A 20-year-old man comes to the physician for episodic shortness of breath and a nonproductive cough for 3 months. These episodes frequently occur before sleeping, and he occasionally wakes up because of difficulty breathing. He also reports that he became short of breath during outdoor exercise. Physical examination shows no abnormalities. An x-ray of the chest shows no abnormalities. Spirometry shows a FEV1 of 72% of predicted. Sputum analysis shows predominant eosinophils. Exposure to which of the following is most closely associated with this patient's symptoms?

Question

A 20-year-old man comes to the physician for episodic shortness of breath and a nonproductive cough for 3 months. These episodes frequently occur before sleeping, and he occasionally wakes up because of difficulty breathing. He also reports that he became short of breath during outdoor exercise. Physical examination shows no abnormalities. An x-ray of the chest shows no abnormalities. Spirometry shows a FEV1 of 72% of predicted. Sputum analysis shows predominant eosinophils. Exposure to which of the following is most closely associated with this patient's symptoms?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Intermittent respiratory symptoms in a patient with a normal chest x-ray, sputum eosinophils, and reduced FEV1 suggest asthma.  Common asthma triggers include exercise, cold air, respiratory infection, and exposure to inhaled allergens (eg, dust mites, cockroaches, pet dander, mold, pollen).

A 20-Year-Old Man Comes to the Physician for Episodic Shortness