Diagnostic Reasoning and Rationale for Acute Illness

Diagnostic Reasoning and Rationale for Acute Illness Author`s Name Institution Affiliation What questions need to be asked and what body part needs to be examined? In case of a cough, the following questions should be asked. 1 Is the patient an adult or a child? 2 Is a cough dry or wet? 3 When did a cough start? 4 Has the patient seen any mucus? What is the color? 5 Are there any other medical conditions, like high blood pressure, diabetes, and asthma? 6 Did the patient use any medication in the past? 7 Does the patient smoke? 8 Is a cough painful? The body parts that need to be examined are the throat of the patient and the diaphragm. What diagnostic tests need to be obtained and why? A routine chest X-ray can reveal the most common reason for a cough: asthma, acid reflux, or postnasal drip (Hulme et al. 2017). This diagnostic test is essential because it helps reveal evidence of sinus infections. Another suitable test is a CT scan, which is done to check the patient’s lungs for conditions that have caused a cough or the sinus cavities for pockets of infection. If the patient complaint...