Final answer:
Pulmonary tuberculosis is the disease among the listed options that should be treated with antibiotics, due to its bacterial origin. Conditions such as pulmonary fibrosis, emphysema, asthma, and lung cancer are not treated with antibiotics unless there is a secondary bacterial infection.
Step-by-step explanation:
Of the lower respiratory diseases listed, pulmonary tuberculosis should be treated with antibiotics. Pulmonary tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which can effectively be treated with proper antibiotic therapy. It is essential because tuberculosis bacteria can become resistant to treatment if not managed correctly, leading to multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) with more complex and longer treatment regimens.
In contrast, pulmonary fibrosis, emphysema, asthma, and lung cancer are not primarily caused by bacterial infections and thus wouldn’t be treated with antibiotics. Pulmonary fibrosis entails scarring of the lung tissue, leading to stiffness and breathing difficulties; emphysema includes damage to the alveoli due to irritants usually from smoking; asthma is a chronic condition where airways narrow and swell, producing extra mucus; while lung cancer arises from uncontrolled cell growth in lung tissue that can be caused by carcinogens such as tobacco smoke.
It’s important to note that while antibiotics are not used for the direct treatment of these diseases, they may still be prescribed if a secondary bacterial infection, such as bacterial pneumonia, develops in patients with these conditions.