Questions for Respiratory System Related

Review Questions for Respiratory System related questions and content

A 25-year-old nonsmoker who is normally in good health reports having a bad cough for the past 3 weeks. He has crackles and rhonchi, and shows the physician a small clear plastic container that has discolored, blood-tinged sputum that he produced this morning. What would the physician want to rule out?

  • A. Lung cancer.
  • B. The flu.
  • C. Pneumonia.
  • D. Asthma.
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C (Pneumonia). The symptoms described—persistent cough, crackles, rhonchi, and blood-tinged sputum—are indicative of pneumonia. Lung cancer (A) is less likely in a young nonsmoker. The flu (B) typically does not cause blood-tinged sputum. Asthma (D) does not usually present with these specific findings.