Browse categories and answer follow-up questions to refine your symptom profile.
Immediate stabilization
Early stabilization priorities
Airway protection triggers
GCS < 13
Refractory hypoxemia despite oxygen escalation
Persistent vomiting with aspiration risk
Breathing targets
SpO2 92-96%
SpO2 88-92% for chronic hypercapnia risk
Escalate to HFNC for persistent tachypnea or high oxygen requirement
Escalate to NIV for COPD exacerbation with hypercapnic respiratory failure
Escalate to intubation for fatigue or rising PaCO2 with acidosis
Circulation triggers
SBP < 90 mmHg
MAP < 65 mmHg
Lactate >= 2 mmol/L with clinical hypoperfusion
Altered mental status with infection concern
Sepsis bundle alignment
If septic shock suspected, antibiotics within 1 hour
If sepsis without shock, antibiotics within 3 hours
Crystalloid 30 mL/kg for hypotension or lactate >= 4 mmol/L
Norepinephrine first-line vasopressor for MAP >= 65 mmHg
Initial triage and risk
Early severity stratification
ICU triggers
Need for invasive mechanical ventilation
Septic shock with vasopressor requirement
High-risk features
RR >= 30 per minute
SpO2 < 90% on room air
Multilobar infiltrates
Confusion
Hypotension
Early disposition planning
Low risk plus reliable follow-up
Moderate risk requiring inpatient monitoring
High risk requiring ICU level care
Time-critical diagnostics
Early confirmatory testing
Chest radiograph for suspected pneumonia
New infiltrate supports diagnosis when consistent with symptoms
Normal radiograph does not fully exclude early pneumonia
Point-of-care ultrasound as adjunct
Focal B-lines with subpleural consolidation support pneumonia
Pleural effusion detection for drainage planning
If severe CAP, early blood cultures before antibiotics
Do not delay antibiotics for culture collection
Early antimicrobials decision points
Empiric therapy selection framework
Outpatient vs inpatient vs ICU
CURB-65 or PSI support but do not replace clinical judgment
Social reliability and oral intake tolerance
MRSA or Pseudomonas risk assessment
Prior isolation from respiratory tract
Recent hospitalization with IV antibiotics within 90 days
Structural lung disease for Pseudomonas risk
Aspiration considerations
Routine anaerobic coverage not indicated without abscess or empyema
Monitoring and reassessment
Reassessment cadence
Clinical trajectory in first 6-12 hours
Oxygen requirement trend
Work of breathing trend
Hemodynamic stability trend
Treatment failure signals
Persistent fever beyond 72 hours
Rising oxygen requirement
Worsening infiltrates or new effusion
Persistent bacteremia
New organ dysfunction
SymptomDx is an educational tool for medical professionals. It does not replace clinical judgment. Verify all clinical data and drug dosages with authoritative sources.