Using Chapter 8 of your Goolsby and Grubbs text, select one common diagnosis and one less-common diagnosis for the lungs. Describe how you would be able to differentiate them from each other on an exam

Pneumonia is a common diagnosis caused by inflammation and consolidation of lung tissue, often due to infection by Streptococcus pneumonia, Haemophilus influenzae, or Staphylococcus aureus (Goolsby & Grubbs, 2018). Atelectasis is a less common lung diagnosis characterized by closure or collapse of alveoli due to hypoventilation secondary to obstruction to the airways or compression.

On physical exam, a patient with pneumonia will have a fever (due to infection), tachycardia, and tachypnea (30/min). On lung and chest exam, pneumonia manifests with abnormal findings such as uneven fremitus and dullness to percussion over the lung area with consolidation (Goolsby & Grubbs, 2018). Abnormal findings on auscultation include crackles and moist rales. Bronchophony, egophony, and whispered pectoriloquy are also usually present.

Abnormal findings in atelectasis include tachycardia, tachypnea, and respiratory distress with difficulty breathing in a supine position. Positive findings on chest and lung exam include deviation of trachea and heart toward the affected side, dullness to percussion over the involved lung area, diminished or absent breath sounds, and diminished or absent chest excursion of the involved hemithorax (Marini, 2019).

References

• Goolsby, M. J., & Grubbs, L. (2018). Advanced assessment interpreting findings and formulating differential diagnoses. FA Davis.
  Marini, J. J. (2019). Acute Lobar Atelectasis. Chest, 155(5), 1049–1058. https //doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2018.11.014