Pulmonology Book

http://www.fpnotebook.com/

Dyspnea Causes

Advertisement

  1. See Also
    1. Acute Dyspnea
    2. Chronic Dyspnea
    3. Dyspnea in Cancer
    4. Medication Causes of Dyspnea
    5. Dyspnea History
  2. Causes: Categories of Dyspnea
    1. Oxygen Ingress problem
      1. High altitude
      2. Airway Obstruction
        1. Larynx or trachea (e.g. Laryngitis, Trauma)
        2. Bronchi (e.g. Acute Bronchitis, Asthma)
        3. Alveoli (e.g. Emphysema, Interstitial Lung Disease)
        4. External compression (e.g. Pneumothorax)
        5. Thoracic wall (e.g. Scoliosis)
    2. Oxygen Uptake problem
      1. Lung circulation
        1. Pulmonary Embolism
        2. Congestive Heart Failure (left side)
        3. Pulmonary Hypertension
      2. Hemoglobin disorder
        1. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
        2. Methemoglobinemia
    3. Neuromuscular problem
      1. Hyperventilation
      2. Increased Intracranial Pressure
  3. Causes: Common in Adults
    1. Acute Dyspnea in Adults (Mnemonic: PPOPPA)
      1. Pulmonary Embolism
      2. Pulmonary edema
        1. Pulmonary: Noxious gas inhalation, HAPE
        2. Cardiogenic: Congestive Heart Failure
      3. Obstructed Airway (Foreign body, Epiglottitis)
      4. Pneumothorax (Spontaneous)
      5. Pneumonia
      6. Asthma or Emphysema
    2. Chronic Dyspnea in Adults (Duration >1 month)
      1. Obstructive lung disease (COPD, Asthma)
      2. Restrictive Lung Disease
        1. Interstitial Lung Disease
        2. Kyphoscoliosis
        3. Neuromuscular disease (e.g. Myasthenia Gravis)
      3. Congestive Heart Failure
      4. Pneumonia
      5. Anemia
      6. Myocardial Ischemia
      7. Hypothyroidism
      8. Upper airway conditions
      9. Obesity
      10. Psychiatric cause (e.g. Anxiety Disorder)
  4. Causes: Acute Dyspnea in Children
    1. Asthma
    2. Pneumonia
    3. Bronchiolitis
    4. Croup
    5. Epiglottitis
    6. Foreign Body Aspiration
    7. Myocarditis
  5. Causes: Airway Causes
    1. Foreign Body Aspiration
    2. Croup
    3. Epstein-Barr Virus
    4. Epiglottitis
    5. Bacterial Tracheitis
    6. Ludwig's Angina
  6. Causes: Cardiac Causes
    1. Coronary Artery Disease (Myocardial Infarction)
    2. Congestive Heart Failure
    3. Cardiomyopathy
      1. Myocarditis
      2. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
      3. Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
      4. Asymmetric septal hypertrophy
    4. Valvular dysfunction (e.g. Aortic Stenosis)
    5. Pericarditis
    6. Arrhythmias (e.g. Atrial Fibrillation)
  7. Causes: Pulmonary Causes
    1. Pneumothorax
    2. Hereditary lung disorders
    3. Pulmonary Embolism
    4. Obstructive Lung Disease
      1. Emphysema
      2. Asthma
      3. Bronchiectasis
        1. Cystic Fibrosis
        2. Post-Pneumonia
        3. Immotile cilia
      4. Obliterative Bronchiolitis
    5. Restrictive Lung disease
      1. Massive Obesity
      2. Kyphoscoliosis
      3. Congestive Heart Failure
      4. Bronchiolitis Obliterans Organizing Pneumonia (BOOP)
      5. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
      6. Sarcoidosis
      7. Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
  8. Causes: Mixed Cardiac or pulmonary causes
    1. COPD with Pulmonary Hypertension and Cor Pulmonale
    2. Deconditioning
    3. Chronic pulmonary emboli
    4. Chest Trauma
  9. Causes: Miscellaneous
    1. See Medication Causes of Dyspnea
    2. Metabolic conditions (e.g. Metabolic Acidosis)
    3. Severe Pain
    4. Neuromuscular disorders
      1. Myasthenia Gravis
      2. Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis
    5. Ear, nose and throat disorders
    6. Aspirin overdose
    7. Psychogenic Causes
      1. Anxiety
      2. Panic Disorders
      3. Hyperventilation
  10. References
    1. Braithwaite in Marx (2002) Rosen's Emergency, p. 155-62
    2. Degowin (1987) Diagnostic Exam, p. 281-2
    3. Fangman in Noble (2001) Primary Care, p. 175-8
    4. Friedman (1991) Problem-Oriented Diagnosis, p. 134-42
    5. Marini (1987) Respiratory Medicine, p. 40-41
    6. Stulbarg in Murray (2000) Respiratory Med, p. 541-52
    7. Zoorob (2003) Am Fam Physician 68(9):1803

Navigation Tree