James Taylor – 39-Year-Old Male with Shortness of Breath: Real Case (Chamberlain University) Advanced DDX

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james taylor – 39-year old male with shortness of
breath real case (chamberlain university) |
advanced ddx case play setup & full case
analysis 2025 November




Patient Information
Name: James Taylor
Age: 39 years
Sex: Male
Height: 5’8” (173 cm)
Weight: 140 lb (63.6 kg)
Occupation: Auto mechanic
Reason for Encounter: Shortness of breath
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HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS
James is a 39-year-old man who presents with progressive
shortness of breath for the past 5 days.
 Symptoms began gradually after he had what he describes
as a “bad cold” about 1 week ago.
 He reports dry cough, now worsening, but denies coughing
up blood.
 Shortness of breath is worse with exertion and when lying
flat.
 He notes intermittent chest tightness, non-radiating, rated
3/10.
 No chest pain at rest.
 Reports fever (subjective), chills, and fatigue.
He denies:
 Recent travel
 History of asthma
 History of DVT/PE
 Known heart disease
 Toxic exposures at work
He has also noticed increasing wheezing over the past 48 hours
and states he “can’t catch his breath” at night.


PAST MEDICAL HISTORY
 Seasonal allergies
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and39-year
Answersold
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Rationales
with shortness
 No chronic lung disease
 No cardiac history
 No hypertension or diabetes
Medications:
 Occasional loratadine during allergy season
 OTC ibuprofen
Allergies:
 NKDA


FAMILY HISTORY
 Father: heart failure (onset age 58)
 Mother: asthma
 No family history of early cardiac death or thromboembolic
disease


SOCIAL HISTORY
 Smokes ½ pack/day × 15 years
 Drinks socially
 No illicit drug use
 Works in an auto shop with occasional exposure to dust and
fumes


REVIEW OF SYSTEMS
Positive:
 Fever
 Night sweats
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