Question

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:

a. smoking decreases the formation and effectiveness of complement proteins.
b. smoking can paralyze the ciliary escalator.
c. smoking directly inhibits B- and T-cell action.
d. smoking decreases the activity of neutrophils.

Answer 1

b. smoking can paralyze the ciliary escalator.

Step-by-step explanation

Generally cilia in the respiratory tract of smoker will undergo paralysis for 1-3 hours after smoking, and generally paralyzed in chronic smokers.

This is because the toxins( the TAR) in the cigarette destroy the mucocilliary escalator that trapped inhaled pathogens in air as it passes through the bronchi and push them up with phlegm out of the respiratory tract.

Therefore ,with the loss of cilirary function, pathogens are retained in the lungs leading to respiratory tract infections