Chest pain, cough and fever

Abbreviations: ABG (arterial blood gas); ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme); BMI (body mass index); CBC (complete blood count); CSF (cerebrospinal fluid); CXR (chest X-ray); ECG (electrocardiogram); FEF (forced expiratory flow rate); FEV1 (forced expiratory volume); FVC (forced vital capacity); JVD (jugular vein distention); MCV (mean corpuscular volume); Plt (platelet); RV (residual volume); SIADH (syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone); TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone); Vt (tidal volume); WBC (white blood cell); Coronary CT angiography (CCTA); multidetector row scanners (MDCT); Cardiovascular magnetic resonance — CMRI; Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI); single-photon emission CT (SPECT); Positron emission tomography (PET) scanning; Magnetic resonance (MR) angiography, Computed tomographic (CT) angiography, and Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), late gadolinium enhancement (LGE); right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH), right atrial enlargement (RAE), functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR), Pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP; adenosine deaminase (ADA); Serum amyloid A (SAA), soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL2R); High-resolution CT (HRCT) scanning

Differentials on the basis of Etiology	Disease	Clinical manifestations										Diagnosis
		Symptoms								Risk factors	Physical exam	Lab Findings	EKG	Imaging	Gold standard
		Onset	Duration	Quality of Pain	Cough	Fever	Dyspnea	Weight loss	Associated Features
Cardiac	Pericarditis	Acute or subacute	May last for hours to days	Sharp & localized retrosternal pain	+	+	+	-	Pericardial friction rub	HIV TB Immunosuppression Acute trauma	Pericardial friction rub heard with the diaphragm of stethoscope	Leukocytosis ↑Troponin level ↑Erythrocyte sedimentation rate ↑C-reactive protein level	EKG changes (typically widespread ST segment elevation or PR depressions)	Chest x-ray typically normal Echocardiogram: normal or pericardial effusion CT scan: Noncalcified pericardial thickening with pericardial effusion CMR: inflamed pericardium and myocarditis	Pericardiocentesis Pericardial biopsy
	Pericardial Tamponade	Acute or subacute	May last for hours to days	Sharp and stabbing retrosternal pain	+/-	+	+	-	Pulsus paradoxus Pericardial rub	HIV TB Immunosuppression Acute trauma	Kussmaul sign Beck triad Pulsus paradoxus	Creatine kinase and isoenzymes Abnormal LFTs Antinuclear antibody assay, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and rheumatoid factor HIV testing	EKG findings: Sinus tachycardia Low QRS voltage Electrical alternans	CXR: enlarged cardiac silhouette with clear lung fields Echocardiography: Chamber collapse, Respiratory variation in volumes and flows, IVC plethora Swan-Ganz Catheterization: Equilibration of average intracardiac diastolic pressures (usually between 10 and 30 mmHg)	Echocardiography
	Myocarditis	Acute or subacute	Variable	Sharp & localized retrosternal pain reflects associated pericarditis	+/-	+	+	-	Heart failure Sudden cardiac death Arrythmias	Ischemic heart disease Valvular heart disease	S3 and S4 gallop Cardiac murmurs Pericardial friction rub	Serum cardiac troponin levels ↑ BNP or NT-proBNP level	Nonspecific ST changes, single atrial or ventricular ectopic beats, complex ventricular arrhythmias	CXR: Normal to enlarged with or without pulmonary vascular congestion and pleural effusions Echo: Left ventricular dilation, changes in left ventricular geometry (eg, development of a more spheroid shape), and wall motion abnormalities CMR: T1 and T2 signal intensity consistent with edema, presence of LGE consistent with necrosis or scar Radionuclide ventriculography: ↓ EF Cardiac catheterization: Assessment of hemodynamic status	Endomyocardial biopsy
Differentials on the basis of Etiology	Disease	Clinical manifestations										Diagnosis
		Symptoms								Risk factors	Physical exam	Lab Findings	EKG	Imaging	Gold standard
		Onset	Duration	Quality of Pain	Cough	Fever	Dyspnea	Weight loss	Associated Features
Pulmonary	Pulmonary Embolism	Acute	May last minutes to hours	Sharp or knifelike or pleuritic pain Localized to side of lesion	+	+/-	+	-	Hemoptysis History of venous thromboembolism or coagulation abnormalities.	Hormone replacement therapy Cancer Oral contraceptive pills Stroke  Pregnancy Postpartum  Prior history of VTE Thrombophilia	S3 or S4 gallop Low grade fever Tachycardia Tachypnea Hypoxia	↑D-dimer ≥500 ng/mL Arterial blood gases (Respiratory alkalosis) ↑Troponin levels Hypercoagulation workup	Tachycardia and nonspecific ST-segment and T-wave changes (70 percent) S1Q3T3 pattern New right bundle branch block Inferior Q-waves (leads II, III, and aVF)	Duplex Ultrasonography: DVT CXR: Westermark sign, Hampton hump, Palla's sign Echocardiography: RV dilation (ratio of apical 4-chamber RV diameter to left ventricle (LV) diameter > 0.9) RV systolic dysfunction Ventilation-Perfusion Scanning: High probability	CT pulmonary angiography
