| Diagnosis | Suggestive features |
|
COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder) |
Onset in mid-life
Symptoms slowly progressive |
| Asthma | Onset early in life (often childhood)
Symptoms vary widely from day to day |
| Congestive heart failure | Chest X-ray shows dilated heart, pulmonary oedema.
Pulmonary function tests indicate volume restriction, not airflow/imitation |
| Bronchiectasis | Large volumes of purulent sputum
Commonly associated with bacterial infection |
| Tuberculosis | Onset all ages
Chest X-ray shows lung infiltrate |
| Obiterative bronchiolitis | Onset at younger age, non-smokers
May have history of rheumatoid arthritis or acute fume exposure |
| Diffuse panbronchiolitis | Predominantly seen in patients of Asian descent
Most patients are male and non-smokers |
| These features tend to be characteristic of the respective diseases, but are not mandatory. For example, a person who has never smoked may develop COPD (especially in the developing world where other risk factors may be more important than cigarette smoking); asthma may develop in adult and even in elderly patients. | |
Differential diagnosis of common respiratory conditions
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Editorial Information
Last reviewed: 03 December 2021
Next review: 03 December 2024
Author(s): Advanced Practice Respiratory Nurse
Version: 1
Approved By: TAM Subgroup of ADTC
Reviewer Name(s): Michelle Duffy
Document Id: TAM364