B.W. is a 44-year-old man who presents to the family practice with complaints of sore throat, hoarseness, and a dry cough that worsens at night. He states that the cough started 6 days ago, and the sore throat and hoarseness began 3 days ago and appear to be getting worse. The patient has a history of prediabetes, which is controlled through diet and exercise. Reports the pattern may be worse after food intake but he is eating less spicy food than normal. Vital signs are T 99.5, P 58, R 16, and BP 110/55.
Initial Post
What additional subjective information should you obtain?
When completing a physical assessment, you note that the patient’s teeth are stained yellow, and you ask the patient, "Tell me about tobacco use." The patient states that he chews tobacco. What health promotion concepts should you include in the teaching plan?
What do you suspect is the most likely cause of this patient’s dry cough, sore throat, and hoarseness?