Question 1

Which of the following patients in the emergency room would have the highest priority for evaluation?

Accepted Answer

The 6-month-old female with fever, audible inspiratory stridor, and restlessness is likely experiencing respiratory distress, which can be life-threatening, thus requiring immediate evaluation.

Question 2

Which of the following acute respiratory infections in children poses the greatest threat of severe hypoxia caused by airway obstruction?

Accepted Answer

Epiglottitis poses the greatest threat of severe hypoxia due to airway obstruction because it involves inflammation and swelling of the epiglottis, which can rapidly block the airway.

Question 3

Several employees at a factory develop Legionnaires' disease. Which of the following is important to include in the education you give to the employees regarding this disease?

Accepted Answer

Legionnaires' disease is typically spread through inhalation of aerosolized water droplets from contaminated sources, such as air conditioning systems, hot tubs, or cooling towers.

Question 4

Which of the following are symptoms of tuberculosis?

Accepted Answer

Tuberculosis symptoms include weight loss, fever, and a persistent cough lasting 2-3 weeks or more.

Question 5

A 12-year-old girl presents to the emergency room wheezing with prolonged expiration and chest tightness lasting for 45 minutes and is unrelieved by her usual treatment. These findings are consistent with:

Accepted Answer

The symptoms described are consistent with status asthmaticus, which is a severe asthma exacerbation that is not relieved by usual treatments and requires emergency medical attention.

Question 6

A patient who has a known history of cardiac problems and currently smokes comes in complaining of sudden onset of sharp, stabbing pain that intensifies with a deep breath. The pain is occurring on only one side and can be isolated on general assessment. This description is most likely caused by:

Accepted Answer

The answer of A patient who has a known history...

Question 7

Which type of pulmonary disorders requires more force to expire a volume of air?

Accepted Answer

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by obstructed airflow, making it difficult to exhale and requiring more force to expire air.

Question 8

Which of the following pulmonary disorders is characterized as restrictive (prevention of full lung expansion)?

Accepted Answer

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a restrictive lung disorder that prevents full lung expansion due to fluid accumulation in the alveoli, leading to decreased lung compliance.

Question 9

Which mediators are released during the initial acute early phase of asthma?

Accepted Answer

During the initial acute early phase of asthma, mast cells release mediators such as histamine, prostaglandins, and leukotrienes, which contribute to bronchoconstriction and inflammation.

Question 10

Croup is usually caused by:

Accepted Answer

Croup is most commonly caused by the parainfluenza virus, which leads to the characteristic symptoms of a barking cough and stridor in children.

Question 11

A child is brought into the urgent care center with rhinorrhea, seal-like barking cough, and a low-grade fever. Although generally a mild, self-limiting disorder, which complication is more likely to occur?

Accepted Answer

The symptoms described are indicative of croup, which can lead to airway narrowing and obstruction due to inflammation and swelling of the upper airway.

Question 12

The respiratory syncytial virus is often implicated in which pulmonary disorder that usually occurs during the first year of life?

Accepted Answer

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of bronchiolitis, especially in infants under one year of age.

Question 13

A 25-year-old, tall, thin man is exercising and suddenly experiences shortness of breath and pleural pain and is breathing fast. He has no past medical history. He goes to the emergency room. A likely cause of these symptoms is a(n):

Accepted Answer

A spontaneous pneumothorax is common in tall, thin, young men and can cause sudden shortness of breath and pleuritic chest pain, especially during physical activity.

Question 14

A mother brings her 5-year-old child in because the child snores and has difficulty breathing when sleeping and seems to move around a lot when sleeping. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is suspected. What is a likely physical exam finding to support the most common cause of OSAS in children?

Accepted Answer

Enlarged tonsils are a common cause of obstructive sleep apnea in children, leading to mouth breathing and snoring.

Question 15

Which of the following can be used to measure hypercapnia?

Accepted Answer

End tidal carbon dioxide detectors measure the concentration of carbon dioxide in exhaled air, which can indicate hypercapnia.

Question 16

Which of the following individuals is at highest risk for developing laryngeal cancer?

Accepted Answer

Smoking and heavy alcohol consumption are significant risk factors for laryngeal cancer, making the 60-year-old man who smokes and drinks heavily the highest risk individual among the options provided.

Question 17

The most common manifestations of acute epiglottitis in children is(are):

Accepted Answer

Tripod positioning, "hot potato" voice, and acutely high fever are the most common manifestations of acute epiglottitis in children.

Question 18

An infant is born with a surfactant deficiency. Surfactant is important and:

Accepted Answer

Surfactant reduces surface tension in the alveoli, preventing their collapse and aiding in proper lung function.

Question 19

A pulmonary disease characterized by severe hypoxia and decreased pulmonary compliance as a result of massive alveolar capillary membrane injury and acute lung inflammation is a description of:

Accepted Answer

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by severe hypoxia and decreased pulmonary compliance due to widespread inflammation and injury to the alveolar-capillary membrane, leading to fluid leakage into the alveoli and impaired gas exchange.

Question 20

Which of the following is accurate pertaining to cystic fibrosis?

Accepted Answer

Cystic fibrosis is caused by a mutation in the transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, which affects cells that produce mucus, saliva, sweat, and digestive secretions.

Quiz 5: Respiratory Function