	Pneumonia	Acute or chronic	Variable	Dull Localized to side of lesion	+	+	+	+/-	Altered mental status Tachycardia Rust-colored sputum Green sputum Red currant-jelly sputum Central cyanosis	Long hospital stay Ill contact exposure Aspiration	Wheezing Rhonchi Rales Decreased breath sounds Pleural friction rub	Arterial blood gas : Hypoxia, hypoxemia ↑ Procalcitonin Leukocytosis Sputum evaluation Positive blood cultures	Sinus tachycardia Nonspecific ST-segment or T-wave changes	CXR: Interstitial infiltrates, lobar consolidation, cavitation	CXR
	Tracheitis/ Bronchitis	Acute	Variable	Dull Substernal	+	+	+	-	Tachypnea Respiratory distress Hoarseness Dyspnea Cyanosis Sore throat Odynophagia Dysphonia	Aspiration Pneumonia	Inspiratory stridor (with or without expiratory stridor) Nasal flaring Wheezing	Gram stain of exudates: Neutrophils	Peaked P-wave	Radiography of the neck: Steeple sign Laryngotracheobronchoscopy: a normal epiglottis with subglottic narrowing, thick and purulent secretions in the trachea, pseudomembranes	Endoscopy
	Pleuritis	Acute or subacute or chronic	May last minutes to hours	Sharp Localized pleuritic	+	+	+	-	Sharp chest pain with breathing Itching in sites on the back Dizziness	Autoimmune conditions Infections	Tachypnea Tachycardia  Pleural Rubs Decreased breath sounds	Leukocytosis Arterial blood gas (ABG): Hypoxia Thoracocentesis	EKG done to rule out other causes in differential diagnoses	Chest X Ray: Pleural fluid on one or both sides Computerized tomography (CT) scan: Pleural effusions	CXR
	Pleural Effusion	Acute or subacute or chronic	Variable	Dull Pleuritic pain	+	+/-	+	+/-	Increasing lower extremity edema Orthopnea Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea Night sweats Hemoptysis	Pneumonia	Diminished or inaudible breath sounds Pleural friction rub Egophony (known as "E-to-A" changes)	Pleural fluid LDH levels above 1000 IU/L Nucleated cells - Lymphocytosis - Eosinophilia - Mesothelial cells Pleural fluid culture and cytology Pleural fluid antinuclear antibody and rheumatoid factor	Typically not indicated	Chest X Ray: Pleural fluid on one or both sides Computerized tomography (CT) scan: Detects small pleural effusions, ie, less than 10 mL and possibly as little as 2 mL of liquid in the pleural space, Thickening of the visceral and parietal pleura  MRI: Characterize the content of pleural effusions	Computed tomography
	Asthma & COPD	Acute or subacute or chronic	Variable	Tightness	+	+/-	+	+/-	Cyanosis	Smoking HF HTN	Elevated jugular venous pulse (JVP) Hyperinflation (barrel chest) Peripheral edema Clubbing Wheezing Rhonchi Diffusely decreased breath sounds Coarse crackles beginning with inspiration	Leukocytosis Eosinophilia Respiratory alkalosis	Peaked P-wave Reduced amplitude of the QRS complexes Multifocal atrial tachycardia (MAT)	CXR: Hyperinflation Spirometry: ↓ FEV1, PEF, ↓ FEV1/FVC	Spirometry
	Pulmonary Malignancy	Chronic	Variable	Dull aching	+	+/-	+	+	Bone pain Fatigue Neurologic dysfunction Superior vena cava (SVC) obstruction Hoarseness Hemidiaphragm paralysis Dysphagia Paraneoplastic syndromes Hypercalcemia	Smoking Metastasis	Wheeze Crackles Depending upon complications caused by the spread of cancer	Hypercalcemia	EKG may be performed before cancer treatment to identify any pre-existing conditions, or during treatment to check for possible heart damage	CXR and CT scan: Mass lesion, hilar lymphadenopathy Spirometry: ↓Vt, ↑RV Bronchoscopy: Biopsy	Bronchoscopy
	Acute chest syndrome (Sickle cell anemia)	Acute	May last minutes to hours	Chest tightness	+	+/-	+	-	Sickle cell anemia Vaso-occlusive crisis Pain crises	↑ WBC ↑ Hb levels ↓ fetal hemoglobin levels Smoking Vaso-occlusive pain events	Systolic murmur may be heard over the entire precordium	↑Erythrocyte sedimentation rate Peripheral blood smears: Schistiocytes ↑ Reticulocyte count	EKG typically not indicated	Plain radiography of the extremities: Avascular necrosis	---
Differentials on the basis of Etiology	Disease	Clinical manifestations										Diagnosis
		Symptoms								Risk factors	Physical exam	Lab Findings	EKG	Imaging	Gold standard
		Onset	Duration	Quality of Pain	Cough	Fever	Dyspnea	Weight loss	Associated Features
