related to fungi. The organism exists as a saprophyte in the lungs of humans and various animals.

    Part of the normal flora in most healthy people, P. carinii becomes an aggressive pathogen in the immunocompromised patient. Impaired cell-mediated (T-cell) immunity is thought to be more important than impaired humoral (B-cell) immunity in predisposing the patient to PCP; however, the immune defects involved are poorly understood.

    The organism invades the lungs bilaterally and multiplies extracellularly. As the infestation grows, alveoli fill with organisms and exudate, impairing gas exchange. The alveoli hypertrophy and thicken progressively, eventually leading to extensive consolidation.

    The primary transmission route seems to be air, although the organism is already resident in most people. The incubation period probably lasts 4 to 8 weeks.

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    Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003

    Cough, productive: Medical causes
    (Alarming Signs and Symptoms: Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice Series)

    Actinomycosis begins with a cough that produces purulent sputum. Fever, weight loss, fatigue, weakness, dyspnea, night sweats, pleuritic chest pain, and hemoptysis may also occur. Aspiration pneumonitis causes coughing that produces pink, frothy, and possibly purulent sputum. The patient also has marked dyspnea, fever, tachypnea, tachycardia, wheezing, and cyanosis. A severe asthma attack, which can be life-threatening, may produce mucoid, tenacious sputum and mucus plugs. Such an attack typically starts with a dry cough and mild wheezing, and then progresses to severe dyspnea, audible wheezing, chest tightness, and a productive cough. Other findings include apprehension, prolonged expirations, intercostal and supraclavicular retraction on inspiration, accessory muscle use, rhonchi, crackles, flaring nostrils, tachypnea, tachycardia, diaphoresis, and flushing or cyanosis. Attacks commonly occur at night or during sleep. The chronic cough of bronchiectasis produces copious, mucopurulent sputum that has characteristic layering (top, frothy; middle, clear; bottom, dense with purulent particles). The patient has halitosis; his sputum may smell foul or sickeningly sweet. Other characteristic findings include hemoptysis, persistent coarse crackles over the affected lung area, occasional wheezing, rhonchi, exertional dyspnea, weight loss, fatigue, malaise, weakness, recurrent fever, and late-stage finger clubbing. Bronchitis causes a cough that may be nonproductive initially. Eventually, however, it produces mucoid sputum that becomes purulent. Secondary infection can also cause mucopurulent sputum, which may become blood-tinged and foul-smelling. The coughing, which may be paroxysmal during exercise, usually occurs when the patient is recumbent or rises from sleep.

    The patient also exhibits prolonged expirations, increased use of accessory muscles for breathing, barrel chest, tachypnea, cyanosis, wheezing, exertional dyspnea, scattered rhonchi, coarse crackles (which can be precipitated by coughing), and late-stage clubbing. Chemical pneumonitis causes a cough with purulent sputum. It can also cause dyspnea, wheezing, orthopnea, fever, malaise, and crackles; mucous membrane irritation of the conjunctivae, throat, and nose; laryngitis; or rhinitis. Signs and symptoms may increase for 24 to 48 hours after exposure, and then resolve; if severe, however, they may recur 2 to 5 weeks later.

    Common cold.

    When the common cold causes productive coughing, the sputum is mucoid or mucopurulent. Early indications of the common cold include a dry, hacking cough, sneezing, headache, malaise, fatigue, rhinorrhea (watery to tenacious mucopurulent secretions), nasal congestion, sore throat, myalgia, and arthralgia. Legionnaires’ disease causes a cough that produces scant mucoid, nonpurulent, and possibly blood-streaked sputum. Prodromal signs and symptoms typically include malaise, fatigue, weakness, anorexia, diffuse myalgia and, possibly, diarrhea. Then, within 48 hours, the patient develops a dry cough and sudden high fever with chills. Many patients also have pleuritic chest pain, headache, tachypnea, tachycardia, nausea, vomiting, dyspnea, crackles, mild temporary amnesia, disorientation, confusion, flushing, mild diaphoresis, and prostration. The cardinal sign of ruptured lung abscess is coughing that produces copious amounts of purulent, foul-smelling, and possibly blood-tinged sputum. A ruptured abscess can also cause diaphoresis, anorexia, clubbing, weight loss, weakness, fatigue, fever with chills, dyspnea, headache, malaise, pleuritic chest pain, halitosis, inspiratory crackles, and tubular or amphoric breath sounds. The patient’s chest is dull on percussion on the affected side. One of the earliest signs of bronchogenic carcinoma is a chronic cough that produces small amounts of purulent (or mucopurulent), blood-streaked sputum. In a patient with bronchoalveolar cancer, however, coughing produces large amounts of frothy sputum. Other signs and symptoms include dyspnea, anorexia, fatigue, weight loss, chest pain, fever, diaphoresis, wheezing, and clubbing.

    Nocardiosis.

    Nocardiosis causes a productive cough with purulent, thick, tenacious, and possibly blood-tinged sputum and fever that may last several months. Other findings include night sweats, pleuritic pain, anorexia, malaise, fatigue, weight loss, and diminished or absent breath sounds. The patient’s chest is dull on percussion.

    North American blastomycosis.

    With North American blastomycosis — a chronic disorder — coughing is dry and hacking, or produces bloody or purulent sputum. Other findings include pleuritic chest pain, fever, chills, anorexia, weight loss, malaise, fatigue, night sweats, cutaneous lesions (small, painless, nonpruritic macules or papules), and prostration. Plague is an acute bacterial infection caused by Yersinia pestis. It’s one of the most virulent infections and, if untreated, one of the most potentially lethal diseases known. Most cases are sporadic, but the potential for epidemic spread still exists. Clinical forms include bubonic (the most common), septicemic, and pneumonic plagues. The bubonic form is transmitted to man when bitten by infected fleas. Signs and symptoms include fever, chills, and swollen, inflamed, and tender lymph nodes near the site of the fleabite. Septicemic plague develops as a fulminant illness generally with the bubonic form. The pneumonic form may be contracted from person-to-person through direct contact via the respiratory system or through biological warfare from aerosolization and inhalation of the organism. The onset is usually sudden with chills, fever, headache, and myalgia. Pulmonary signs and symptoms include productive cough, chest pain, tachypnea, dyspnea, hemoptysis, increasing respiratory distress, and cardiopulmonary insufficiency.

    Pneumonia.

    Bacterial pneumonia initially produces a dry cough that becomes productive. Associated signs and symptoms develop suddenly and include shaking chills, high fever, myalgia, headache, pleuritic chest pain that increases with chest movement, tachypnea, tachycardia, dyspnea, cyanosis, diaphoresis, decreased breath sounds, fine crackles, and rhonchi.

