History

Quality of chest pain typically worse on inspiration and in certain postures, for example lying back

Was there a viral prodrome (fever, malaise, sore throat, muscle aching)?

Are there any constitutional symptoms to suggest TB (weight loss, chronic cough)?

Past history of predisposing conditions: SLE, chronic active hepatitis, ulcerative colitis, chronic renal failure

Risk for Dressler syndrome: recent (usually 2–6 weeks; range 1 week to 3 months) cardiac surgery or chest trauma

Country of origin (consider Familial Mediterranean Fever)

Examination

Heart rate

Friction rub?

Signs of tamponade (raised JVP, hypotension, palpable pulsus paradoxus)

Signs of heart failure (basal crepitations) to suggest myocarditis