Gastrointestinal	GERD, Peptic Ulcer	Acute	Minutes to hours (gastroesophageal reflux) Prolonged (peptic ulcer) 5 to 60 minutes	Burning Substernal Epigastric	+/-	+/-	-	+/-	Visceral, substernal, worse with recumbency, no radiation, relief with food, antacids Hematemesis or melena resulting from gastrointestinal bleeding Dyspepsia	Prolonged NSAIDs intake Smoking Alcohol abuse Spicy foods H-pylori infection	Not any auscultatory findings associated with this disease Enamel erosion or other dental manifestations	↑Serum Gastrin Level Secretin Stimulation Test H-Pylori testing	EKG usually normal but may show T wave inversions in leads V2 through V4 consistent with myocardial ischemia in patients with peptic ulcer perforation	Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: Biopsy Esophageal Manometry: To exclude an esophageal motility disorder Esophageal impedance pH testing: Monitors esophageal pH	Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
	Esophagitis	Acute	Variable	Burning Epigastric	+	+	-	+/-	Heartburn Abdominal pain	HIV Immunosuppression	No auscultatory finding	Troponin or other cardiac markers Leukopenia ↓CD4 count Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) test	ECG is done to rule out acute coronary syndrome	Double-contrast esophageal barium study (esophagography) Endoscopy: Biopsy	Endoscopy
	Mediastinitis	Acute, Chronic	Variable	Retrosternal irritation	+/-	+	+	-	Nonspecific	Infection Esophageal perforation Post operative complication	Dysphagia Dysphonia Stridor Hamman sign	Positive organisms in sternal culture Leukocytosis Positive blood cultures	Diffuse ST elevation	CT: Localize the infection and extent of spread MRI: Assesses vascular involvement and complications	CT scan
Differentials on the basis of Etiology	Disease	Clinical manifestations										Diagnosis
		Symptoms								Risk factors	Physical exam	Lab workup	EKG	Imaging	Gold standard
		Onset	Duration	Quality of Pain	Cough	Fever	Dyspnea	Weight loss	Associated Features
Rheumatic	Rheumatoid arthritis	Chronic	Years	Symmetrical joint pain in Wrist Fingers Knees Feet Ankles	+/-	+	-	+	Extra-articular involvement of other organ systems Carpal tunnel syndrome Tarsal tunnel syndrome	Old age Smoking Autoimmune conditions	Reduced grip strength Rheumatoid nodules	Positive Rheumatic Factor Anti-CCP body  Synovial fluid analysis: WBC between 1500 and 25,000/cubicmm, low glucose, low C3 and C4 complement level. Thrombocytosis Anemia Mild leukocytosis	ECG is done rule out the heart failure as RA is one of the causes of heart failure	Plain film radiography: periarticular osteopenia, joint space narrowing, and bone erosions MRI: Bone erosions Ultrasonography: Degree of inflammation and the volume of inflamed tissue	---
	Systemic lupus erythematosus	Chronic	Years	Skin Joints (fingers, wrist, knees) Kidneys SLE can affect any organ of the body	+/-	+	+	+	HLA-genetic mutations Female gender Being younger than 50	Autoimmune conditions Genetic predisposition Positive family history	Malar rash Photosensitive rash Discoid rash Arthritis of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints of the hands Pleuro-pericardial friction rubs Systolic murmurs	Elevation of autoantibodies (ANA, anti-dsDNA, anti-SM, antiphospholipid) Complement levels decreased Anemia	Sinus tachycardia, ST segment changes, and ventricular conduction disturbances	Related to specific organ involvent	Anti-dsDNA antibody test
	Relapsing polychondritis	Chronic	Years	Intermittent pain in: Tissues that cover the end of the joints Cartilage of costal rib	+	+	+	+	Hodkin's lymphoma Myelodysplastic syndromes Gastrointestinal disorders Type 1 Diabetes mellitus Auricular chondritis	Autoimmune diseases	Physical examinations findings are seen related to nasal chondritis, ocular inflammation, cardiovascular disease, skin disease, CNS and pulmonary system	Negative rheumatoid factor Anti-type II collagen antibodies Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies	ECG is done to rule out the cardiovascular complications of this disease	Non specific Related to specific organ involvent	No gold standard test for this disease
Others	Substance abuse (Cocaine)	Acute (hours)	Minutes to hours	Pressure like pain in the center of chest	+	+	+	+	Anxiety Dyspnea Nausea Palpitations	Psychiatric disorders	Signs of injection drug use Signs of drug inhalation Poor personal hygiene	Serum biomarkers (Troponin I, Troponin T) Toxicologic tests or drug screens of bodily fluids (blood, urine, saliva) and hairs	QT prolongation Sinus Tachycardia Arrhythmias Cardiac conduction abnormalities	---	Gold standard test depends on the type of substance is abuse

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