Sabine's Cough

November 09, 2015 Print Friendly Version of this page Print Get a PDF version of this webpage PDF
Name
Sabine Edmund
DOB
02/12/1989 (25 years)
Occupation
Speech therapist
History
I have been coughing every night for the last few weeks since I came back from Greece. I think I must have caught something from there! The cough is non-productive. If asked directly, I have noticed some shortness of breath which affects me when I am outside and sometimes my eyes get a little itchy. It really bothers me because I cannot sleep and I need some cough medicine to stop it. Deny chest pain or other symptoms.
Past Medical History
If asked directly, eczema as a child. Denies recent surgery or past clotting events
Drug History
Nil
Family History
If asked directly, mother had bad hayfever and eczema
Social History
5 cigarettes per day. Occasional alcohol. No recreational drug use.

Introduces yourself
0
1
Confirms name & age of patient
0
1
Explains reason for consultation & builds rapport
0
1
Gains consent
0
1
Asks open question
0
1
Establishes onset and duration
0
1
Asks for variability in the day e.g. diurnal/worse at night (asthma)
0
1
Asks for alleviating factors (e.g. being at home/work)
0
1
Asks for exacerbating factors (e.g. exercise, seasonal (asthma, COPD), pollen (asthma), chemicals, posture)
0
1
2
Establishes if dry or productive
0
1
Establishes severity and impact on life
0
1
Asks about any recent illnesses
0
1
Screens for red flags (haemoptysis, weight loss, hoarseness, night sweats)
0
1
Screens for associated respiratory symptoms (fever, shortness of breath, wheeze, chest pain - clarifying if pleuritic/burning suggestive of reflux disease)
0
1
2
Screens for associated cardiovascular symptoms (orthopnoea, ankle oedema, calf pain or swelling)
0
1
Screens for ENT associated symptoms (throat, coryza, rhinitis)
0
1
Elicits past medical history (specifically asthma, tuberculosis) and recent surgery
0
1
Elicits family history (specifically asking for atopy, tuberculosis, pulmonary fibrosis, clotting problems)
0
1
Elicits drug history (including use of ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, methotrexate)
0
1
Checks for allergies
0
1
Checks if patient smokes or drinks
0
1
Checks occupation of patient
0
1
Asks if occupation or other involves exposure to dust or animals
0
1
Explores and responds to ideas
0
1
Explores and responds to concerns
0
1
Explores and responds to expectations
0
1
Shows empathy
0
1
Avoids jargon
0
1
Summarises back to patient
0
1
Thanks patient
0
1
Patient global score
0
1
2
Gives reasonable differential diagnosis (Asthma, Reactive airway disease, Viral upper respiratory tract infection)
0
1