22nd May 2024

A 40-year-old smoker with no past medical history presents with a dry cough, fever and feeling generally unwell

A 40-year-old smoker with no past medical history presents with a dry cough, fever and feeling generally unwell. He reports that symptoms have been ongoing for 2 weeks, with fits of painful, violent coughing. He also complains of a headache. He is a social smoker. The cough is non-productive. You suspect this may be an atypical Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. Which of the following is likely to have led to this suspicion?

Select the SINGLE most appropriate option from the list below. Select ONE option only.