Acute viral nasopharyngitis physical examination
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmed Younes M.B.B.CH [2]
Overview
Physical examination
Common cold is defined as inflammation of the nose with various degrees of pharynx inflammation.
Appearance of the patient
Patient usually appears ill.
Vital Signs
Temperature
- Fever is not usually present. Fever usually points more toward influenza not acute viral nasopharyngitis.
Blood Pressure
- The blood pressure is usually maintained within normal limits.
Pulse
- May be normal or increased in rate due to infection.
Respiration
- Tachypnea may be present.
Eyes
- Conjunctivae may be congested with tearing of both eyes.
Head
- Tenderness of sinuses may be elicited if sinusitis emsues.
- Cervical lymph nodes may be enlarged without tenderness.
Nose
- Nasal mucosa is usually red and hyperemic.
- Discharge can have various colors from yellow to green. However, it has no indication of the causative organism.
Throat
- Pharynx usually is normal on inspection. However, it may get inflamed with the spread of infection.
Lungs
- Lungs are typically clear to auscultation.
- Crackles and rhonchi may be found if lower respiratory tract infection and pneumonia ensue.