Nokea
A patient with a history of smoking two packs of cigarettes a day for the past 20 years says that he is not alarmed by his cough. He says, "I get this cough and spit up mucus every winter." The nurse recognizes these symptoms as being suggestive of:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Chronic bronchitis. The patient's history of smoking for 20 years and persistent cough with mucus production every winter are indicative of chronic bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis is characterized by inflammation of the bronchial tubes due to irritants like smoking, leading to excessive mucus production and persistent cough. Emphysema is characterized by destruction of lung tissue, not necessarily accompanied by mucus production. Sarcoidosis is a systemic inflammatory disease affecting multiple organs, not specifically related to the symptoms described. Diffuse interstitial fibrosis involves scarring of lung tissue, typically presenting with a dry, non-productive cough.