Address immediately symptoms that may indicate a life threatening diagnosis:
Hemoptysis |
|
Stridor |
Prominent dyspnea, particularly when at rest or at night |
Hoarseness |
Systemic symptoms including fever, weight loss, or peripheral edema with weight gain |
Tachypnea and/or tachycardia |
Night sweats |
Cyanosis |
Trouble swallowing with drinking or eating |
Vomiting |
Recurrent or persistent pneumonia or other chest infection |
Chest pain |
Abnormal respiratory exam and/or abnormal chest x-ray throughout duration of cough |
New relevant drop in oxygen saturation |
Severe immunosuppression |
* Any red flag feature should spur an immediate diagnostic evaluation and subsequent treatment. Reference - BTS 2023 Dec 6, Chest 2018 Jan;153(1):196, Dtsch Arztebl Int 2022 Feb 4;119(5):59, Dtsch Arztebl Int 2014 May 16;111(20):356. |
Life threa