Question

An adult patient with a history of allergies comes to the clinic complaining of wheezing and difficulty in breathing when working in his yard. The assessment findings include tachypnea, use of accessory neck muscles, prolonged expiration, intercostal retractions, decreased breath sounds, and expiratory wheezes. The nurse interprets that these assessment findings are consistent with:

Answer 1

The adult patient's symptoms are consistent with an asthma attack, which includes difficulty breathing, wheezing, and chest tightness. Asthma is treated both with short-term medications for immediate relief and long-term control methods. Severe symptoms may require urgent medical attention.

Step-by-step explanation:

The adult patient's symptoms of wheezing, difficulty in breathing, tachypnea, use of accessory neck muscles for breathing, prolonged expiration, intercostal retractions, decreased breath sounds, and expiratory wheezes indicate that these assessment findings are consistent with an asthma attack. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the respiratory system resulting in obstructed airways due to inflammation and narrowing of the air passages, often accompanied by excess mucus production. These symptoms can be triggered by exposure to allergens, exercise, and other environmental factors.

During an asthma attack, a patient might experience coughing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and wheezing. Immediate medical attention is required if symptoms escalate to severe asthma attacks, indicated by difficulty breathing leading to cyanosis, confusion, drowsiness, a rapid pulse, sweating, and severe anxiety. Treatment usually involves the use of short-acting bronchodilators and, for long-term management, inhaled corticosteroids or other anti-inflammatory medications.