A patient visits your clinic often with recurrent respiratory infections.Based upon their medical history, it appears they have been an active smoker for over 40 years.Select the statement that most accurately reflects how this information may reveal why the patient is highly susceptible to respiratory pathogens.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Smoking can paralyze the ciliary escalator, which is responsible for removing foreign particles and microorganisms from the respiratory tract. This can lead to an accumulation of these pathogens and recurrent respiratory infections. The other options are also potential effects of smoking on the immune system, but they are not directly tied to susceptibility to respiratory pathogens.

A Patient Visits Your Clinic Often with Recurrent Respiratory Infections