A patient has developed pulmonary tuberculosis. Rank the findings in order of occurrence based on the normal progression of this disease.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The normal progression of pulmonary tuberculosis starts with the initial phase of infection, which is usually asymptomatic. Then, the patient may experience symptoms such as fatigue, night sweats, and weight loss. This is followed by the active phase of the disease, which is characterized by a positive purified protein derivative (PPD) test, cough with blood-tinged sputum, and the presence of a cavitary lesion on chest x-ray. At this point, the patient is usually admitted to the hospital for treatment. With proper treatment, the patient can start feeling better and may eventually become asymptomatic again. Therefore, the correct order of occurrence is: D, E, B, A, C.

A Patient Has Developed Pulmonary Tuberculosis