Showing 1-20 of 74 for: Essential Evidence Topics > Respiratory 
- Acute bronchitis
Essential Evidence Topics, 13-Dec-2019
Overall Bottom Line: Acute bronchitis is an acute lower respiratory tract infection where community-acquired pneumonia has been excluded clinically or based on chest radiograph. Antibiotic treatment only minimally decrease the duration of symptoms and a
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
Essential Evidence Topics, 3-Dec-2019
Overall Bottom Line: Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is helpful in differentiating acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) from cardiogenic pulmonary edema. In patients with indeterminate levels of BNP, echocardiogram or pulmonary artery catheterizat
- Air embolism
Essential Evidence Topics, 29-Jul-2019
Overall Bottom Line: Diagnosis of arterial gas embolism is based on clinical history, with support from quantitative electroencephalography (EEG), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The patient should be given supplemental o
- Allergic rhinitis
Essential Evidence Topics, 18-Jun-2019
Overall Bottom Line: Empiric treatment of patients with classic symptoms is appropriate. Treatment with intranasal steroids and nonsedating antihistamines is sufficient for most patients. Intranasal steroids are also effective in treating ocular sympt
- Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
Essential Evidence Topics, 19-Sep-2019
Overall Bottom Line: Population screening for alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency is not generally recommended. AAT levels should be checked in patients when there is a high degree of suspicion (); if abnormal, confirm by genetic testing. Consider AA
- Altitude sickness
Essential Evidence Topics, 23-Aug-2018
Overall Bottom Line: Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is defined as the presence of headache in an unacclimatized person who has recently arrived at an altitude of 2500 m (8202 ft), plus the presence of one or more of the following: GI symptoms (anorexia, n
- Asbestosis
Essential Evidence Topics, 8-Nov-2019
Overall Bottom Line: Asbestosis typically presents with gradual worsening dyspnea on exertion, accompanied by end-inspiratory basilar rales that persist after coughing on clinical examination. The chest x-ray findings of small, irregular opacities in th
- Asthma (acute exacerbation)
Essential Evidence Topics, 23-Jan-2020
Overall Bottom Line: In children, there is no single best tool for assessing severity of exacerbation, monitoring response to treatment or predicting need for hospitalization. Diagnosis in infants should rely on physical exam findings rather than FEV1.
- Asthma (chronic management)
Essential Evidence Topics, 27-Feb-2020
Overall Bottom Line: Symptoms of asthma include wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing or chest tightness. Long-term management of asthma requires control of inflammation, as well as identification and avoidance of triggers. Chronic asthma is treated
- Avian influenza
Essential Evidence Topics, 26-Feb-2019
Overall Bottom Line: Suspect avian influenza in patients with confirmed fever, influenza-like illness, and exposure to poultry or an infected human in an H5N1 infected country; confirm diagnosis with real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test from
- Blastomycosis
Essential Evidence Topics, 1-May-2019
Overall Bottom Line: Direct visualization of the yeast form in tissues or sputum is diagnostic. The drug of choice is amphotericin B and/or an azole, depending on the severity of disease, type of infection, and immune status of the patient. summarizes
- Bronchiectasis
Essential Evidence Topics, 19-Sep-2019
Overall Bottom Line: Suspect bronchiectasis in patients with a chronic daily cough productive of sputum who have been evaluated and treated for postnasal drip, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and asthma, and still have symptoms. Order high-resolution C
- Bronchiolitis and RSV (children)
Essential Evidence Topics, 26-Sep-2019
Overall Bottom Line: Bronchiolitis is a viral illness of the lower respiratory tract in infants that causes tachypnea, bronchospasm, and mucous production. Diagnosis of bronchiolitis is made clinically based on the history and physical examination. Tr
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
Essential Evidence Topics, 5-Jul-2019
Bottom-line: Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is one of the most common causes of accidental toxic poisonings and deaths. Suspect CO poisoning in patients with possible CO exposure and fatigue, dizziness, headache, unconsciousness, shortness of breath, an
- Chronic obstructive lung disease (acute exacerbation)
Essential Evidence Topics, 30-Mar-2020
Overall Bottom Line: Influenza vaccination can reduce serious illness and likely reduces chronic obstructive lung (pulmonary) disease (COPD) exacerbations. Combination of a long-acting inhaled beta-agonist OR long-acting inhaled muscarinic antagonist AN
- Chronic obstructive lung disease (chronic management)
Essential Evidence Topics, 22-Jan-2020
Overall Bottom Line: Consider chronic obstructive pulmonary (lung) disease (COPD) in patients with chronic and progressive dyspnea, cough, and sputum production, and obtain spirometry. Consider arterial blood gas (ABG) measurement for patients with forc
- Cleft lip and palate
Essential Evidence Topics, 23-Aug-2019
Overall Bottom Line: Cleft lip (CL) and cleft palate (CP) are common congenital defects and their cause is multifactorial. Phenytoin and cigarette smoking are two of the most consistent risk factors. Squeezable bottles containing breast milk or breastfe
- Coccidioidomycosis
Essential Evidence Topics, 10-Jul-2019
Overall Bottom Line: If a patient who resides in or who has traveled to the endemic area presents with symptoms of pneumonia, consider laboratory evaluation for coccidioidomycosis. Most primary infections resolve without treatment. Conditions that war
- Common cold and acute upper respiratory tract infection
Essential Evidence Topics, 17-Feb-2020
Overall Bottom Line: The diagnosis of upper respiratory tract infection (RTI) is based on clinical signs and symptoms. This is an acute infection that is typically viral in origin and in which sinus, pharyngeal, and lower airway symptoms are present, but
- Conjunctivitis (allergic)
Essential Evidence Topics, 21-Oct-2019
Overall Bottom Line: The diagnosis of allergic conjunctivitis is made via history and physical examination. Topical antihistamines or mast cell stabilizers are effective treatment. Consider intranasal steroids or systemic antihistamines in patients wi
