Throat, Respiratory & Cardiovascular Disorders

take on the role of a clinician who is building a health history for the following patient:

Chief Complaint
(CC) A 65-year-old male with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) presents to the clinic with a cough he has had for the past 2 weeks.

Subjectivedenies chest pain, denies night sweats, admits to having a fever but does not know the temp.

VS(BP) 115/75, (P) 89, (RR) 16, (T) 100.4°F (38°C), O2 sat 98% on room air.

Generalpatient appears tired; skin color pale, patient is diaphoretic and sweaty, height 5′3″; weight 175 lbs

HEENTEYES: no injection, no increase in lacrimation or purulent drainage;
EARS: normal
TM: Normal
NOSE: Bilateral erythema and edema of turbinates with significant yellow drainage on the right. Obstructed air passages

Respiratorylung crackles in LLL, no wheezes or rhonchi noted; does not clear with coughing; dullness to percussion over the LLL; shallow respirations and is 30, accessory muscles use not present

Neck/Throatno neck swelling or tenderness with palpation; neck is supple; no JVD; thyroid is not enlarged;
trachea midline

HeartRegular rate and rhythm, no murmur, S3, or S4

Answer the following :

What other subjective data would you obtain?
What other objective findings would you look for?
What diagnostic examination do you want to order?
Name 3 differential diagnoses based on this patient presenting symptoms?
Give rationales for your each differential diagnosis.

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