Question

Asthma is an airway disease characterized by: 1. Inflammation 2. Airway hypersensitivity 3. Irreversible airway obstruction 4. Enlargement of distal airspaces (alveoli)?

1) 1, 2, 3
2) 1, 2, 4
3) 1, 2
4) 1, 3, 4
5) None of the above

Answer 1

Asthma is characterized by inflammation and airway hypersensitivity, leading to bronchospasms and mucus production that occlude the airways. Unlike some other pulmonary diseases, asthma does not involve irreversible obstruction or alveoli enlargement, so the correct answer is 1. Inflammation and 2. Airway hypersensitivity.

Step-by-step explanation:

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways in the lungs, characterized by inflammation and edema of the airway, leading to bronchospasms or the constriction of bronchioles that can inhibit air from entering the lungs. During an asthma attack, excessive mucus production can also occur, contributing to the occlusion of airways.

However, contrary to some obstructive pulmonary diseases such as emphysema, asthma does not typically involve the irreversible obstruction of airways or the enlargement of distal airspaces (alveoli). Therefore, the correct statement about asthma would be that it is an airway disease characterized by 1. Inflammation and 2. Airway hypersensitivity. The answer to the student's question would thus be option 3) 1, 2.