Cough

Objectives

By the end of Family Medicine Clerkship, students will be able to:

1. Conduct a patient interview and appropriate focused physical examination to identify the common and important causes of cough, particularly

a. Acute causes

•         Infectious (viral/bacterial)

•         Exacerbation of Asthma

•         Exacerbation of COPD

•         Post-viral cough

•         Exacerbation of CHF

b. Chronic causes (including screening for red flags, eg. weight loss, hemoptysis)

•         Post-nasal drip

•         GERD

•         Asthma (refer to Asthma Objectives)

•         COPD/Smoking

•         Infection (eg. tuberculosis)

•         Medication (i.e. ACE Inhibitor)

•         Congestive Heart Failure

•         Neoplasm

2. Include an appropriate environmental, occupational, and travel history as part of the patient interview.

3. Propose a relevant initial investigation plan (e.g. chest xray, spirometry) for a patient with cough.

4. Recognize a patient with respiratory distress (e.g. hypoxia, tachypnea, etc.) and seek immediate help.  

5. Suggest a preliminary/initial management plan for patients with cough, particularly for the acute and chronic causes listed above, avoiding unnecessary use of antibiotics.

Clinical Cards

Microcases

https://cards.ucalgary.ca/deck/367

References

Recommended Resources Addressing the Objectives

Additional Resources