    Mycoplasma pneumonia may cause a cough that produces scant blood-flecked sputum. Most common, however, is a nonproductive cough that starts 2 to 3 days after the onset of malaise, headache, fever, and sore throat. Paroxysmal coughing causes substernal chest pain. Patients may develop crackles but generally don’t appear seriously ill.

    Psittacosis.

    As psittacosis progresses, the characteristic hacking cough, nonproductive at first, may later produce a small amount of mucoid, blood-streaked sputum. The infection may begin abruptly, with chills, fever, headache, myalgia, and prostration. Other signs and symptoms include tachypnea, fine crackles, chest pain (rare), epistaxis, photophobia, abdominal distention and tenderness, nausea, vomiting, and a faint macular rash. Severe infection may produce stupor, delirium, and coma.

    Pulmonary coccidioidomycosis.

    Pulmonary coccidioidomycosis causes a nonproductive or slightly productive cough with fever, occasional chills, pleuritic chest pain, sore throat, headache, backache, malaise, marked weakness, anorexia, hemoptysis, and an itchy macular rash. Rhonchi and wheezing may be heard. The disease may spread to other areas, causing arthralgia, swelling of the knees and ankles, and erythema nodosum or erythema multiforme. When severe, pulmonary edema — a life-threatening disorder — causes a cough that produces frothy, bloody sputum. Early signs and symptoms include exertional dyspnea as well as paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, followed by orthopnea. Coughing may be nonproductive initially. Other signs and symptoms include fever, fatigue, tachycardia, tachypnea, dependent crackles, and ventricular gallop. As the patient’s respirations become increasingly rapid and labored, he develops more diffuse crackles and productive cough, worsening tachycardia and, possibly, arrhythmias. The patient’s skin becomes cold, clammy, and cyanotic, his blood pressure falls, and his pulse becomes thready.

    Pulmonary embolism.

    Pulmonary embolism is a life-threatening disorder that causes a cough that may be nonproductive or may produce blood-tinged sputum. Usually, the first symptom of pulmonary embolism is severe dyspnea, which may be accompanied by angina or pleuritic chest pain. The patient experiences marked anxiety, low-grade fever, tachycardia, tachypnea, and diaphoresis. Less-common signs include massive hemoptysis, chest splinting, leg edema and, with a large embolus, cyanosis, syncope, and jugular vein distention. The patient may also have pleural friction rub, diffuse wheezing, crackles, chest dullness on percussion, decreased breath sounds, and signs of circulatory collapse.

    Pulmonary emphysema.

    Pulmonary emphysema causes a chronic productive cough with scant, mucoid, translucent, grayish white sputum that can become mucopurulent. The patient is thin and has the characteristic “pink puffer” appearance with weight loss, increased accessory muscle use, tachypnea, grunting expirations through pursed lips, diminished breath sounds, exertional dyspnea, rhonchi, barrel chest, and anorexia. Clubbing is a late sign.

    Pulmonary tuberculosis.

    Pulmonary tuberculosis causes a mild to severe productive cough along with some combination of hemoptysis, malaise, dyspnea, and pleuritic chest pain. Sputum may be scant and mucoid or copious and purulent. Typically, the patient experiences night sweats, easy fatigability, and weight loss. His breath sounds are amphoric. He may have chest dullness on percussion and, after coughing, increased tactile fremitus with crackles.

    Silicosis.

    A productive cough with mucopurulent sputum is the earliest sign of silicosis. The patient also has exertional dyspnea, tachypnea, weight loss, fatigue, general weakness, and recurrent respiratory infections. Auscultation reveals end-inspiratory, fine crackles at the lung bases. Inflammation initially causes a nonproductive cough that later — following the onset of chills, sore throat, slight fever, muscle and back pain, and substernal tightness — becomes productive as secretions increase. Sputum is mucoid, mucopurulent, or purulent. The patient typically has rhonchi and wheezes; he may also develop crackles. Severe tracheobronchitis may cause a fever of 101° to 102° F (38.3° to 38.9° C) and bronchospasm.

    Other causes

    Bronchoscopy and pulmonary function tests may increase productive coughing.

    Drugs.

    Expectorants, of course, increase productive coughing. These include ammonium chloride, calcium iodide, guaifenesin, iodinated glycerol, potassium iodide, and terpin hydrate. Intermittent positive-pressure breathing, nebulizer therapy, and incentive spirometry can help loosen secretions and cause or increase productive coughing.

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    Source: Alarming Signs and Symptoms: Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice Series, 2007

    Cough, barking: Medical causes
    (Alarming Signs and Symptoms: Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice Series)

    Partial obstruction of the upper airway first produces sudden hoarseness, and then a barking cough and inspiratory stridor. Other effects of this life-threatening condition include gagging, tachycardia, dyspnea, decreased breath sounds, wheezing and, possibly, cyanosis.

    Epiglottiditis.

    Epiglottiditis is a life-threatening disorder that has become less common since the use of influenza vaccines. It occurs nocturnally, heralded by a barking cough and high fever. The child is hoarse, dysphagic, dyspneic, and restless and appears extremely ill and panicky. The cough may progress to severe respiratory distress with sternal and intercostal retractions, nasal flaring, cyanosis, and tachycardia. The child will struggle to get sufficient air as epiglottic edema increases. Epiglottiditis is a true medical emergency. Also known as viral croup, laryngotracheobronchitis is most common in children between ages 9 and 18 months and usually occurs in the fall and early winter. It initially produces low to moderate fever, runny nose, poor appetite, and infrequent cough. When the infection descends into the laryngotracheal area, barking cough, hoarseness, and inspiratory stridor occur.

    As respiratory distress progresses, substernal and intercostal retractions occur along with tachycardia and shallow, rapid respirations. Sleeping in a dry room worsens these signs. The patient becomes restless, irritable, pale, and cyanotic.

    Spasmodic croup.

    Acute spasmodic croup usually occurs during sleep with the abrupt onset of a barking cough that awakens the child. Typically, he doesn’t have fever but may be hoarse, restless, and dyspneic. As his respiratory distress worsens, the child may exhibit sternal and intercostal retractions, nasal flaring, tachycardia, cyanosis, and an anxious, frantic appearance. The signs usually subside within a few hours, but attacks tend to recur.

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    Source: Alarming Signs and Symptoms: Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice Series, 2007

    Cough, productive: Medical causes
    (Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses)

    Aspiration pneumonitis

    Aspiration pneumonitis causes coughing that produces pink, frothy, possibly purulent sputum. The patient also has marked dyspnea, fever, tachypnea, fatigue, chest pain, halitosis, tachycardia, wheezing, and cyanosis.

    Asthma (acute)

    A severe asthma attack, which can be life-threatening, may produce mucoid, tenacious sputum and mucus plugs. Such an attack typically starts with a dry cough and mild wheezing, then progresses to severe dyspnea, audible wheezing, chest tightness, and a productive cough. Other findings include apprehension, prolonged expirations, intercostal and supraclavicular retraction on inspiration, accessory muscle use, rhonchi, crackles, flaring nostrils, tachypnea, tachycardia, diaphoresis, and flushing or cyanosis. Attacks commonly occur at night or during sleep.

