A 9-year-old male presents to the emergency room complaining of "chest tightness" and difficulty breathing. The RN notes that he is frequently coughing and wheezes are ausculated in all lung fields. His chest x-ray shows a flattened diaphragm and overexpanded lungs. The patient's mother reports that he had five episodes like this one over the past few years, but none this bad. Recently, the patient has had more frequent episodes of difficulty breathing and coughing, each lasting for a few hours. He does not take any medications at home.
-Based on the patient's symptoms,which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

Question

A 9-year-old male presents to the emergency room complaining of "chest tightness" and difficulty breathing. The RN notes that he is frequently coughing and wheezes are ausculated in all lung fields. His chest x-ray shows a flattened diaphragm and overexpanded lungs. The patient's mother reports that he had five episodes like this one over the past few years, but none this bad. Recently, the patient has had more frequent episodes of difficulty breathing and coughing, each lasting for a few hours. He does not take any medications at home. 
-Based on the patient's symptoms,which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient's symptoms of chest tightness, difficulty breathing, coughing, and wheezing, along with the flattened diaphragm and overexpanded lungs seen on the chest x-ray, suggest a diagnosis of asthma. The patient's history of previous similar episodes and recent increase in frequency also support this diagnosis. Hay fever, seasonal allergy, and eczema may cause respiratory symptoms but are less likely to present with wheezing and overexpanded lungs on imaging.

A 9-Year-Old Male Presents to the Emergency Room Complaining of "Chest