Question

The nurse hears wheezing in a 4-year-old. Which of the following conditions would most likely be ruled out because of this assessment finding?

A) Bronchiolitis
B) Asthma
C) Influenza
D) Cystic fibrosis

Answer 1

Influenza is most likely to be ruled out when wheezing is heard in a 4-year-old, as it typically does not produce wheezing, unlike conditions such as asthma, bronchiolitis, and cystic fibrosis.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse's assessment of wheezing in a 4-year-old patient can help rule out certain conditions while indicating others. Wheezing, which is a high-pitched whistling sound made while breathing, is commonly associated with asthma, where the bronchioles become inflamed and narrow due to various triggers including respiratory infections, allergies, or environmental factors. Wheezing can also be heard in conditions such as bronchiolitis, which is an infection that particularly affects infants and young children, and cystic fibrosis, which leads to the production of thick, sticky mucus in the lungs. However, influenza, commonly known as the flu, is more likely to be ruled out. The flu typically presents with symptoms such as fever, body aches, and a more generalized upper respiratory infection but is not characteristically associated with wheezing.

Of the conditions listed in the question, influenza is the one most likely to be ruled out based on the presence of wheezing.