    Bronchiectasis

    The chronic cough of bronchiectasis produces copious, mucopurulent sputum that has characteristic layering (top, frothy; middle, clear; bottom, dense with purulent particles). The patient has halitosis: His sputum may smell foul or sickeningly sweet. Other characteristic findings include hemoptysis, persistent coarse crackles over the affected lung area, occasional wheezing, rhonchi, exertional dyspnea, weight loss, fatigue, malaise, weakness, recurrent fever, and late-stage finger clubbing.

    Bronchitis (chronic)

    Chronic bronchitis causes a cough that may be nonproductive initially. Eventually, however, it produces mucoid sputum that becomes purulent. Secondary infection can also cause mucopurulent sputum, which may become blood-tinged and foul-smelling. The coughing, which may be paroxysmal during exercise, usually occurs when the patient is recumbent or rises from sleep.

    The patient also exhibits prolonged expirations, increased use of accessory muscles for breathing, barrel chest, tachypnea, cyanosis, wheezing, exertional dyspnea, scattered rhonchi, coarse crackles (which can be precipitated by coughing), and late-stage clubbing.

    Chemical pneumonitis

    Chemical pneumonitis causes a cough with purulent sputum. It can also cause dyspnea, wheezing, orthopnea, fever, malaise, and crackles; mucous membrane irritation of the conjunctivae, throat, and nose; laryngitis; or rhinitis. Signs and symptoms may increase for 24 to 48 hours after exposure, then resolve; if severe, however, they may recur 2 to 5 weeks later.

    Common cold

    When a common cold causes productive coughing, the sputum is mucoid or mucopurulent. Early indications of the common cold include a dry, hacking cough, sneezing, headache, malaise, fatigue, rhinorrhea (watery to tenacious, mucopurulent secretions), nasal congestion, sore throat, myalgia, and arthralgia.

    Legionnaires’ disease

    Legionnaires’ disease causes a cough that produces scant mucoid, nonpurulent, possibly blood-streaked sputum. Prodromal signs and symptoms typically include malaise, fatigue, weakness, anorexia, diffuse myalgia and, possibly, diarrhea. Then, within 48 hours, the patient develops a dry cough and a sudden high fever with chills. Many patients also have pleuritic chest pain, headache, tachypnea, tachycardia, nausea, vomiting, dyspnea, crackles, mild temporary amnesia, disorientation, confusion, flushing, mild diaphoresis, and prostration.

    Lung abscess (ruptured)

    The cardinal sign of ruptured lung abscess is coughing that produces copious amounts of purulent, foul-smelling, possibly blood-tinged sputum. A ruptured abscess can also cause diaphoresis, anorexia, clubbing, weight loss, weakness, fatigue, fever with chills, dyspnea, headache, malaise, pleuritic chest pain, halitosis, inspiratory crackles, and tubular or amphoric breath sounds. The patient’s chest is dull on percussion on the affected side.

    Lung cancer

    One of the earliest signs of bronchogenic carcinoma is a chronic cough that produces small amounts of purulent (or mucopurulent), blood-streaked sputum. In a patient with bronchoalveolar cancer, however, coughing produces large amounts of frothy sputum. Other signs and symptoms include dyspnea, anorexia, fatigue, weight loss, chest pain, fever, diaphoresis, wheezing, and clubbing.

    Plague

    Signs and symptoms of plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, include fever, chills, and swollen, inflamed, and tender lymph nodes near the site of the flea bite. Septicemic plague develops as a fulminant illness generally with the bubonic form. The onset of the pneumonic form is usually sudden with chills, fever, headache, and myalgia. Pulmonary signs and symptoms include productive cough, chest pain, tachypnea, dyspnea, hemoptysis, increasing respiratory distress, and cardiopulmonary insufficiency.

    Pneumonia

    Bacterial pneumonia initially produces a dry cough that becomes productive. Associated signs and symptoms develop suddenly and include shaking chills, high fever, myalgia, headache, pleuritic chest pain that increases with chest movement, tachypnea, tachycardia, dyspnea, cyanosis, diaphoresis, decreased breath sounds, fine crackles, and rhonchi.

    Pulmonary edema

    Severe, pulmonary edema is a life-threatening disorder that causes a cough that produces frothy, bloody sputum. Early signs and symptoms of pulmonary edema include exertional dyspnea; paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, followed by orthopnea; and coughing, which may be nonproductive initially. Others include fever, fatigue, tachycardia, tachypnea, dependent crackles, and ventricular gallop. As the patient’s respirations become increasingly rapid and labored, he develops more diffuse crackles and a productive cough, worsening tachycardia and, possibly, arrhythmias. His skin becomes cold, clammy, and cyanotic; his blood pressure falls; and his pulse becomes thready.

    Pulmonary embolism

    Pulmonary embolism is a life-threatening disorder that causes a cough that may be nonproductive or may produce blood-tinged sputum. Usually, the first symptom of a pulmonary embolism is severe dyspnea, which may be accompanied by angina or pleuritic chest pain. The patient experiences marked anxiety, a low-grade fever, tachycardia, tachypnea, and diaphoresis. Less common signs include massive hemoptysis, chest splinting, leg edema and, with a large embolus, cyanosis, syncope, and distended neck veins. The patient may also have a pleural friction rub, diffuse wheezing, crackles, chest dullness on percussion, decreased breath sounds, and signs of circulatory collapse.

    Pulmonary emphysema

    Pulmonary emphysema causes a chronic productive cough with scant, mucoid, translucent, grayish white sputum that can become mucopurulent. The patient is thin and has the characteristic “pink puffer” appearance with weight loss, increased accessory muscle use, tachypnea, grunting expirations through pursed lips, diminished breath sounds, exertional dyspnea, rhonchi, barrel chest, and anorexia. Clubbing is a late sign.

    Pulmonary tuberculosis

    Pulmonary tuberculosis causes a mild to severe productive cough along with some combination of hemoptysis, malaise, dyspnea, and pleuritic chest pain. Sputum may be scant and mucoid or copious and purulent. Typically, the patient experiences night sweats, easy fatigability, and weight loss. His breath sounds are amphoric. He may have chest dullness on percussion and, after coughing, increased tactile fremitus with crackles.

    Silicosis

    A productive cough with mucopurulent sputum is the earliest sign of silicosis. The patient also has exertional dyspnea, tachypnea, weight loss, fatigue, general weakness, and recurrent respiratory infections. Auscultation reveals end-inspiratory, fine crackles at the lung bases.

