A

• Age of Onset

  • The patient’s age when respiratory symptoms first appeared; helps differentiate congenital vs acquired diseases.

• Accessory Muscle Use

  • Observing if the patient uses neck and chest muscles during breathing; indicates increased work of breathing.

B

• Bronchorrhea

  • Excessive watery sputum production; seen in conditions like bronchiectasis or certain malignancies.

• Breathlessness (Dyspnea)

  • Subjective sensation of difficulty breathing; key symptom to quantify (onset, duration, triggers, severity).

• Bilateral Symptoms

  • Symptoms affecting both lungs; suggests diffuse or systemic respiratory processes.

C

• Chest Pain

  • May accompany respiratory problems; describe quality, location, and relation to breathing or coughing.

• Cough

  • A critical symptom; describe type (dry/productive), duration (acute, subacute, chronic), timing (day/night), and triggers.

• Clubbing

  • Bulbous enlargement of fingertips seen in chronic hypoxia or lung diseases.

D

• Duration

  • Length of time symptoms have been present; differentiates acute (days), subacute (weeks), or chronic (months).

• Dyspnea on Exertion (DOE)

  • Shortness of breath during physical activity; important functional assessment.

E

• Exacerbation

  • A worsening of respiratory symptoms, often seen in chronic diseases like COPD or asthma.

• Environmental Exposure

  • History of exposure to pollutants, allergens, occupational hazards (asbestos, silica).

F

• Fever

  • Suggests infectious cause of respiratory symptoms.

• Frequency

  • How often symptoms such as cough or wheeze occur; helps in characterizing pattern.

H

• Hemoptysis

  • Coughing up blood; important to quantify and characterize (bright red, clots).

• History of Smoking

  • Critical risk factor for many respiratory diseases including COPD, lung cancer.

• History of Tuberculosis (TB)

  • Past or current TB infection; affects differential diagnosis.

I

• Inhaler Use

  • Past or current use of bronchodilators or steroids; indicates known airway disease.

• Inspiratory/Expiratory Phase

  • Notes if symptoms worsen during inhalation or exhalation; e.g., stridor is inspiratory.

L

• Localization

  • Whether symptoms or signs are localized to one lung/area or diffuse.

• Lung Sounds

  • Descriptions of abnormal breath sounds (wheezes, crackles) reported by the patient or observed on exam.

N

• Night Sweats

  • May suggest tuberculosis or malignancy.

• Nasal Symptoms

  • History of rhinorrhea, congestion; relevant in upper respiratory infections or allergic rhinitis.

O

• Occupation

  • Jobs with respiratory hazards (miners, farmers) may predispose to certain diseases.

• Onset

  • Sudden or gradual onset of symptoms; important for differential diagnosis.

P

• Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea (PND)

  • Sudden nighttime breathlessness waking the patient; often cardiac or pulmonary edema related.

• Past Respiratory Infections

  • History of pneumonia, bronchitis, or other infections affecting lungs.

• Pleural Pain

  • Sharp, localized pain worsening with breathing or coughing; suggests pleuritis or pneumothorax.

• Productive Cough

  • Cough that produces sputum; note color, amount, and consistency.

R

• Recent Travel

  • Exposure to endemic respiratory diseases like TB or fungal infections.

• Respiratory Rate

  • Although physical exam, often discussed in history taking if patient noticed rapid breathing.

S

• Smoking History

  • Pack-years, current vs past smoker status; vital in respiratory assessment.

• Sputum Characteristics

  • Color (clear, purulent, bloody), volume, odor.

• Systemic Symptoms

  • Weight loss, fatigue, night sweats; suggest chronic or severe disease.

T

• Trigger Factors

  • Allergens, exercise, cold air provoking symptoms.

• Treatment History

  • Medications used, response, hospitalizations.

W

• Wheezing

  • High-pitched, musical breath sound indicating airway narrowing; may be episodic or continuous.

• Weight Loss

  • May suggest chronic infection or malignancy.