Clinical algorithms

Abstract

In medical practice, patients usually present without a known diagnosis. Physicians move from a set of signs and symptoms to the formation of a differential diagnosis to a final diagnosis. This introductory chapter provides seven clinical algorithms that encompass a large part of the spectrum of pediatric pulmonary practice. By navigating through the appropriate algorithm, reference to possible relevant diagnoses may be encountered which will provide direction to further reading in the textbook. The algorithms are (a) chest pain, (b) chronic cough, (c) cyanosis/hypoxia, (d) shortness of breath, (e) hemoptysis, (f) noisy breathing, and (g) tachypnea.