Final answer:
A patient presenting with fever, tinnitus, and tachypnea after an overdose is likely experiencing a salicylate overdose, resulting in respiratory alkalosis with metabolic acidosis.
Step-by-step explanation:
In this case, the patient is exhibiting symptoms of fever, tinnitus, and tachypnea, which suggest a diagnosis of salicylate overdose, commonly due to aspirin ingestion. The aspirin metabolite, sulfasalicylic acid, can cause an initial metabolic acidosis. However, to compensate for this acidosis, the body increases the respiratory rate, leading to an excessive exhalation of CO2, causing a primary carbonic acid/CO2 deficiency, known as respiratory alkalosis. So, this condition is characterized by respiratory alkalosis with an underlying metabolic acidosis. The correct answer is: a) Salicylate overdose; Respiratory alkalosis with metabolic acidosis.