james taylor – 39-year old male with shortness of breath real case (chamberlain university) | advanced ddx case play setup & full case analysis 2026 November

james taylor – 39-year old male with shortness of
breath real case (chamberlain university) |
advanced ddx case play setup & full case
analysis 2026 November




Patient Information
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Name: James Taylor
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Age: 39 years
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Sex: Male
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Height: 5’8” (173 cm)
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Weight: 140 lb (63.6 kg)
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Occupation: Auto mechanic g; g;



Reason for Encounter: Shortness of breath
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,HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS g; g; g;




James is a 39-year-old man who presents with progressive
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shortness of breath for the past 5 days.
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• Symptoms began gradually after he had what he describes g; g; g; g; g; g; g; g;



as a “bad cold” about 1 week ago.
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• He reports dry cough, now worsening, but denies coughing
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up blood.
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• Shortness of breath is worse with exertion and when lying g; g; g; g; g; g; g; g; g;



flat.
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• He notes intermittent chest tightness, non-radiating, rated
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3/10.
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• No chest pain at rest.
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• Reports fever (subjective), chills, and fatigue. g; g; g; g; g;




He denies:
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• Recent travel g;



• History of asthma g; g;



• History of DVT/PE g; g;



• Known heart disease g; g;



• Toxic exposures at work g; g; g;




He has also noticed increasing wheezing over the past 48 hours
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and states he “can’t catch his breath” at night.
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PAST MEDICAL HISTORYg; g;




• Seasonal allergies g;

, • No chronic lung disease
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• No cardiac history
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• No hypertension or diabetes
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Medications:
• Occasional loratadine during allergy season g; g; g; g;



• OTC ibuprofen g;




Allergies:
• NKDA


FAMILY HISTORY g;




• Father: heart failure (onset age 58)
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• Mother: asthma g;



• No family history of early cardiac death or thromboembolic
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disease
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SOCIAL HISTORY g;




• Smokes ½ pack/day × 15 years g; g; g; g; g;



• Drinks socially g;



• No illicit drug use
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• Works in an auto shop with occasional exposure to dust
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and fumes
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REVIEW OF SYSTEMS g; g;




Positive:
• Fever
• Night sweats g;