Differential Diagnosis

The patient presents with chest pain, cough, sore throat, and other symptoms. Based on the provided information, the following differential diagnoses are considered:

• Single most likely diagnosis
  • Acute Bronchitis: The patient's symptoms of cough, sore throat, and fine crackles at the lower lung base are consistent with acute bronchitis. The recent onset of symptoms and the presence of a productive cough also support this diagnosis.
• Other Likely diagnoses
  • Pneumonia: The patient's symptoms of cough, sore throat, and fine crackles at the lower lung base, along with a fever (36.7°C), could also suggest pneumonia. However, the lack of significant respiratory distress and the normal oxygen saturation level make this diagnosis less likely.
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): The patient's symptoms of chest pain and sore throat, particularly the worsening of sore throat in the mornings, could be indicative of GERD.
  • Musculoskeletal Pain: The patient's tenderness on palpation of the sternum and the presence of body aches could suggest a musculoskeletal origin for the chest pain.
• Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.)
  • Aortic Dissection: Given the patient's history of TEVAR for blunt thoracic aortic injury, there is a risk of aortic dissection, which could present with chest pain and other symptoms. Although the patient's ECG is normal, and there are no other obvious signs of dissection, this diagnosis should not be missed due to its high mortality rate.
  • Pulmonary Embolism: Although the patient is a non-smoker and has no obvious risk factors for pulmonary embolism, this diagnosis should be considered due to its potential for high mortality.
  • Myocardial Infarction: Although the patient's ECG is normal, and there are no other obvious signs of myocardial infarction, this diagnosis should not be missed due to its high mortality rate.
• Rare diagnoses
  • Tuberculosis: The patient's symptoms of cough, sore throat, and fine crackles at the lower lung base, along with night sweats, could suggest tuberculosis, although this is less likely given the patient's lack of exposure history and the absence of other typical symptoms.
  • Lung Cancer: The patient's symptoms of cough, sore throat, and fine crackles at the lower lung base, along with voice changes, could suggest lung cancer, although this is less likely given the patient's non-smoking status and the absence of other typical symptoms.