Physical Exam for Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)
Many times when a person is diagnosed with
hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), he or she is
already in the hospital because the flu-like symptoms have gotten worse
quickly. The physical exam for HPS will include:
- Checking your breathing rate for rapid breathing,
which may be more than 20 breaths per minute.
- Listening to your
heart for an increased heart rate, which may be 120 beats or more per
minute.
- Measuring your temperature, which may be
101°F (38.3°C) or
higher.
- Taking your blood pressure, which may be lower than
normal.
- Listening to your lungs for sounds that indicate the
presence of fluid (pulmonary edema).
- Checking
your abdomen for tenderness.
- Examining your skin for temperature
and color. Your skin may be cool, clammy, or mottled.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Robert L. Cowie, MB, FCP(SA), MD, MSc, MFOM - Pulmonology |
| Last Revised | February 22, 2012 |