What condition would be suspected in a patient with acute onset of dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain who is agitated and diaphoretic?

The presentation of acute onset dyspnea (difficulty breathing) combined with pleuritic chest pain (pain that worsens with breathing or coughing) is highly indicative of a pulmonary embolism. In this condition, a blood clot blocks a blood vessel in the lungs, leading to impaired blood flow and potentially causing a sudden onset of these symptoms.

The accompanying symptoms of agitation and diaphoresis (excessive sweating) further support this diagnosis, as they indicate a heightened state of anxiety and distress often associated with the respiratory distress caused by a pulmonary embolism. Patients may experience a sense of impending doom due to the hypoxia and pain involved.

While other conditions such as myocardial infarction, aortic dissection, and pneumonia may present with similar symptoms, the acute nature of the dyspnea along with the specific chest pain characteristics—all within the context of agitation and diaphoresis—make pulmonary embolism the most likely diagnosis in this scenario. Aortic dissection, for example, typically presents with tearing chest pain and may involve back pain, while myocardial infarction may have different pain characteristics and potentially other associated symptoms such as nausea or jaw pain. Pneumonia can cause pleuritic pain and dyspnea, but it would usually develop more