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 a mechanism in the respiratory tract that helps to move mucus and particles out of the lungs. This can lead to an accumulation of debris in the airways, making the patient more susceptible to respiratory infections. While smoking can also have other negative effects on the immune system, such as decreasing the activity of neutrophils and inhibiting B- and T-cell action, these are not as directly related to susceptibility to respiratory pathogens as the impairment of the ciliary escalator. Smoking can also irritate and damage the respiratory tract, making it more vulnerable to infections.

A Patient Visits Your Clinic Often with Recurrent Respiratory Infections