Blessy, a community health nurse is conducting an educational session with community members regarding tuberculosis. The nurse tells the group that one of the first symptoms associated with tuberculosis is:

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Chest pain. Chest pain can be one of the first symptoms of tuberculosis due to inflammation of the lung tissue or pleura. Dyspnea (A) typically occurs in later stages as the disease progresses. A bloody, productive cough (C) is a common symptom of tuberculosis but may not be one of the first symptoms. Bronchoscopy (D) is a diagnostic procedure and not a symptom of tuberculosis. In summary, chest pain is a common initial symptom due to lung inflammation, while the other choices are either later symptoms or unrelated diagnostic procedures.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Absence of wheezing. In asthmatics, wheezing is a common sign of airway obstruction. The absence of wheezing indicates a severe obstruction leading to reduced airflow, which can progress to respiratory arrest. Agitation (A) and tachycardia (B) are common signs of distress but do not specifically indicate imminent respiratory arrest. Flaring nares (D) may suggest increased work of breathing, but it is not as specific as the absence of wheezing in predicting imminent respiratory arrest in asthmatics.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: alveoli. Alveoli are tiny air sacs in the lungs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place through diffusion. This process is crucial for oxygenating the blood and removing carbon dioxide. Bronchi (A), bronchioles (C), and trachea (D) are all parts of the respiratory system, but they do not participate directly in gas exchange. Bronchi are the main airways that branch off from the trachea, bronchioles are smaller airways that lead to the alveoli, and the trachea is the main airway that carries air to and from the lungs.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because hemoglobin follows the principle of partial pressure, which states that gases move from areas of higher partial pressure to lower partial pressure. Therefore, hemoglobin will pick up more oxygen when the partial pressure of oxygen is higher, such as in the lungs. Choice A is incorrect because hemoglobin actually releases oxygen at higher temperatures. Choice C is incorrect because hemoglobin picks up oxygen when it is not fully saturated. Choice D is incorrect because hemoglobin releases oxygen when the partial pressure of oxygen is higher, not when it is lower.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: carbon dioxide in the blood. In the body, carbon dioxide levels are monitored by chemoreceptors in the brainstem. When carbon dioxide levels rise, it triggers an increase in breathing rate to expel excess carbon dioxide and restore the balance of gases in the blood. This process is known as the respiratory drive. Carbon monoxide (A) is a toxic gas that interferes with oxygen transport but does not directly affect breathing stimulus. Oxygen (C) levels in the blood are important for maintaining tissue oxygenation but do not directly regulate breathing. Carbonic acid (D) is a product of carbon dioxide and water, and its levels do not directly stimulate breathing.