You are called to the scene of a 45-year-old nonsmoker male with a history of asthma in respiratory distress.You find him lying supine on the couch.The patient is lethargic but can answer all your questions appropriately.He is diaphoretic,and complains of being cold,coughing,and having difficulty breathing for the past 3 days.His vital signs are blood pressure of 110/70,heart rate of 116,respiratory rate of 24,oxygen saturation of 93%,and temperature of 100.6°F.You hear rhonchi in the left lobes and he is coughing up yellow-tinged sputum.What condition do you suspect?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient's history of asthma and current presentation of cough, difficulty breathing, and yellow-tinged sputum suggest a possible diagnosis of pneumonia. The rhonchi heard in the left lobes also support this diagnosis. This patient's symptoms are not consistent with asthma, silent myocardial infarction, or COPD.

You Are Called to the Scene of a 45-Year-Old Nonsmoker