    Tracheobronchitis

    With tracheobronchitis, inflammation initially causes a nonproductive cough that later — following the onset of chills, sore throat, slight fever, muscle and back pain, and substernal tightness — becomes productive as secretions increase. Sputum is mucoid, mucopurulent, or purulent. The patient typically has rhonchi and wheezes; he may also develop crackles. Severe tracheobronchitis may cause a fever of 101° to 102° F (38.3° to 38.9° C) and bronchospasm.

    Other causes

    Diagnostic tests

    Bronchoscopy and pulmonary function tests may increase productive coughing.

    Drugs

    Expectorants, of course, increase productive coughing. These include guaifenesin, potassium iodide, and terpin hydrate.

    Respiratory therapy

    Intermittent positive-pressure breathing, nebulizer therapy, and incentive spirometry can help loosen secretions and cause or increase productive coughing.

    » READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

    Source: Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses, 2007

    Cough, barking: Medical causes
    (Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses)

    Aspiration of foreign body

    Partial obstruction of the upper airway caused by aspiration of foreign body first produces sudden hoarseness, then a barking cough and inspiratory stridor. Other effects of this life-threatening condition include gagging, tachycardia, dyspnea, decreased breath sounds, wheezing and, possibly, cyanosis.

    Epiglottiditis

    Epiglottiditis, a life-threatening disorder, has become less common since the use of influenza vaccines. It occurs nocturnally, heralded by a barking cough and a high fever. The child is hoarse, dysphagic, dyspneic, and restless and appears extremely ill and panicky. The cough may progress to severe respiratory distress with sternal and intercostal retractions, nasal flaring, cyanosis, and tachycardia. The child will struggle to get sufficient air as epiglottic edema increases. Epiglottiditis is a true medical emergency.

    Laryngotracheobronchitis (acute)

    Also known as viral croup, acute laryngotracheobronchitis is most common in children between 9 and 18 months old and usually occurs in the fall and early winter. It initially produces low to moderate fever, runny nose, poor appetite, and infrequent cough. When the infection descends into the laryngotracheal area, barking cough, hoarseness, and inspiratory stridor occur.

    As respiratory distress progresses, substernal and intercostal retractions occur along with tachycardia and shallow, rapid respirations. Sleeping in a dry room worsens these signs. The patient becomes restless, irritable, pale, and cyanotic.

    Spasmodic croup

    Acute spasmodic croup usually occurs during sleep with the abrupt onset of a barking cough that awakens the child. Typically, he doesn’t have a fever but may be hoarse, restless, and dyspneic. As his respiratory distress worsens, the child may exhibit sternal and intercostal retractions, nasal flaring, tachycardia, cyanosis, and an anxious, frantic appearance. The signs usually subside within a few hours, but attacks tend to recur.

    » READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

    Source: Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses, 2007

    Cough, nonproductive: Medical causes
    (Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses)

    Airway occlusion

    Partial occlusion of the upper airway produces a sudden onset of dry, paroxysmal coughing. The patient is gagging, wheezing, and hoarse, with stridor, tachycardia, and decreased breath sounds. If the patient has aspirated a foreign body he may exhibit the universal sign for choking — a hand clutched to the throat, with thumb and fingers extended.

    Anthrax (inhalation)

    Inhalation anthrax is caused by inhalation of aerosolized spores of the gram-positive bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Initial signs and symptoms are flulike and include fever, chills, weakness, cough, and chest pain. The disease generally occurs in two stages with a period of recovery after the initial signs and symptoms. The second stage develops abruptly with rapid deterioration marked by fever, dyspnea, stridor, and hypotension generally leading to death within 24 hours. Radiologic findings include mediastinitis and symmetric mediastinal widening.

    Aortic aneurysm (thoracic)

    A thoracic aortic aneurysm causes a brassy cough with dyspnea, hoarseness, wheezing, and a substernal ache in the shoulders, lower back, or abdomen. The patient may also have facial or neck edema, neck vein distention, dysphagia, prominent veins over his chest, stridor and, possibly, paresthesia or neuralgia.

    Asthma

    Asthma attacks commonly occur at night, starting with a nonproductive cough and mild wheezing; this progresses to severe dyspnea, audible wheezing, chest tightness, and a cough that produces thick mucus. Other signs include apprehension, rhonchi, prolonged expirations, intercostal and supraclavicular retractions on inspiration, accessory muscle use, flaring nostrils, tachypnea, tachycardia, diaphoresis, and flushing or cyanosis.

    Atelectasis

    As lung tissue deflates, it stimulates cough receptors, causing a nonproductive cough. The patient with atelectasis may also have pleuritic chest pain, anxiety, dyspnea, tachypnea, and tachycardia. His skin may be cyanotic and diaphoretic, his breath sounds may be decreased, his chest may be dull on percussion, and he may exhibit inspiratory lag, substernal or intercostal retractions, decreased vocal fremitus, and tracheal deviation toward the affected side.

    Bronchitis (chronic)

    Chronic bronchitis starts with a nonproductive, hacking cough that later becomes productive. Other findings include prolonged expiration, wheezing, dyspnea, accessory muscle use, barrel chest, cyanosis, tachypnea, crackles, and scattered rhonchi. Clubbing can occur in late stages.

    Bronchogenic carcinoma

    The earliest indicators of bronchogenic carcinoma can be a chronic, nonproductive cough, dyspnea, and vague chest pain. The patient may also have wheezing, hemoptysis, and stridor.

    Common cold

    The common cold generally starts with a nonproductive, hacking cough and progresses to some mix of sneezing, headache, malaise, fatigue, rhinorrhea, myalgia, arthralgia, nasal congestion, and sore throat.

    Esophageal achalasia

    With esophageal achalasia, regurgitation and aspiration produce a dry cough. The patient may also have recurrent pulmonary infections and dysphagia. The patient may report weight loss, heartburn, and chest pain that increases after eating.

    Esophageal diverticula

    The patient with esophageal diverticula has a nocturnal nonproductive cough, regurgitation and aspiration, dyspepsia, and dysphagia. His neck may appear swollen and have a gurgling sound. He may also exhibit halitosis and weight loss.

    Esophageal occlusion

    Esophageal occlusion is marked by immediate nonproductive coughing and gagging, with a sensation of something stuck in the throat. Other findings include neck or chest pain, dysphagia, and the inability to swallow.

    Esophagitis with reflux

    Esophagitis with reflux commonly causes a nonproductive nocturnal cough due to regurgitation and aspiration. The patient may experience chest pain that mimics angina pectoris; heartburn that worsens if he lies down after eating; and increased salivation, dysphagia, hematemesis, and melena.

    Hodgkin’s disease

    Hodgkin’s disease may cause a crowing nonproductive cough. However, the earliest sign is usually painless swelling of one of the cervical lymph nodes or, occasionally, of the axillary, mediastinal, or inguinal lymph nodes. Another early sign is pruritus. Other findings depend on the degree and location of systemic involvement and include dyspnea, dysphagia, hepatosplenomegaly, edema, jaundice, nerve pain, and hyperpigmentation.

