Differential Diagnosis for Pain with Inspiration

• Single most likely diagnosis
  • Pneumonia: This is a common condition that can cause pain with inspiration, especially if the pneumonia is severe or if the patient has a pre-existing condition that affects lung function. The pain is usually sharp and worsens with deep breathing or coughing.
• Other Likely diagnoses
  • Pulmonary embolism: Although less common than pneumonia, pulmonary embolism can cause sudden and severe pain with inspiration, often accompanied by shortness of breath and other symptoms.
  • Pleurisy: Inflammation of the pleura, the lining surrounding the lungs, can cause sharp pain with inspiration, especially if the inflammation is caused by a viral or bacterial infection.
  • Pneumothorax: A collapsed lung can cause sudden and severe pain with inspiration, often accompanied by shortness of breath and other symptoms.
• Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.)
  • Cardiac tamponade: Although rare, cardiac tamponade can cause pain with inspiration due to the accumulation of fluid in the pericardial sac, which can compress the heart and lungs.
  • Aortic dissection: A tear in the aorta can cause severe pain with inspiration, often accompanied by other symptoms such as chest pain and shortness of breath.
  • Esophageal rupture: A rupture of the esophagus can cause severe pain with inspiration, often accompanied by other symptoms such as chest pain and difficulty swallowing.
• Rare diagnoses
  • Diaphragmatic rupture: A rupture of the diaphragm can cause pain with inspiration, often accompanied by other symptoms such as abdominal pain and shortness of breath.
  • Mediastinitis: Inflammation of the mediastinum, the area between the lungs, can cause pain with inspiration, often accompanied by other symptoms such as fever and chest pain.
  • Sickle cell crisis: In patients with sickle cell disease, a crisis can cause pain with inspiration due to the sickling of red blood cells in the lungs.