CASE STUDY:
23-Year-Old African American Female With Shortness of Breath and Cough for 3 to 4 Months

CLINICAL INFORMATION

CHIEF COMPLAINT

Shortness of breath and cough for 3 to 4 months.

HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS

A 23-year-old African-American female presented with exertional shortness of breath and cough. She initially noticed dyspnea while walking 2 blocks. Previously, she could walk for miles without any problems. She denied paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea and orthopnea. She used an albuterol inhaler prescribed by a physician with minimal relief. The cough was mainly non-productive, did not have a particular pattern and was occasionally relieved by antitussives. She denied any fever or hemoptysis. She did complain of fatigue, lack of energy, occasional night sweats, and a 10- to 15-lbs weight loss during this period.