    Hypersensitivity pneumonitis

    With hypersensitivity pneumonitis, an acute nonproductive cough, fever, dyspnea, and malaise usually occur 5 to 6 hours after exposure to an antigen. The patient may also report chest tightness and extreme fatigue.

    Interstitial lung disease

    A patient with interstitial lung disease has a nonproductive cough and progressive dyspnea. He may also be cyanotic and have clubbing, fine crackles, fatigue, variable chest pain, and weight loss. Other findings include dyspnea on exertion and vague chest pain.

    Laryngeal tumor

    A mild, nonproductive cough is an early sign of a laryngeal tumor, in addition to minor throat discomfort and hoarseness. Later, dysphagia, dyspnea, cervical lymphadenopathy, stridor, and earache may occur.

    Laryngitis

    In its acute form, laryngitis causes a nonproductive cough with localized pain (especially when the patient is swallowing or speaking) as well as fever and malaise. His hoarseness can range from mild to complete loss of voice.

    Legionnaires’ disease

    After a prodrome of malaise, headache and, possibly, diarrhea, anorexia, diffuse myalgia, and general weakness, legionnaires’disease causes a nonproductive cough that later produces mucoid, mucopurulent and, possibly, bloody sputum.

    Lung abscess

    Lung abscess typically begins with nonproductive coughing, weakness, dyspnea, and pleuritic chest pain. The patient may also exhibit diaphoresis, fever, headache, malaise, fatigue, crackles, decreased breath sounds, anorexia, and weight loss. Later, his cough produces large amounts of purulent, foul-smelling, possibly bloody sputum.

    Mediastinal tumor

    A large mediastinal tumor produces a nonproductive cough, dyspnea, and retrosternal pain. The patient may also develop stertorous respirations with suprasternal retraction on inspiration, hoarseness, dysphagia, tracheal shift or tug, neck vein distention, and facial or neck edema.

    Pleural effusion

    A nonproductive cough along with dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, and decreased chest motion are characteristic of pleural effusion. Other findings include pleural friction rub, tachycardia, tachypnea, egophony, flatness on percussion, decreased or absent breath sounds, and decreased tactile fremitus.

    Pneumonia

    Bacterial pneumonia usually starts with a nonproductive, hacking, painful cough that rapidly becomes productive. Other findings include shaking chills, headache, high fever, dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, tachypnea, tachycardia, grunting respirations, nasal flaring, decreased breath sounds, fine crackles, rhonchi, and cyanosis. The patient’s chest may be dull on percussion.

    With mycoplasma pneumonia, a nonproductive cough arises 2 to 3 days after the onset of malaise, headache, and sore throat. The cough can be paroxysmal, causing substernal chest pain. Fever commonly occurs, but the patient doesn’t appear seriously ill.

    Viral pneumonia causes a nonproductive, hacking cough and the gradual onset of malaise, headache, anorexia, and low-grade fever.

    Pneumothorax

    Pneumothorax, a life-threatening disorder, causes a dry cough and signs of respiratory distress, such as severe dyspnea, tachycardia, tachypnea, and cyanosis. The patient experiences sudden, sharp chest pain that worsens with chest movement as well as subcutaneous crepitation, hyperresonance or tympany, decreased vocal fremitus, and decreased or absent breath sounds on the affected side.

    Pulmonary edema

    Pulmonary edema initially causes a dry cough, exertional dyspnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, orthopnea, tachycardia, tachypnea, dependent crackles, and ventricular gallop. If pulmonary edema is severe, the patient’s respirations become more rapid and labored, with diffuse crackles and coughing that produces frothy, bloody sputum.

    Pulmonary embolism

    A life-threatening pulmonary embolism may suddenly produce a dry cough along with dyspnea and pleuritic or anginal chest pain. More commonly, though, the cough produces blood-tinged sputum. Tachycardia and low-grade fever are also common; less common signs and symptoms include massive hemoptysis, chest splinting, leg edema and, with a large embolus, cyanosis, syncope, and distended neck veins. The patient may also have a pleural friction rub, diffuse wheezing, dullness on percussion, and decreased breath sounds.

    Sarcoidosis

    With sarcoidosis, a nonproductive cough is accompanied by dyspnea, substernal pain, and malaise. The patient may also develop fatigue, arthralgia, myalgia, weight loss, tachypnea, crackles, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, skin lesions, vision impairment, difficulty swallowing, and arrhythmias.

    CULTURAL CUE:The risk of sarcoidosis is greatest in young adult Blacks, especially Black women. Others at high risk include those of Scandinavian, German, Irish, or Puerto Rican descent.

    Severe acute respiratory syndrome

    The incubation period of this acute infectious disease of unknown etiology is 2 to  7 days, and the illness generally begins with a fever (usually greater than 100.4° F [38° C]). Other symptoms of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) include headache, malaise, a dry nonproductive cough, and dyspnea. The severity of the illness is highly variable, ranging from mild illness to pneumonia and, in some cases, progressing to respiratory failure and death.

    CULTURAL CUE:Most cases of SARS have been reported in Asia (China, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand), although some cases have appeared in Europe and North America.

    Sinusitis (chronic)

    Chronic sinusitis can cause a chronic nonproductive cough due to postnasal drip. The patient’s nasal mucosa may appear inflamed, and he may have nasal congestion and profuse drainage. Usually, his breath smells musty.

    Tracheobronchitis (acute)

    Initially, acute tracheobronchitis produces a dry cough that later becomes productive as secretions increase. Chills, sore throat, slight fever, muscle and back pain, and substernal tightness generally precede the cough’s onset. Rhonchi and wheezes are usually heard. Severe illness causes a fever of 101° F to 102° F (38.3° to 38.9° C) and possibly bronchospasm, with severe wheezing and increased coughing.

    Tularemia

    Following inhalation of the gram-negative, non-spore-forming bacterium Francisella tularensis, patients with tularemia show signs and symptoms including the abrupt onset of fever, chills, headache, generalized myalgia, nonproductive cough, dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, and empyema.

    Other causes

    Diagnostic tests

    Pulmonary function tests and bronchoscopy may stimulate cough receptors, triggering coughing.

    Treatments

    Irritation of the carina during suctioning or deep endotracheal or tracheal tube placement can trigger a paroxysmal or hacking cough. Intermittent positive-pressure breathing or spirometry can also cause a nonproductive cough. Some inhalants, such as pentamidine, may stimulate coughing.

    » READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

    Source: Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses, 2007

    Cough: Principal Causes of Cough
    (The Diagnostic Approach to Symptoms and Signs in Pediatrics)

    1. Infection/inflammation
      1. Upperrespiratory tract infection
      2. Sinusitis
      3. Laryngitis
      4. Croup
      5. Tracheitis
      6. Bronchitis
      7. Pertussis
      8. Bronchiolitis
      9. Pneumonia
        1. Viral
        2. Bacterial
          1. Tuberculosis
          2. Chlamydia
          3. Legionella
          4. Nocardia
        3. Mycoplasma
        4. Fungal
          1. Histoplasmosis
          2. Coccidioidomycosis
          3. Aspergillosis
          4. Blastomycosis
        5. Protozoa
        6. Chemical pneumonia
        7. Aspiration pneumonia
      10. Cystic fibrosis
      11. Bronchiectasis
      12. Lung abscess
    2. Allergic disorders
      1. Allergicrhinitis
      2. Asthma
    3. Mechanical or chemical irritation
      1. Environmentalirritants
      2. Foreign body aspiration
    4. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
    5. Congenital anomalies
    6. Cardiac failure
    7. Gastroesophageal reflux
    8. Swallowing dysfunction
    9. Immotile cilia syndrome
    10. Neoplasm
    11. Reflex cough
    12. Psychogenic, including habitual cough

    » READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

    Source: The Diagnostic Approach to Symptoms and Signs in Pediatrics, 2006

    Cough, productive: Medical causes
    (Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms)

    Actinomycosis.Actinomycosis begins with a cough that produces purulent sputum. A fever, weight loss, fatigue, weakness, dyspnea, night sweats, pleuritic chest pain, and hemoptysis may also occur.

    Aspiration pneumonitis.Aspiration pneumonitis causes coughing that produces pink, frothy and, possibly, purulent sputum. The patient also has marked dyspnea, a fever, tachypnea, tachycardia, wheezing, and cyanosis.

    Bronchiectasis.The chronic cough of bronchiectasis produces copious, mucopurulent sputum that has characteristic layering (top, frothy; middle, clear; bottom, dense with purulent particles). The patient has halitosis; his sputum may smell foul or sickeningly sweet. Other characteristic findings include hemoptysis, persistent coarse crackles over the affected lung area, occasional wheezing, rhonchi, exertional dyspnea, weight loss, fatigue, malaise, weakness, a recurrent fever, and late-stage finger clubbing.

    Bronchitis (chronic).Bronchitis causes a cough that may be nonproductive initially. Eventually, however, it produces mucoid sputum that becomes purulent. Secondary infection can also cause mucopurulent sputum, which may become blood-tinged and foul-smelling. The coughing, which may be paroxysmal during exercise, usually occurs when the patient is recumbent or rises from sleep.

    The patient also exhibits prolonged expirations, increased use of accessory muscles for breathing, barrel chest, tachypnea, cyanosis, wheezing, exertional dyspnea, scattered rhonchi, coarse crackles (which can be precipitated by coughing), and late-stage clubbing.

    Chemical pneumonitis.Chemical pneumonitis causes a cough with purulent sputum. It can also cause dyspnea, wheezing, orthopnea, a fever, malaise, and crackles; mucous membrane irritation of the conjunctivae, throat, and nose; laryngitis; or rhinitis. Signs and symptoms may increase for 24 to 48 hours after exposure, then resolve; if severe, however, they may recur 2 to 5 weeks later.

    Common cold.When the common cold causes productive coughing, the sputum is mucoid or mucopurulent. Early indications include a dry hacking cough, sneezing, a headache, malaise, fatigue, rhinorrhea (watery to tenacious, mucopurulent secretions), nasal congestion, a sore throat, myalgia, and arthralgia.

    Lung abscess (ruptured).The cardinal sign of a ruptured lung abscess is coughing that produces copious amounts of purulent, foul-smelling and, possibly, blood-tinged sputum. A ruptured abscess can also cause diaphoresis, anorexia, clubbing, weight loss, weakness, fatigue, a fever with chills, dyspnea, a headache, malaise, pleuritic chest pain, halitosis, inspiratory crackles, and tubular or amphoric breath sounds. The patient's chest is dull on percussion on the affected side.

    Lung cancer.One of the earliest signs of bronchogenic carcinoma is a chronic cough that produces small amounts of purulent (or mucopurulent), blood-streaked sputum. In a patient with bronchoalveolar cancer, however, coughing produces large amounts of frothy sputum. Other signs and symptoms include dyspnea, anorexia, fatigue, weight loss, chest pain, a fever, diaphoresis, wheezing, and clubbing.

    Nocardiosis.Nocardiosis causes a productive cough (with purulent, thick, tenacious, and possibly blood-tinged sputum) and fever that may last several months. Other findings include night sweats, pleuritic pain, anorexia, malaise, fatigue, weight loss, and diminished or absent breath sounds. The patient's chest is dull on percussion.

    North American blastomycosis.North American blastomycosis is a chronic disorder that produces coughing that's dry and hacking or produces bloody or purulent sputum. Other findings include pleuritic chest pain, a fever, chills, anorexia, weight loss, malaise, fatigue, night sweats, cutaneous lesions (small, painless, nonpruritic macules or papules), and prostration.

    Plague(Yersinia pestis).The pneumonic form of plague may be contracted from person-to-person through direct contact via the respiratory system or through biological warfare from aerosolization and inhalation of the organism. The onset is usually sudden with chills, a fever, a headache, and myalgia. Pulmonary signs and symptoms include a productive cough, chest pain, tachypnea, dyspnea, hemoptysis, increasing respiratory distress, and cardiopulmonary insufficiency.

    Pneumonia.Bacterial pneumonia initially produces a dry cough that becomes productive. Associated signs and symptoms develop suddenly and include shaking chills, a high fever, myalgia, headache, pleuritic chest pain that increases with chest movement, tachypnea, tachycardia, dyspnea, cyanosis, diaphoresis, decreased breath sounds, fine crackles, and rhonchi.

    Mycoplasma pneumonia may cause a cough that produces scant blood-flecked sputum. Typically, however, a nonproductive cough starts 2 or 3 days after the onset of malaise, a headache, a fever, and a sore throat. Paroxysmal coughing causes substernal chest pain. Patients may develop crackles, but generally don't appear seriously ill.

    Psittacosis.As psittacosis progresses, the characteristic hacking cough, nonproductive at first, may later produce a small amount of mucoid, blood-streaked sputum. The infection may begin abruptly, with chills, a fever, a headache, myalgia, and prostration. Other signs and symptoms include tachypnea, fine crackles, chest pain (rare), epistaxis, photophobia, abdominal distention and tenderness, nausea, vomiting, and a faint macular rash. Severe infection may produce stupor, delirium, and coma.

    Pulmonary coccidioidomycosis.Pulmonary coccidioidomycosis causes a nonproductive or slightly productive cough with a fever, occasional chills, pleuritic chest pain, a sore throat, a headache, backache, malaise, marked weakness, anorexia, hemoptysis, and an itchy macular rash. Rhonchi and wheezing may be heard. The disease may spread to other areas, causing arthralgia, swelling of the knees and ankles, and erythema nodosum or erythema multiforme.

