Description
Respiratory diseases account for a large proportion of the primary care workload. This article
reviews five cases referred to our chest clinic from primary care highlighting five common
clinical problems encountered by general practitioners. The first section begins with a
discussion of the options available to prevent recurrent exacerbations of COPD. Palliation
of breathlessness in advanced respiratory disease is a difficult clinical problem and the role
of anxiolytics, opioids and oxygen therapy are discussed. Chronic cough is one of the most
common chronic respiratory problems encountered by GPs and this case is used to highlight
the various steps in investigation and empirical management of this difficult problem. Finally,
a lady with recurrent respiratory tract infections and asthma in pregnancy are reviewed and
discussed.
