The priority for this client is to ensure a patent airway by placing him the Fowler's or semi upright seated position. Giving oxygen is warranted but will be given after the client is positioned correctly. ABG's would be helpful in this situation but it not the priority. Auscultation of breath sounds and assessment of mental status are not indicated.

The priority for this client is to ensure a patent airway by placing him the Fowler's or semi upright seated position. Giving oxygen is warranted but will be given after the client is positioned correctly. ABG's would be helpful in this situation but it not the priority. Auscultation of breath sounds and assessment of mental status are not indicated.

The correct answer is "Asthma." This answer is correct because asthma is an inflammatory airway condition that is characteristically improved symptomatically and quantitatively (in terms of pulmonary function tests, including FEV1 readings) with bronchodilator administration (e.g. albuterol, the beta-2 adrenergic agonist administered in this patient). In this patient who presented for evaluation of wheezing, a characteristic symptom of asthma, his substantial response to bronchodilator administration makes the likelihood of an asthma diagnosis very high.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an obstructive physiology of the airways often due to chronic tobacco smoking. While bronchodilators may be of some clinical value in these patients, their FEV1 readings characteristically do not correct after bronchodilator administration, as this is a major method in which COPD can be distinguished from asthma and other inflammatory airway conditions.

Sarcoidosis, lung cancer, and throat cancer symptoms would not necessarily improve with bronchodilator administration, nor would pulmonary function test readings in patients with these conditions.

The correct answer is "Asthma." This answer is correct because asthma is an inflammatory airway condition that is characteristically improved symptomatically and quantitatively (in terms of pulmonary function tests, including FEV1 readings) with bronchodilator administration (e.g. albuterol, the beta-2 adrenergic agonist administered in this patient). In this patient who presented for evaluation of wheezing, a characteristic symptom of asthma, his substantial response to bronchodilator administration makes the likelihood of an asthma diagnosis very high.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an obstructive physiology of the airways often due to chronic tobacco smoking. While bronchodilators may be of some clinical value in these patients, their FEV1 readings characteristically do not correct after bronchodilator administration, as this is a major method in which COPD can be distinguished from asthma and other inflammatory airway conditions.

Sarcoidosis, lung cancer, and throat cancer symptoms would not necessarily improve with bronchodilator administration, nor would pulmonary function test readings in patients with these conditions.

Whooping cough, a condition that results in severe paroxysmal coughing fits followed by a long wheezing inspiratory gasp (the "whoop") is caused by the bacteria B ordetella pertussis. _Haemophilus influenza_e and Klebsiella pneumoniae both commonly cause pneumonia, and RSV is a virus that is frequently implicated in lower respiratory infections of infants and children.

Whooping cough, a condition that results in severe paroxysmal coughing fits followed by a long wheezing inspiratory gasp (the "whoop") is caused by the bacteria B ordetella pertussis. _Haemophilus influenza_e and Klebsiella pneumoniae both commonly cause pneumonia, and RSV is a virus that is frequently implicated in lower respiratory infections of infants and children.

The correct answer is "Sarcoidosis." Sarcoidosis is the correct answer as this inflammatory condition is frequently found in African-American women in their 40's who present with fatigue and shortness of breath among other symptoms, who also have erythema nodosum on the lower extremities, and have bilateral hilar infiltrates on chest x-ray. This constellation of findings is highly suggestive of sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis results in the formation of numerous non-necrotizing granulomas, most commonly found in the lungs, that can play a role in the symptoms experienced by these patients. Other findings suggestive of sarcoidosis include elevated serum calcium levels with normal serum PTH levels.

Tuberculosis can present in a similar manner to sarcoidosis, however given the patient's suburban living environment, lack of a travel history, and lack of healthcare exposure, the likelihood of being exposed to tuberculosis is very low, making sarcoidosis a more likely etiology.

While lung cancer can present as shortness of breath with hilar infiltration in chest x-ray, in a relatively young otherwise healthy patient who also has erythema nodosum and in whom the hilar infiltrates are bilateral, sarcoidosis would be a more likely etiology.

The patient does not have any findings consistent with meningitis (leg rash in meningitis is petechial, not erythema nodosum) or pharyngitis.

The correct answer is "Sarcoidosis." Sarcoidosis is the correct answer as this inflammatory condition is frequently found in African-American women in their 40's who present with fatigue and shortness of breath among other symptoms, who also have erythema nodosum on the lower extremities, and have bilateral hilar infiltrates on chest x-ray. This constellation of findings is highly suggestive of sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis results in the formation of numerous non-necrotizing granulomas, most commonly found in the lungs, that can play a role in the symptoms experienced by these patients. Other findings suggestive of sarcoidosis include elevated serum calcium levels with normal serum PTH levels.

Tuberculosis can present in a similar manner to sarcoidosis, however given the patient's suburban living environment, lack of a travel history, and lack of healthcare exposure, the likelihood of being exposed to tuberculosis is very low, making sarcoidosis a more likely etiology.

While lung cancer can present as shortness of breath with hilar infiltration in chest x-ray, in a relatively young otherwise healthy patient who also has erythema nodosum and in whom the hilar infiltrates are bilateral, sarcoidosis would be a more likely etiology.

The patient does not have any findings consistent with meningitis (leg rash in meningitis is petechial, not erythema nodosum) or pharyngitis.

Albuterol is a beta adrenergic agonist. It helps to open up the airways during an asthma exacerbation by activating the beta adrenergic receptors, part of the sympathetic nervous system. Side effects include increased heart rate.

Albuterol is a beta adrenergic agonist. It helps to open up the airways during an asthma exacerbation by activating the beta adrenergic receptors, part of the sympathetic nervous system. Side effects include increased heart rate.