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Aetiology of acute breathlessness

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Acute causes include:

  • lung disease
    • upper airway obstruction - acute epiglottitis, foreign body aspiration, laringospasm
    • acute asthma, acute exacerbation of COPD
    • pneumonia
    • pulmonary embolism
    • pleural disease - pneumothorax, pleural effusion
    • bronchilitis
  • cardiac disease
    • congestive heart failure
    • arrhythmia
    • ischemic heart disease
    • valvular diseases
  • other causes
    • metabolic causes - diabetic ketoacidosis, aspirin intoxication
    • anaemia
    • psychogenic - anxiety, depression (1,2)

Reference:

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