A 76-year-old woman presents today with complaints of nasal drainage, clearing of the throat, and occasional nasal congestion, especially on waking in the morning
A 76-year-old woman presents today with complaints of nasal drainage, clearing of the throat, and occasional nasal congestion, especially on waking in the morning. She has recently moved into an independent living center after living in her home for 40 years. She states that, although she has had these symptoms before, generally the symptoms appeared in the spring, and she associated the nasal drainage with pollination. Because it is winter, she could not identify the trigger of her symptoms.
Chief complaint: Persistent “runny nose” for the 3-week duration, associated clearing of the throat, and nasal
congestion on awakening in the morning.
Objective data: Blood pressure (BP) 130/84, temperature 98.6, pulse 78, respiratory rate 20.
Please answer the following questions.
1 . What are the differential diagnoses to consider?
2 . What is the treatment, and what specific information about the prescription will you give to
this patient?
3 . What are the potential complications from the treatment ordered?
- What additional specific laboratory tests will you consider ordering?
- What additional patient teaching may be needed?
