Inhalation of foreign body [top]

• Stridor

• Monophonic wheeze

• Cough

Pneumothorax [top]

• Pleuritic chest pain

• Sudden onset

• Shortness of breath

• Unequal chest expansion

• Diminished breath sounds

• Hyperresonant percussion

Pulmonary embolism [top]

• Central chest pain

• Pleuritic chest pain

• Shortness of breath

• Haemoptysis

• Sudden onset

• Tachycardia

• Associated deep vein thrombosis

Asthma [top]

• Shortness of breath

• Wheeze

• Previous similar episodes

• Reduced peak expiratory flow rate

• Wheeze

• Persistent dry cough

• Decreased PEFR

• Shortness of breath

Exacerbation of COPD [top]

• Shortness of breath

• Wheeze

• Cough

• Hyperinflated chest

• History of smoking

Pulmonary oedema [top]

• Bibasal crepitations

• Cough productive of frothy pink sputum

• History of heart failure

• Orthopnoea - shortness of breath on lying flat

• Characteristic CXR findings

Anaphylaxis [top]

• Sudden onset (minutes)

• Shortness of breath

• Wheeze

• Facial swelling, tongue swelling

• Urticaria

• Hypotension and tachycardia

• Vomiting