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9 . you and your partner austin are assessing a 64 year old woman who is complaining of difficulty breathing. when you auscultate her lungs, you discover crackles over the right and left lungs. she is complaining of chest pain and congestion, which lead you to believe that she is suffering from?

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Final answer:

A 64-year-old woman exhibiting symptoms such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, congestion, and crackles in her lungs is likely suffering from pneumonia, a condition characterized by fluid-filled alveoli in the lungs.

Step-by-step explanation:

The 64-year-old woman in question is presenting with difficulty breathing, chest pain, congestion, and crackles in both lungs upon auscultation. These symptoms are indicative of a condition in which fluid fills the alveoli of the lungs, preventing adequate gas exchange. This condition is known as pneumonia, which is commonly caused by an infection in the lungs and can lead to a range of symptoms including cough, chest pain, difficulty breathing, and hypoxemia. Pneumonia is often confirmed through a chest radiograph which can show shadows or consolidations in the affected areas of the lungs. Additionally, a greenish sputum sample is indicative of a bacterial infection, correlating with pneumonia. Given the patient's symptoms and clinical findings, pneumonia should be considered as a likely diagnosis.

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