    Pulmonary edema.Severe, pulmonary edema, which is a life-threatening disorder, causes a cough that produces frothy, bloody sputum. Early signs and symptoms include exertional dyspnea; paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, followed by orthopnea; and coughing, which may be nonproductive initially. Others include a fever, fatigue, tachycardia, tachypnea, dependent crackles, and a ventricular gallop. As the patient's respirations become increasingly rapid and labored, he develops more diffuse crackles and a productive cough, anxiety, restlessness, worsening tachycardia and, possibly, arrhythmias. His skin becomes cold, clammy, and cyanotic; his blood pressure falls; and his pulse becomes thready.

    Pulmonary embolism.Pulmonary embolism is a life-threatening disorder that causes a cough that may be nonproductive or may produce blood-tinged sputum. Usually, the first symptom of a pulmonary embolism is severe dyspnea, which may be accompanied by angina or pleuritic chest pain. The patient experiences marked anxiety, a low-grade fever, tachycardia, tachypnea, and diaphoresis. Less-common signs include massive hemoptysis, chest splinting, leg edema and, with a large embolus, cyanosis, syncope, and jugular vein distention. The patient may also have a pleural friction rub, diffuse wheezing, crackles, chest dullness on percussion, decreased breath sounds, and signs of circulatory collapse.

    Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB).Pulmonary TB causes a mild to severe productive cough along with some combination of hemoptysis, malaise, dyspnea, and pleuritic chest pain. Sputum may be scant and mucoid or copious and purulent. Typically, the patient experiences night sweats, easy fatigability, and weight loss. His breath sounds are amphoric. He may have chest dullness on percussion and, after coughing, increased tactile fremitus with crackles.

    Silicosis.A productive cough with mucopurulent sputum is the earliest sign of silicosis. The patient also has exertional dyspnea, tachypnea, weight loss, fatigue, general weakness, and recurrent respiratory infections. Auscultation reveals end-inspiratory, fine crackles at the lung bases.

    Tracheobronchitis.Inflammation initially causes a nonproductive cough that later—following the onset of chills, a sore throat, a slight fever, muscle and back pain, and substernal tightness—becomes productive as secretions increase. Sputum is mucoid, mucopurulent, or purulent. The patient typically has rhonchi and wheezes; he may also develop crackles. Severe tracheobronchitis may cause a fever of 101° to 102° F (38.3° to 38.9° C) and bronchospasm.

    Other causes

    Diagnostic tests.Bronchoscopy and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) may increase productive coughing.

    Drugs.Expectorants increase productive coughing. These include ammonium chloride, calcium iodide, guaifenesin, iodinated glycerol, potassium iodide, and terpin hydrate.

    Respiratory therapy.Intermittent positive-pressure breathing, nebulizer therapy, and incentive spirometry can help loosen secretions and cause or increase productive coughing.

    » READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

    Source: Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms, 2007

    Cough, barking: Medical causes
    (Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms)

    Aspiration of foreign body.Partial obstruction of the upper airway first produces sudden hoarseness, and then a barking cough and inspiratory stridor. Other effects of this life-threatening condition include gagging, tachycardia, dyspnea, decreased breath sounds, wheezing and, possibly, cyanosis.

    Epiglottiditis.Epiglottiditis is a life-threatening disorder that has become less common since the use of influenza vaccines. It occurs nocturnally, heralded by a barking cough and a high fever. The child is hoarse, dysphagic, dyspneic, and restless and appears extremely ill and panicky. The cough may progress to severe respiratory distress with sternal and intercostal retractions, nasal flaring, cyanosis, and tachycardia. The child will struggle to get sufficient air as epiglottic edema increases. Epiglottiditis is a true medical emergency.

    Laryngotracheobronchitis (acute).Also known as viral croup, laryngotracheobronchitisinitially produces a low to moderate fever, a runny nose, a poor appetite, and an infrequent cough. When the infection descends into the laryngotracheal area, a barking cough, hoarseness, and inspiratory stridor occur.

    As respiratory distress progresses, substernal and intercostal retractions occur along with tachycardia and shallow, rapid respirations. Sleeping in a dry room worsens these signs. The patient becomes restless, irritable, pale, and cyanotic.

    Spasmodic croup.Acute spasmodic croup usually occurs during sleep with the abrupt onset of a barking cough that awakens the child. Typically, he doesn't have a fever, but may be hoarse, restless, and dyspneic. As his respiratory distress worsens, the child may exhibit sternal and intercostal retractions, nasal flaring, tachycardia, cyanosis, and an anxious, frantic appearance. The signs usually subside within a few hours, but attacks tend to recur.

    » READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

    Source: Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms, 2007

    Cough, nonproductive: Medical causes
    (Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms)

    Airway occlusion.Partial occlusion of the upper airway produces a sudden onset of dry, paroxysmal coughing. The patient is gagging, wheezing, and hoarse, with stridor, tachycardia, and decreased breath sounds.

    Anthrax (inhalation).Inhalation anthrax is caused by inhaling aerosolized spores. Initial signs and symptoms are flulike and include a fever, chills, weakness, a cough, and chest pain. The disease generally occurs in two stages, with a period of recovery after the initial signs and symptoms. The second stage develops abruptly with rapid deterioration marked by a fever, dyspnea, stridor, and hypotension generally leading to death within 24 hours. Radiologic findings include mediastinitis and symmetric mediastinal widening.

    Aortic aneurysm (thoracic).Aortic aneurysm causes a brassy cough with dyspnea, hoarseness, wheezing, and a substernal ache in the shoulders, lower back, or abdomen. The patient may also have facial or neck edema, jugular vein distention, dysphagia, prominent veins over his chest, stridor and, possibly, paresthesia or neuralgia.

    Asthma.Asthma attacks typically occur at night, starting with a nonproductive cough and mild wheezing; this progresses to severe dyspnea, audible wheezing, chest tightness, and a cough that produces thick mucus. Other signs include apprehension, rhonchi, prolonged expirations, intercostal and supraclavicular retractions on inspiration, accessory muscle use, flaring nostrils, tachypnea, tachycardia, diaphoresis, and flushing or cyanosis.

    Atelectasis.As lung tissue deflates, it stimulates cough receptors, causing a nonproductive cough. The patient may also have pleuritic chest pain, anxiety, dyspnea, tachypnea, and tachycardia. His skin may be cyanotic and diaphoretic, his breath sounds may be decreased, his chest may be dull on percussion, and he may exhibit inspiratory lag, substernal or intercostal retractions, decreased vocal fremitus, and tracheal deviation toward the affected side.

