Nokea
Achild has a chronic cough, no retractions but diffuse wheezing during the expiratory phase of respiration. This suggests which of the following?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The presence of a chronic cough, along with diffuse wheezing during the expiratory phase of respiration, suggests asthma. Asthma is a chronic condition characterized by inflammation and narrowing of the airways, causing symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. The wheezing sound typically occurs during expiration due to air trapping in the narrowed airways. In this case, the absence of retractions (which could indicate increased work of breathing) and the nature of the wheezing pattern are more consistent with asthma rather than other conditions such as pneumonia, croup, or foreign body aspiration. While these other conditions may also present with respiratory symptoms, the specific combination of chronic cough and expiratory wheezing is most indicative of asthma in this scenario.