    Avian influenza.Individuals infected with avian influenza may initially have symptoms of conventional influenza, including a nonproductive cough, fever, sore throat, and muscle aches. The most virulent avian virus, influenza A (H5N1), may lead to severe and life-threatening complications, such as acute respiratory distress and pneumonia.

    Bronchitis (chronic).Bronchitis starts with a nonproductive, hacking cough that later becomes productive. Other findings include prolonged expiration, wheezing, dyspnea, accessory muscle use, barrel chest, cyanosis, tachypnea, crackles, and scattered rhonchi. Clubbing can occur in late stages.

    Bronchogenic carcinoma.The earliest indicators of bronchogenic carcinoma can be a chronic, nonproductive cough; dyspnea; and vague chest pain. The patient may also be wheezing.

    Common cold.The common cold generally starts with a nonproductive, hacking cough and progresses to some mix of sneezing, headaches, malaise, fatigue, rhinorrhea, myalgia, arthralgia, nasal congestion, and a sore throat.

    Esophageal achalasia.In esophageal achalasia, regurgitation and aspiration produce a dry cough. The patient may also have recurrent pulmonary infections and dysphagia.

    Esophageal diverticula.The patient with esophageal diverticula has a nocturnal nonproductive cough, regurgitation and aspiration, dyspepsia, and dysphagia. His neck may appear swollen and have a gurgling sound. He may also exhibit halitosis and weight loss.

    Esophageal occlusion.Esophageal occlusion is marked by immediate nonproductive coughing and gagging, with a sensation of something stuck in the throat. Other findings include neck or chest pain, dysphagia, and the inability to swallow.

    Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.A nonproductive cough is common in patients with Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which is marked by noncardiogenic pulmonary edema. Other findings include a headache, myalgia, fever, nausea, and vomiting.

    Hypersensitivity pneumonitis.With hypersensitivity pneumonitis, an acute nonproductive cough, a fever, dyspnea, and malaise usually occur 5 or 6 hours after exposure to an antigen.

    Interstitial lung disease.A patient with interstitial lung disease has a nonproductive cough and progressive dyspnea. He may also be cyanotic and have clubbing, fine crackles, fatigue, variable chest pain, and weight loss.

    Laryngeal tumor.A mild, nonproductive cough is an early sign of a laryngeal tumor, in addition to minor throat discomfort and hoarseness. Later, dysphagia, dyspnea, cervical lymphadenopathy, stridor, and an earache may occur.

    Laryngitis.In its acute form, laryngitis causes a nonproductive cough with localized pain (especially when the patient is swallowing or speaking) as well as fever and malaise. His hoarseness can range from mild to complete loss of voice.

    Lung abscess.Lung abscess typically begins with a nonproductive cough, weakness, dyspnea, and pleuritic chest pain. The patient may also exhibit diaphoresis, a fever, a headache, malaise, fatigue, crackles, decreased breath sounds, anorexia, and weight loss. Later, his cough produces large amounts of purulent, foul-smelling and, possibly, bloody sputum.

    Pleural effusion.A nonproductive cough along with dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, and decreased chest motion are characteristic of pleural effusion. Other findings include a pleural friction rub, tachycardia, tachypnea, egophony, flatness on percussion, decreased or absent breath sounds, and decreased tactile fremitus.

    Pneumonia.Bacterial pneumonia usually starts with a nonproductive, hacking, painful cough that rapidly becomes productive. Other findings include shaking chills, a headache, a high fever, dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, tachypnea, tachycardia, grunting respirations, nasal flaring, decreased breath sounds, fine crackles, rhonchi, and cyanosis. The patient's chest may be dull on percussion.

    With mycoplasma pneumonia, a nonproductive cough arises 2 or 3 days after the onset of malaise, a headache, and a sore throat. The cough can be paroxysmal, causing substernal chest pain. Fever commonly occurs, but the patient doesn't appear seriously ill.

    Viral pneumonia causes a nonproductive, hacking cough and the gradual onset of malaise, headache, anorexia, and a low-grade fever.

    Pneumothorax.Pneumothorax is a life-threatening disorder that causes a dry cough and signs of respiratory distress, such as severe dyspnea, tachycardia, tachypnea, and cyanosis. The patient experiences sudden, sharp chest pain that worsens with chest movement as well as subcutaneous crepitation, hyperresonance or tympany, decreased vocal fremitus, and decreased or absent breath sounds on the affected side.

    Pulmonary edema.Pulmonary edema initially causes a dry cough, exertional dyspnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, orthopnea, tachycardia, tachypnea, dependent crackles, a ventricular gallop, and anxiety and restlessness. If pulmonary edema is severe, the patient's respirations become more rapid and labored, with diffuse crackles and coughing that produces frothy, bloody sputum.

    Pulmonary embolism.A life-threatening pulmonary embolism may suddenly produce a dry cough along with dyspnea and pleuritic or anginal chest pain. Typically, however, the cough produces blood-tinged sputum. Tachycardia and a low-grade fever are also common; less common signs and symptoms include massive hemoptysis, chest splinting, leg edema and, with a large embolus, cyanosis, syncope, and jugular vein distention. The patient may also have a pleural friction rub, diffuse wheezing, dullness on percussion, and decreased breath sounds.

    Sarcoidosis.With sarcoidosis, a nonproductive cough is accompanied by dyspnea, substernal pain, and malaise. The patient may also develop fatigue, arthralgia, myalgia, weight loss, tachypnea, crackles, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, skin lesions, visual impairment, difficulty swallowing, and arrhythmias.

    Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).SARS generally begins with a fever (usually greater than 100.4° F [38° C]). Other symptoms include a headache; malaise; a dry, nonproductive cough; and dyspnea. The severity of the illness is highly variable, ranging from mild illness to pneumonia and, in some cases, progressing to respiratory failure and death.

    Tracheobronchitis (acute).Initially, tracheobronchitis produces a dry cough that later becomes productive as secretions increase. Chills, a sore throat, a slight fever, muscle and back pain, and substernal tightness generally precede the cough's onset. Rhonchi and wheezes are usually heard. Severe illness causes a fever of 101° to 102° F (38.3° to 38.9° C) and, possibly, bronchospasm, with severe wheezing and increased coughing.

    Tularemia.Signs and symptoms of tularemia following inhalation of the organism include the abrupt onset of a fever, chills, a headache, generalized myalgia, a nonproductive cough, dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, and empyema.

    Other causes

    Diagnostic tests.Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and bronchoscopy may stimulate cough receptors and trigger coughing.

    Treatments.Irritation of the carina during suctioning or deep endotracheal or tracheal tube placement can trigger a paroxysmal or hacking cough. Intermittent positive-pressure breathing or spirometry can also cause a nonproductive cough. Some inhalants, such as pentamidine, may stimulate coughing.

    » READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

    Source: Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms, 2007


     » Next page: Risk Factors for Pneumonia

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